this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the uk government defends plans to begin reopening primary schools hello this is bbc news. in england from next month — it says there'll be measures the headlines: to ensure the safety of children and teachers. the uk government defends plans to begin reopening primary schools it is the case that it is extremely in england from next month — it says there'll be measures unlikely that any school is likely to ensure the safety to be the source of a covid—19 of children and teachers. barack obama has launched a scathing attack on the trump administration's response outbreak and if, for any reason, to the coronavirus crisis. people in the uk are still being urged to stay away from tourist destinations and follow the lockdown rules for each part of the country. there are risks, then we can take steps to mitigate them. barack obama launches a second scathing attack on the trump the italian prime minister admits administration's response to the coronavirus crisis. the country's taking more than anything, a calculated risk by easing a number this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that of lockdown measures from next week. so many of the folks in charge know what they are doing. spain records 87 deaths in the past 2a hours — the first drop under 100 since the lockdown began.

scotland's health secretary jeane freeman is holding the scottish government's coronavirus briefing — let's listen in. normally, they start on time at 2:30pm. it is just normally, they start on time at 2:30pm. it isjust one minute late today but we understand there had been a another nine deaths in scotland. the total number of deaths using that particular measurement now 2103. it was only one week ago that scotland made absolutely clear

that scotland made absolutely clear that the stay at her message which you can see there on the screen behind those podiums was going to continue in scotland as indeed it would in northern ireland and wales. that message has changed in england, of course, to stay alert. the prime minister trying to explain the nuances of that again today in an article for a sunday newspaper. so we will go back to i think it is st andrews house in edinburgh when that starts. now, before that we have got used to spending much of our lives staring at screens. now, we are becoming rapidly accustomed to staring through them as well. clear plastic sheets been shaped into protective screens. these will end

up protective screens. these will end up on reception desks. this office furniture manufacturers getting ten times the normal orders for screens. staff are back from furlough making 700 a week. more and more businesses are starting to get back to work and they want to do that safely. it triggered a huge demand for the kind of protective screens being made here. the company's boss says offices will start to look very different. normally, you would have screening of this height to provide a separation between the space, now people need to extend that to provide a more practical barrier. but the rush for see—through screens has caused a shortage in transparent acrylic — many businesses could have to wait months. is it possible that everybody who wants a plastic screen will get one now? in simple terms, no. we will exploring all sorts of alternative materials, but there is a limited supply of acrylic, and that is being used up very quickly. everybody is looking for screens.

for weeks, this firm in leicester has rushed to make visors and supermarket screens. but now other types of business, from taxis through to warehouses are in need of them. but materials from europe are not made quickly enough. demand has been at least ten times the usual market and that causes troubles. customers are wanting deliveries now because businesses are opening and, with that, we are unfortunately in the position that we cannot supply generally for four weeks. the supply is being monitored. we have been talking to government every day for weeks. we have been monitoring supply change in the industry. we are looking at specific items and the general supply of raw materials, to make sure the government and ourselves are up—to—date with what is available and where.

as the economy gets back into gear with safety at the fore, this could just be the tip of the iceberg. katy austin, bbc news. religious services are resuming in parts of australia under strict conditions, as lockdown measures are gradually being eased. but many churches, synagogues and mosques have decided to stay closed over concerns for older members. 0ur correspondent in sydney phil mercer told me more about how australians are adapting. across mostjurisdictions in australia's states and territories, here in new south wales for example, places of worship can now be attended by ten people. limited numbers, fewer than members of a football team but for many parishioners, it is a start. there are churches here in sydney who are asking people to phone ahead to book a spot because of those limited places available. as you said, there

are large numbers of synagogues, mosques and anglican churches, certainly here in the state of new south wales, who have decided to stay closed because of concerns for older members of their congregations. and also some of those authorities controlling those churches and mosques are thinking that to open just for ten people isn't really worth it. so they are hanging on. many of them are delivering services, live streaming and recording them online as well. that will continue until further restrictions of australia's coronavirus lockdown is announced in the coming weeks. talk to us more in the past few weeks we have seen clearly that being poor increases the risk of catching it. you might think that developing nations of the

caribbean are more vulnerable than other vector parts of the world. in fact, the death toll there has been miniscule compared to europe, asia and north america — with just 84 fatalities across 20 nations. 0ur cuba correspondent will grant reports the cuban government hasn't changed its message from the start. "don't leave home unless it's strictly necessary," says this doctor in a village outside havana, and lists the symptoms of coronavirus one more time. they also do shoe leather epidemiology, two—person teams of medics going door—to—door with a clipboard. the survey helps the authorities map the state of health of the town and anyone showing symptoms of covid—19 is closely monitored. it's largely worked. cuba had no coronavirus fatalities on one day last week. and it's been a similar success story across the caribbean. most island nations locked down early to ensure the outbreak stayed within the capacity of their healthcare systems.

when the first cases came, the leaders acted very decisively, so, by and large, responded within a week or two of each other with lockdowns. almost in all cases before the first death and in some cases before the first case. the caribbean has established protocols for zika and other infectious diseases, and has ten laboratories carrying out extensive testing and contact tracing for coronavirus. and these labs have been doing a fantastic job and turning around results, sometimes within hours, almost always within a day. so you're able to identify persons, you're able to do the contact tracing, so that is the sine qua non for executing a containment strategy and the caribbean was very well prepared. the caribbean is also used to disaster management, like in late 2017 when hurricane irma wreaked havoc across the region.

although coronavirus isn't a hurricane or an earthquake, there were parallels in preparing for it which certainly saved lives. nowhere in the world is as dependent on tourism as the caribbean. it's the region's economic lifeblood and without it, many island nations would go under. but as a cautious, gradual reopening beckons, the region's authorities face a difficult balancing act. talk to me in a month and see if i am just as happy, because coming out of this first wave and also trying to have a foundation for economic viability, while saving life, like i said, is the hardest challenge in my career. the caribbean‘s covid—19 response may have been simple but it's been effective. with just 84 coronavirus—related deaths in 20 different caribbean nations, the results speak for themselves. will grant, bbc news.

it's not easy to find someone who could be "the one"?so you'll be lovesick about a romance that's been stopped in its tracks during lockdown. in england, you can meet one person outside your household at a safe distance but that's not yet the case in scotland. amy irons met a couple from the glasgow area who are keeping in touch online. ijust i just love you so ijust love you so much, babe. and i just can't wait to get you in my arms andi just can't wait to get you in my arms and ijust don't ever want just can't wait to get you in my arms and i just don't ever want to let you go. ijust let you go. i just love you let you go. ijust love you so much. that is so sweet. we were in the same skill but when i left we never really thought much of it. but as time went on, then i knew

i had it. but as time went on, then i knew ihada it. but as time went on, then i knew i had a feeling for her. it's just grew andi i had a feeling for her. it's just grew and i knew ijust wanted to give the relationship a chance. i sent give the relationship a chance. isent him give the relationship a chance. i sent him a message. so did you ask him? i. isaid, i sent him a message. so did you ask him? i. i said, would you like to be my boyfriend ? him? i. i said, would you like to be my boyfriend? and when he received it, he was over the moon. how would you describe kirsteen? very, very outgoing. very, very happy. you never see a bad thing about her at all. she has always got about her at all. she has always got a good smile on herface. she isjust... everything you a good smile on herface. she is just... everything you would want, really. she is friendly, he is caring and he is thoughtful.

what's it been like not being able to see kirsteen? really, really hard for me. the first two weeks i was a wee bit emotional at times. but as time went on i managed. ididn't time went on i managed. i didn't understand it at first but as the weeks went on i did. and the toughest thing about lockdown, what would you say? that we have to stay apart from each other. how are you doing, babe? iam missing how are you doing, babe? i am missing you. i am missing you too. i can't wait for this is all over and we can get together again. i would like to meet up with you when we are allowed and we could go out for a nice romantic meal. how do you feel when you think about seeing kirsteen again? ijust cannot wait to see her and give her a big cuddle

when i am allowed. spend that moment with her and spend that time with her. because that is all i want. because that is my life. how do other people describe your relationship? how do your mum, your friends, what they think of the two of you? they love the two of us to bits because we clicked in an instant and my mum, she just loves because we clicked in an instant and my mum, shejust loves her to bits. you are fed up with me are you not? you are fed up with me are you not? you are fed up with me are you not? you are dumping me for kirsteen. the two of them are great together. the go to the clubs, they play pool together, they do everything together, they do everything together, really. have you seen a change injohn since he has met kirsteen? a big, big change. he seems to be a lot happier now. it has taken a long time but it is happening. what

advice would you give other couples who may be struggling with being apart during lockdown? do that extra mile. just be strong because this pandemic is not going to last forever and that is all i can say. just be strong for one another. goodbye, i love you. those moments that were ordinary a few months ago — like a trip to the pub or even the school run — and now seem unrecognisable for many people. now the hashtag "last normal photo" has been trending worldwide. it was actually started by the bbc, which has encouraged people to share the last smartphone snap you took before life changed as a result of the coronavirus. eileen sent us this picture of their last family get together before the lockdown here in the uk on march 14th.

this picture — shows elaine struthers having a girls night in with her granddaughter millie —— sadly they haven't been able to meet up again since. and finally ...laura and richard dyer sent us this lovely photo — of them taking their twin boys home from southend hospital. and there's lot more. you can check them out using the hashtag #lastnormalphoto let's go to edinburgh. i think that press c0 nfe re nce let's go to edinburgh. i think that press conference is just about to start. the health secretary along with others about to speak now. let's listen in. good afternoon and thank you forjoining us for today's briefing. before i start let me

apologise to you that we are a little late. we have had some technical issues that have meant that we could not start at 2:30 as originally planned. and some of those technical issues has caused difficulties for journalists joining us difficulties for journalists joining us andi difficulties for journalists joining us and i will explain what we are going to do when we get to that part of this briefing. i want to start, though, as i always do, by updating you on some of the key statistics in relation to covid 19 in scotland. as of 9am this morning there have been 14,537 positive cases confirmed. an increase of 90 from yesterday. a total of 1380 patients are in hospital with the virus. 1007 who have been confirmed as having covid 19 and 301 who are suspected of having covid. that represents a

total decline of 108 from yesterday. including a decrease of four in the number of confirmed cases. a total of 59 people last night where in intensive care with confirmed or suspected covid 19 and that is the same number as reported yesterday. i am also able to confirm that today, since the 5th of march, a total of 3354 patients who had tested positive for the virus had been able to leave hospital. and i wish them all well. regrettably, ialso to leave hospital. and i wish them all well. regrettably, i also have to report that in the last 24 hours nine deaths have been registered of patients who have been confirmed through a test of having covid 19. through a test of having covid19. that takes the total number of deaths in scotland under that measurement to 2103. it is worth bearing in mind that fewer deaths tend to be badge direct at the weekend than other days of the week

and that is almost certainly part of the reason why today's figure is significantly lower than yesterday. but as always, i want to stress that these numbers are much more than statistics. they represent individuals whose loss is a source of grief to many. and i want to send my deepest condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus. as health secretary are also once again want to thank those working in our health and care sector. thanks to every single person. doctors, nurses, paramedics, ca re person. doctors, nurses, paramedics, care home staff, health care assistants, porters, cooks, cleaners, many more. everything that you do is essential to the health and well—being of our country and all the buzz over you a huge debt of gratitude. i have three areas where i want to update you on the first relates to care homes. all care workers demonstrate every day

commitment and compassion in their work and an incredibly difficult circumstances so we work and an incredibly difficult circumstances so we will continue to do everything we can to support you whilst you provide care and support for those who most need it. on friday, we published detailed clinical and practice guidance for ca re clinical and practice guidance for care homes. today we have published details of arrangements that take effect from tomorrow to ensure enhanced professional clinical and ca re enhanced professional clinical and care oversight. the publication today sets out a very clear role for the nhs in partnership with the releva nt local the nhs in partnership with the relevant local authority and local health and social care partnership to actively and proactively ensure that every care home has additional support and if necessary, intervention, to make sure that clinical care, infection prevention and control, ppe and testing arrangements are what they need to

be put up accountability for their sits at the most senior levels of oui’ sits at the most senior levels of ourand of sits at the most senior levels of our and of course, through them to me as health secretary. these additional arrangements build on current support and ensure that care homes benefit from the vital contribution of nurse directors, chief social work officers and chief officers of health and social care partnerships. the scottish government has also added new measures to the coronavirus bill which will receive stage to consideration in parliament next week. these make it clear that if a provider is unable to continue to deliver care or if there is a significant risk to residents, scottish ministers can ensure continuity of care and support. these powers would only be exercised asa these powers would only be exercised as a last resort. there is a range of guidance available for care providers on how to manage the

current situation, which we expect to be followed. now, of course, there are many positive examples across scotland of highly effective management of care homes. but there have also been instances where care standards during this pandemic have fallen short. we are already taking action to address these with the support of the care inspectorate. if passed, though, these new measures we are proposing will provide additional insurance to staff, people who live in care homes, to their residents, to families that further action will be taken to address any failings that arise. and will be taken quickly. the coronavirus bill provisions, together with the guidance we have published, reinforce our determination to ensure that care and every residential setting is as safe as possible. the second issue i wa nt to safe as possible. the second issue i want to talk about is a further

development of our growing capacity to test, trace, isolate and support. that process, which involves identifying cases of covid 19, finding the people they have been in close contact with and then asking those close contacts to self—isolate for 14 days is crucial as we start to emerge from the lockdown. it will help us to quickly break the chains of transmission and there. any new outbreaks of covid from growing. currently, health boards across scotla nd currently, health boards across scotland do some contact tracing based on risk assessment and as part of our build—up of contact tracing staff and open recruitment processes are under way to supplement the increase in contact tracing teams boards are currently working on. we now have 600 additional staff across our nhs boards who are ready to start and more are being trained as

contact tracers. from tomorrow, nhs fife, nhs lanarkshire and nhs highland will test the contact tracing technology that health boards will use. this technology builds on existing tried and tested technology and is designed to support staff to collect and record information and to trace more contacts more quickly. together with the growing number of contact tracers, the technology allows us to carry out contact tracing on a much larger scale that will be needed. the software, which is being tested next week will be used in all health boards by the end of may and will continue to improve during june. it will play a valuable role in improving the speed and effectiveness of our work to test, trace, isolate and support. the final issue i want to update you on is the appointment of an additional chief medical officer. the first minister has appointed professor

marion bain to the role of deputy chief medical officer on an interim basis. professor bain is the scottish government's former senior medical adviser for public health reform and most recently she has been working as a director of infection prevention and control in nhs greater glasgow and clyde. she is also an honorary professor at the university of edinburgh and has a particular research expertise in the use of routine health information for public health and clinical research. professor bain will work alongside other deputy cmo and she will support the chief medical 0fficer. her appointment will provide additional capacity in that key role and further ensure that we benefit from the very best public health expertise available. i am now

going to pay she wanted fiona mcqueen, our chief nursing 0fficer but before i do, i would like to emphasise, once again, our key public health guidance. please stay at home. except for essential purposes such as daily exercise or to buy essential items. you can now exercise more than once a day but when you do read the house stay local. stay more than two metres apart from other people and please do not meet up with people from households other than your own. you should wear a face covering if you ina shop should wear a face covering if you in a shop or public transport and physical distancing is difficult to achieve and wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. finally, if you or someone else has symptoms of covid 19 then you should stay at home completely. i do know how difficult these restrictions are and i also know that they get harder as time passes. but they are necessary.

and they are making a difference. by staying at home we, you are slowing the spread of the virus, protecting the spread of the virus, protecting the nhs and saving lives and we are getting a bit closer to the day when we can relax some more of those restrictions so thank you once again to all the view for doing the right thing and sticking to the guidance. and i will pass you to professor mcqueen, our chief nursing 0fficer, and then to professor reacher international clinical director. that is where we believe that press briefing by the scottish health secretary they're just pointing out that another nine deaths have been reported in scotland in the past 24 hours but unlike england, the message at the end of her statement today, stay at home. you can exercise more than once a day but stay local and you are not able, still, to meet people from other households. more on that press

conference on the website, of course. coming up now, sunshine is just starting to appear in the south—west and south—east. darren has got the weather details. it has been warming up a bit this weekend and we have seen temperatures of 20 degrees in the south—east of england but more cloud and patchy rain further north and it is the northern half that will see most of the rain over the weekend. all the best for awhile will be turning much warmer. as we head into this evening the rain is coming back in again. we will get outbreaks of rain from northern england. to the south it is still dry and should be a mild night for many. milder than it was last night. temperatures nine or 10 degrees. it is about the building heat over the next few days is that area of high pressure moves up. it pushes the rain away and we start to draw ina pushes the rain away and we start to draw in a southerly breeze and that will lift the temperatures

nationwide. at the start of the week we have still got some cloud and patchy rain across the northern of the uk. more persistent rain will clear away in scotland where we will get sunshine in the north. southern scotla nd get sunshine in the north. southern scotland and northern ireland seen patchy rain coming back in a day. towards the south—east of england those temperatures are rising more significantly. moving into tuesday, this conveyor belt of cloud and some other fronts bringing some outbreaks of rain in the north—west. high pressure getting a bit close and that would tend to push away what is left of the rain on tuesday. patchy rain and drizzle for the northern half of the uk becoming confined towards the north—west and decreasing amount of sunshine for england and wales and that is where you will notice there temperatures picking up more and more. why the into the low 20s. 25 in the south—east of england. 0n into the low 20s. 25 in the south—east of england. on wednesday we have at the peak of the heat. except the northern isles were there will be cloud and rain. elsewhere it should be dry and we have got more

sunshine across the west of the uk and the southerly breezes as well so pushing the warmth up into scotland making the low 20s here and towards the midlands, east anglia and the south east, temperatures of 26 of possibly 27. the weather starts to change on thursday. some uncertainty. rain trying to push on from the west are more likely we'll see some showers breaking out. they could be heavy and thundery but very hit and mist. it won't be quite as warm but still the low 20s in 00:29:29,886 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 eastern england.