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tv   Coronavirus  BBC News  May 10, 2020 10:30am-11:01am BST

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borisjohnson is to announce a shift in message on coronavirus later — with a a roadmap for easing the lockdown in england. the government is also set to unveil a new slogan — telling the public to "stay alert". it comes as parts of germany get back to business — some bars and restaurants opened this weekend, more will do so on monday. in spain, the authorities are also preparing to relax restrictions from tomorrow. in the us, the former president, barack obama, has heavily criticised the trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic. mr obama called the management of the crisis "an absolute chaotic disaster". the fiancee of the murdered saudi journalist, jamal khashoggi, has urged the english premier league club, newcastle united, to consider ethical values before accepting a bid from a saudi—backed consortium.
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now on bbc news, with coronavirus outbreaks at different stages around the world we explore what might happen as restrictions change and people adjust to a new reality. here's coronavirus — what next. hello and welcome to the latest in our special programmes, as coronavirus continues to upend billions of lives around the world. i'm annita mcveigh. on today's programme... how will our working lives change post coronavirus? simonjack visit one manufacturer to see how they are planning to return to work with strict social distancing measures in place. we will also hear from young people across the globe
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as they try to spread some corona kindness. first, brazil has now overtaken china in the number of confirmed cases and deaths from coronavirus. but experts warn that the true picture is far worse than the official total. in the country's amazon region, the fear is that the virus could devastate the indigenous population, as the bbc‘s south america, correspondent katy watson reports. in the middle of the rainforest the virus has taken hold. this is manaus, the biggest city in the amazon, where they are digging mass graves known as trenches. how else can overwhelmed the authorities cope with the numbers of people dying? manaus is at breaking point, it has one of the highest infection rates in the country and one of the most underfunded health systems. this video, shot inside one of the hospitals, shows body bags lying next to those gravely ill.
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manaus is home to many indigenous communities where poverty, malnutrition and displacement make tackling the virus an even bigger challenge. vanda is an indigenous health assistant, supporting residents who are sick. history has taught people here that viruses from outside bring devastation. one of their few defences now, home—made masks, but much more is needed to protect them. "we already have lots of people in the community with symptoms," says vanda, but we don't have a doctor here. we don't have a nurse who looks after us. indigenous communities in the cities struggle to access health services and they are struggling to work too. those living deep in the rainforest face even bigger challenges, the closest medical help is often days away by boat. some communities have shut themselves away, fearful of contagion. protection agencies are no longer
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on the ground and that has huge consequences in a country where illegal loggers and miners have been emboldened by a government set on developing the amazon. translation: we can't forget the attacks that keep happening and are never resolved. covid—i9 kills with an illness, here people are killed either through abandonment or contamination. invaders are coming in and taking advantage. they aren't in quarantine, they are using this time to explore and they are the principal factors. thousands of miles from the capital, this remote part of brazil feels forgotten. the mayor of manaus has called on the young environmentalist greta thunberg to support them. i am telling you that we are needing help. we have to save the lives of the protectors of the forest from covid. we are in front of a disaster, something like barbarism and i know all your influence, i know your capacity of feeling
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the feelings of all the people. my people is suffering much. that's why i am directing to you, these few words. help amazonians. amazonians in the forest must be saved. but the country's leader is oblivious. jair bolsonaro spent sunday meeting hundreds of supporters, few masks, no social distancing. instead, just presidential backing for those who want an end to democracy and a return to military rule. this is a man who says the virus is just a little cold. i want a government with no interference, he told the crowd. angry at local authorities who have imposed strict measures to curb the spread of the virus.
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he says he wants a government that works for the future of brazil. but what will the future look like? as the amazon keeps bearing its dead, brazil's most vulnerable communities and their land are in danger and there is little support from the top. katy watson reporting. there are still many unanswered questions about covid—i9. one aspect that medics are trying to understand is why it affects people so differently. for many, the symptoms are mild, but for others the virus is much more serious. some people struggle to shake off the symptoms for many weeks, leaving them exhausted and anxious. the bbc‘s health correspondent, dominic hughes reports. i have suspected coronavirus. what i was not prepared for wasjust excruciating leg pains. it has been seven weeks now. that feeling of being so diminished and so weak.
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it came back in week four. in the fifth week of being ill, my partner had to call a&e. in week seven, i relapsed again and had my third way. the six weeks now, felicity, aged 49 from london has been living with suspected coronavirus. david, 42 and living in bristol has spent two months suffering relapses. this is where i have all my stuff, making sure i am keeping cutlery and bowls separate. david's world has shrunk to this room, self isolating to protect his wife and baby daughter. eating and sleeping here separated from my wife for the last seven weeks. it is hard work. just when he thought he was getting better, he relapsed and he is not alone. just knowing people like me who have experienced these waves on and off. when i first relapsed and it first got worse, it was quite a scary experience. because i thought, you don't know whether that means
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you are going down, down, down. so it is quite scary to get worse after you thought you were getting better. when i was really ill i was going on my hands and knees up and down the stairs. felicity has also struggled to shake off covid—type symptoms and the weeks of illness have taken their toll. the entire experience of being sick and trying to recover has been mentally overwhelming. the hardest part was having got through the first ten days of being very sick and thinking i was getting better, things later getting much, much worse. i was experiencing such horrific abdominal pains, that i wasjust calling out in extreme agony. neither felicity nor david have been tested, but both were told by doctors they probably had the virus. they have also been reassured they are no longer infectious.
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but recovery has been slow. the slightest uphill slope is a real struggle since being ill. so much about the coronavirus is unknown, including why some experience relatively mild symptoms, lasting a few days. otherwise healthy people are left struggling for weeks. when recovering from an acute illness you do see this waxing and waning effect as you're slowly get better and you have good days and bad days. there is some evidence to suggest the prolonged features are the body's response to infection rather than infection itself persisting in their bodies. the first week i started to keep a diary of the symptoms. david and felicity hope they are now finally recovering, a return to normalfamily life. my wife would bring my daughter to the window. it was lovely. i will be giving you squidgies soon. some of the people who have been
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living with suspected coronavirus. countries across the world are approaching testing for the virus differently. reality check‘s chris morris breaks down what testing is and why it matters. to beat the coronavirus we have to know how many people are becoming infected. where, when and how and that is why testing for the virus is one of the most important things we can do. it can tell us who might be infected with the virus, who might have been infected in the past and who might need to be in strict isolation to stop the virus spreading. there are two types of tests, the first one is usually a nasal swab test for the presence of the virus, to find out if you are infected right now, even if you are not displaying any symptoms and that you are feeling well. if you are infected you can be isolated and treated if necessary and people you have been in contact with can be traced and treated as well. that way we can stop covid—i9 spreading so fast.
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countries like south korea and germany tested people early in the pandemic and they have been the most successful in keeping their death rates relatively low. other countries, including the uk are scrambling to catch up. but you need to get hold of the right chemicals, have the right expertise and make sure you have enough laboratories to be able to can process tens of thousands of tests every day. the second type of test looks at whether you have been infected in past and whether you might now have some immunity. it does this by searching for antibodies in the blood, which your immune system uses to fight off bacteria and viruses. sadly, reliable antibody tests are not widely available. they are being trialled in various places and there are some pretty ineffective products on the market, scientists are cautious. not having a test is better than having a bad test that gives false results. it will be a huge help if a reliable antibody test that can be mass produced can be developed soon. if we know someone has some immunity, it should be easier for them to get back to work.
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if we know lots of people have some immunity, it should be easier to start lifting knock—downs in safer and more sustainable ways. but there is a problem. the presence of antibodies may provide some immunity, but not necessarily complete immunity. it is still unclear how long any immunity might last. testing can help us put other data like the number of confirmed cases and the number of deaths into context. but we are going to have to wait some time before a vaccine for covid—i9 provides immunity. until scientists cracked that, testing is key to help us deal with this pandemic. across the world, governments are beginning to ease restrictions and reopen society in the wake of the virus. the decision is based on something called an r number. what is it? laura foster explains.
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are takeaway is allowed? our lives right now are controlled by something called the r number. it tells us how many people will likely get infected for every one person who gets ill with coronavirus. if the reproductive number is two, one person will probably make two others sick and so the disease spreads. if it is three, it will be around three. without a cure or vaccine, the r number guides every decision governments makes. before things were brought in to fight the coronavirus, its r number was between two and three which is why it spread so quickly. the aim is to be less than one and keep it there so the health service can cope. but when it is less than one we cannot switch back to how things used to be. each restriction that is lifted makes the r number rise. and how restrictions are listed will affect the r number. for instance, what happens if schools reopen? what if any some pupils go back?
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these decisions have to be made for everything and the answers aren't clear. governments need to carefully balance this need to get countries moving again while still keeping the public safe. as many governments begin to lift restrictions on people's movement, millions are returning to work. but it will look very different to how people were working before the lockdowns, with one—way systems, barriers and temperature checks. our business editor simon jack has more. making the workplace work. at the bentley factory in crewe, workers are returning after a seven—week lay—off and with 250 of their own new safety measures, the boss is convinced they can do it safely. protective masks will be compulsory. it's a micromanagement operation, but it is life and death if we don't get it right. we are passionate about this and we can see a way through it for our type of operation.
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even with the two metres by halving the production, but if it can come down to one metre, it will be almost business as usualfor us. factories have their own specific challenges but so do other working environments like offices. maximum of one person in the lift and one way traffic through the building. there are some common denominators, chief among them, if you don't need your employees at work, let them work from home. other common themes include hand washing at entry and exit points. limit or stop the sharing of desks and equipment and minimise face—to—face meetings. this is the office. there is 28 members of staff that need to sit in here. government guidelines recommend social distancing where possible. tricky in office environments like the sheffield finance company. we have been advised to return but we have to adhere to social distancing rules.
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that will be quite challenging. we work in a shared office environment, so although we have our own office we share kitchens and bathrooms with a number of businesses in the building. that will throw up more challenges as well. as we saw with health, the issue of protective equipment could prove a problem if millions of employees need it travelling to work or travelling from work. where will they get it and will they compete with the nhs for vital supplies? the government, employers and workers want to restart, but health warnings have made us cautious and going back is not that simple according to claire conrad, who works in publishing. i am desperate to get back to work, as is my husband but i don't see any of these plans working. i have childcare issues. if my husband goes back to it before me, i will have to stay at home and look after our child. i am not getting on public transport anytime soon. the pandemic has created immense difficulties
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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. # amazing grace. # how sweet the sound #. a voice from a deep confinement. music helps make isolation bearable for sam, aged 37. he has a vulnerable immune system and can't leave home. # i once was lost, but now i'm found # was blind, but now i see #.
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and when you are all singing together, what does that feel like? i feel more powerful when i am singing. i open my voice and the power of music. when it has got to this fifth week it is very difficult for him. sam's mum anne keeps a video diary, here filming his daily exercise. that is lovely, good lad. she is in her 70s, her husband in his 80s, both with severe underlying health conditions. the carers, who once visited every day, cannot come any more. we are struggling along with it and the carer usually does it through the phone for him, "come on, sam, you have got to get in the bath and get wash". it means no more face—to—face sessions with his beloved choir.
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founded last year by the charity soundabout, it provides an outlet for special needs in oxford. choir drummer matthew nichols was born blind and unable to speak. he cherishes the human touch of his brother cj, of his parents. but matthew lives in supported accommodation and because of the virus, cannot have visits. his mum sophia and father nigel, bring freshly baked bread, which they leave at the entrance for their child. he likes to give you a big hug and a squeeze and a kiss. we miss him quite a lot. i must be honest and say, i do miss him. i miss him, also not knowing how long this lockdown will before, if it was only for a few weeks, we'd be able to see him, but we don't know how long it is going to be. but in a time of general anxiety, what is striking about the choir families is their optimism
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and good humour. 14 years ago, edward was too weak to cry. listen to him now. # on the radio. what does the sound of the choir mean to you? incredible, it has changed my life. i am just lost for words. it must be a fundamental question, what does he mean to you? you mean everything, don't you? oh, my god. thank you, that is the right answer. thanks. he drives me insane. that is the right answer. but there is another reason for laughter. using video conference, the choir overcomes isolation and reunites. and matthew hears the sound of his mother's laughter.
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# matthew, hope you have a really good day. lily bartlett, blind with special educational needs, taught herself piano and leads in the choir‘s version in an anthem for our times. # when you get what you want but not what you need. # lights will guide you home. # i will try to fix you. applause
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finally, with school cancelled for millions around the globe, some students have decided to use their time to help people. from cooking meals for the homeless and making friendly phone calls to producing personal protective equipment with 3d printers. the bbc has heard from three teenagers about what they are doing to help. it is very important that people take part to fight the coronavirus. as a demographic we are the least vulnerable. i feel the need to do something to help them as much as i can. i am 13 years old. during the pandemic i have been helping unfortunate families who lost their income during the restrictive period. most of them ran out of money to buy essential food
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and milk for their babies. i also help the homeless by cooking food for them and asking people to distribute the food to the homeless because i cannot go out there myself. i have been doing charity work since i was seven years old. i feel the need to do something, to help them as much as i can. this is the least i can do for now. my name is izzy, i am 16 and i live in london. during the pandemic i have been helping to coordinate a response to my local area to support vulnerable people who might live alone, be lonely and might not have family or friends to do shopping for them because they have to self—isolate. we have to self—isolate. get a lot of requests every da it is my responsibility to make sure we get a volunteer assigned to those requests as fast as possible.
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i started doing this because i didn't have school and my exams had been cancelled and i had the free time to be doing this. i knew it was important for young people especially to be getting involved, because a demographic we are the least vulnerable. so that means we need to be supporting people who are more vulnerable. i am an climate activist normally, and because coronavirus means we cannot be out on the streets protesting and striking, i wanted to use those skills to help people in my community the same way. it is important we treat all crises as crises. i am diego, i am 17 years old and i am from chile. i have my bb printers and i make face protectors and other products. in chile, many people are in
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the lockdown and wearing masks. i started one month ago and i have made 100 face masks. with my friends, together we have made 1,000. it is very important young people take part to fight the coronavirus. we have the time, the energy and information. there is no excuse. guys, let's get creative together and we can fight the pandemic and this virus. and that is it for now, a reminder that you can follow me on twitter. or head to the bbc news website for the latest information. thanks for watching. hello there.
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expect a marked difference to the feel of the weather as we go through the week ahead. for some, it has already arrived. these are the temperatures first thing this sunday morning. across scotland, temperatures were low single figures but ahead of the weather front bringing the colder air is still relatively mild. the cold air will push its way steadily south as we go through the day. the wind is strengthening as the cold front moves through. the gusts of wind could be 30 to a0 mph and that will make it feel quite cold out there on exposed coasts. the rain is not particularly significant, it means early morning sunshine will quickly cloud over for the rest of the day and behind it, across much of scotland and northern england, sunny spells and scattered showers. some of those to higher ground could still have a wintry flavour mixed in there. wind direction from the north and a north—easterly costing and a north—easterly gusting in excess of 30 to a0 mph will make
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it feel chilly on exposed coasts so temperatures will struggle, for some just at the very best four to 8 degrees. we might see mid to high teens ahead of the weather front, but the colder air is going to effect all through the night tonight and into tomorrow. the weak weather front eases away overnight and with clearer skies the temperatures will fall quite rapidly. still breezy towards the south—east so not quite as cold. the further north and west, expect a frost of gardeners and growers, we could see low single figures quite widelyjust below in some places. so we start off tomorrow morning on a chilly note. there will be lots of sunshine around however. still quite windy and i suspect that monday will probably feel quite miserable for many of us. a few scattered showers along north sea coasts, more sharper showers running in from the far north of scotland later on in the day. and temperatures down on where they should be for the time of year with highest values of eight to 13 celsius. as we move out of monday and in fact for the remainder of the week, high pressure building into the north—west.
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we keep the blue tone which means we are in the colder air mass but the winds will start to ease just a touch and so that means as we go through the week it will feel a little less cold and temperatures will climb a degree also, with plenty of dry weather around as well. take care.
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this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. borisjohnson is to announce a shift in message on coronavirus later — with a new warning system and a roadmap for easing the lockdown in england. he's also set to unveil a new slogan for england — telling the public to "stay alert". a government minister explains the new advice. staying at home will remain an absolutely essential element of that strategy. but it will broaden out. and we'll encourage people to stay alert when they are going about their business. it comes as parts of germany get back to business — some bars and restaurants opened this weekend, more will do so on monday. president trump's handling of the pandemic is called a chaotic

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