is about to give evidence before a senate committee. he's expected to warn against lifting the restrictions against the spread of the coronavirus too quickly and too soon. in kabul, fourteen people, including two children, have been killed, after a militant attack on a hospital. soldiers rushed to help rescue mothers and their babies. the attack by several men began with a series of blasts, followed by gunfire. some train services have resumed in india after nearly two months as lockdown eases. before the pandemic the rail network carried over 20 million people each day. tesla's chief executive elon musk has reopened an electric car plant in california, despite lockdown orders in place against manufacturing. president trump has tweeted his support, saying the plant can be open "safely and fast". you are watching bbc news. today's downing street news conference on the government's

coronavirus strategy was led by the business secretary alok sharma. it followed the announcement by the chancellor rishi sunak that the uk scheme to pay wages of workers on leave because of coronavirus will be extended to october. let's listen to what the business secretary had to say. good afternoon. i'm joined today by professor stephen, national director of nhs england and the chief executive of the health and safety executive. first i want to update you on the latest data on the coronavirus response. 2,007,146 test for coronavirus have now been carried out in the uk, including 85,293 tests carried out yesterday. 226,463 people have tested positive. that's an increase of 3403 cases

since yesterday. 11,605 people are currently in hospital with coronavirus. but from 11,465 the previous day —— up from. sadly, of those tested positive across coronavirus across all setting, 32,619 have now died. not an increase of 627 fatality since yesterday —— that's an increase. this is devastating news for families across the united kingdom. we all need to stay alert and control the virus. i just want to remind people of the details of the next phase of our fight against coronavirus that we set out this week. we turn to the first light. —— a slide. in order to monitor our progress, we are establishing a new covid alert level system. with five

levels, each relating to the threat and to the level of threat posed by the virus. the alert level will be based primarily on the r—value and the number of the coronavirus cases. that alert level will determine the level of social distancing measures in place. the lower the level, the fewer the measures. the higher the level, the stricter the measures. the social distancing measures remain critical in our efforts to control the virus. throughout the period of lockdown, we started on march 23. we've been at level four, meaning a covid—19 epidemic is in general circulation and transmission is high or rising exponentially. but thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of the british people, in this lockdown, you have helped to bring the r level down. we are now ina bring the r level down. we are now in a position to begin moving to

level three in careful steps. as you see on the next slide. we have set out the first of three steps we will ta ke to out the first of three steps we will take to carefully modify the measures, gradually ease the lockdown and begin to allow people to return to their way of life. but crucially, whilst avoiding what would be a disastrous second peak that overwhelms the nhs. after each step, we will closely monitor the little are in the number of infections —— the r. we will only ta ke infections —— the r. we will only take the next step when we are satisfied it is safe to do so. step one, from this week, those who cannot work from home should now speak to their employer about going back to work. you can now spend time outdoors and exercise as often if —— as you like. you can meet one person

outside of your house, provided you say two metres apart. from june the 1st at the earliest, as long as the data allows, we aim to allow primary schools to reopen for some pupils in smaller class sizes. nonessential retail to start to reopen, when and where it is safe to do so. cultural and sporting events can take place behind closed doors without crowds. step three, no earlier thanjuly the 4th. 0nly step three, no earlier thanjuly the 4th. only if the data says it is safe. we aim to allow more businesses and premises to open, including potentially close, offering personal care, such as leisure facilities and places of worship. many of these businesses will need to operate in new ways to ensure they're safe and we will work with these sectors on how to do

this. as you see from slide three, having taken the first step and carefully adjusting some of the measures, or advice from people on what to do, we have also updated our messaging. we are now asking people to stay alert, control the virus and save lives. yes, staying alert for the vast majority of people still mean staying at home as much as possible. but a range of other actions we're advising people to take. people should stay at work —— alert by working from home, limiting contact, keeping distance if you go out, two metres where possible, washing your hands regularly, wearing a face covering when you're in an enclosed space where it is difficult to be socially distant. for example, in some # on public transport. if you and anyone or your

houseboat —— you or anyone in your household have symptoms, self—isolate. slide four shows if eve ryo ne self—isolate. slide four shows if everyone stays alert and follows the rules, we can control coronavirus by keeping the r down and reducing the number of infections. that is how we can continue to save lives and livelihoods as we begin as a nation to recover from coronavirus. livelihoods as we begin as a nation to recoverfrom coronavirus. and to underpin this in the workplace, we have published new covid—19 secure guidance on working safely available to uk employers across eight work settings, which are allowed to be opened and where their employees cannot work from home. this also includes guidance for shops which we believe may be in a position to begina believe may be in a position to begin a phase reopening at the earliest from the 1st ofjune. firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations have all fit into this guidance to give

businesses and their employees the confidence they need to work safely. and i believe we have reached a consensus in doing that. we've also worked with public health england and the health & safety code executives to develop best practice on the safest ways of working across the economy. the guidelines outlined practical steps for employers to take, including carrying out a covid—19 risk assessment. a downloadable notice is included in the documents, which employers can display in their workplace and show employees, customers and other visitors that they have followed the guidance. we've also provided practical steps for employers to consider, such as putting up barriers or screens in shared spaces, creating fixed teams or partnering to minimise the number of people in contact with one another, and frequent cleaning of work areas and frequent cleaning of work areas and equipment between uses to reduce

transmission. to support employers and employees through this, the government has made available up to an extra £14 million for the health and safety executive equivalent to and safety executive equivalent to an increase of 10% of their budget. this is for extra employees, inspectors and equipment if needed. we also know how important the job scheme has been in helping businesses through this difficult time. and today, the chancellor has announced a four month extension of the scheme to help provide certainty for businesses. today, seven and a half millionjobs have been furloughed, protecting livelihoods across the nation. until the end of july, there will be no changes to the scheme. then from august to 0ctober, the scheme. then from august to october, the scheme will continue for all sectors and regions of the uk, but with great effect —— greater flexibility to support the transition back to work. employers

currently using the scheme will be able to bring employees back part—time. as the economy reopens, we will ask firms to start sharing with government the cost of paying people because my salaries. to be clear, the same level of support of 80% of people's current salary, up to do and thousand pounds will continue to be met in a shared effort between employers and government. we will set out more details on the changes before the end of the month. throughout this pandemic, i have been struck by the way people have looked out for one another. these measures are produced in that spirit. two employers i say, use the support and guidance to know you're doing the right thing and work with your unions and work with their workers to keep each other safe. to workers i say, we are looking out for you. we want you to

feel confident that you are financially supported and returning toa financially supported and returning to a safe workplace. in this time, like no other, we all need to work together safely as we rebuild our economy. thank you. steve, can i ask you to take this? thank you secretary and good afternoon. as the secretary of state has said, it's critical that we all continue to comply with the rules around social distancing as we move into this next phase. the benefits of doing that have been clear. they are shown in the data size which i'm going to present —— data slides. in an updated format to the format you previously seen. the first slide looks at social distancing and how compliance with those social distancing rules has been undertaken by the public. the chart, which is data from the department for

transport, shows data reflecting the use of transport. as you can see, as you've seen before, we are still seeing reduced levels of usage, particularly a public transport. in the slide also is some data from the office for national statistics survey. the survey taken from the latter half of april showing for instance that 44% of employed adults are working from home. compared to 1296 are working from home. compared to 12% last year. 82% left their house at all, and 92 avoided contact with vulnerable people. high compliance with social distancing rules. it's critical, as i said, and that we continue to comply with the social distancing rules that we are asked to comply with. the next light is data on testing. in cases within the

uk. the top chart shows daily test which has increased over the last few weeks towards capacity above 100,000. the daily confirmed cases show the number of positive cases that are being detected in that testing programme. as i've said before, the number of daily confirmed cases is remaining static, and that is good news in the context of increased capacity and increase numberof of increased capacity and increase number of tests. it suggests we are seeing a stable level or a reduced level in proportion of the concern cases in respect to testing. the next slide shows data on deaths. of course every death is a great tragedy and my heart goes out to the friends and family and loved ones of those who have died. this shows daily deaths from in all settings of those who have tested positive. the

key thing here is to look at the seven—day rolling average. the data does vary from day—to—day, particularly when come out of weekends. but you can see on the seven day rolling average that the numberof daily seven day rolling average that the number of daily deaths is reducing. the next slide is data from the office for national statistics. this shows deaths where coronavirus was confirmed or suspected. this is not just cases where a test has been positive, this is also inclusive of people where in the deaths registration process, a suspicion of covid—19 has been included in the registration. this is very latest data. i think it was published today. it goes up to the 1st of may. but this again shows the additional deaths that can be included when you

look at suspected cases, notjust confirmed cases. in the bottom chart, you can see how that is changing overtime. chart, you can see how that is changing over time. you can see in the settings of hospitals in particular and now and care homes, we are seeing a reduced number of deaths for the number of deaths either confirmed by positive testing or suspected in the death certificate. the next slide, moving onto hospital data. this is data in the top chart from nhs england and the top chart from nhs england and the bottom chart from all four nations. this is showing the estimated admissions with coronavirus into english hospitals. you can see in the top chart of that number declining since the middle of april, and again that is a reflection on the fact that we are all complying with those social distancing measures. that in turn is

translating into those individuals who unfortunately require care in our critical care facilities. you can see that in all four nations in the bottom chart, the proportion of patients in critical care has been reducing. that trend is reducing quite consistently now over time, and that is also reflecting the absolute numbers of patients in critical care beds with covid—19. then finally, in the next slide, broken down into countries and regions of england, this is the numberof regions of england, this is the number of people in hospital with covid—19. so currently 11 , 605. covid—19. so currently 11,605. that's a reduction from 13,606, a reduction of 2000 over the last week. you can see that reduction has been marked in london most, but it is also occurring now in other regions in england and in the other

uk devolved administrations. so again, this reflects the success of the social distancing measures and all our compliance with those measures. in order to ensure that these trends continue to be downwards, both in hospitals and in deaths, it is critical that in the various phases of coronavirus, we comply with those social distancing instructions that we've all been given. steve, thank you very much. let's move to the questions. i think the first question from the public is from hannah and rosendale. the first question from the public is from hannah and rosendalelj would like to know if the government have considered universal income. considering the furlough scheme has cost such a large amount, is implementing something that is not tested at least being discussed and on the cards up as a future

solution? hannah, thank you very much. i think the first thing to say is that there is a plan to support that the government is providing to businesses. there is an an extension announced for the furlough scheme which will provide a huge amounts of assurance. i think what's very important in the way we provide support is we target people and universal basic income is an issue that's been tested in other countries and hasn't been taken forward. next question is from alan in newcastle. do we have your question? he ask after already surviving intensive care from covid—19, he asked what plans the government has for vulnerable members of the population once shielding has ended on the 15th of

june. i think the first thing to say is we need to do everything we can to support individuals and we have set out the measures that we require for people who are shielding and indeedin for people who are shielding and indeed in the workplace guidance, we have produced and also looked at vulnerable groups. you might want to ta ke vulnerable groups. you might want to take this question. i'm pleased that you have got through hospital and through intensive care and ventilation, and i'm sure you will be grateful to all the nhs staff who manage you through that illness and i think it's particularly important to recognise their contribution, especially today, because today is the international day of the nurses. the anniversary of florence nightingale. i think it's a really important day for us to recognise all the work our nursing colleagues have done to manage you and all the

patients who have come through our nhs facilities and needing care because they have caught covid—19. i'm sure you would want to say that. in terms of going forward, as you know, we have asked the particular groups in our population who are highest risk from coronavirus, so thatis highest risk from coronavirus, so that is in particular those with conditions that put them at risk. so people with cancer, people with organ transplants, because they have drugs that suppress their immune systems, people with severe lung conditions, such as cystic fibrosis. that group we are shielding in the la st that group we are shielding in the last four to 12 weeks to stay at home and avoid contact. i think it's been really important that during the peak of this virus in april that we have protected those particularly vulnerable members of the

population. we will need to continue doing that as we get through the next few weeks. i think and i clearly, that will need to be kept under review, but i think it's really important to say that we are not through this yet. the virus is still circulating. it is reducing in the population. the r number is below one. we intend to keep it that way, but while it is in the community, clearly those that either its risk are still vulnerable. i think we would all want to do everything we possibly can to protect them —— those at highest risk. it's very difficult to predict what will happen over the next few months, but i think the key thing is that while the virus is still circulating, we have a duty to ensure we can do all we can to keep those at highest risk say from the virus. it will be very difficult for very many people who are being shielded who are not able to see members of their family, shielded who are not able to see members of theirfamily, it is

difficult, but this is about protecting them and saving lives. i think we can move to the journalist questions. simonjack think we can move to the journalist questions. simon jack from think we can move to the journalist questions. simonjack from bbc. simon, we can't hear you. he may be on mute. how long i was! as business secretary, you know some businesses simply cannot operate viably under social distancing rules, for example hospitality. many of them are predicting zero income this year. they are asking business is to contribute towards the furlough cost after july. what happens contribute towards the furlough cost afterjuly. what happens if they can't? firstly, i think afterjuly. what happens if they can't? firstly, ithink the afterjuly. what happens if they can't? firstly, i think the furlough scheme extension has been really worked on by businesses —— welcomed by businesses, and it's given people reassurance that they will be secure financially. i just say that it will have been eight months from march

until october where he provided that. it's been absolutely the right thing to do. —— we provided that. the chancellor said he will put out more details later this month, but i think for now, what businesses will be very pleased with is they've got certainty, which is something i know they been looking for and i know they been looking for and i know they have welcomed this change. quickly, it's an enormous intervention, probably the largest single intervention the government has engaged in. you are paying the wages of over 7 million people. the government's conceded that not every job can be saved, and that's true of the seven and a half millionjobs here. do you acknowledge that there are hundreds of thousands, potentially over a million people, who are effectively now unemployed but don't realise it yet?” who are effectively now unemployed but don't realise it yet? i think it will depend on the support we are providing overall and how quickly you can come out of this situation. the reality is the reason we have

provided the support, we are talking about the scheme operating on this, the support that's a provided through extensions and loans that have been put in place. the reason we have done all of that is precisely so we can keep people in their workplace so that we come out their workplace so that we come out the other side, we're able to bounce back. of course, as the chancellor has acknowledge, we cannot protect everything a job, but i think where any international comparison, the fa ct any international comparison, the fact that we are supporting 7/2 million people should be something that should be universally welcomed. thank you. right, moving to poll.|j wa nt thank you. right, moving to poll.|j want to ask you about care homes. they do fall under you. they are telling us tonight that many of them are on the brink of closure. 0ne

telling us tonight that many of them are on the brink of closure. one is closing its doors this evening because of the financial pressures of covid—19. care homes say there isn't enough funding. it's not getting through to them. so what more will you do to help them? thank you for that question. look, i think it isa you for that question. look, i think it is a difficult time for businesses. i completely understand that and every day, i talked to businesses and organisations and we are listening very hard. we are providing that support and the chancellor today has announced the extension of the furlough scheme, which will help all businesses and ca re which will help all businesses and care homes. we have also seen the increase in terms of the loans. i'll give you some statistics. the cumulative value of the facilities is over £8 billion. the loan scheme, over £6 billion. there is support that we are providing and we will continue to do that. what i would

recommend to any business is to have a dissident fashion with banks and see whether they are eligible —— a discussion with banks. they need their staff more than ever. it's not as though business being interrupted as though business being interrupted as anything, they are just desperately trying to get through this pandemic. they are busier than ever. ijust ask again, are there any extra measures of the government will be coming up with, specifically for care homes to help make sure they don't close? i think what we're doing in terms of care homes is also ensuring that we get ppe to them. we are also making sure we are able to provide testing through mobile testing to support staff, but also those in the care homes. we will continue to do that. of course we keep all our policies under review. but i say again, if you look at the measure of support we have

provided,. hello. high pressure will govern the weather across the uk for the rest of this week, into the weekend and into next week. that doesn't, though, mean there will be no changes. a lot of fine weather, yes, but temperatures are going to change quite significantly by the weekend. at the moment, we are sitting to the east of the high. arctic air, pretty chilly. the high re—orientating itself. it starts to pick up mild air from out in the atlantic, feed over the top of the high and into the uk, warming up all of us. it looks like it could be the case into next week as well. tonight, though, a chilly story for scotland, northern ireland and northern england. the weather front slides south, some rain, some snow possible for the pennines, showers following. temperatures as low as —3 in rural spots. further south, more cloud, and that will mean a milder night. we will see lows of around

six or seven degrees. quite a bit of cloud. i think it will tend to brighten here as the day pans out. the breeze a little bit stronger for the south east and along the south coast on wednesday. coming off the north sea, a cold wind that will feed in the odd heavier shower. seven, eight, nine here, perhaps 14 toward the south west. for thursday, best of the sunshine i think first thing. cloud tending to build again across the uk as the hours go by. the south west perhaps staying clearest, a high here of 15 degrees, but notice just a change in wind direction allows things to become milder for northern scotland and parts of the north east of england. friday, another fine day, the high still with us, but some showers do try to sneak in. day by day, we manage to increase

about a degree or so. we are switching around into an eclectic feel. come the weekend, we'll probably notice the most significant increases in our temperatures. some areas to the south perhaps by a factor of around ten degrees. a lot of settled weather will take us through the weekend ahead.

this is 0utside source on bbc news for viewers in the uk and around the world. we're covering all the latest coronavirus developments here in britain and globally. america's top disease expert warns senators the coronavirus will spread if the country opens up too soon. my concern is that we will start to see little spikes that might turn into outbreaks. the afghan president orders his security forces to resume offensive operations against militant groups after two major attacks kill dozens of people. the british government is extending its coronavirus job retention scheme until october, but businesses will be asked to pick