hi, good morning, welcome to bbc news. i'm victoria derbyshire. here are the latest headlines. new rules proposed for the workplace as the government begins to plan how the uk can start to ease our coronavirus lockdown. relaxing two—metre social distancing, staggering shifts and more working for home are all being considered. at 9:15 we'll talk to a restaurant owner, the boss of a nursery and the ceo of an it company. and let me know how you're feeling about the prospect of returning to work? victoria@bbc.co.uk

you can also message me you can also message me on you can also message me on twitter. italy starts to lift its lockdown — the longest since the start of the coronavirus pandemic — with some businesses starting to reopen. here's the scene live in rome this morning. in the us, president trump says he believes there could be a vaccine by the end of the year, but admits his medical advisers are less optimistic. and are you lonely during lockdown? after 9:30, we'll talk to two people about thier experience of lockdown. one tells us isolation is worse than her cerebral palsy. good morning and welcome to bbc news. new rules to help businesses emerge from lockdown

are being considered by the government. under draft proposals seen by the bbc, employers would need to stagger start times and limit the amount of equipment that needs to be shared. employers should consider providing ppe or physical screens if the 2 metre social distancing rules can't be observed. from today small and medium—sized businesses hit by the pandemic are able to apply for loans of up to £50,000 in a scheme backed by the treasury. borisjohnson will co—host a global online summit this afternoon with the hope of raising £6 billion to develop vaccines and treatments for covid—19. also this lunchtime, a new group of experts — assembled by former government chief scientific adviser sir david king — is meeting to discuss a possible way out of lockdown. and the government has said that university students in england must pay full tuition fees even if courses are taught online in the autumn.

universities will also be able to recruit more students than planned to help ease their financial pressures. first with more details on the draft government proposals for the workplace here is andy moore. deserted streets, like here in leeds, are all part of our new normal, but the government is now looking at how we move out of the current restrictions. the prime minister is not set to publicly outline proposals for easing lockdown just yet but employers are already being consulted about a possible way forward. as part of a draft proposal, the two—metre rule may be relaxed in cases where it cannot be observed, to be replaced by other means of keeping workers safe, such as physical screens and ppe. under the plans, employers will be urged to stagger start and finish times to take pressure off public transport. workers considered vulnerable would be put in the safest possible roles in the workplace.

people who can work from home would be urged to continue doing so. that means many offices would remain closed. it is all part of a very cautious approach to easing the lockdown to avoid a second wave. the british public have shown amazing stoicism and understanding of the need for the lockdown measures and, quite rightly, they want to ensure that, if and when they are eased, that they're eased in a way that makes sure that the british people's sacrifice has been worthwhile and that we continue to operate in a way which means the public health comes first. another 315 coronavirus deaths were reported yesterday, across the uk, in all settings, bringing the total number of fatalities to 28,446. today, borisjohnson willjoin an international initiative to raise billions of pounds to fight coronavirus. he will say that stopping the pandemic is the most urgent shared endeavour of our time. it's humanity against the virus, he says, and together we will prevail.

andy moore, bbc news. the defence secretary ben wallace has suggested that limiting the time spent in close contact with other people could be a way of managing the infection risk for those who return to work. he's been outlining how the measures could be put into practice. there's a range of methods to do that. when you go to your supermarket, you're not two metres away from the person on the till and they use shielding in that example. that's quite a nifty way of doing it — there's a shield between you and the till. so i think there are lots of ways. there's ppe, there's use of time. so the two—metre rule is partly driven by length of time of proximity to another person. that, you know, the further away you are from someone, the longer you can be with them. the closer you are, the higher the likelihood of catching something. so time is another method — you could be closer than two metres but not for long at all, or indeed... there are a range

of ways to do this. and if it's very vital you work next to each other, then potentially things like the shields that you see in the supermarkets, or indeed ppe is a way forward. of course, if you're tested — and we tested a whole workforce when they went on the queen elizabeth aircraft carrier last week — if you've tested and you've started at a sort of clean baseline, then of course you can look at other ways. our business editor simon jack is here. you have seen you have seen some you have seen some of the draft guidance. the two metre social distancing rules and some other interesting points in this. this is just one of them and there are seven for different working environments, whether it is factory, outdoor, working at home. on this they say the two metres social distance rule should be observed where possible but where not you should look at different options. for example, rather than working face—to—face at a workstation, working back to back

or side by side, possibly putting up a screen and also using ppe, personal protective equipment. if we go to the section on ppe, it is entirely blank. all it says is more to detail to follow. not for the first time, the acquisition of ppe equipment is a vexed issue. unions say employers will have to provide this stuff so where will they get it from. will we end up where businesses are competing for millions of masks directly with the nhs? how will that be sorted out had at the moment that bit is blank. all these measures will be so important for giving people confidence that they can go back to work, because there is nervousness. it's not as if eve ryo ne there is nervousness. it's not as if everyone is champing at the bit desperate to get back to work. there is real nervousness out there because the government's simple and repeated message, stay at home, protect the nhs and save lives has been largely pretty effective and people have embraced it. it has bred

a healthy risk aversion in people, but to unpick that you have to have a much more complicated vocabulary that will be much more difficult. you have to have workers who feel safe and employers, and i was speaking to one employment group who said they were worried that if they don't get it right they can be prosecuted and sued for corporate manslaughter. who will want to go through that when you are trying to follow guidelines that are new and u ntested. follow guidelines that are new and untested. the final part of the puzzle is the consumer. will they feel like going out and buying the products and services that will slowly begin to be delivered. there isa slowly begin to be delivered. there is a real chain of confidence that has to be established for it to work. that some of the draft guidance when will we get the facts? businesses were given this yesterday morning and they were given until 10pm last night to comment, so not long to respond. those responses will now go in and ministers will be showing them and ministers will have up showing them and ministers will have up to thursday to respond on how they think in the different

ministries and their reply to their responsibilities. we should get the final draft of a first draft on sunday of next week. we will have a bit more detail then. simon jack, thank you. italy is easing its national lockdown today — the world's longest of the coronavirus pandemic. takeaways and parks are reopening, funerals can resume and some businesses are restarting. but the shutdown has left deep scars in a country with already serious economic problems, as our correspondent mark lowen reports. italy is starting to reopen, but champion pizza—maker teresa iorio can't. with new rules only allowing takeaway for now, she will need more time to adapt and, after eight weeks of lockdown, she has taken such a financial hit that her business will struggle to survive. translation: it would be better to die than not to reopen, because it would kill my dreams for which i've sacrificed my life. it would mean losing my livelihood

because my life is my work. i open the shutters in the morning and this is money for my sister, my niece, for me to live. a city of pizza, of spirit, of tattered beauty and past glories has been pummelled by the world's longest lockdown of the pandemic. we were taken to see one of the roughest parts of one of the eu's poorest regions and, in a place where the mafia typically profits from poverty, there's a fear they are doing it again. until about 10 years ago, this was a no—go zone for police. through the image of social decay, the security has improved here and yet this crisis has reawa kened long—standing concerns about organised crime preying on hardship and it is what many other poverty—hit areas well beyond italy could face too, as the lockdown leaves its scars. carpenter raffaele tells me he has

not worked in almost three months and may have to sell his television to get by. there's been lots more crime since the lockdown, he says, even kids dealing drugs and stealing cars, since there's no work and they need to eat. fighting the resurgence of the neapolitan mafia, the camorra, is this ngo, run by a priest, under police protection. they make up boxes of supplies for those in need, to stop criminal groups from stepping in instead. translation: the camorra is taking advantage of this current vacuum. they have always exploited italy's moments of weakness and this is one of those moments. they provide help to people but then ask them to deal drugs in exchange or give them money. we have to give citizens the antibodies to defend themselves, to stop the camorra from reclaiming this territory. singing. in the old town, musical solidarity, baskets hung to take donations from those who can, and give to those in need.

a health crisis has become a social and economic one. the swansong of a lockdown that has halted the virus but wounded this country. mark lowen, bbc news, naples. some live pictures of rome with the italians slowly and gradually getting back to normal life. as you can see, all wearing face coverings. we will talk about face coverings here ina we will talk about face coverings here in a moment with restaurant owner, an it owner, and a woman who i’u ns owner, an it owner, and a woman who runs a couple of nurseries. those are the kinds of conversations happening in workplaces about how the uk will safely return to work in the uk will safely return to work in the coming weeks and months. hairdressers and barbers in germany are being allowed to reopen today, for the first time since the lockdown was imposed six weeks ago. customers and staff will have to wear masks, and there'll be no

hot drinks or magazines on offer, because of the risk of infection. many businesses say they're booked up for weeks in advance. president trump says he hopes the presidential election in november turns into a referendum on his response to the coronavirus pandemic — that's because he believes he's done a greatjob. in a televised town hall event, broadcast by fox news, mr trump insisted his decision to impose restrictions had saved lives, and refuted claims that he had failed to act quickly enough. david willis reports. that was a great man... in the shadow of the man who led america through the dark days of the civil war, donald trump, the self—declared wartime president, sought to relaunch his presidential campaign with a steady stream of optimism about this country's ability to bounce back from the coronavirus. we want to go back to work quickly, but safely. and that is what is happening. next year, i think, we'll have a great economic year. having hailed the development

of an experimental antiviral drug called remdesivir to treat patients with covid—i9, the president said a vaccine would be available earlier than his medical advisers have so far predicted. we think we are going to have a vaccine by the end of this year and we are pushing very hard. we are building supply lines now, we don't even have the final vaccine. although some states are slowly reopening, they are not doing it quickly enough for some residents. doubling down on assertions the virus came not from a wet market in wuhan, but from biology laboratory at the nearby university of wuhan. my at the nearby university of wuhan. my opinion is they made a mistake, they try to cover it and try to put it out, like a fire. it's really like trying to put out a fire. they couldn't put out the fire. what they really treated the world badly on, they stop people going into china, but they didn't stop people going

into the usa and all over the world. monday sees the return to washington of the us senate, and having already approved $3 trillion in aid, the president hinted congress could have more to come in an effort to rebuild this economy. although some states... although some states are slowly reopening, they are not doing it quickly enough for some residents. president trump expressed sympathy for those who have protested lockdown orders in several states. responding to claims he acted too slowly to stem the spread of the coronavirus, mr trump said his actions had saved thousands of lives. we are going to lose anywhere from 75, 80, 100,000 people. that's a horrible thing. we should not lose one person over this. this should have been stopped in china. it should have been stopped. but if we didn't do it, the minimum we would have lost is a million, a million two, a million four, a million five —

that's the minimum. the president is not without his supporters however. in florida, where marinas recently reopened to the public, hundreds of boats gathered near his winter retreat at mar—a—lago to stage a nautical parade. having left the white house for the first time in more than a month over the weekend,... mr trump is due to travel to arizona in the next few days, and he is not ruling out the possibility of holding election rallies in a few months' time. david willis, bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... the government outlines draft plans for new workplace rules to help businesses emerge from the coronavirus lockdown. proposals include staggering workers' start times, keeping canteens closed, and avoiding people working face—to—face. and italy — the first country to impose a national lockdown — begins to ease some restrictions with some businesses reopening. this week the government will lay

out how and when certain parts of the economy will get back to work. it's likely to be in stages and it's thought the government is planning an approach by the type of work environment and not by sector. let's talk now to some business owners. nick grieves runs the patricia restaurant in newcastle, andy flinn is ceo of an it company based in derby, and anne sheldon runs a group of london based nurseries. thank you all for talking to us. starting with andy, you are in a busy office. how will you adapt that environment to make it safe for staff? good morning. we have put together some plans around social distancing. we are also thinking through a two shift system, allowing people to work from home in the morning and work in the afternoon,

and vice versa, by splitting into two shifts, to bring a back to work aim. is that enough to give employees confidence it is safe to go back? we are operating a one-way system in and out through the doors, which goes through a hand sanitiser area. we put controls in place and measures we believe will give staff the confidence they require. nick, you can seat around 30 customers in your restaurant so how many would your restaurant so how many would you be able to fit if social distancing of two metres had to be followed ? distancing of two metres had to be followed? we did the measurements, and it's down to eight covers. is that economically sustainable for you? no, not at all. we would have to translate into a £300 per head, whichjust wouldn't to translate into a £300 per head,

which just wouldn't work. what are you thinking of doing then? we have started and at home kit where people can ordera started and at home kit where people can order a three course meal and they finish it off at home. i think we will be starting that on friday. nick, it is a bad line, but i do wa nt to nick, it is a bad line, but i do want to hear from you and your plans for your restaurant. we will call you back. in the meantime, anne, you runa you back. in the meantime, anne, you run a couple of nurseries looking after 80 to 90 children per day. how will things change? we will have to think very carefully about social distancing. the children are very young, some only six months old. social distancing will be a real challenge for us. so we will do things like divide our children up

into smaller group sizes, planned small activities for small groups of children so we can separate groups of children around the rooms. and then we have to think about things like ppe. we have tested out using face masks with groups of children, but that hasn't really worked for us. because children like to see our faces. children like to see adults smiling, and they have found a face really frightening. so we will try using visors as an alternative. things like hand washing in the entrances so families, children and staff ca n entrances so families, children and staff can watch their hands as they come into the nursery. and we will have to have social distancing when parents are dropping off and collecting children. those are just some of the measures we will be introducing. even if you had a group

of four or six introducing. even if you had a group offourorsix in introducing. even if you had a group of four or six in one room and you spread them out around the room, how will you stop toddlers from toddling over to each other? you're absolutely right, that will be a challenge. the truth is, i don't think we will be able to do that. but if we can really engage children in these small group activities and try to limit the time they are wandering off to cuddle each other, and they will be very excited to see each other and return to nursery, and they will want to do those kinds of things. absolutely. and presumably plenty of hand washing for the little ones as well. we will go back to andy. we are still working on the technical side of things to nick in newcastle. andy, how much are you champing at the bit to get back to work in terms of your it business? how much has it been affected by the lockdown? it business? how much has it been affected by the lockdown7m it business? how much has it been affected by the lockdown? it has had

affected by the lockdown? it has had a major effect. we supply a lot of services into the motor sector, which has been challenged by the closure of showrooms. as a result that has left us at around 30% of capacity at the moment. we have had to furlough people and we have been working on a survey across our customers to engage as to when they will look to try to get back to business as they see as normal, or even staggered. so that survey is key to how we can step services up and start to take future steps forward. i am interested in the fact you are using the furlough scheme. that comes to an end at the end of june. if there was a cliff edge, and if it just june. if there was a cliff edge, and if itjust suddenly june. if there was a cliff edge, and if it just suddenly stopped june. if there was a cliff edge, and if itjust suddenly stopped at june. if there was a cliff edge, and if it just suddenly stopped at the end ofjune, would that be an issue for you and perhaps other businesses? yes, for sure. and it won't happen like that. it will be a

staggered approach back. it will be a challenge, and i think so for all businesses. we don't know if there will be a tapering of support ongoing afterjune. we'll have to see from the chancellor. i think we can go back to nick. hello, and i can go back to nick. hello, and i can hear you fine. that is much better. you have space for 30 tables... 30 covers. you told us with social distancing you would only have eight per night, and you would have to charge £300 per head. you are doing a a scheme the moment. it's kind of like a kit where guests can take it home and there is a bit of preparation. —— you are doing a ta ke of preparation. —— you are doing a take out scheme. it's called a takeout service. you get a couple of starters, main course and dessert and you can buy some wine and have a

meal in your home. how much demand has there been for that? we are starting it on friday and we have released the details on the social media yesterday. it seems good, we have had loads of people enquiring. we are opening up phone lines today at 12 o'clock for bookings for friday and we will see how it goes. itjust friday and we will see how it goes. it just depends if friday and we will see how it goes. itjust depends if it has friday and we will see how it goes. it just depends if it has longevity. i think people will be into it straightaway but whether that continues is another question. how do you feel about the future, because from everything i read, it looks like the hospitality sector, pubs and restaurants etc, they will probably be the last kinds of places to open up, unless you have outdoor space, where that might be different. yes, i guess so. we haven't, as i'm sure many restaurants don't. it is surreal,

and it's a real worrying time. we have to try to figure out what we will do and how we will survive. restaurants do it all the time. it's always tough, so hopefully we can all manage it. but we need support from the government for as long as possible and without that it will be carnage. there will be millions of people out of a job and we can't have that. how have you used government support so far? our staff, we are using the furlough scheme. we haven't received the grant yet, but i am told it is in the works. but we are quite a small restaurant, so it's a small amount of money. we have been shut eight weeks now with no revenue and still have suppliers that need paying, as well as the rent and rates and everything that needs paying in the future. so it's not enough. we have to try and start this new idea up to

get some money end so we to try and start this new idea up to get some money end so we can to try and start this new idea up to get some money end so we can hit the ground running when we all allowed to be open in whatever form that is. and who is patricia, who your restau ra nt and who is patricia, who your restaurant is named after? it's my grandma. it's named after her because she helped me when we opened it up. hopefully she is watching. thank you, nick, and we wish you the best. and to andy and anne, good luck to all of you. and wherever you work across the country, let me know how you feel about the prospect of going back to work. tracy says, i'm really worried because i work in a public library. there will be close public library. there will be close public contact, touching books and other materials. it will be just like being in a supermarket. i have a couple of messages from hairdressers. jane says she is really nervous, how can she go back to work as a hairdresser? let me

know how you are feeling. for many children school closures and the restrictions on their lives are bringing new struggles. the charity adoption uk has released new figures that show an increase in anxiety and violence among adopted children since lockdown began. dan johnson has more. we've had lots of angry episodes from our child. the way they behave has kind of become apparent as soon as lockdown came down. fear—based angry behaviours which come out as violence, destruction, ripping things up, destroying toys, and he has been violent towards me. he's scared — he's told us he's scared mummy and daddy are going to die of coronavirus, and he's also scared that he's going to get it, as well. here's some! ok, what shall we make out of this, then? rachel and her husband are feeling the strain of life in lockdown with their five—year—old son.

he's got emotional needs, and would normally get extra support at home and at school. he's a lovely little boy, we love him beyond measure, but we don't always know how to help him, and that's the issue with a lot of looked—after children, so he's probably been through a lot more trauma than many adults will ever in their life. so trying to cope with that emotion when you're in lockdown is really, really hard. ben is bringing up five children, all with disabilities or special needs, and he's on his own. his baby son, teddy, died just before christmas, but he adopted again two weeks ago. we're coping, as strange as it may seem — single dad with, you know — caring for five children with additional and complex needs, that seems a handful, but i'm actually really enjoying family time. i can't say i'm the best teacher in the world, but we're just...

we're getting on. ben decided to shield his family seven weeks ago, which has meant turning down practical support. for me, my children's health and well—being is paramount, and i'm worried as a parent — "am i doing these things right? there's tailored physiotherapy for each of the children — am i doing these things right?" and although a lot of the support that i'm receiving virtually — because everyone'sjust had to adapt virtually — it isn't the same as hands—on care. for some families, this is a really positive time — they're able to bond without the usual stresses of everyday life — but we've heard about parents who are struggling so much that their adoption could be at risk of breaking down altogether. and for so many families, the longer this goes on, the more the pressure builds. the thought of further lockdown

is filling me with dread, really, if i'm totally honest, because the thought of another few weeks of what we've already experienced, and again, not having those services in place, is really tough. caring for the children is no problem — you know, i can do that with my eyes shut — but for me, it's the getting out. i will never, ever take socialising for granted everagain — everagain — that is for sure! i've not seen past this garden for seven weeks, and it'sjust... it's just strange and surreal and worrying. and i do go to bed on a night and i am scared, and i am worried for my children's health and well—being, but we've just got to work through it, and hopefully, you know, things will resume to normality sooner rather than later. danjohnson dan johnson with danjohnson with that report. we will have the weather in a moment.

it will get one towards the end of the week. a couple of messages about the week. a couple of messages about the prospect of going back to work. antony says, i've not stopped working for the lockdown but i'm trying to social distance, which is ha rd trying to social distance, which is hard when those around you are not practising the same. julie says, i'm nervous for my husband who is nonessential, but has never been off work. they forced him to take a week of holiday and then made him work. neil says, i'm a driving instructor, which means being in my car all day, sitting very close to four or five pupils every day, plus i have no hand washing or toilet facilities. thank you for those. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. thank you very much. as you mentioned, things are said to get one as we head towards ve day, but at the moment it will be pleasant out there. when you have the sunshine. plenty to come for many. always cloudier around the eastern coast of south—east scotland and eastern england and across the eastern england and across the eastern half of england we could see a few sharp showers into the afternoon but away from it, most places dry. a dry day for the vast

majority. one is to south—west and wales, 90 degrees, it 20, although it will be killed tomorrow as the breeze picks up. chillier down the eastern coast. this evening and overnight, the showers we see will quickly fade away, must becoming dry, patchy mist, fog and frost across the north, but channel islands, devon, cornwall turning increasingly wet. the odd rumble of thunder towards tomorrow morning. temperatures holding up around ten or 11 degrees. a wet and windy start across the south—west of england. that spread to wales. maybe as far east as the isle of wight and west sussex before the rain starts to fizzle out. away from there, largely dry and sunny for the vast majority and in the sunshine, very pleasant. 18 possible in north—west england and western scotland. hello, this is bbc news with me, vitoria derbyshire. the headlines. new rules proposed for the workplace as the government begins to plan how the uk can start to ease our coronavirus lockdown. proposals include staggering workers' start times, keeping canteens closed,

and avoiding people working face—to—face. italy starts to lift its lockdown — the longest since the start of the coronavirus pandemic — with some businesses starting to reopen. in the us, president trump says he believes there could be a vaccine by the end of the year, but admits his medical advisers are less optimistic. are you lonely? are you not really seeing or hearing from anybody for weeks on end during lockdown? even before the coronavirus outbreak, one in five people in the uk said they often felt lonely, and now lockdown measures mean many more people are spending extended periods of time alone.

let's speak to anastasia tempest, who's lived alone all her adult life. she tweeted me to say she was on her own and feeling depressed during lockdown. she has cerebral palsy, and has been self—isolating in herflat in north london. in the moment we will speak to a representative from the red cross. good morning. hello, victoria, how are you? very well. how are you? i'm trying to be ok. this lockdown is really getting to me. tell us why. it's the isolation, but double isolation. as i mentioned to you when you called, i have a care background, i don't have any support system. i have cerebral palsy. so the combination of just system. i have cerebral palsy. so the combination ofjust being absolutely the combination ofjust being a bsolutely left the combination ofjust being absolutely left on my own, and i'm finding things incredibly difficult because i feel that my health is actually deteriorating. also i don't have an electric wheelchair that

works, so the combination of absolutely everything. and i'vejust been let down, ignored, and ijust feel that nobody gives a damn and to be honest, i worry about whether i could drop dead and nobody would know. goodness me, don't say that! can you remember the last time you went out? i can't remember the last timei went out? i can't remember the last time i went out. ijust feel that everything is an absolute blur. one of the things that actually keeps me going as i listen to the radio, i listen to ted talks and i listen to documentaries and the news. i think i ought to cut down on some of the news because, as you know, it'sjust one subject only. but there is only so many documentaries on elephants that you can watch. i'm really crawling up the walls, to be quite honest. do you have a family, do you

have friends? i have one or two, but they are busy with their own lives, and they are quite at a distance. so no, not really. it's very difficult when you've had a care background and you live a life without any relatives. i've got to say that it's not only the elderly that live in isolation. i mean, when the government are always talking about people 70 years and more, it really annoys me, to be quite honest. yeah. how would you describe the impact on you over the last few months? because i know you have been self isolating since february which is before the government brought in lockdown. yeah, because i thought that would be a good idea because i'm concerned about my health conditions and possibly getting worse. i always thought it's a good idea to keep a distance from other

people, you know. anybody outside. i will tell you something. like the queen, i don't shake that many hands but i always wear gloves! i'm not wearing gloves now. no, no. it is very difficult and i still have the practicalities of food and i've had to rely on a couple of charities. if it wasn't for people who do charity work, i don't know what i'd be doing. the social services haven't done anything for me. i used to be on direct payments and i'm not on direct payments any more. it was a good scheme to employ my own personal assistant, and that worked really well, so i say don't rock the boat if the system is working well. soi boat if the system is working well. so i find myself improvising a lot. idida so i find myself improvising a lot. i did a food order online. that has proven to be a nightmare. i'm not as

technical as i'd like to be. and i have one meal a day, so it'sjust as well! i don't like the idea of... cani well! i don't like the idea of... can i be direct? i don't want to be fat with cerebral palsy! fair enough. you are saying to us, i think, anastasia, that in terms of... there are a couple of charities that bring you food, you might be able to get on online delivery order if you are lucky. that is the only contact you are having with people? you are having to minute conversations with those people? two minute conversation and i get the impression from them that they just want to say, here i get the impression from them that theyjust want to say, here is the food, goodbye! well, it's really distressing to hear you talking like this, anastasia. but we absolutely get it. we will talk to zoe abrams ina get it. we will talk to zoe abrams in a moment. first we will speak to ivy gray, who is 87. can you hear me? yes, thank you. how are you

feeling? fed up! laughter i know what anastasia means. i've had some lovely people that phoned me and they bring me things, but it's being in this flat alone all the time and whereas i used to go up town about four times a week because i'm fed up indoors, i can't do that now! i i'm fed up indoors, i can't do that now! lam i'm fed up indoors, i can't do that now! i am climbing up the wall. it's good exercise, but i'm doing it! how would you say, ivy, it is affecting your well—being? would you say, ivy, it is affecting your well-being? it has pulled me down. i do do exercise, but it has pulled me down because when i've done exercise, done what i need to do, isit done exercise, done what i need to do, i sit and maybe watch television for movement and sound. but i start to think, and i start to think of the past, and things may be which should have been different, and

lovely things which won't come back. and i end up nearly in tears at. i'm so sorry to hear that, ivy. but... i do do what i can and i love the people that love me, and the people that helped me. and who are those people? anybody i know. yeah. i wouldn't pick anybody. if you asked me to hug two people, i say i would hope the queen and prince philip! because i love the people i know, i love my family. it's so interesting that you mentioned hugging, ivy, because i wonder if that is one of the things you are missing. because i wonder if that is one of the things you are missingm because i wonder if that is one of the things you are missing. it is, it is. yes, it is. but it's being in here, not being able to touch, not asking someone in for coffee. like i say, not being able to go up town

and talk to people. my friends uptown. i used to go up about ten o'clock and go from cafe to cafe to toilet! laughter so coffee and have something to eat at waitrose and i can't do that now. i can't go into the shops with people i know. i'm the sort of person that likes people, and that sounds weird. it doesn't sound weird, it really doesn't, ivy. there are loads of people who will relate to what you say. let me bring in zoe from the red cross. heartbreaking to hear from both ivy from the red cross. heartbreaking to hearfrom both ivy and from the red cross. heartbreaking to hear from both ivy and anastasia. from the red cross. heartbreaking to hearfrom both ivy and anastasia. as ivy says, it is notjust elderly people suffering from loneliness. what can you say to both of our ladies this morning that might help in some little way? well, i think from listening to ivy and anastasia,

what you appreciate is how actual it resilient they are. it is a long—term grind, loneliness, and it sounds like they both are deploying some strategies to be able to cope in what is a really difficult time for so many people. you quoted at the beginning the figure of one in five people being always lonely and that comes from red cross research a couple of years ago. there was a survey recently which found that this was even more of the case, that 24% of people say they now feel more lonely than usual. we do know that people who have mobility issues, long—term health problems, people from lower incomes, so for more greatly from loneliness. what practical things could ivy and anastasia do? practical things that they could do are reaching out to they could do are reaching out to the people that they do know and making requests to be in regular

contact. so, i mean, as i think anastasia said, people are busy with their own lives. sometimes it'sjust about getting on someone's radar. if that feels too much of a burden on the people that you know, or you've already done it, then there are organisations like the british red cross that you can reach out to. if you look up the british red cross online there is information about getting help for loneliness. let's say ivy or anastasia did that, what would you do for them? well, we have a wonderful, wonderful volunteers who willjust listen. who will have conversations with them. it's so important in times of crisis to be treated as a whole person, not asjust a set of to be treated as a whole person, not as just a set of physical needs. anastasia talked about how she had had some food deliveries, and that is wonderful, we must meet physical needs in this crisis, but people are more than... we are social animals, we need more thanjust to be fed. people need contact, as well. it is about regular reliable kind contact,

so about regular reliable kind contact, so having chats on the phone, video conferencing, and then we have put together tax, for example is that this is one of the ways we have adapted —— packs, this is one of the ways we have adapted our services. like listening to podcasts, colouring in, caring for pot plants. it is part of keeping a busy mind. and also starting to establish connections that will see people through to hopefully when this extreme moment of crisis has passed, so extreme moment of crisis has passed, so they can be less lonely in future, as well. yeah. i mean, this is when twitter comes into its own. a number of people saying, i would like to connect with anastasia as ivy just to have like to connect with anastasia as ivyjust to have a conversation. there is the nhs volunteer responded scheme, which some people reminded me of, which i thought about this morning when i woke up. part of the idea of encouraging all those volu nteers idea of encouraging all those volunteers to come forward was so that they could have telephone conversations with people like

yourself, ivy, and yourself, anastasia. is there a way of looking that up, anastasia, would that be something you would be interested in with yellow volunteering if it was over the telephone, i feel i understand a lot of people's circumstances that they, too, are also in, but can ijust say... it is the combination of circumstances that i find that is very difficult, with having cerebral palsy. it is quite a severe level and i think, however, that having isolation can often be much more difficult than cerebral palsy itself because having cerebral palsy itself because having cerebral palsy itself because having cerebral palsy related to something practical, whether i get the bed changed, or having a meal prepared, you know, something on that level. but the isolation seems to just get really, really ignored. and i don't

have any relatives, and i find that very difficult. and i've always been an isolated person, even before the coronavirus came on the scene. yeah. you may not want to do this, ivy and anastasia. can i put you both together? can i swap numbers between you both? again, you may not want to do that. can i explain something? yes. it is difficult for me to see, asi yes. it is difficult for me to see, as i have md, and it is also difficult for me to feed myself. i feed half on me and half down the front. not quite as bad as that. life itself is difficult but i still have a brain and i can't read books. i used to love reading. i do listen to books... audiobooks, yeah. i used to books... audiobooks, yeah. i used to love reading, and i can't. i have

great, great, great difficulty. if you asked me to write down a phone number, ican't you asked me to write down a phone number, i can't do it because if i didl number, i can't do it because if i did i wouldn't be able to read it afterwards. understood. because my hand shakes so badly. i've got to see a neurologist, but my appointments were all cancelled because of this wretched virus. of course. i know you have some good friends, ivy, and i know they call you. i think you will have to ask them to get the nhs volunteer responded scheme to work for you so that people will call you so that you don't feel as lonely. is it ok for you to ask for help from them? what, my friends? yeah. i don't like asking people to do things a.|j know! but they want to help, they will to help you. i promise you.

know! but they want to help, they will to help you. i promise youlj am will to help you. i promise you.” ama will to help you. i promise you.” am a pain in the butt. you are not, you are lovely. 0h, am a pain in the butt. you are not, you are lovely. oh, i like you! anastasia, thank you for getting in touch. and zoe, thank you for your advice and guidance. thank you very much. zoe abrams from the red cross. i want to give you the action line number because perhaps you are affected by loneliness or other issues right now. the address should be on your screen right now. they can point you in the right direction for any long organisations and support lines that can help. "nerve—racking" and "scary" is how an asthmatic blind man has described going to the shops to buy food. he's registered as clinically vulnerable, and is therefore entitled to home delivery. charles bloch also says he's had difficulty using supermarket websites, finding available delivery slots, and — when he has been able to make an order — getting all the food he's requested delivered to his home. he's had to resort to going to the shops with his guide dog,

and is worried he'll bump into someone with the virus. i can speak to charles now. hello, good morning. hello, good morning. good money. how difficult is it to get your food delivered at home? well, at the beginning i thought it wouldn't be too difficult to get things arranged, but has time has gone on it has got harder and harder. tell us why. i applied online to be classed as vulnerable because my local gp wouldn't actually tell me if i would be or not. and i didn't hear back for another two weeks from one of the leading supermarkets to be able to book a priority slot. their website didn't work very well, sadly. and then finally another supermarket was able to get me some delivery slots. and then when the shopping arrived only about 30% of the shopping was there, so i still had to then go to there, so i still had to then go to the shop to get what i needed. and

how vulnerable do you feel when you go out, then? well, i don't want to say... you know... as an independent disabled person, i don't want to be classed as vulnerable. i have worked so hard in my life not to be a vulnerable person. but obviously i've got many eye conditions that result in me having about 10% vision. and one of them involves having bad depth perception, so not knowing how far people are away from me. so the social distancing is quite difficult because i am co nsta ntly quite difficult because i am constantly in fear that i am less than two metres away from people and evenif than two metres away from people and even if i have to ask for help from someone, there is inevitably going to be within two metres to get that help. understood. at the british retail consortium say, they are working hard but is impossible to deliver it to all people.

local communities have a vital role to play and we urge the public to support vulnerable neighbours by picking up food from stores for them. are you in a position where people may be able to help get your food? yeah, thankfully i have a few friends and family who are able to go to the shops for me if i need them. i feel that i want to be independent and do it myself so i still go out if i can. if it is two items i will go out and get that for myself but if it is a bigger shock i will ask someone for help but at the same time! will ask someone for help but at the same time i feel like i am putting them at risk by going out and they are putting themselves up against potentially catching the virus. i mean, it was like our previous conversation. if you need help, you need help, and i appreciate you feel like you are putting them at risk, but... people wa nt to putting them at risk, but... people want to help those who are most in need, don't they? yeah. i haven't received a great deal of information of what services i can access, so i

have reached out to organisations like scope and they have helped me to be able to fill those gaps and be able to feel i am not disconnected from the outside world, really. yeah. child, thank you for talking to us. thank you. thank you. trials talking to us as a registered blind man, asthmatic. doesn't want to feel vulnerable, has worked hard for his independence, but he still can't get the shopping he need to deliver to his home. since the start of lockdown in the uk, we've seen lots of heroic fundraising attempts, from captain tom moore to the bbc‘s big night in. josh patterson, from the reality tv show made in chelsea, has raised over £18,000 through his own fundraiser. tell us what you've been doing. hello. i set off. i actually finished yesterday. i set off on a five day challenge to originally do five

marathons in five days. but i decided on the last day, yesterday, to do an ultramarathon, 52.4 miles, to do an ultramarathon, 52.4 miles, to make it six in five. 0h, to do an ultramarathon, 52.4 miles, to make it six in five. oh, my goodness! we are seeing you walking around, seeing the footage of you walking around, slightly jogging around your patio. how do you feel? you look well! i'm good, i went for a five k run this morning. ifeel good. i'm just so happy. everyone has been unbelievable. never in my wildest dreams did i think an idea at 1am would materialise into something like this! i think there are moments like this when communities come together and i'm just so proud to be british. i think we've raised almost £21,000. the aim was only to raise two. it keeps rising literally by the minute, so i'm eternally grateful about everyone's donation. what was your motivation at 1am ? everyone's donation. what was your motivation at 1am? i got a phone call. i think the news, number one,

just seeing what our nhs workers we re just seeing what our nhs workers were going through, our care workers. ijust were going through, our care workers. i just cannot were going through, our care workers. ijust cannot imagine the sacrifices they are having to make each day. so if i could do something as silly as this to make their lives and their family life a as silly as this to make their lives and theirfamily life a bit as silly as this to make their lives and their family life a bit easier, it was worth that. and from a mental health point of view, friend of mine who works at khan said there had been an increase 38% in calls, —— my friend who works at calm. there had been a 38% increase in calls. this will fund phone calls, life—saving phone calls, which is fantastic. absolutely. have you got any more fundraisers planned ? what absolutely. have you got any more fundraisers planned? what else will you do in lockdown? nothing this year, but next year certainly for mental health, we are going to have something in the pipeline, which is very exciting. thank you very much. thank you for talking to us. appreciate you coming on. josh

patterson, who has raised £18,000. no, £21,000 it is now. five marathons in five days, although he did an ultramarathon yesterday. excuse me, i'm just turning to the printer to get some of your messages. neville says... he was listening to anastasia. i know how she feels, i suffer with loneliness. i don't have that many close friends myself. karen says, i wanted to say a middle aged, suffering depression from loneliness. even though i don't really like myjob, being at work was a big distraction. now even going out once a week to the supermarket is such a spirit lifter. but then i go home to an empty house and the depression starts again. and elaine says, i would really like to contact anastasia by telephone. apart from relating to her, i'm an 80—year—old woman of colour and i have been through some of her difficulty. i would like to chat to her. elaine leaves her landline, so

we will do our best to pass that on to anastasia. thank you very much. there are some really compassionate people out there, so thank you. this is bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. hello there. a bit of a weather roller—coaster way it later into the weekend, but until we get there, compared with last week, temperatures are on the rise this week. most places warming up although the wind will temper things over the next few days across the south. fair bit of sunshine at times and not a huge amount of rain, but today we do have some rain in the forecast. mainly the tail end of this weather front which is eating away at high pressure builds in from the north. it will produce plenty of cloud across eastern areas even into the afternoon and whilst most will be dry, there will be a few showers around. the other shout one across parts of eastern england, especially east midlands, lincolnshire, may parts of east anglia. one is to cross wales and south—west, 19, 20 degrees. chill down the eastern

coast derry, around ten to 14 degrees, especially where the cloud links. this evening and overnight, the showers we see across parts of central and eastern england will fade away, most will be dry, some patch mist and fog across the north but the channel islands, devon and,, heavy rain arriving late in the night, maybe the odd rumble of thunder. the breeze picks up keeping temperatures in double vigurs. akhil started tuesday, could be thrust around, the odd patch of mist and fog. that will clear and are dry and sunny day for the vast majority. when you thought northern ireland, england and wales. rain across the south—west and southern parts of wales, heavy initially, could get as far east as hampshire, maybe west sussex. it will fizzle out into the afternoon. always windiest to words where the rain will be and compared to 20 degrees today, 12 to 14 the high tomorrow. much cooler. cool across southern areas, but north—west england, west of scotland, 16 to 18 degrees. the weather front across the south—west will gradually fizzle out through tuesday night into the middle of the week. high pressure dominates. we

will see some cloud and a chance of a shower or too close to cornwall, pembrokeshire, more especially with the clouds drifting northwards across ireland. much of england and wales, a sunny day in store on wednesday, feeling one along the eastern coasts and seeing temperatures at left a degree or two, may be as high as 20 or 21 celsius. one that still as we go into thursday, uk wide.19, celsius. one that still as we go into thursday, uk wide. 19, 20 degrees possible across scotland. as isaid, degrees possible across scotland. as i said, roller—coaster of a journey weather—wise into the weekend because once we start warm it will turn substantially cooler with an added wind—chill by the time we hit some day. that's how your weather is looking, see you soon.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the uk government outlines draft rules for businesses to follow once lockdown is eased, including reduced hot—desking and staggered shift times. on the road to a vaccine — world leaders hold a global summit hoping to raise billions to develop vaccines and treatments for covid—19. we'll hear from a representative of the european commission who are co—hosting the summit. some restaurants and shops start to open in italy as the world's longest lockdown begins to lift — but there are concerns about the longterm impact of the restrictions this crisis has reawakened long—standing concerns about organised crime preying on hardship, and it's what many