today at six... the number of deaths from coronavirus in the uk is now the highest in europe. the latest figures show britain has overtaken italy, another country hit hard by the coronavirus. ministers say it's too early to compare. i'm not sure that the international comparison works unless you reliably know that all countries are measuring in the same way. and it also depends on how good, frankly, countries are in gathering their statistics. we'll be looking at why the uk now has such a high death toll. coronavirus in care homes — the number of deaths registered in england and wales was nearly 3,000 in one week in april. the government did sayjust at the beginning not to worry

in care homes, but now it seems we are at the centre of the storm, and we want more help and support from government, because we feel like we are left out in the cold. now it's virgin atlantic that announces job cuts — 3,000 to go and no more flights out of gatwick. so much for social distancing. aer lingus promises more flights after a passenger took this picture. and i will be here on the isle of wight, where the government today launched its brand—new phone app to help track coronavirus. # lights will guide you... music will fix you — the soundabout choir for people with special needs can't meet any more, but their voices still come together. and coming up on bbc news, as other sports voice concerns over their futures, the english football league says it could be facing a loss of £200 million.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the uk now has the highest official death toll the impact of coronavirus on some of the most vulnerable in society is becoming ever clearer. the latest figures from the office of national statistics a coronavirus deaths registered in england and were increased by more than a third in the week ending the 24th of april. that way, there were 279a deaths in ca re that way, there were 279a deaths in care homes linked to the coronavirus. that means a total of nearly 6,000 care home deaths up to april the 24th.

0ur social affairs correspondent alison holt reports. this care home in leeds is among the latest to lose residence to coronavirus. seven people have died here, each an individual tragedy. the personal loss that lies behind the official numbers. staff say they are doing all they can for residents, in a fight against the virus that is being waged in residential and nursing homes across the country. we got to the care home and mary was there at the time and was looking through the window and it was, like, surreal. at another ca re it was, like, surreal. at another care home, joe brown only managed to see his mother bertha from outside after she tested positive for covid—i9. she died a few days later. he doesn't understand why the virus wasn't mentioned on her death certificate, but those are questions for another day. there was my mum, not three metres away, behind the glass and the care workers again we re glass and the care workers again were trying to get her to look out

the window to see us, you know? and at one point, she lifted her hand a few inches, but i couldn't do anything and i like to think i've been quite a strong person myself all my life, felt totally helpless. more than a third of deaths in care homes in britain were registered as linked to covid—i9 in the week up to april the 24th, but, linked to covid—i9 in the week up to aprilthe 24th, but, overall, linked to covid—i9 in the week up to april the 24th, but, overall, the number of deaths homes are seeing in england and wales from all causes is much higher than usual. almost four times more deaths than we would expect to see at this time of year we re expect to see at this time of year were registered in that last week, about a 280% more deaths registered in care homes above that five year average, and that number is going up. and 35% of those mentioned covid oi'i up. and 35% of those mentioned covid on the death certificate. once again, these are official figures, painting the distressing image of the impact coronavirus is having on ca re the impact coronavirus is having on care homes. i understand that,

within days, the government will set out a plan of intensive support for ca re out a plan of intensive support for care homes in particular, including additional back—up from councils and health services. with care providers still having trouble with protective equipment and testing, many see more support as overdue, but vital. we need more help from the government on testing, on ppe and financial support and i think we need more help so we can reduce the debts in ca re help so we can reduce the debts in care homes going forward. we need to be at the centre, not on the periphery —— deaths. be at the centre, not on the periphery -- deaths. four weeks, ca re periphery -- deaths. four weeks, care home staff said they felt largely on their own as they tried to protect residents. the test of more coordinated support will be whether that changes. alison holt, bbc news. the uk now has the highest official death toll from coronavirus in europe — and the second—highest in the world after the united states. speaking in the last half an hour, the foreign secretary dominic raab warned against making international comparisons. today's latest figures for people

who have tested positive for coronavirus show that, in the last 2a hours, there were 693 deaths recorded — that's in hospitals, care homes and in the community. that means the total number of deaths is now 29,427 — these are people who tested positive for coronavirus. that number has seen uk overtake italy's death toll. 0ur science editor david shukman looks at how the number of deaths here compares with other countries. two of the biggest countries in europe, the uk and italy, are among the hardest hit by coronavirus. knock—downs have lowered the daily death toll, but the scale of the losses is massive. direct comparisons are difficult because of how deaths are counted, often in different ways. in this graph, america stands out for the total loss so far. the uk and italy look similar, though their systems for tallying deaths are not the same. another view is deaths per size of

population. belgium seems worst, but, unlike many, it includes deaths in care homes where covid—i9 is suspected but not confirmed. at today pass my government briefing, the foreign secretary dominic raab confirmed the uk's latest death toll and it is now slightly higher than italy's. italy's. it does seem know that the uk has had more deaths from covid—i9 than any other country in europe. if it does turn out that we are the country that is hardest hit in europe, what is your reaction to that? there are different ways of counting deaths, as we know, we have had that debate in this country. we now publish data that includes all deaths in all settings are not all countries do that, so i'm not sure the international comparison works u nless the international comparison works unless you reliably know that all countries are measuring in the same way. and it also depends on how good, frankly, countries are in gathering their statistics and our

own office of national statistics is widely acknowledged to be the world leader. there are key differences between countries that could affect the outcome. in italy, the median age is a7, while, in the uk, it is a0 and we know the elderly are more vulnerable. london is a city with global connections and more exposed to the movement of new diseases. while in italy, many households include several generations, making grandparents more likely to get infected. there are also important differences in the responses to the virus. italy was ahead in the outbreak. it introduced a tougher lockdown than the uk and much earlier. the timing of these decisions will be scrutinised for some time to come. hospitals in northern italy were overwhelmed, with some very grim scenes. while in the uk, the nhs has so far had spare capacity. and, in the uk, testing

got off to a slower start than in italy and today came official acknowledgement of that. in the early phases, and i have said this before, i think if we had managed to mmp before, i think if we had managed to ramp testing capacity quicker, it would have been beneficial and, you know, for all sorts of reasons, that didn't happen and i think it is clear you need lots of testing for this. in so many towns and cities, there have been terrible losses and it isn't over yet. it may be years before we actually know the final death toll and then work out which country suffered most. and, when we get there, how much will that really matter to the families hit by the virus? david shukman, bbc news. our health editor hugh pym is here. as the number of deaths mount up, sadly, people are going to be making these kinds of comparisons, aren't they? yes, that figure for the uk of

more than 29,a00 deaths, it is a sobering moment and as david said, trying to take stock of uk stands in relation to other countries. and there is one more slide to look at, shown at the downing street media briefing, which shows how the uk co m pa res briefing, which shows how the uk compares in terms of the growth in death numbers after the first 50 deaths were repeated in each country and you can see the uk above other leading countries in europe and, actually, above italy, even though we are 15—20 days behind italy, they we re we are 15—20 days behind italy, they were out front when the epidemic hit europe. and that, of course, should be taken with caveats, slightly different ways of measuring these figures. the uk is a bigger population than italy. london, the capital, is three times bigger than italy's largest city. 0bviously, capital, is three times bigger than italy's largest city. obviously, you knockin italy's largest city. obviously, you knock in the united states, this is where the virus has spread rapidly, in both places —— new york in the united states. we should always take note of that, so it is early to be

drawing firm conclusions but listening to mps on the health select committee today, they are broadly supportive of where the government stands, they know it is much too early to be criticising, it is easy with hindsight and a very difficult challenge for the government, but the questions they are asking are interesting. should the lockdown had happened earlier in the lockdown had happened earlier in the uk question mark should there be more controls on flights coming into the uk because you should there have been more testing question mark and i think these questions will continue to be asked. thanks very much. virgin atlantic has announced it plans to cut more than 3,000 jobs in the uk and end its operation at gatwick airport. the virgin boss blamed what he called the "devastating" effect of covid—i9. it's a big blow for the london airport, coming just days after british airways said it could not rule out closing its gatwick operation as well. 0ur transport correspondent, tom burridge is at gatwick airport now. tom, isn't thisjust tom, isn't this just yet another example of how challenging this whole business is for airlines?

george, the airline industry is shrinking in front of our eyes. lastly, big job cuts from british airways. today, virgin atlantic said it would plan to cut 3,000 out of 10,000 jobs, that is a0% of pilots. the airline is fighting for us the bible, it has applied for a government bailout —— for survival. as one senior executive put it to be denied, normally they are good at forecasting but at the moment, they don't have a good crystal ball, things are that uncertain but they believe passenger numbers won't return to pre—pandemic levels until 2023. for gatwick, it is a blow. not a knockout punch and that is because virgin atlantic was the ninth biggest airline at this airport. british airways is the second biggest customerfor british airways is the second biggest customer for gatwick and if that airline, as it has indicated, we re that airline, as it has indicated, were to pull out also from gatwick, that would be a bitter blow but the scene behind me says it all, tail fin at the tailfin scene behind me says it all, tail fin at the tail fin static, not going anywhere and those aircraft

are not earning any money. tom, thank you very much. and staying with airlines... aer lingus — which operates daily flights between belfast and london — has announced it will put on five more flights a week, after images of a nearly full plane emerged yesterday. aer lingus's reaction raises some serious questions about how airlines are going to protect their passengers as the country emerges from lockdown in the coming weeks. here's our ireland correspondent emma va rdy. it was these pictures taken by a worker travelling from belfast to london which have added to mounting concerns over the way airlines are operating during the lockdown. no social distancing whatsoever. none whatsoever. 0n the plane, the queues were down the steps and out onto the tarmac, as they were before. all this has happened, no change whatsoever. since restrictions were imposed, the number of daily flights has fallen by around 80%. some 60 flights a day now arrive at london heathrow, compared to 600 a day before the pandemic. but there is no policy

capping passenger numbers. aer lingus has said there was unexpectedly high demand on the day those pictures were taken and that it's now urgently reviewing its procedures on board, but others in the industry have warned that, on a plane, social distancing is basically impossible. we don't believe social distancing on aircraft actually works, and there are two reasons for that. one of which is the obvious economic one. the second of which is around the air conditioning systems on aeroplanes which rely, in part, on recycling air within the cabin. that simply defeats the purpose of social distancing. the bbc has also heard from one member of british airways' cabin crew, who told us ba are also still operating some short—haul flights at capacity. and, as these images from paris to madrid today show, other airlines are similarly flying with full cabins. the international air transport association's

the international air transport association's recommended safety measures, such as masks, but says limiting passenger numbers would push up fares. neutralising seats on an aircraft could have an enormous negative impact and could lead to that increase, up to 55% in fares. reviving the aviation industry will be important to the country's economic recovery, but the government said it must be done responsibly. these are some of the big, real challenges that we've got to grapple with, but the safety of people has got to come first. there is a prediction passenger numbers may not return to previous levels for several years and, currently, no standard approach for how to operate on board. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. the scottish government has set out options for lifting the coronavirus lockdown. the current social distancing restrictions are due to be reviewed on thursday, but first minister nicola sturgeon says significant

changes are unlikely. she's set out a new paper of options on easing the lockdown — ranging from gradually re—opening schools to letting people gather in larger groups. 0ur scotland editor sarah smith reports. nicola sturgeon is urging people to keep with the current guidelines at the moment, not least because the rate at which the infection is being passed on might be slightly higher in scotland but she's also starting a conversation about what the near future might look like with far more detail than we have heard from the uk government. scottish schools are unlikely to go back anytime soon, as the government believes a full reopening lead to a spike in infections. there might be an earlier return for vulnerable pupils, as well as students facing exams and those about to move from primary to secondary school. the scottish government says there is evidence of a lower rate of transmission outdoors.

they are considering allowing people out more often, orfor longer. once the infection rate has lowered, it might be possible to allow people to spend time with others from outwith their own household, in a group, or bubble, that acts as a single self—contained unit. nicola sturgeon says the decisions she has to make it go beyond party politics or ideology. can you tell us, are these the kind of idea is that the uk government and other devolved administrations are actively considering? they are notjust discussing them? i imagine all governments across the uk are looking at these kinds of options. i don't yet know what the prime minister might be thinking of announcing on sunday, i believe it is. when i do know that, i will be able tojudge in the areas i'm responsible for, based on the evidence i've seen, as to whether that is right for scotland or not. it's likely construction sites could reopen first, along with manufacturing and retail sectors. the scottish government want to restart normal nhs services, like nonessential operations

and cancer screening, as soon as possible, but they can't say when this might happen. nicola sturgeon says she wants an open discussion about what should happen next. if you can't lift all the measures at once, could people prefer the measures at once, could people p refer to the measures at once, could people prefer to relax measures on businesses or prefer the option to see more friends and family. that's why she says we need to start a public debate. a new nhs app, which traces the spread of coronavirus, is being made available on the isle of wight today. it's part of a key trial aimed at helping to shape the government's strategy for easing the lockdown. council and healthca re workers will be the first to try it — with the rest of the island able to download it from thursday. while there are some concerns over privacy, if the trial is successful, it could be rolled out nationally within weeks, as duncan kennedy reports. a new advert, a new app and a new strategy against coronavirus. the nhs covid—19 app

lets you know quickly... the app was launched on the isle of wight today. in testing terms, the island has it all. the right isolation, population density and phone connectivity. so what do people think of the new app? anna is a community nurse here and is one of 3,000 nhs staff on the island to be offered at the app first. she says she has some concerns about it but will use it to help save lives. it is a really good idea to be able to track and trace exactly what is going on with covid—19 at the moment. being a community nurse, it's really important, so we know exactly where the movements are. the app is being sent out to nhs staff today and tomorrow, but what do non—nhs people on the island think? will you use it? oh yeah, yeah. why? well, for my safety and everybody else's safety. fantastic. good idea. yeah, great idea. it had to be tested somewhere, didn't it? so we are, as they say, slightly contained.

i think it's a good idea. i think anything and everything at the moment, yes, there are civil liberties questions, but as long as it is rolled back afterwards. so how does the new phone app work? well, it collects random identities of other app users and the time and distance they are from each other. if someone is feeling ill, they upload their symptoms and data to the nhs central server. that data is then analysed and, if someone is deemed to be at risk, they are sent a message advising them to self—isolate. the government says, for the app to succeed, at least half the population here and elsewhere will need to download and use it. and those who are deemed to be at risk will have to self—isolate. butjust how secure is the app? the government insists the information is anonymous, but the regulator says it is watching. 0ur role as the independent regulator is to do robust audits on how the app is actually performed and whether or not offloading

or deletion of obsolete data is taking place. the isle of wight public will be offered the new app on thursday. if it works, the rest of the country could see it from the middle of this month. duncan kennedy, bbc news, on the isle of wight. the health records of thousands of people who've had coronavirus are to be examined as part of a major exercise to establish whether obesity, ethnicity and gender raise the risk of dying from the virus. the urgent review, led by public health england, has been ordered by the health secretary to help understand why the vast majority of people have mild symptoms while others suffer so badly. here's our science correspondent, rebecca morelle. it's the virus that infected millions of people around the world, but some get a much more serious illness than others.

researchers are trying to find out why, and a key area they are looking at is age and sex. 0verall, coronaviruses having a worse impact on men than women. for covid—19 patients admitted to uk hospitals, 60% were men and a0% we re women and this is repeated in data looking at deaths across every age group, more men are dying with coronavirus than women, and this difference increases the older you get. this pattern is seen around the world. ageing affects the immune system, making it easier for the virus to infect cells. but, for men, there is a second factor. their sex hormones, unfortunately, give an extra boost to the virus allowing it to also enter their cells even more quickly and more efficiently. so the older male has this double hit, making them more susceptible and when they do have the infection, it's easier for the virus to replicate and spread. 0besity has also been linked to severe cases of covid—19 and the more obese,

the higher the risk. scientists believe it is caused by complex interactions in the body. fat cells themselves can actually interact with the immune system to exaggerate it, so you get a bigger immune hit, and, at the same time, people overweight have impaired ability to cope with that immune function because their lungs don't take as much oxygen in, their heart isn't as efficient to be able to pump that oxygen around the body, their pipes, their blood vessels, aren't delivering that oxygen as well to the tissues. there is emerging evidence that covid—19 may also be having a disproportionate impact on some ethnic groups in the uk and elsewhere. hospital data shows about one third of critically ill patients were black, asian or from other minority ethnic backgrounds. a higher proportion than the general population. scientists say the picture is complicated. even though there may be more people coming to hospital and it appears they are more badly affected, when you are just from the

underlying diseases that they have got and you adjust for the local area deprivation, the differences between ethnicity become much smaller than one might imagine. the government has now ordered a rapid review. identifying who is most at risk and understanding why will be essential in the fight against covid—19. rebecca morrelle, bbc news. the indian government has announced that it will start to repatriate thousands of its citizens on thursday, including some of those stuck here in the uk. around a0,000 indians are currently studying at british universities and, as they've been unable to get home, many are the struggling with the impact of the lockdown, as michael buchanan reports. this queue is for neither a shop nor a post office. it's for free food. hundreds of indian students struggling with social distancing

we re struggling with social distancing were feeding themselves. it's actually very disappointing for us. we have no food and the landlords are asking for rent and we are really, absolutely in a difficult situation. they are engineers and pharmacists, business graduates and chemists. all studying and stranded in britain. thejobs that chemists. all studying and stranded in britain. the jobs that sustain them in shops, restaurants, fast food outlets and construction have gone. and there have been no flights back to india since mid—march. gone. and there have been no flights back to india since mid-march. after two we e ks back to india since mid-march. after two weeks of doing myjob, i was dismissed from myjob because of corona because there is no business in the restaurant. there is no place, so we are looking at flights, but there is no flights. so you can't go back home? i can't go back home and i can't work here. what once was a thriving restaurant in east london is now an essential

community service. six weeks ago, they supported a0 people. last friday, they fed over a00, all paid for by donations from britain's south indian population. in a country like britain we expect so many of these people, a small organisation like us, to try and make ends meet, so, you know, it's a testing time for all of us and we are all trying our best. it's not just here that people are in need. it's estimated that nationwide over 3000 indian students have needed food parcels in recent weeks. rarely can one image capture the impact of coronavirus. hundreds of people unable to earn money, unable to work, having to queue up for free food. with flights resuming this week, many students willjoin the scramble to return to india. for those that don't get home, a kindly lifeline will still be required for

some time. michael buchanan, bbc news, east london. the pandemic has created immense difficulties for people with special needs — especially those with vulnerable immune systems who are forced to self—isolate. but in oxford, music is being used to ease the challenges of the lockdown. the soundabout inclusive choir has harnessed technology to support its members, as fergal keane reports. # amazing grace # how sweet the sound... a voice from a deep confinement. music helps make isolation bearable for sam pittick, aged 37. he has a vulnerable immune system and can't leave home. # i once was lost, but now i'm found # was blind...

and when you are all singing together, what is the feeling? i feel more powerful when i'm singing. i open my own voice to the power of music. now it's got to this fifth week, it's very different for him. sam's mum, ann, keeps a video diary, here filming his daily exercise. that's lovely. good luck. she's in her 70s, her husband in his 80s, both with severe underlying health conditions. the carers who once visited sam every day can't come any more. we're sort of struggling along with it, and the carer usually does it through the phone for him. come on, sam, you've got to get in the bath, you got to get washed. and things like that. it means no more face—to—face

sessions with his beloved choir. founded last year by the charity soundabout, and at the centre of life for dozens of special needs people in oxford. for different families, different challenges. choir drummer matthew nicholls was born blind and unable to speak. he cherishes the human touch of his brother, c], of his parents. but matthew lives in supported accommodation and, because of the virus, can't have visits. his mum, sophia and father, nigel bring freshly baked bread which they bring and leave at the entrance for their child. we'd like to give you a big hug and a squeeze and a kiss. we miss him quite a lot. i must be honest and say that i do miss him. i miss him, because also not knowing this how long this lockdown is going to be for, you think, if it's only a few weeks, which i thought it was originally, we'd at least be able to see him, but now, you know, we don't know how long it's going to be. but in a time of general anxiety,

what's striking about the choir families is their optimism and good humour. 1a years ago, edward shryane was too weak to cry. listen to him now. # whoa—oh—oh, on the radio what does the sound of the choir mean to you? incredible. it's changed my life, i think. i'm just lost for words. can i ask you a very fundamental question? what does he mean to you? you mean everything, eds. oh, my god! thank you! that's the right answer. i mean, thanks. drives me insane. thank you, that is the right answer. but there is another reason for laughter. using a video conference, the choir overcomes isolation and reunites.