today at 6pm... borisjohnson says the uk is finally past the peak of the coronavirus outbreak, and on a downward slope. the prime minister took charge of the daily briefing for the first time in weeks. there was praise for what's been achieved, but a warning, too. we can now see the sunlight and the pasture ahead of us, and so it is vital that we do not now lose control and run slap into a second and even bigger mountain. the prime minister said he would have a comprehensive plan next week on how to gradually come out of the lockdown. we'll be looking at what it

will take to avoid the second peak borisjohnson was warning about. also tonight... british airways bosses say they could abandon the airline's gatwick operation because of the coronavirus crisis — 1,000 pilots could lose theirjobs. so, the government admits it may not meet its testing target — but is it how many you test, or who you test, that matters? and here's what happens when you get the testing strategy right — south korea didn't have a countrywide lockdown. he saw them fly in anger, today captain tom saw them fly in celebration — 100—years—old today. and coming up on bbc news... the inaugural season of the hundred has been postponed for a year by the england and wales cricket board because of the coronavirus crisis.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. boris johnson says the country is past the peak of the coronavirus outbreak. taking the podium at the daily briefing for the first time since he became ill, the prime minister said he would have a comprehensive plan on how to ease the lockdown next week, including how schools and public transport might be organised. he said face coverings could be useful as part of the strategy. and mrjohnson warned of the dangers of losing control again, hitting another mountain as he put it. the lastest data suggests that deaths peaked in the middle of april, and have been falling gradually since then. a further 674 deaths linked to the virus were announced today —

these are people known to have tested positive for coronavirus in the uk's hospitals, care homes and in the community. 0ur political editor laura kuenssberg reports. 0ur doors have been closed for 38 daysin 0ur doors have been closed for 38 days in city, country, life hidden away, our streets fell silent. behind this door decisions must be taken behind this door decisions must be ta ken about what behind this door decisions must be taken about what is next with perhaps the worst behind us. taken about what is next with perhaps the worst behind usli taken about what is next with perhaps the worst behind us. i can confirm today that for the first time we are passed to the peak of this disease. we are past the peak and we are on the downward slope. on his own return to these routine press appearances the prime minister said there was no easy or quick way out. we have come under what could have been a vast peak. as though we have been a vast peak. as though we have been a vast peak. as though we have been going through some huge alpine tunnel and we can see the

sunlight and the pasture ahead of us. sunlight and the pasture ahead of us. and so it is vital that we do not now lose control and run slap into a second and even they mountain. it will set out an exit route next week and it will not happen fast, guided by the crucial infection rate, how quickly the disease passes from person to person. it has gone down but must stay below one. keeping the r down is going to be vital to our recovery. keeping the reproduction rate of the disease down. and we can only do that by our collective discipline and working together. like the prime minister himself, debbie struggled with the virus in the intensive care. she feared she would lose her life. i cannot tell you how i feel about the loss of friends, the four people who died on my word the day i got well, the fact

i had to mentally say goodbye to people that i potentially thought i would never see again. the lockdown cannot stop. there has been huge suffering to people's health and also to the country's wealth, people worried about making ends meet. by continuing with lockdown are you telling the public that the economy has to wait? we mourn every life lost and we mourn the economic damage and dreams that people are seeing shattered in their businesses, their anxieties about theirjobs. we totally understand that. if we are to bounce back as strongly as i think we can, we don't have a second bad spike, because that would really do the economic damage. billy lost his plumbing job on tuesday and is looking for work.

in bury st edmunds where he lives, to support his partner and little girl. in the past month i have been furloughed and made redundant. this has made me feel completely worth what was. it has made me worry about every little thing that i am going to get money from. i don't really know what to do to be honest. economic distress is one of the reasons why the opposition is pushing for answers. up until now the government's reply to me has been we are not going to purchase a plan, soi been we are not going to purchase a plan, so i am glad they have changed their mind. i am glad our challenge has borne fruit. we will see a plan and we will look at it in good faith next week to see what the planners and have discussions with the government. lockdown has changed so many lives. andy has three kids and stage the cancer. his treatment is on hold although the nhs is meant to

be opening up. coronavirus has taken my resources and if i do not get the operation it means that i might die. ido operation it means that i might die. i do not see why the nhs see my life is less important than somebody with coronavirus. the rate of infection may be fading for now, but a disease that emerge thousands of miles away is in one way or another for each of us is in one way or another for each of us already close to home. 0ur political editor laura kuenssberg joins us now from westminster. some clues about the way forward but a warning as well. yes, absolutely right. tonight is an important moment. for some days you might have been wondering, hoping, when the government might be ready to say that the peak of this terrible infection is passed so that is a moment when the government felt co mforta ble moment when the government felt comfortable enough with how the

spike has slowed to be able to declare that but in terms of a quick route out of any of this it is not coming soon. at the end of that next week the prime minister will set out a plan of potential measures, how to slowly get schools and businesses backin slowly get schools and businesses back in gear, but it will be very much a question of slow steps out of this. one of them might be asking people to wear face coverings. you might remember the first minister in scotla nd might remember the first minister in scotland nicola sturgeon has said she would encourage people to do that in some settings. for both of them not because the scientific evidence is overwhelming that it is absolutely a vital thing to do but in part because in a psychological way it might help people feel more co mforta ble way it might help people feel more comfortable about going back into the world, because no question this has been an extraordinary period for oui’ has been an extraordinary period for our country. many people understandably are still very nervous about what might come next

so nervous about what might come next so passing the peak is an important step but still a journey of many, many miles. the prime minister insisted that whatever action he decides on will be based on what his scientific advisers say. so, what do we know about how the scientists arrive at their conclusions? well, one key element is what's called the r—number — we'll be hearing a lot more about it in the next few weeks. basically it's a way of working out how many people might be infected by someone carrying the disease. here's our science editor david shukman. lockdown stays in place even though we seem to be over the peak of the crisis. scientists advising the government say the restrictions are working, driving down the rate of infection, but they warn it could very easily shoot up again. as soon asr very easily shoot up again. as soon as r goes above one you restart exponential growth. it may be slow.

if it goes a lot above 18 may be faster. sooner or later, the higher it is the sooner it is, the nhs will go back to being overwhelmed. what is called the r number is a way of measuring how easily the virus spreads so if the rate is one it means anybody in fact it is only passing it to one another, so things are stable, but get to a rate of two and people infected are passing it to two others so the outbreak accelerates and that is what potentially can overwhelm the nhs. the rate of theme and things are even worse, it is what we have month ago and only drastic action, the kind we are seeing now, can bring it under control. right now it is estimated the rate is between 0.6 and 0.9, crucially below the line of one person infecting one another. it is not reopening schools could add about 0.2 although no one could be sure. allowing public gatherings

might add—on 0.5 which would take us above the line of one and scientists think that relaxing the lockdown entirely would add two, which is why it is likely that will only happen in careful stages. estimates for the r numberare in careful stages. estimates for the r number are based on people needing hospital treatment so they are not exact but the infection rate varies across the uk. 0ne exact but the infection rate varies across the uk. one of the government does not own advisers says the r number is not the whole story. does not own advisers says the r number is not the whole storym oversimplifies nutters and the problem is that the message can be r is under control, everything is under control, it is not like that. you can still have a problem in newcastle or liverpool and that problem will be quite severe. with so much about the fight uncertain every government is being cautious. germany has allowed small shops to reopen but the authorities are watching to see if that raises the

infection rate. they will review the measures next week. all the time there is the risk of unexpected spikes and infections. singapore is rushing to create 4000 more hospital beds. tackling the virus means remaining constantly on the lookout. even when the lockdown is eventually lifted, it could be some time until the economy is back to normal. and, if social distancing is here to stay, some people might still be unable to get back to work. alex forsyth has been to warwickshire to find out how people are coping and how they're feeling about what lies ahead. things are looking pretty bleak for many businesses. like many towns, this is mostly empty, and the financial impact of this pandemic is being felt far beyond the high street. angus and his wife run a local plumbing and heating firm. we have put everything into this business. it's a really anxious time. they are still doing emergency work,

but business has dropped by 80%. they are making use of government schemes to support staff, but, even when restrictions ease, they fear working safely in small spaces will be hard, and recovery could take a while. if people are fearful ofjobs, they might not have the confidence to spend, you know, five grand on a boiler. it's going to take a long time to get back on its feet, i think. we are going to struggle, but it's nothing in comparison to a lot of other people. we haven't lost any loved ones. but we are concerned about the future. many are trying to look on the bright side, even as economic reality bites. this is a quiet coventry. ijust hope that we can get back to some sort of normality soon, because i don't know about anyone else, ijust don't know how long i can keep going on. sarah has been a mobile hairdresser here for 13 years, now she's at home, business on hold, her husband, who did work in a hotel, is getting most of his wages paid by government, but it's still a struggle.

earning, i don't know, between £300 — £400 a week, just losing that, not having an income, it'sjust hard. i've got a bit of money in the bank, not a lot, but, that's gone now anyway, but what do you do? she's trying to stay upbeat, but simply doesn't know when she can start her business again. ijust can't wait to go back to work. harvey feels the same, he's a driving instructor in nearby rugby, he's had no income since having to stop work more than five weeks ago, waiting to see if he will get government support, relying on savings. it has changed the way we are buying, but it's the household bills, the energy costs, that sort of thing that we have to keep an eye on. how long could you sustain from your savings? probably another three or four weeks, if that. how are you feeling about it? i'm trying not to to be honest. having to share a car with students, he's not sure when he will be able to safely work, but is trying to focus on the positives. i think it's made me think that money isn't everything. the one thing i have done is taught my daughter to ride her bike, and you can't take that away.

businesses like most are waiting to see how a new normal might work, conscious all the while the country's economic health faces a long recovery. how many times has someone told you they are seeing more vehicles on the road? well, the proof is there — recent official figures show a rise in traffic. public health england have called the trend worrying. but what's the reason — are we getting fed up with the lockdown — or is there still an element of confusion about what makes a journey essential? 0ur north of england correspondent danny savage reports. the messages are everywhere. essential travel only is still the mantra. this was the aim in north yorkshire on a weekday lunchtime two weeks into lockdown, and this was the same spot this morning. the government says more people are on the roads now than since the start of restrictions. we know deliveries are essential, we know the nhs is essential,

but beyond that, it does get somewhat vague, and i think more drivers are certainly venturing out and not really knowing if their journey is essential or not. public transport, though, is still much quieter. most buses we saw in leeds today were empty, or nearly empty... announcment: social distancing measures are in operation on our services. ..and there's very few people on many trains. this was the 9:00am from sheffield to london yesterday. it had hundreds of seats, and one passenger. the first few days when we did it, it was like, "this is great", but i honestly do miss the passengers. it's part of myjob that's not there any more. this diy store reopened fully in leeds today, another difference to the ghost town feel at the start of lockdown. really, really bored. can't wait to go back to work. the queueing's 0k, though. in nearby pudsey, we asked people about the prospect of restrictions continuing. i like tojust go out and browse around shops

and things like that, and i can't do it, and i don't like it. this man was out for the first time in six weeks. i've run out of money at home, so that's the only reason i'm out. now it's back in the car and back home. it's got to be done. it's as simple as that. others say they can cope with longer. i think we could go on for a couple of more months, if we needed to, yeah. now that the shopping aspect has settled down a little bit. the increase in road traffic may be down to people feeling safer in their own vehicles than on public transport, but are all these journeys essential? danny savage, bbc news. british airways has told staff that its operation at gatwick airport — which is currently suspended — may not reopen once the coronavirus pandemic has passed. the firm has also said it can't ruled out temporarily halting all flights from heathrow. in a letter to employees, the airline warned that a quarter of its 4,300 pilots are set to lose theirjobs.

0ur transport correspondent tom burridge is at heathrow. tom, all airlines are suffering but ba sounds like it's in real trouble? some airlines are in much worse position than british airways. they are all haemorrhaging cash, ba has bigger cash reserves, but the airline is moving quickly. it is taking drastic steps now because it says it needs to protect its position in the long term because it does not believe passenger levels will return for a number of years. the idea of abandoning gatwick altogether is a massive, it would be altogether is a massive, it would be a blow to the airport, it would mean consolidating its two main hubs at gatwick and heathrow into one main site at heathrow. but unions accuse the airline of opportunism. 0ne ba cabin crew member said this is the chance ba bosses have been waiting for to stab as hard—working collea g u es for to stab as hard—working colleagues in the back. corporate greed and total disregard for

people's lives. a strongly worded union letter tonight to the airline from the pilots union says it has to change course or it will damage industrial relations for years to come. but ba says it has to protect the business in the long term. more than 1,800 workers are set to lose theirjobs at the high street chains oasis and warehouse. administrators said they were unable to find a buyer for the business and that all stores will close indefinitely and online sales will be stopped. 1,800 staff had already been placed on furlough when the shops were closed after the coronavirus outbreak. a vaccine for coronavirus could be available for limited use by the end of this year, the boss of astrazenenca, pascal soriot, has said. the pharmacutical company is working with oxford university to produce, and distribute a potential vaccine for covid—19. it would be made on a not—for profit basis. the results from the first human

trials should be known byjune. a few weeks ago, the health secretary matt hancock made a pledge, saying a 100,000 coronavirus tests would be carried out every day by the end of the month. that, of course, is today. more than 81,000 tests were carried out yesterday, and we'll find out tomorrow whether they've met that target. but is it the number of tests or who you test that matters most. our health editor hugh pym explains. a busy drive—through testing centre today, cars queueing, waiting for virus tests booked online. demand has increased since the list of those who qualify was widened earlier this week. say ah. the government's target of 100,000 swab tests like this per day was set for the end of april and that is today. there will certainly be a focus on whether the 100,000 target has been met, but all this is part of a long—term plan to build up

an expensive testing network. an extensive testing network. that is seen as crucial if the virus is to be kept in check. whether it's drive—through centres or home test kits like this, the idea is to find out who's got the virus and then trace their contacts in previous days. so, how would that work? if a person tests positive they will be referred to the contact tracing team. the contact tracer will speak to the patient to find out who has had close contact while they were infectious. everyone listed will then be contacted either on the phone or via the nhs app and advised to self—isolate for 14 days as a precaution. the testing is all right as it is. it gives us the data both in terms of the individuals, to contact trace and isolate the relatives of the individuals and reduce that community transmission, but it also gives us at a population level to know where the virus is and what types of measures do we need to bring in? three so—called mega labs have been set up to process tens of thousands of tests every day.

nhs representatives welcome the extra capacity, but say more needs to be done to ensure key health and care workers get tested when they need it. what we need to know is what are we going to do in terms of the testing regime over the next six, eight, ten, 12 weeks as we come out of lockdown and as we ensure that we protect patients and staff in hospitals, community, mental health and ambulance trusts? more than 81,000 tests were carried out yesterday, nearly 30,000 up on the previous day. the challenge now will be for the testing network to help stop another spike in the virus developing in the months ahead. hugh pym, bbc news. 0ne country that seems to have got its testing strategy right is south korea. back injanuary and february, it had one of the world's largest outbreaks of the virus but it turned things around through widespread testing and contact—tracing. fewer than 250 people have died and the country has stayed out of lockdown. today, for the first time since the outbreak

there, the country had no locally—transmitted infections. laura bicker reports. these are the better days many people across the world are being promised. it's possible here because south korea was prepared for a pandemic. and now they haven't just flattened the curve, they've crushed it. the situation looked critical in february. medics were battling one of the worst outbreaks in the world. cases spiralled in the city of daegu. but they got infection rates under control. fewer than 250 people have died. staff even have time to give us a smile. so how was it done? given the highly contagious nature of this virus, we knew from very early on that testing and tracking was critical. they ramped up testing within days of the first case. anyone who thought they had

the virus was swabbed. they also got a bit creative, and made it even safer for staff. next, they tracked the spread of the infection. cctv, phone and bank records pieced together the movements of covid—19 carriers to find others who could have been infected. so if someone in this cafe was confirmed with coronavirus, everyone in the area would be sent a text message, telling them that they were at risk, and that they needed to isolate themselves and get a test. public health was valued over privacy. translation: i think it is necessary to provide this information. i myself check in the website to find out about new cases and where they are. translation: yes, it is a violation against privacy, but it is necessary. this is a global fight. we are all in this together. schools are still closed, but some

company entrance exams went ahead. temperature checks are now part of daily life, and social distancing is still taken seriously. and in the search for safe spaces, young lovers rediscovered the romance of the drive—through in this movie—mad nation. of course, there is the fear that covid—19 will return. for now, south korea offers a lesson, and some hope, notjust on how to handle the virus, but they've shown what is possible during this pandemic. laura bicker, bbc news, seoul. 0ne measure the government introduced to help families in england cope with the economic hardship caused by the coronavirus outbreak was offering food vouchers to the parents of children who receive free school meals. those vouchers can be used in supermarkets. but there've been problems —

with some of the most needy families unable to get the vouchers, while others have been unable to spend them. what's more, the government doesn't even know how many vouchers have been delivered to parents, as our social affairs correspondent michael buchanan reports. it wasn't meant to be like this. but the pendwin federation in worcestershire had turned to the charity food share this week to feed their vulnerable families. they have one of these. they haven't done those. did they have an emergency one this weekend? no. the school says none of the 50 families eligible for free school meals have received vouchers for a fortnight, causing parents increasing anxiety. many of our families are going hungry. they are ringing up on a daily basis saying, "we haven't got enough food." "can you loan us money?" "can you get us vouchers for ourfood bank?" normally, they would get a breakfast and a hot meal here during the school day and they are not getting that at the moment. jane, hello. the school's food parcel is vital to jane kean smith.

a little bit of everything in there. that's brilliant, thank you very much. she is a self—employed hairdresser who is shielding at home with her elderly parents and four sons, one of whom is disabled. all are eligible for the vouchers, but she has not been able to use the £240 she is due. you just can't get onto the websites and then when you do, it doesn't allow you to spend them online. so, if you are shielding like us and we are locked in for 12 weeks, we can't actually go out to get the shopping at the supermarket, so we can't spend them. what vegetables would you like? 1.3 million children in england are eligible for free school meals, but after the lockdown began, the department for education turned to a french company to provide families with vouchers worth £15 a week. the company's website has been overwhelmed though, creating long online cues for both schools and families. my order was placed on the 2nd of april, and if we looked on the list here, some of them have been redeemed, but many of them still showing

the green bar as live, the parents reporting that they haven't received these. this school food bank is getting busier because of the problems. half the families they support haven't had vouchers he ordered for them almost a month ago. i have sent numerous e—mails. i've sent direct messages through twitter. i've called the helpline, and i have not received a satisfactory answer, there are standard answers, kind of auto reply e—mails that come back and say "there is a delay in the system." "you can allow up to four days," it now says. well, this has been four weeks. the department for education told us they couldn't say how many vouchers had been used by parents, and except there had been problems. and accept there had been problems. schools will be reimbursed, they said, when they develop their own assistant schemes, placing a further burden on a system that's already under stress. michael buchanan, bbc news, worchester. bollywood actor rishi kapoor has died in mumbai. he was 67 and had been

diagnosed with cancer. he was one of indian cinema's most—popular actors and worked in around 150 movies. the indian prime minister narendra modi called him "a powerhouse of talent" who was multi—faceted, endearing and lively. what more is there to say about captain tom moore? just a few weeks ago he was unknown, today he is a national hero, a one—man fundraising machine, as prince william described him. his simple goal was to walk 100 laps of his garden to raise money for nhs charities before his 100th birthday, which is today. well, he's made it many, many times over. the fund stands at more than £30 million. the tributes have been pouring in — as you can imagine.

david sillito reports. # happy birthday to you! # happy birthday, captain tom, daddy, grandpa. # happy birthday to you #. i never, ever anticipated, ever in my life, anything like this. if it's just above one, it may be a lot faster. you very much to everyone wherever you are. captain tom moore. it began as a little challenge in his back garden. 100 laps to try to raise £1000 for nhs charities. today, he was being honoured with an raf flypast as the total reached £30 million. this is the culmination of an extraordinary few weeks and also a celebration ofjust how one man's cheerful determination has inspired people and raised a huge amount of money. # happy birthday to you.#