today at 6pm... the highest daily death toll from the coronavirus since the pandemic began — it's over 1,500 people. sorry, i'm just having a bit of an emergency. boris johnson warns that there is a very substantial risk that intensive care units could be overwhelmed. doctors are pleading for public cooperation. people really don't understand what the real impact of what they're doing is, that so many patients are ending up in hospital and so many patients who are ending up in hospital are ending up incredibly sick in intensive care beds. in scotland, nicola sturgeon tightens up some covid rules. also tonight: from tomorrow, some pharmacies in england will be offering covid jabs. ministers are also planning night and day vaccination centres. the row over food parcels

for school children — are the companies providing the meals simply following government guidelines? could donald trump become the first president to be impeached twice? some in his own party say they will vote with democrats tonight. beating the odds and fulfilling a dream — francesca jones has a rare genetic condition, but it hasn't stopped her qualifying for the aussie open. and coming up on bbc news: football celebrations are still in the spotlight as authorities and governing bodies remind players and clubs to stick to social distancing guidelines, amid rising coronavirus cases. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six.

borisjohnson has issued the starkest of warnings — there is still a very substantial risk of intensive care units in hospitals being overwhelmed by the spread of the coronavirus. it comes on a day when the uk has recorded the highest number of deaths in a single day in europe. with the after—effects of social mixing during the christmas period still working its way through the nhs, there's mounting evidence of the strains on both resources and staff. fergal keane and cameraman dave bull saw what this means at imperial health care's st mary's and charing cross hospitals in london. a warning — their report contains some flashing images. it is britain's tale of two realities, lockdown streets much busier than before and just minutes from here... even though i can't hear what you're saying, you are very safe. the voices of one pandemic day.

there are a lot of noises going on. lam drwong. i'm the consultant, lovely to meet you. how are you feeling today? so much better. i genuinely thought i was going to die. i surrendered. it was the stage where suicide, for me, was probably an easier option than to go through... i cannot put into words, i honestly cannot put into words how terrifying and how merciless i was to it, six days ago. i genuinely thought i was never going to see my family again. in the cpap unit at st mary's hospital, oxygen is applied through a mask to help breathing. since we last came, the ward has been expanded and knowledge and experience are far greater. we are now a lot more aware

of the propensity to deteriorate very quickly and we're a lot more vigilant at monitoring patients. nowhere is that vigilance is more important than intensive care. this is charing cross hospital. sorry, i'm just having a bit of an emergency. the patient�*s blood pressure has suddenly dropped. shall wejust get him head down? very quick and simple manoeuvre. lie a patient�*s head flat down and itjust improves the blood pressure, get the feet up in the air. people can deteriorate very quickly? very rapidly. it's incredibly sudden. the swift intervention worked. it's daunting to watch the pressure now faced by medical staff. across imperial�*s three london hospitals, they're stretched, coping with the surge in cases. it's emotionally and psychologically totally exhausting. you're constantly thinking about work and the pressures and knowing that the nurses

are really stretched and there aren't enough on duty, and that's incredibly stressful and very difficult to switch off from. every hospital is its own community. a story of interdependence at every level. from caterers like maria from india and graca from portugal, to a cleaner like sarah from sierra leone, who came to the uk as a child to escape civil war. what's it like being part of this effort to beat covid? i'm happy to be part of this to save people, because i like saving people. what's changed since i was last here? well, the sheer volume of cases, the intensity and a sense that the staff still are immensely professional, of course, but they are getting tired, and why wouldn't they be? i also pick up frustration with people who flout the rules and those voices in the public sphere who challenge lockdown regulations or

try to play down the pandemic. i'm sorry, just crazy. they need to see, there are young people, fit, well people of all ages just being struck down by this virus and it does kill people. it's not fake news, it's not made up, it's real. staff aren't cut off from the reality of lockdown for the wider community — the mental health, the work issues. the spring days of clap for carers, when we filmed dr ali sanders outside her home, seem very distant. for people who have lost theirjobs or who are struggling to survive, i think we do really understand that this is, people probably feel like they have had enough, but the vaccine is rolling out, it is our only way out of this and we will get there eventually. at st mary's hospital, robert taylor recites the lord's prayer

in gratitude for his deliverance and the medics fighting covid, today, every day. fergal keane, bbc news. the latest government figures show there were 47,525 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means that on average the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 53,539. across the uk an average of 33,391; people were in hospital with coronavirus over the seven days to monday. 1,564 deaths were reported, that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—i9 test. on average in the past week, 1,060 deaths were announced every day. the total number of deaths so far across the uk is 84,767. let's get an update on the uk's

programme of mass vaccinations. 207,661 people have had their first dose of one of the three approved covid—19 vaccines in the latest 24 hour period, taking the overall number of people who've had their firstjab to over 2.6 million. from tomorrow, some high street pharmacies will begin vaccinating priority groups with the covid—19 jab. along with setting up 24—7 vaccination centres as soon as possible, it's part of a planned acceleration in the vaccination programme. 0ur health editor hugh pym has more. high street pharmacies will be brought into the mass vaccination effort from tomorrow. in england, staff at some community outlets will start doing jabs for priority groups. this pharmacy in macclesfield receiving doses this afternoon will be one of the first.

it's an honour to be part of that group, which is a relatively small group, and hopefully the team and i can help to see the end of the pandemic. the push to get people vaccinated is being stepped up. here in dudley, health officials have launched an initiative to encourage those in bame communities to sign up for injections. it's really our vulnerable population, they are the ones we have to protect as soon as possible, so it's great to see the number of people who have turned up today and are going through the system and getting those jabs done. in blackburn, volunteers were continuing with the training required to become vaccinators. ministers say they are on track with the target of offering jabs to 15 million people from four top priority groups. we have a clear line of sight for volumes all the way through until the end of february, which means i'm confident of hitting the target

of the four most vulnerable cohort is being offered a vaccine by mid february. in terms of vaccine doses administered per 100,000 of population, israel has done the most with about 22. the uk is one of the next highest at about four per 100,000 people, ahead of other european economies like denmark, italy, germany, and a little way behind, france. but some gps say supplies are unpredictable, including a practice doing vaccinations at this indoor bowling centre in north tyneside. they say with better planning, they could do a lot more jabs. we do not know from week to week how much vaccine we will get and we do not get information about when we will get that vaccine until very late, and that's one of the things that is making this more challenging for us. ministers say available supplies are limiting the rate of expansion. some doctors are frustrated they have had to halt doing jabs while vaccine doses are diverted to areas where

there has been a slow rollout, though nhs leaders argue this is unavoidable. the amount of vaccine being administered and given to people is incredible, but what we need to do is make sure it is level across the country, not overly manage it, but make sure that somebody isn't getting into groups five or six when somebody in the over—80s in another part of the country hasn't been offered their vaccine. for these residents of a care home in birmingham, the vaccine became reality today. that's your sticker for your vaccine. including vera, who is 106. and hugh pym is with me. the prime minister was saying today that there are early signs that the lockdown may be working, but look at the figures. may be working, but look at the fiaures. , ., ., ., figures. yes, that figure of more than 1500 daily _ figures. yes, that figure of more than 1500 daily reported - figures. yes, that figure of more than 1500 daily reported deaths| figures. yes, that figure of more | than 1500 daily reported deaths is shocking. to be clear, it does include some deaths going back a few weeks. they were reported at different times, but that is the way it has always been done and it will horrify a lot of people. the sad

reality is, this reflects infections a couple of weeks back. hospital admissions are up 34% week on week. again this is people who got the virus a little while ago. but if you look at newly reported cases, we can week, they are down 7% across the uk. that might point to the fact that things are getting a bit easier. possibly the results of lockdown restrictions. and deaths, sadly, because of previous infections, seems set to continue rising, which is a sobering thought to get our heads around.— rising, which is a sobering thought to get our heads around. hugh, thank ou ve to get our heads around. hugh, thank you very much- _ the prime minister has condemned the quality of some of the food parcels sent to children on free school meals during the coronavirus lockdown, saying they're an insult to those who received them. but labour says the list of food stuffs closely resembles the government guidleines. marcus rashford, who spoke to the prime minister today. 0ur education correspondent elaine dunkley has more.

for many families, the challenges of lockdown go beyond learning. free school meals are a lifeline for those who are struggling. in the first lockdown, hannah received vouchers. now she gets food parcels for her two children and is finding it difficult to manage. it's the same parcel you get every time and then we have had it again now for the lockdown, so we had it last week and this week, it was just like a kick in the guts. they were fed up and we thought, why couldn't you just give us the vouchers, was the feeling. it's a very challenging household if the children are hungry and wanting things and i haven't got it available to them and taking them out, it's not like you think i will just nip to the shop, because i don't know who is infected around and doesn't know they are infected, so i feel like i'm putting them at risk. it felt very sad and very depressed. hannah isn't alone. this is the voice of a parent who posted an image of the food parcel she received

to feed her child lunches. i didn't think it looked like a lot. it went viral, shared by thousands and attracting the attention of footballer and food poverty campaigner marcus rashford. chartwells, the company who provided it, said it was for five days, but has apologised. it prompted this exchange in the house of commons. so can i ask the prime minister, would he be happy with his kids living on that, and if not, why is he happy for other people's kids to do so? mr speaker, i don't think anybody in this house is happy with the disgraceful images we have seen of the food parcels that have been offered. they are appalling, they are an insult to the families that have received them and i'm grateful to marcus rashford, who highlighted the issue and is doing quite an effective job by comparison with the right honourable gentleman in holding the government

to account for these issues. the government says it will be offering parents the option of a national voucher scheme. this head teacher says it should have been done sooner. we spent weeks trying to get that system running, now it is running smoothly or it has the capacity to run smoothly, we saw that and they chose not to use it. it's hard to see what was behind that decision. the pandemic has exposed the issue of food poverty and has forced the government to make a number of u—turns. leading charities are calling for a review and parents like hannah are calling for consideration and compassion forfamilies that are struggling. elaine dunkley, bbc news. in scotland, further restrictions are being introduced to try tackle the spread of the coronavirus. among the changes announced by first minister nicola sturgeon are a toughening of the rules around click and collect services and takeaways. we can talk to our scotland correspondent lorna gordon in glasgow. 0n the face of it, these aren't big changes, given the challenges they

face? . , ., ., ., ., face? yeah, there is not a lot of win ale face? yeah, there is not a lot of wiggle room _ face? yeah, there is not a lot of wiggle room considering - face? yeah, there is not a lot of. wiggle room considering scotland face? yeah, there is not a lot of - wiggle room considering scotland is under a tight lockdown already, but the first minister says the situation here is precarious. close to 1800 people are in hospital with covid. she says the numbers testing positive for covid might be stabilising, but they are stabilising, but they are stabilising at a very high level, so there is going to be a tightening of restrictions in six areas, and they will come into force on saturday. click and collect will only be allowed for essential items only, and people will have to make appointments to pick up any goods they have ordered. takeaways ordered will have to be delivered through a hatch or at the doorway of the premises. it will become illegal to drink alcohol outdoors across the whole of mainland scotland. cbi scotland, the business organisation, says the government must publish the evidence to justify the tightening of restrictions. nicola sturgeon says that will come, but she says

this is a critical moment and that the new restrictions are regrettable, but necessary. lorna, thank yom — given his warning on the plight of intensive care units, it's no surprise that borisjohnson says it's "far too early" to say whether the lockdown in england can be relaxed in mid—february. but the prime minister — who was appearing in front of a committee of senior backbench mps — said lockdown measures "are starting to show signs of some effect". 0ur political editor laura kuenssberg reports. an laura kuenssberg reports. emergency in many way when an emergency in many ways. a moment when the state is asking so very much of the public and questions about the prime minister'shandling form a long queue. borisjohnson almost alone, waiting for questions from mps. first, what is the risk of the greatest fear the nhs being overwhelmed? you the greatest fear the nhs being overwhelmed?— the greatest fear the nhs being overwhelmed? ., ~ ., overwhelmed? you think we will have enou:h overwhelmed? you think we will have enough critical _ overwhelmed? you think we will have enough critical care _ overwhelmed? you think we will have enough critical care beds? _

overwhelmed? you think we will have enough critical care beds? the - overwhelmed? you think we will have enough critical care beds? the risk. enough critical care beds? the risk is substantial _ enough critical care beds? the risk is substantial and _ enough critical care beds? the risk is substantial and we _ enough critical care beds? the risk is substantial and we have - enough critical care beds? the risk is substantial and we have to - enough critical care beds? the risk is substantial and we have to keep| is substantial and we have to keep the pressure off the nhs and the only way— the pressure off the nhs and the only way to do that is to follow the current _ only way to do that is to follow the current lockdown. with only way to do that is to follow the current lockdown.— current lockdown. with record numbers are _ current lockdown. with record numbers are losing _ current lockdown. with record numbers are losing their - current lockdown. with record| numbers are losing their lives, current lockdown. with record - numbers are losing their lives, when it might lockdown start to lift and classrooms start to fill? imilli classrooms start to fill? will schools reopen _ classrooms start to fill? will schools reopen after - classrooms start to fill? will schools reopen after half term? classrooms start to fill? will - schools reopen after half term? it schools reopen after half term? depends on the success of the vaccination programme, and us not finding _ vaccination programme, and us not finding something else out and about, — finding something else out and about, a — finding something else out and about, a disease that makes us recalculate and the crucial thing is that the _ recalculate and the crucial thing is that the overall lockdown measures have to _ that the overall lockdown measures have to continue to work. what we are seeing — have to continue to work. what we are seeing today as i speak to you is some _ are seeing today as i speak to you is some early signs of progress but it is far_ is some early signs of progress but it is far too — is some early signs of progress but it is far too early for us to say this— it is far too early for us to say this means _ it is far too early for us to say this means we can go into any relaxation _ this means we can go into any relaxation in the middle of february. relaxation in the middle of february-— relaxation in the middle of februa . , ,, ., ., relaxation in the middle of februa . , ,, . ., . february. this is still a long haul and whether _ february. this is still a long haul

and whether it's _ february. this is still a long haul and whether it's boris _ february. this is still a long haul and whether it's boris johnson . and whether it's borisjohnson describing himself, the standard of some free school lunches as a scandal or pressure on the roll—out of the vaccine, the pandemic has caused difficulty in so many areas but there are also demands abbott a new threat. government says it is concerned about a strain of the virus are emerging in brazil. already brits cannot fly there but should there be a ban on the other way? should there be a ban on the other wa ? ~ , ., �* should there be a ban on the other wa ? ~ , . �* , ., should there be a ban on the other wa? �* ., way? why aren't you taking immediate action on a precautionary _ way? why aren't you taking immediate action on a precautionary basis? - way? why aren't you taking immediate action on a precautionary basis? we i action on a precautionary basis? we are and we are putting in measures to make _ are and we are putting in measures to make sure people coming from brazil— to make sure people coming from brazil are — to make sure people coming from brazil are checked and stopping people — brazil are checked and stopping people coming from brazil. 30 is people coming from brazil. so is that a ban? _ people coming from brazil. so is that a ban? it— people coming from brazil. so is that a ban? it may _ people coming from brazil. so is that a ban? it may be _ people coming from brazil. so is that a ban? it may be seen - people coming from brazil. 5r 3 that a ban? it may be seen but not yet. that a ban? it may be seen but not et. ., , that a ban? it may be seen but not et. . , . . , yet. has a travel band been announced? _ yet. has a travel band been announced? we _ yet. has a travel band been announced? we are - yet. has a travel band been announced? we are taking| yet. has a travel band been - announced? we are taking steps to make sure we _ announced? we are taking steps to make sure we do _ announced? we are taking steps to make sure we do not _ announced? we are taking steps to make sure we do not see _ announced? we are taking steps to make sure we do not see the - announced? we are taking steps to | make sure we do not see the import of this— make sure we do not see the import of this new— make sure we do not see the import of this new variant. you make sure we do not see the import of this new variant.— of this new variant. you keep using the words we _ of this new variant. you keep using the words we are _ of this new variant. you keep using the words we are putting _ of this new variant. you keep using the words we are putting in - of this new variant. you keep using the words we are putting in place l the words we are putting in place measures but please tell me what they are.

measures but please tell me what the are. ., ., ., they are. you will have to shout from all countries _ they are. you will have to shout from all countries that - they are. you will have to shout from all countries that you - they are. you will have to shout from all countries that you have they are. you will have to shout i from all countries that you have a negative — from all countries that you have a negative test. from all countries that you have a negative test-— negative test. these sessions are notoriously _ negative test. these sessions are notoriously can _ negative test. these sessions are notoriously can be _ negative test. these sessions are notoriously can be tricky - negative test. these sessions are notoriously can be tricky but - negative test. these sessions are notoriously can be tricky but the i notoriously can be tricky but the prime minister was unusually direct and to the point with hardly any of his common lorry language. the government is straining to contain the worst days of a long crisis that has weeks and maybe months to run. ministers have rarely had so much pressure on them but there is hardly everin pressure on them but there is hardly ever in a situation like this affecting all of us. the time is 6:20. our top story this evening: the highest daily death toll since the pandemic began — as the prime minister warns there's a risk intensive care units could be overwhelmed. doctors call for a review of ppe guidance, warning that more health care workers need higher grade equipment. coming up on sportsday on bbc news... the women's six nations will be delayed — as planning has proved too tricky with england being the sole professional side

to allow for bubbling. 0rganisers are aiming for a spring or summer start. in america, the politicalfall—out from the invasion of the capitol last week is gathering pace. later today there will be a vote to impeach president trump — for the second time. several senior republicans, from mr trump's own party, have now abandoned him, saying they'lljoin democrats in trying to put the president on trial, accused of inciting the violence in which five people died. impeachment is a first stage — when politicians in the house of representatives vote on whether the president has a case to answer. if the answer is "yes" then the actual trial would take place in the upper house, the senate, at a later date. donald trump is already one of only three presidents impeached in us history. that was back in 2019 and he was found not guilty. 0ur north america editorjon sopel

reports on the dying days of the trump presidency. dawn at the capitol, and a day of history as donald trump is set to become the first president to be impeached twice. but the landscape has changed so much. it now feels like the front line, a garrison town, with the elegant marble corridors inside a barracks. the civil war president abraham lincoln, looking down on resting servicemen. but impeachment 2.0 is different, very different. for a start, the us congress where this is being heard is also the crime scene where the trump—supporting mob descended last week. almighty god, wield your sword and penetrate the confusion and discontent of our country. and this isn't about some call to a ukrainian politician. this is about an assault on the sacred heart of us democracy. the president must be impeached and i believe the president must be convicted by the senate, a constitutional remedy that

will ensure that the republic will be safe from this man, who is still resolutely determined to tear down the things that we hold dear and that hold us together. this was not a protest, this was an insurrection. this was a well—organised attack on our country that was incited by donald trump. and last time round, every republican voted as a bloc to back the president. not this time. impeachment is a solemn... the third most senior republican in the house, liz cheney, said this. tellingly, there was no republican voice defending donald trump, merely a questioning of the process. what is the point of the rush to impeach? we are coming off a horrific event that resulted in six deaths.

we have an opportunity to move forward, but we cannot if the majority insist on bringing the country through the trauma of another impeachment. the president made his first foray out of the white house yesterday since the events of a week ago. but when he spoke, there was zero contrition, and what sounded like an ominous warning that his supporters would be very angry if impeachment went ahead. the impeachment hoax is a continuation of the greatest and most vicious witch—hunt in the history of our country, and is causing tremendous anger and division and pain, far greater than most people will ever understand, which is very dangerous for the usa, especially at this very tender time. today, airbnb announced that it was cancelling all bookings in washington for next week. some hotels are doing the same to stop potential rioters coming in. the capitol has become the citadel.

and just another word on the security situation. there are now more troops deployed in washington, dc than in afghanistan and iraq combined. so far there has been no word from donald trump on today's invents nor his press team but you can be sure he is watching it closely, and as we watch the events unfold, people say why do this so late? a congressman's answer to that was it is never too late to do the right thing. the british medical association has called on public health england to urgently review its guidance on ppe for health care staff treating coronavirus patients — amid growing concern that not enough staff are issued with the highest grade equipment. 0ur science editor david shukman reports. covered in protective layers and breathing through masks with filters, staff in intensive care are kept safe from the virus. but out on the wards there

is a lower standard of equipment, fspecially for masks, because the official view is that there is less risk, yet 46,000 medical staff are off sick. droplets from coughs can spread the virus and there is also evidence of tiny particles known as aerosols, a particular risk indoors including in hospitals. it starts to spread out within the room. now, if you don't have clean air coming in and sort of flushing it out of the room and replacing that contaminated air, they willjust build up and build up to levels that if you inhaled, you could become infected. the risk from infected aerosols drifting in the air is recognised in intensive care and other units, which is why staff working there are given a high grade of ppe, including a kind of facemask called ffp3, which has a filter designed to screen out any small particles floating around, but the vast majority of covid patients are on general wards,

and staff working there are given thinner surgical masks which are thought to be less effective against those aerosols, and the rate of infection among staff on general wards is twice as high as in intensive care. we will be able to get you to see your wife... this consultant, matt butler, faces covid patients on the wards, often when they have just arrived and are at their most infectious. like many, he believes surgical masks aren't enough. he says the ffp3 masks are better with a tighter seal and many health workers have been calling for them for months. the vast majority of the health care workforce that look after covid patients, in light of all this evidence, just feel like their backs are being turned against us and that we're less important, we're seen as more expendable, almost. several hospitals are now issuing ffp3 masks to everyone

caring for covid patients. 0fficial guidance says that isn't needed. the department of health and social care says the safety of staff has always been the top priority and that guidance will change if needed. david shukman, bbc news. the british tennis player francesca jones, who's making impressive progress in world rankings, is through to her first major international tournament after winning a qualifying round for the australian open. the 20—year—old — who has a rare genetic condition that means she was born with three fingers and a thumb on each hand — won injust one hour and one minute. joe wilson reports. 0ne camera on court in dubai captured the moment, but what does this mean to francesca jones? just look and listen. she yells. 6—0, 6—1, she's qualified for australia for a grand slam. next match will be the big time. there has been a lot of hard work and sometimes i think that

might show on the court. i can be really emotional and you know, i put everything i can into the ball and that's as a consequence of the decisions i've made so far and the commitments i've made so far, i guess. tennis began in yorkshire but the family relocated to spain by the time fran was ten. the rare syndrome she was born with means francesca has thumbs and six fingers. she was born without some toes too. she has achieved in sport what some experts told her it was impossible. a lot of people have referred to the doctor who told me i couldn't play but this isn't to prove him wrong, it's to prove to people what you can do. what is your potential, francesca? so far, just seeing what working hard every day does and where that can take me. it takes her now to australia, to quarantine and then the grand slam, not to prove people

wrong but to show what can be done. joe wilson, bbc news. brilliant. time for a look at the weather. here's susan powell. we are getting quite a few reports of snow coming in from scotland, the met office has concerns for the amount of snow that might fall here into tomorrow morning and has issued an amberwarning for into tomorrow morning and has issued an amber warning for scotland and northern england down to the pennines, for the highest ground up to 20 centimetres is possible but even at lower levels we could see up to four inches and i will emphasise the areas affected by snow will not just be under the amber shading. a big bank of cold air to the east extending from scandinavia, mild air trying to creep in from the west but between the two are weather front, as that meets the colder air the