this is bbc news. the headlines: record breaking numbers of people are waiting to start routine hospital treatment in england, with 100 times the number of people than before the pandemic waiting more than a year. the royal college of surgeons says it shows covid's calamitous impact. is of patients in a kind of hidden waiting list are probably building up waiting list are probably building up in efficiency for this, so it's likely that the figure is even bigger. vaccinations in high street pharmacies — a pilot project gets underway in england to deliver the covid jab. they can for the flu vaccinations and get — they can for the flu vaccinations and get their medicines from

a study finds most people who've had covid do have immunity it somewhere that it from it for at least five months — though they can still carry is the virus and give it to others. familiar to familiarto them. last week's violence at the capitol, after he becomes the first us president to be impeached twice. true supporter mine could ever endorse political violence. no true supporter of wine could have a disrespect for enforcement or our great american flag. thousands of laptops and tablets are donated to help children being home—schooled online after a bbc campaign. and no sign of rustiness — a strong start for england's cricketers against sri lanka, in their first test since august.

afternoon. a record number of patients have been waiting to start non—urgent hospital treatment in england — nearly 4.5 million at the end of november, with the number of those waiting more than a year for treatment 100 times higher than before the pandemic. the royal college of surgeons says the figure shows the calamitous impact of coronavirus. newly released data also shows that 1 in 4 patients admitted to accident and emergency departments waited more than four hours for a bed in november. nhs england has warned that services face an exceptionally tough challenge. 0ur health correspondent sophie hutchinson reports. christine lives with constant and debilitating pain. she urgently needs a hip replacement, but her operation has been cancelled and she does not know when it will happen.

she says she has been so desperate, she has considered ending her life. so what does it feel like when you try to take a step? it is so what does it feel like when you try to take a step?— try to take a step? it is “ust like somebody * try to take a step? it is 'ust like somebody sticking h try to take a step? it is 'ust like somebody sticking a h try to take a step? it isjust like somebody sticking a knife - try to take a step? it isjust like somebody sticking a knife in . try to take a step? it isjust like| somebody sticking a knife in my groin and twisting it, being able to put any weight on it whatsoever. there's not being able to put any weight on it. sometimes the pain makes me physically sick, and i am really struggling at times. christine is not alone. waits for routine care are at their highest levels because of the pressure from covid—i9. nearly 4.5 million people, a record, are waiting for treatment including knee and hip operations. figures for last november show nearly 200,000 people had waited more than a year for treatment. as for the second wave hit. compare that to the year before the pandemic, when the figure was less than 2000. college of surgeons in

england has described the number of patients waiting as calamitous and says the figure could be even higher. says the figure could be even hiaher. ~ . , higher. what we saw the first atient higher. what we saw the first patient waiting _ higher. what we saw the first patient waiting to _ higher. what we saw the first patient waiting to come - higher. what we saw the first patient waiting to come to i higher. what we saw the first - patient waiting to come to hospital. i think is also true in november. patients waiting mr building up in addition to this, so it might think it is even bigger. the pressures at the thought far wider than that in the thought far wider than that in the south, which is been the epicentre of the second way. hospital in swindon has declared a critical incident because the number

of patients needing treatment. no prescription what is busier than it has ever been before, when multiple clinic patients needing previous support and oxygen. this is in addition to the usual chess — this is in addition to the usual chess condition to see every winter. this afternoon, she is hoping it willjust be a few months. the challenge could take years. i'm joined by the

associate medical director at the british heart foundation and consultant cardiologist. talk as through the statistics on the back on heart surgery? we certainly do have a backlog. there are things that we can measure and things that we can infer a head. there is a waiting list of people waiting for heart procedures. that includes open heart surgery and other procedures such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and so on. that waiting list looks smaller than usual which might sound like a good news story but it is because people are not getting on the waiting list in the first place. that way to look at this is perhaps to look at how many people required heart procedures before the pandemic in the same time period. we are seeing

96,000 fewer procedures since the onset of the pandemic than we would expect. that is 12,000 open heart surgeries. all of us would understand that having a heart procedure is not a luxury. clearly these need to be done. many people have had their care disrupted to have had their care disrupted to have cardiovascular disease. 96,000 fewer procedures. imilli have cardiovascular disease. 96,000 fewer procedures.— fewer procedures. will that be eo - le fewer procedures. will that be peeple who — fewer procedures. will that be people who have _ fewer procedures. will that be people who have a _ fewer procedures. will that be people who have a problem i fewer procedures. will that be | people who have a problem but fewer procedures. will that be - people who have a problem but they are not going to the gp, and some of them are people who have started the process but have been told, sorry, there is a delay? it is the range, i am assuming. there is a delay? it is the range, i am assuming-— there is a delay? it is the range, i am assuming. that is an excellent cuestion. am assuming. that is an excellent question- it _ am assuming. that is an excellent question. it will _ am assuming. that is an excellent question. it will be _ am assuming. that is an excellent question. it will be a _ am assuming. that is an excellent question. it will be a mixed - question. it will be a mixed picture. essentially we note that a people are even being referred to hospital based cardiology services.

particularly in the early part of the pandemic, people needed reassurance the nhs was still open and they could come with their emergencies, such as if they think they may be having a heart attack. but it is also people who symptoms may be worsening at home. they may have no heart disease, getting more breathless with their heart failure or more chest pain with their angina or more chest pain with their angina or following or more chest pain with their angina orfollowing a or more chest pain with their angina or following a heart attack. it is a bit more than people's behaviour, we think. we also know the nhs has not been able to deliver at the scale it normally does, and in the nature it normally does, and in the nature it normally does, and in the nature it normally does, because of the need to treat people for coronavirus, so many thousands of people have not had a diagnostic test they are waiting for, and that could be the reason we realise someone needs a heart operation or treatment or could show worsening of their heart disease, for example. so it is not only the delay in having procedures and heart surgery we know about, but

the fact people aren't even joining the fact people aren't even joining the waiting list, the backlog, and the waiting list, the backlog, and the true scale of need is likely to be far more immense. i want to talk about the backlog in a moment, but i almost don't want to ask this question. do you fear people will have died or will die because they don't get appropriate surgery in time? absolutely, yes, i'm afraid i do. we have learned, sadly, all of us in the uk, to know about access deaths, so more deaths than we would expect in a given year, and for every single number amongst those statistics we hear about weekly or daily sometimes, there is a bereaved family. whether that is a brother, father, motherthat family. whether that is a brother, father, mother that died of coronavirus or not, every single one is terrible. amongst that, what we have also seen is that people are

dying of cardiovascular disease, so, heart and circulatory disease, in far greater numbers than we would expect normally, so it is at least 5000 more people died of heart disease then we would expect for the same period in the year before the pandemic. that is really tragic, given decades of research and evidence that has given us effective treatments for heart and circulatory conditions, and of course, we don't know exactly that these are directly linked, but it is very concerning that while we have reduced activity for heart care, we are also seeing access deaths from heart disease. these poor patients are at double risk, if you like. people with heart and circulatory disease are more likely to have the most severe form of coronavirus illness if they catch it, the one that might really need to be admitted to hospital, so they might die of coronavirus itself, but now, what these data, this latest

nhs data suggest to us is, it is also compounded by the fact that there is disruption in cardiovascular care and lack of access to usual modes of care. for an individual patient listening, i think it is quite low risk, and that is important to say. it is important to know your cardiologist, people like me and my colleagues and heart surgery, are accessing your case regularly and checking whether you need to be at the top of the list or whether you need to be an urgent or emergency case. the scale of the problem is such that i worry that we will continue to see an access number of deaths associated with not having treatment on time. find number of deaths associated with not having treatment on time.— having treatment on time. and you half answered _ having treatment on time. and you half answered what _ having treatment on time. and you half answered what i _ having treatment on time. and you half answered what i was _ having treatment on time. and you half answered what i was going - having treatment on time. and you half answered what i was going to l half answered what i was going to ask next in terms of what an individual listening should think or do, but i am curious as well, how on earth, given the scale of what you have outlined here, how can that backlog be dealt with? this presumably will take a very long

time to work through all the procedures that you have outlined. you are absolutely right. no one, including us, is blind to the fact that the nhs has been tested to a limit. never in its 75 year history has it been asked to do this scale of work it has been asked to do at the moment, the scale of expansion, and its relentless, the work we're doing, those of us who work in the including me. clearly, we have to be able to treat people with severe coronavirus illness, but what these data also show is that non—covert care is massively important as well, in particular, cardiovascular disease. —— non—covert care. we have to work out how we can trust that too. currently, we are at the peak of the current crisis, but it starts

—— as it starts to abate, we need to protect and expand cardiovascular care. that will need good information for patients so they get a clear message, the nhs is open for your emergency. but please also tell as if your symptoms are worsening, because we may need to re—prioritise the procedure or care you are waiting for. it also involves investment, which will need to be short and long term. even before this pandemic, there were 100,000 vacancies in the nhs and they need to invest. so to address this backlog, we will need expansion, not just coming back to business as usual, which seems quite far away right now. we also need to maximise the opportunity of working with the independent sector, if they can help us, to see nhs patients personally. in the first week of the pandemic, i was able to see some of my heart

patients by permission in a private hospital under the nhs, and the more we can galvanise the health care landscape to help patients, the better. the rest of us need to stop spreading the virus so that there is enough care for everyone. bier? spreading the virus so that there is enough care for everyone. very good of ou to enough care for everyone. very good of you to give — enough care for everyone. very good of you to give us _ enough care for everyone. very good of you to give us so _ enough care for everyone. very good of you to give us so much _ enough care for everyone. very good of you to give us so much time - enough care for everyone. very good of you to give us so much time this l of you to give us so much time this afternoon, doctor. a sobering picture, but good to hear your expertise. thank you so much. a consultant cardiologist, talking about the impact regarding cardiology and the backlog of procedures that are so vital for so many people. let's talk a bit more about the vaccine. the coronavirus vaccine is being given in a small number of high street pharmacies in england, as part of a pilot scheme getting under way today. six chemists are the first to give appointments, with up to 200 taking part in the next two weeks. duncan kennedy reports.

this was the day the covid vaccine came to our high streets. among the first to get a jab was 82—year—old derek. in this case, at a superdrug and guildford. ida derek. in this case, at a superdrug and guildford.— and guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it. _ and guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it. the _ and guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it. the lady _ and guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it. the lady was - and guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it. the lady was very - never felt it. the lady was very efficient and polite. so no problem. this is one of six pharmacies in england to begin offering the jab today. it hopes to give 1000 doses a week, operating from eight in the morning to eight at night. pharmacies have been pressing the government for some time to get involved in the vaccine roll—out. you are now involved. can you deliver? ~ , �* you are now involved. can you deliver? �* , �* , you are now involved. can you deliver? ~ , �* , , ., deliver? absolutely. i'm very proud that here in — deliver? absolutely. i'm very proud that here in guildford _ deliver? absolutely. i'm very proud that here in guildford superdrug i that here in guildford superdrug today, _ that here in guildford superdrug today, our pharmacies and nurses will he _ today, our pharmacies and nurses will be among the first in the high street_ will be among the first in the high street to — will be among the first in the high street to provide the vaccine. we have _ street to provide the vaccine. we have highly skilled and experienced activators _ have highly skilled and experienced activators who have been involved in the flu _ activators who have been involved in the flu vaccination programme this year, _ the flu vaccination programme this veer. so _ the flu vaccination programme this veer. so we — the flu vaccination programme this year, so we stand ready and able to provide _ year, so we stand ready and able to provide the — year, so we stand ready and able to provide the service to the nation. the way— provide the service to the nation. the way it— provide the service to the nation. the way it works that is these people and anybody else who comes to

a pharmacy must have an appointment. you can'tjust turn up on spec and hope to get one. then, once you are here, you're put into a waiting area, go and get your injection, and afterwards, particularly for older people, there is another waiting area where you are monitored for 20 minutes before being allowed home. but already, some people have turned up but already, some people have turned up without appointments because they didn't press save at the bottom of their online booking form. i booked and then i made _ their online booking form. i booked and then i made a _ their online booking form. i booked and then i made a note _ their online booking form. i booked and then i made a note of - their online booking form. i booked and then i made a note of the - and then i made a note of the appointment that i have, but i didn't page down the page where i would have found save and a reference number. but they should remember people of 80 are not all computer savvy. 50 remember people of 80 are not all computer savvy-— remember people of 80 are not all computer savvy. so where are we now with the whole — computer savvy. so where are we now with the whole vaccination _ computer savvy. so where are we now with the whole vaccination roll - computer savvy. so where are we now with the whole vaccination roll out? i with the whole vaccination roll out? the jab will soon be available at a total of 2700 sites across the uk. as well as hospitals, gp surgeries and large hubs, around 200 of the community pharmacies should come

online in the next fortnight, with more to follow. this boots pharmacy in halifax is another of the sites to begin work today. for now, only bigger branches are being used, as they can deliver large volumes of injections and maintain social distancing. irate injections and maintain social distancing-— injections and maintain social distancinr. ~ . . , , distancing. we are a trusted site because they — distancing. we are a trusted site because they come _ distancing. we are a trusted site because they come here - distancing. we are a trusted site because they come here for- distancing. we are a trusted site because they come here for the | distancing. we are a trusted site i because they come here for the flu vaccinations and get their medicines from us, and it is somewhere that's familiar to them, so it means the local people, the elderly and young people, the workers, can all have access to this vaccine, which is important. the first day of pharmacy vaccinations appears to be going well. it now seems that from hospitals to high streets, the full of health services are being mobilised to deliver covid protection. let's speak now to andrew lane, chairman of the national pharmacy association good afternoon. afternoon. do you

feel this is — good afternoon. afternoon. do you feel this is a _ good afternoon. afternoon. do you feel this is a promising _ good afternoon. afternoon. do you feel this is a promising pilot - feel this is a promising pilot project? i feelthis is a promising pilot ro'ect? ~ �* , feelthis is a promising pilot ro'ect? ~ �*, ., , feelthis is a promising pilot ro'ect? ~' �*, ., , ., project? i think it's actually great eo - le project? i think it's actually great people are _ project? i think it's actually great people are being _ project? i think it's actually great people are being given _ project? i think it's actually great people are being given a - project? i think it's actually great people are being given a covid i people are being given a covid vaccine in pharmacies in england for the first time today. we are obviously delighted pharmacy teams like you have just described, who have been on the nhs front line throughout the pandemic, joining this great national effort to defeat the virus, and it's a really proud moment for community pharmacy, and a moment for community pharmacy, and a moment of hope for us all, i believe. it moment of hope for us all, i believe. , , ., , , .,, ., moment of hope for us all, i believe. , , .,, , ., , moment of hope for us all, i believe. , , , ., , ., believe. it presumably has to be a re believe. it presumably has to be a pretty sizable _ believe. it presumably has to be a pretty sizable premises, _ believe. it presumably has to be a pretty sizable premises, apart i believe. it presumably has to be a l pretty sizable premises, apart from anything else, to be able to do it. we still have to socially distance and so on. a lot of factors to take into consideration?— and so on. a lot of factors to take into consideration? absolutely, and beafina into consideration? absolutely, and bearin: in into consideration? absolutely, and bearing in mind _ into consideration? absolutely, and bearing in mind 90% _ into consideration? absolutely, and bearing in mind 90% of— into consideration? absolutely, and bearing in mind 9096 of the - bearing in mind 90% of the population live within a 20 minute walk of a pharmacy, and we are very convenient, there is a lot of planning and preparation that has to go into an operation like this. it is good news today. we are focused and protecting as many people as possible, and if you like, the larger sites were designed to cope with the limitations of the pfizer

vaccine. now we have the roll—out of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine, which has a much more stable storage condition, i suppose, which has a much more stable storage condition, isuppose, if which has a much more stable storage condition, i suppose, if you want to call it that, most pharmacies have a fridge. they provide the flu vaccine, and are well equipped to cope with the social distancing, as we have done throughout the pandemic. so i think we are pretty confident, nhsengland are keeping all operational matters under active review, including that 1000 all operational matters under active review, including that1000 minimum per week hurdle, because as you rightly say, if we are going to roll that out into smaller pharmacies, then the criteria for that will need to change, but recognising as janice has just described there that many elderly people cannot get ten miles to a mass vaccination centre and may find their local pharmacy a lot more convenient. so we're looking forward to the roll—out of the further 200,

and then we are working very closely with nhsengland to make sure operationally we can work with them to see how that can be scaled up. how does it actually work in terms of staffing? i can see it is convenient for the individual, but you have got to be able to come all the pharmacy has to be able to run it like almost a military operation, really. how is that staffing happening?— really. how is that staffing happening? really. how is that staffing hauenina? , ., ., ., happening? well, they do, and for the criteria — happening? well, they do, and for the criteria of— happening? well, they do, and for the criteria of 1000 _ happening? well, they do, and for the criteria of 1000 minimum i happening? well, they do, and for the criteria of 1000 minimum perl the criteria of 1000 minimum per week, it is clearly a much more scaled up operation. but if you just consider we have come through the largest flu campaign this country has ever seen, and community pharmacy did 1.7 million flu jabs within a two month period, thatjust tells you that we are pretty much here, we are trained, and we can cope with that sort of pressure. 0bviously, cope with that sort of pressure. obviously, we will not be able to do 1000 a week and every single pharmacy, but if you look at the

11,500 pharmacies in england, if just under half, 5000 pharmacies, did only 100 vaccines a week, that is half a million vaccinated per week, so that is a quarter of the government's current target. goad week, so that is a quarter of the government's current target. good to talk to you- _ government's current target. good to talk to you. thank _ government's current target. good to talk to you. thank you _ government's current target. good to talk to you. thank you very _ government's current target. good to talk to you. thank you very much. i government's current target. good to | talk to you. thank you very much. we will perhaps speak again about this. andrew lane, chair of the national pharmacy association. travel from south america to the uk could be banned as part of the government's attempts to control the spread of covid. ministers are meeting to discuss possible measures, which are in response to a variant that first emerged in brazil. it comes as new rules requiring travellers arriving in england to have a negative covid test, have been delayed from friday to monday. people who've had covid—19 are protected from getting it again for at least five months, according to a study led by public health england. but the research suggests that while someone who's had it has 83% immunity, they can still carry the virus and pass it on to others.

0ur science correspondent rebecca morelle has more. coronavirus is spreading fast, and the number of people who've already had covid is rising. this latest study looked at how likely they are to catch it again. 6500 health workers who had been infected in the past were tracked and given regular tests. most were protected from the virus for at least five months, and they are now being monitored to see how long this immunity lasts. but there were a few ri infections, with 44 potential cases detected, and some had high enough levels of the virus to put them at risk of spreading it to others. it is a sobering _ spreading it to others. it is a sobering thought, _ spreading it to others. it is a sobering thought, but i spreading it to others. it is a sobering thought, but not i spreading it to others. it is a i sobering thought, but not totally unexpected that with time, immunity will dwindle, and therefore, there will dwindle, and therefore, there will be some people who, having caught the virus right at the outset of all of this, may now be becoming

vulnerable again, and therefore, they should be careful.— vulnerable again, and therefore, they should be careful. because of this, scientists _ they should be careful. because of this, scientists say _ they should be careful. because of this, scientists say vaccination i they should be careful. because of this, scientists say vaccination is l this, scientists say vaccination is still now vital for everyone. we can onl sa still now vital for everyone. we can only say that _ still now vital for everyone. we can only say that there _ still now vital for everyone. we can only say that there is _ still now vital for everyone. we can only say that there is protection i only say that there is protection for the — only say that there is protection for the length of time we can follow people _ for the length of time we can follow people up — for the length of time we can follow people up. it looks like it acts similarly— people up. it looks like it acts similarly to the vaccine, and it may be that— similarly to the vaccine, and it may be that the — similarly to the vaccine, and it may be that the vaccine will boost this immune — be that the vaccine will boost this immune response, and allow people to have an _ immune response, and allow people to have an even _ immune response, and allow people to have an even better immune activation— have an even better immune activation in future. scientists will continue _ activation in future. scientists will continue to _ activation in future. scientists will continue to study - activation in future. scientists i will continue to study immunity, but the advice for now is to stay at home, remembering hands, face, and space, whether you have had the virus or not. let's turn to the united states as promised. donald trump faces trial in the senate after becoming the first us president to be impeached twice. last night members of the house of representatives voted to charge him with inciting last week's violence at the capitol building in washington. after that vote, the president released a video in which he didn't mention impeachment, but urged americans to unite and avoid violence.

barbara plett usher reports. the ayes are 232. the nays are 197. the ayes are 232. the nays are 197. the motion is taken up without objection. so the motion is taken up without ob'ection. ., ~ ~ the motion is taken up without ob'ection. . ~ ~ ., objection. so ended a week like no other in washington, _ objection. so ended a week like no other in washington, with - objection. so ended a week like no other in washington, with the i other in washington, with the astonishing collapse of donald trump's final days in office. lawmakers return to a capitol transformed, thousands of national guard troops deployed to protect them from the supporters of the departing president, who had stormed congress. the people's house look like a war zone. the debate to impeach the president for inciting the violence was sharp and emotional.— the violence was sharp and emotional. , , , , emotional. the president must be impeached. _ emotional. the president must be impeached, and _ emotional. the president must be impeached, and i _ emotional. the president must be impeached, and i believe - emotional. the president must be impeached, and i believe the i impeached, and i believe the president must be impeached by the senate, a constitutional remedy that will ensure the republic will be safe from this man, who is so resolutely determined to tier down

the things that we hold dear and that hold us together. it the things that we hold dear and that hold us together.— the things that we hold dear and that hold us together. it has a was been about — that hold us together. it has a was been about getting _ that hold us together. it has a was been about getting the _ that hold us together. it has a was been about getting the president, | that hold us together. it has a was i been about getting the president, no matter— been about getting the president, no matter what. been about getting the president, no matterwhat. it been about getting the president, no matter what. it is an obsession, an obsession— matter what. it is an obsession, an obsession that has now broadened. it is not _ obsession that has now broadened. it is notjust_ obsession that has now broadened. it is notjust about impeachment obsession that has now broadened. it is not just about impeachment any more, _ is not just about impeachment any more. it— is not just about impeachment any more. it is— is not just about impeachment any more, it is about cancelling, as i said _ more, it is about cancelling, as i said. cancelling the president and anyone _ said. cancelling the president and anyone that disagrees with them. but most anyone that disagrees with them. emit most republicans didn't defend mr trump. instead, they questioned the process and warned it would deepen divisions. and ten voted for impeachment, a stark difference from the first time round one year ago. next, this goes to the senate for trial, but only after the inauguration ofjoe biden, when mr trump will have left office. but i cannot emphasise _ trump will have left office. but i cannot emphasise that - trump will have left office. but i cannot emphasise that there i trump will have left office. emit i cannot emphasise that there must be no violence, no lawbreaking, and no vandalism of any kind. in a no violence, no lawbreaking, and no vandalism of any kind.— vandalism of any kind. in a video message. _ vandalism of any kind. in a video message. he _ vandalism of any kind. in a video message, he still— vandalism of any kind. in a video message, he still didn't - vandalism of any kind. in a video message, he still didn't concede| vandalism of any kind. in a video i message, he still didn't concede the election, but with the threat of more attacks to come, he called for protesters to remain peaceful. mob violence goes against everything

i believe in and everything our movement stands for. no true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. supporter of mine could ever endorse politicalviolence. no supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. no true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement or our great american flag. no true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their fellow americans. it threaten or harass their fellow americans-— threaten or harass their fellow americans. ., , , ., ., americans. it has been one week since the riot, _ americans. it has been one week since the riot, and _ americans. it has been one week since the riot, and there - americans. it has been one week since the riot, and there is i americans. it has been one week since the riot, and there is one i since the riot, and there is one more week to go beforejoe biden is inaugurated. in the middle of this, the house says it has acted to protect democracy by impeaching mr trump. but a peaceful transfer of power still feels very fragile. let's discuss what happens now. let's speak now to professor rene lindstadt, head of the school of government at the university of birmingham. good afternoon. good afternoon. thanks for— good afternoon. good afternoon. thanks for having _ good afternoon. good afternoon. thanks for having me. _ good afternoon. good afternoon. thanks for having me. well, i good afternoon. good afternoon. | thanks for having me. well, what good afternoon. good afternoon. i thanks for having me. well, what do ou think thanks for having me. well, what do you think is — thanks for having me. well, what do you think is the _ thanks for having me. well, what do you think is the likely _ thanks for having me. well, what do you think is the likely chain - thanks for having me. well, what do you think is the likely chain of i you think is the likely chain of events, specifically first, in terms

of the impeachment? when could it happen, and crucially, what do the numbers look like in terms of republican attitudes to this? mitch mcconnell, the _ republican attitudes to this? mitch mcconnell, the current _ republican attitudes to this? iji tan mcconnell, the current senate majority leader, republican senate majority leader, republican senate majority leader, republican senate majority leader, has been very clear that he will not recall the senate, and that the first session they will haveis and that the first session they will have is onjanuary and that the first session they will have is on january the 19th, and that the first session they will have is onjanuary the 19th, one day before biden's inauguration. so this will definitely stretch into the biden administration. there won't be a verdict in the senate before trump leaves office. in terms of the sentiments in the republican party and the senate, it is a little difficult to tell at the minute, because they are all kind of keeping quiet about this. what is interesting is that the senate majority leader has indicated he is welcoming the impeachment trial, and that he thinks it might be a good way of breaking with trump and

reinvigorating the republican party. there might be people watching from this side of the atlantic he would say after the violence rare this side of the atlantic he would say after the violence— this side of the atlantic he would say after the violence we saw at the ca - itol, say after the violence we saw at the capitol. why — say after the violence we saw at the capitol. why are _ say after the violence we saw at the capitol, why are there _ say after the violence we saw at the capitol, why are there not - say after the violence we saw at the capitol, why are there not more i capitol, why are there not more republicans now, with only one week to go, who are being more vocal about this? but is there still an air of anxiety orfear? i don't know, you tell me what it is, that means people won't be more vocal, focal or won't feel safe enough to be more vocal until joe biden as president?— safe enough to be more vocal until joe biden as president? well, there have been reports _ joe biden as president? well, there have been reports that _ joe biden as president? well, there have been reports that some i have been reports that some republican members of the house of representatives actually were very much in favour of impeachment and would have liked to vote in favour of the articles of impeachment, but really fear for their safety after what happened last week. whether thatis what happened last week. whether that is going to change going forward and whether the senate is going to look at this differently once trump is out of office, i'm not

sure. but i don't think the threat is really going away, and the other thing that is important to mention here is that a recent poll has indicated that trump still has a very strong hold on the republican party, and a lot of these lawmakers are quite concerned about facing primary challenges the next time that they are up for election. 50 that they are up for election. so all of those factors play into how the senators will ultimately vote. and is it your sense that... could this all happen, the hearing, in january, february and march, my point being, there is quite a lot of talk in america about the first 100 days of a presidency. it is quite a marker, a symbolic thing. and could that overshadowjoe biden's first 100 days? what are your thoughts about that? i think that is one of the concerns, and president—elect biden has been very clear that if biden has been very clear that f the impeachment trial were to take place at the beginning of his term in office, that he would want to see

a sort of parallel approach to tackling the various policies and pieces of legislation that he wants to put before congress, and not be completely bogged down with the impeachment trial. briefly before i let you go, your thoughts on the inauguration next week, what it symbolises but also the tension in washington at the moment because of the violence last week? i think a lot of people are still extremely concerned about what happened last week and what might yet be occurring leading up to the inauguration and on the day of the inauguration. you will have seen there is a large presence of national guard in washington, dc at the moment, and security is extremely high. 0ne the moment, and security is extremely high. one can only hope everything will go safely and smoothly and that there won't be any

more attacks. thanks very much. people are even being referred to hospital based cardiology services. a slow moving weather front across the country so far. a combination of snow to the north and rain further south. this was earlier on. you can see where the snow has been sitting, through the spine of scotland and northern england. heavy rain and the pennines. leaving a legacy of cloud for the rest of the afternoon. temperatures are going to be subdued across the country just temperatures are going to be subdued across the countryjust a couple of degrees above freezing. 0vernight tonight the rain and snow will ease away and we could have a problem with some ice and freezing fog

forming as temperatures are just around or below freezing in many places. widespread frost and fog first thing in the morning. icy stretches will clear away for a quiet friday before the rain returns for saturday. hello this is bbc news. the headlines. record breaking numbers of people are waiting to start routine hospital treatment in england — with 100 times the number of people than before the pandemic waiting more than year. vaccinations in high street pharmacies — a pilot project gets under way in england to deliver the covid jab. a study finds most people who've had covid do have immunity from it for at least 5 months — though they can still carry the virus and give it to others.

donald trump denies inciting last week's violence at the capitol — after he becomes the first us president to be impeached twice. thousands of laptops and tablets are donated to help children being home—schooled online after a bbc campaign. sport now and a full round up from the bbc sport centre. andy murray faces a race against time to participate at the up coming australian open after the former world number one tested positive for coronavirus. he's said to be well but will need special dispensation from the australian authorities to make the journey to melbourne after missing one of the chartered flights laid on by the organisers as our tennis correspondent russell fuller explains. he needs to complete his ten days of

self isolation in the uk and then return a negative test before he could go to australia. those flights were supposed to be leaving today if they have not already left. 0ver were supposed to be leaving today if they have not already left. over the next 36 hours 15 planes full of players will arrive to begin two weeks of quarantine. this arrival was carefully negotiated between tennis australia and the health authorities. we do not know if andy murray will be given permission to arrive late. if he is given the green light he will still have to quarantine for 1h green light he will still have to quarantine for 16 days so he would not be able to play in the warm up events one week before. but at least as part of quarantine he would be allowed to practice for five hours per day, like all the players. so he could potentially get himself in the cp needs to be to be on the start line. you said that andy murray needs to return a negative test before he can potentially there is an australian

situation though where one person was allowed to fly to australia despite testing positive, why was that? in that case, that could help andy murray in a few days' time. the player said he was unwell and tested positive for covid in november, and when he took the required test, he discovered that he tested positive again. in his case, after the victorian coronavirus task force looked into it, looked at his medical records, they were happy that this was as a result of a previous positive test, and that there were still some viral fragments that were shedding, and that triggered another positive test. they were very comfortable that he was no longer infectious and was able to get on that plane and was able to get on that plane and was able to get on that plane and was able —— will be able to compete. it is possible andy murray may be able to find himself in a similar

situation. england are on top after day one of the the first test match of their series against sri lanka. dom bess and stuart broad starring in galle. including the last forjust nine runs, broad taking three as sri lanka were bowled out for 135 and although england's reply didn't start well with both openers out cheaply — england finished the day on 127—2, captainjoe root making a half—century. they're just eight runs behind. i have not bowled as well as i could have done. i got away with one or two. but quickly, we flip it, and look how well we pulled up front, that was exceptional, that set the tone early on. aston villa have been forced to postpone another premier league match due to the pandemic.

they closed their training ground last week after a number of positive tests. wednesday's game against tottenham had already been postponed. sunday's match at home to everton has now been called off. and the masters snooker continues this afternoon. kyren wilson playing david gilbert. a team of experts from the world health organization has arrived in the chinese city of wuhan for a long—delayed investigation into the origin of the coronavirus, first detected more than a year ago. the group will spend two weeks in quarantine in a hotel before visiting different sites under chinese supervision. 0ur china correspondent robin brant is in the city. he told me it is not yet known how forthcoming the authorities will be.

it has been a long time coming, it is more than a year since the outbreak began, the first recorded cases here at this now infamous marketjust cases here at this now infamous market just over the cases here at this now infamous marketjust over the other cases here at this now infamous market just over the other side cases here at this now infamous marketjust over the other side of the city of wuhan. there were disagreements last week over visas and arrangements but the team is here and they are ready to start their work. they will be in a hotel under quarantine for two weeks. there will be daily video conference calls with their chinese counterparts. after that there will be a period of field visits and doing work on the ground. the key question is access. what kind of access will get two crucial in wuhan and possibly beyond? what kind of access will they get to research material? the chinese scientists and the chinese authorities have been gathering over the last year. at this stage we just do not know. this is in the context of people on both sides talking about that science and how important that is but what we have here now, and we have had for several months, is an established propaganda campaign, china's state

media, talking about whether in fact the coronavirus outbreak even began here in wuhan, even began in china, was it in italy early on, was it in spain earlier? this is designed to undermine the very reason the who team is here in the first place. turkey has started mass coronavirus vaccinations using china's sinovac vaccine. earlier, turkey's health minister was given his jab live on television and called on everyone to get the vaccine. but new questions have been raised over china's vaccine, after clinical trials in brazil showed it was onlyjust over 50% effective. 0ur corresponent 0rla guerin is in one of istanbul's newest hospitals where vaccinations are taking place. another dose of the vaccine has just been prepared now. it is being kept carefully and are climate controlled conditions. it has between —— it has to be between 2—8 c. we are at one

of the largest hospitals in istanbul. it is a new hospital. it was opened at the beginning of the pandemic. the vaccination programme has been going on here since this morning. it is the health staff who are getting theirjabs today. in this room they can do about six vaccinations per hour. that is one every ten minutes. there are 50 vaccination rooms in operation today at the hospital. they say they will be working until midnight tonight. now that the vaccine is here doctors tell as they do not want to lose a minute. but the vaccine that is being used here has come from sinovac in china. in the past few days there has been clinical data from brazil seeing the efficacy of this vaccine is just over 50%. that is barely over the limit that is required for regulatory approval. we have asked the doctors here today about that. they say they trust their own data. they have done their own clinical trials here in turkey.

they have found that the vaccine was effective more than 90%. the message they are trying to scent today, very much, as this is something that everyone needs to do, everyone needs to come and have their vaccinations. this is a way to beat the virus and to save lives. but there are concerns here is that some people do not trust the vaccine, that some do not trust the vaccine, that some do not the government, and that this may impede the vaccination drive. the turkish medical association has warned that people do not trust the government because they see it has concealed the truth about the pandemic here from the outset. well, the pandemic is putting a huge strain on the healthcare system in california, with people waiting hours to be admitted to hospital and patients lining hospital corridors. many people travelled across the united states during the christmas period, fuelling the number of infections in the state. sophie long reports. the pressure on los angeles health care system has reached new,

dangerous and desperate levels. ambulance teams have been told not to take those unlikely to make it to hospital. and doctors must decide who should receive the shrinking supplies of oxygen. heartbreaking choices for medical workers and for the families of the hundreds dying here every day. nurse bernie duran is both — covid claimed his father leo's life just after christmas. when it happens to you and you see a loved one that you can't help, you can't hold their hand, so that they know you are there for them. that was very, very difficult for me. the risk of contracting coronavirus here in los angeles has never been greater than it is now. one in five people tested are testing positive. that is four times the number doing so just two months ago. public health officials are warning that it could get worse still, when hospitals

are already overflowing. people have been ordered to stay at home to stop that from happening. but more than 66,000 people in los angeles don't have a home. their lives are already a constant battle for survival. now they must confront covid also. this new semi—permanent structure was built to give shelter to more than 100 women. instead, it has become a makeshift covid ward. its intended occupants remain on the streets, where facemasks and sanitiser, protection from the pandemic are luxuries that few can afford. this is the most horrific battle that we have ever been in in 130 years in our history. this is relentless. the national guard are now on the ground, here, learning how to protect themselves as they assist medical workers overwhelmed and exhausted by this sixfold surge in admissions. but why is it happening? why here and why now? we have been too indecisive.

we have too many, what i call, implementation bottlenecks. we know what we need to do, but we can't get it out there. disneyland and the la dodgers stadium are now been transformed into mass vaccination sites, in the hope of stopping this super—surge. let's get more on the news that some high street pharmacies in england have started vaccinating people from priority groups — with 200 providing jabs in the next two weeks. 0ur news correpsondent graham satchell has been visiting one of the pharmacies involved. we are in superdrug in guildford this morning, which is on the high street, so it feels like a step change in this vaccination roll—out. we have seen vaccines being given in hospitals and mass centres and this now brings it much closer to where people live. only a handful today, six, but the hope is it will be expanded in coming weeks to several hundred,

and then pharmacists really want to do as much as they can. we will have a quick chat with toni. she has literallyjust had herjab. how are you feeling? fine. i was apprehensive because i have a lot of allergies but it's not an issue. important for you to get the jab? very much, because i mix with teenage boys, who are not the most reliable at protecting themselves. i am a foster carer. vital for you then. it's incredible, yes. this area is for people who have just had the jab, and they wait for ten or 15 minutes to make sure they are ok, and then they are free to go. one of the people assessing them is christine. good morning. does it feel like an important day to you? absolutely. it feels very important. it feels like pharmacists

are finally getting to do something about this covid—19, and vaccinating is really important to us, as we normally do flu vaccinations, so it feels like something else we can do to help out. for clarity, people can'tjust walk in and get vaccinated, can they? no, at the moment the nhs is sending out letters to patients who are eligible, once they receive that letter, it details how they can book in for a vaccination through the national booking service. which vaccine are you giving, and how many are you hoping to do? we will be giving the astrazeneca vaccine and we are hoping to do 1000 vaccinations per week. if this rolls out to more and more pharmacies, you can see how quickly that adds up, but that's the plan. yes. we are the first pharmacy to start doing it and then, after this,

other pharmacies will be able to do it after they get everything in place. finally, if there are people watching who are still slightly worried about getting this vaccine, what would you say? it's quite normal to feel a bit apprehensive about something new, but there has been a lot of work that has gone into this new vaccine, so we as clinicians and pharmacists are very excited, and we tell people they should get it, because most of the time people getting the letters to get the vaccination are vulnerable due to age or any other illnesses they might have, so this will help protect against covid, reduce the severity of symptoms if you get covid, reduce mortality and reduce the pressure on the nhs. thank you. where we are this morning is a pretty big pharmacy, you can probably see, and at this stage it is only

larger pharmacies that are doing the vaccinations, because they need the space to socially distance people while they are waiting and once they have had the jab, so i think it's unlikely we will see vaccinations in corner shop pharmacies, if you like, so it will be bigger ones, but pharmacies will play a key role in trying to hit the ambitious government target of vaccinating 15 million people by mid—february. the labour leader sir keir starmer has welcomed the government's pledge to open 24/7 covid vaccination centres as soon as possible. he was speaking at a visit to a mass vaccination centre in stevenage — and said the government needed to get 26 hour centres up and running as quickly as possible. we need the supplies and we need the 24—hour opening. both go together. i do not buy the argument that people will not come for a vaccine at four

o'clock or five o'clock in the morning. people have said to me, they do not care what time they go for it. yes, the supply needs to be there, vaccine centres need to be open 24—7. the government has piloted this now, the need to move on fast to make this open to the public. the headlines on bbc news. nearly four and a half million people were waiting to start hospital treatment in england at the end of november — the highest number since records began. vaccinations in high street pharmacies — a pilot project gets under way in england to deliver the covid jab. a study finds most people who've had covid do have immunity from it for at least 5 months — though they can still carry the virus and give it to others.

growing �*vaccine confidence' has led to a boom in the over 50s booking summer holidays. coach and tour operators say they've seen a rush to book, with some seeing an almost 200 percent increase over the last two weeks. simon browning reports. holidays. millions of as mist out last year. no see, no sun, no long sunset drinks. instead we got cancellations and refunds. now as the mass vaccination gets under way tour operators say people are booking again. this is the uk's biggest tour operator and they say greece, turkey and spain are the favourites. brute operator and they say greece, turkey and spain are the favourites.- and spain are the favourites. we are seeinr and spain are the favourites. we are seeing people _ and spain are the favourites. we are seeing people working _ and spain are the favourites. we are seeing people working longer i seeing people working longer holidays, ratherthan seeing people working longer holidays, rather than seven nights, they are booking ten, 11, 1a.

holidays, rather than seven nights, they are booking ten, 11, 16. we are seeing them going more multi—generational and more groups. it is more of a biggerfamily holiday. it it is more of a bigger family holida . , ., , it is more of a bigger family holida. , ., , ., , holiday. it is not 'ust holidays abroad. holiday. it is notjust holidays abroad. national— holiday. it is notjust holidays abroad. national express i holiday. it is notjust holidays| abroad. national express says bookings have surged 185% in the over 65 markets compared to the same period last year. we launched our spring and summer brochure this weekend gone and on monday we took one week's worth of bookings in one day. many of them have had their firstjab and they know within 12 weeks they will receive the second jab. that gives them a level of certainty.- receive the second jab. that gives them a level of certainty. whilst we all dream, them a level of certainty. whilst we all dream. it— them a level of certainty. whilst we all dream, it has _ them a level of certainty. whilst we all dream, it has been _ them a level of certainty. whilst we all dream, it has been a _ them a level of certainty. whilst we all dream, it has been a tax - them a level of certainty. whilst we all dream, it has been a tax year. all dream, it has been a tax year for the industry. abta estimates 90,000 jobs have been lost. this is fantastic news, _ 90,000 jobs have been lost. this is fantastic news, we _ 90,000 jobs have been lost. this is fantastic news, we can _ 90,000 jobs have been lost. this is fantastic news, we can cons - 90,000 jobs have been lost. this is fantastic news, we can cons by i 90,000 jobs have been lost. this is fantastic news, we can cons by an i fantastic news, we can cons by an industry that has been devastated by this pandemic. ten months into this crisis and the travel industry has still received zero dedicated

financial support from the government. this is the first sign of light at the end of the tunnel for the sector and who does not want a holiday after 2020? we for the sector and who does not want a holiday after 2020?— a holiday after 2020? we are earnina a holiday after 2020? we are yearning for _ a holiday after 2020? we are yearning for sun _ a holiday after 2020? we are yearning for sun whilst i a holiday after 2020? we are yearning for sun whilst that l a holiday after 2020? we are i yearning for sun whilst that these are dark. for some, the vaccine brings hope for sunnier times ahead. —— yearning for sun whilst the days are dark. the budget airline norwegian air says it's to stop offering long—haul services in order to focus on european routes. the company is blaming the covid pandemic. 2,100 jobs are likely to be affected, including 1,100 based in the uk. )the hotel chain premier inn has confirmed a further 1,500 job losses because of the impact of the pandemic. 1,500 jobs had already gone at the chain — but it says another 3,000 posts were saved by staff agreeing to work reduced hours. russia's prison authorities say they will take all steps

necessary to arrest and jail alexei navalny on his return from germany on sunday. the russian opposition leader has been undergoing treatment and recuperating after an attempt to kill him with a nerve agent in siberia five months ago. the authorities have asked a moscow court to turn a suspended sentence mr navalny received six years ago into a jail term. they say he broke the terms of his probation by remaining abroad after being discharged from hospital. post—brexit customs delays that have prevented scottish fishermen exporting goods to european markets have been described as teething problems by the government. european importers have rejected lorry loads of scottish fish, after the need for health checks and export declarations meant the produce had taken too long to arrive. elspeth macdonald is from the scottish fishing federation and she's been explaining the impact of the delays. we have had some processors in the

north—east who have incurred 6—figure losses. we have vessels in our fleet, 6—figure losses. we have vessels in ourfleet, even some 6—figure losses. we have vessels in our fleet, even some small vessels, losing tens of thousands of pounds over the last two weeks. the situation is such that we know that some of the larger fishing vessels that are able to are going to steam to denmark and land their catch there because some of the prices on there because some of the prices on the markets here in scotland have been reduced by up to 60% in some cases. it's been a week since the bbc re—launched its make a difference campaign and already there has been a huge response from people. thousands of laptops and tablets have been donated to help children, who are learning from home, online. fiona lamdin has been to meet some of the people donating them and catch up with families

who have been helped. this was the moment when this finally received a laptop on loan from the school.— finally received a laptop on loan from the school. that was one week a . o. ago. thank you very much. it is like a heavy weight is lifted off. no more shouting, can i use your phone? as a result of the bbc make a difference campaign we have been overwhelmed by your generosity. in just seven days we have had over 5000 devices deleted. the bbc has just learned that 20,000 extra devices are coming in the next few weeks from businesses. 0ne devices are coming in the next few weeks from businesses. one of those who donated was madeline. i weeks from businesses. one of those who donated was madeline.— who donated was madeline. i hope that the appeal — who donated was madeline. i hope that the appeal -- _ who donated was madeline. i hope that the appeal -- i _ who donated was madeline. i hope that the appeal -- i heard - who donated was madeline. i hope that the appeal -- i heard about i who donated was madeline. i hope. that the appeal -- i heard about the that the appeal —— i heard about the appeal on the bbc. we have had two laptops not in use for a couple of

years so i wanted to find out and help and give. my husband passed away from covid four weeks ago. he was so generous and kind. he would have done it himself. he would have been proud of me, i am sure. madeline has not been able to hold her husband's funeral yet but she is so determined to help she has already taken the laptops to the local school. ii already taken the laptops to the local school.— already taken the laptops to the local school. , ., ., ., local school. if people do not have the technological _ local school. if people do not have the technological know-how i local school. if people do not have the technological know-how to i local school. if people do not have i the technological know-how to erase the technological know—how to erase the technological know—how to erase the data, they can be reassured that if they pass that laptop to us we will make sure it is completely clean up anything that is left on there. on the other side of the city we 0n the other side of the city we meet this family. these ten—year—old identical twins have been relying on paper hand—outs from their school. earlier this week the government promised another 300,000 devices to disadvantaged children learning at home. taking the total to 1.3 million.

now we have this week will be able tojoin in the online now we have this week will be able to join in the online lessons. now we have this week will be able tojoin in the online lessons. i want to be a dr, sol tojoin in the online lessons. i want to be a dr, so i have to work very— want to be a dr, so i have to work very hard — want to be a dr, so i have to work very hard. having these laptops really _ very hard. having these laptops really helps my education. | very hard. having these laptops really helps my education. i would like to say thank— really helps my education. i would like to say thank you _ really helps my education. i would like to say thank you for _ really helps my education. i would like to say thank you for this i like to say thank you for this donation. it is a life changer. and it is also a life—saver. now, it's time for a look at the weather. plenty of gear changes with the weather over the next couple of days. no two days will be the same. that northern half of the country today, many scenes were like this. heavy snow first thing in the morning across scotland and northern england. heavy rain through

north—west england, the midlands, down to the london area. the risk of localised flooding. the rain and the snow will tend to linger through much of the afternoon. this has been the story over the last three hours. but it is chiefly rain further south. as we go through the rest of the afternoon, slowly brightening up into northern ireland. brisk northerly wind here. in terms of the feel of the weather, it stays mild and to the south—west corner but elsewhere it will be a cold afternoon particularly with cloud and rain. temperatures in some places struggling to climb 1 degrees orso places struggling to climb 1 degrees or so above freezing. tonight, rain and snow will start to ease away. there could be some dense freezing fog in places. there is the risk of icy stretches. these will be the

temperatures, wisely around or below freezing. if you have to make a journey it is worth bearing in mind i saw it freezing fog could be an issue tomorrow morning. —— ice or freezing fog. here is that next gear change. 0nce freezing fog. here is that next gear change. once we have got rid, hopefully, of the dense freezing fog, in some places that will linger for some time, it will be a quieter and brighter day for many. it will continue to feel cold. just that little bit milder the further west you are. friday into saturday, the next low pressure moving in, turning increasingly wet and windy. that means a spell of more heavy rain across the country on saturday. gear change is once again comes on sunday. dreyer, and brighter. ——

drierand sunday. dreyer, and brighter. —— drier and brighter. this is bbc news. the headlines: the number of people waiting for routine hospital treatment last november reached a record high, at nearly 6.5 million. leading health experts warn it means serious conditions will go undiagnosed. it's not only a delay in having procedures and heart surgery that we know about it’s procedures and heart surgery that we know abou- �* , .,. procedures and heart surgery that we know abou- �* , .. ., procedures and heart surgery that we knowabou- h ., , know about it's the fact that people aren't even — know about it's the fact that people aren't even joining _ know about it's the fact that people aren't even joining the _ know about it's the fact that people aren't even joining the waiting i aren't even joining the waiting list, the backlog with the true scale of eve is likely to be far more immense. vaccinations in high street pharmacies — a pilot project gets under way in england to deliver the covid jab. a study finds most people who've had covid do have immunity from it for at least five months — though they can still carry the virus and give it to others. donald trump denies inciting last week's violence at the capitol after he becomes the first us

president to be impeached twice. no true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. no true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement or our great american flag. thousands of laptops and tablets are donated to help children being home—schooled online after a bbc campaign. and no sign of rustiness — a strong start for england's cricketers against sri lanka, in their first test since august. good afternoon. a record number of patients have

been waiting to start non—urgent hospital treatment in england — nearly 6.5 million at the end of november, with the number of those waiting more than a year for treatment 100 times higher than before the pandemic. the royal college of surgeons says the figure shows the calamitous impact of coronavirus. newly released data also shows that 1 in 4 patients admitted to accident and emergency departments waited more than four hours for a bed in november. nhs england has warned that services face an "exceptionally tough challenge". 0ur health correspondent sophie hutchinson reports. christine lives with constant and debilitating pain. she urgently needs a hip replacement, but her operation has been cancelled and she does not know when it will happen. she says she has been so desperate, she has considered ending her life. so what does it feel like when you try to take a step? it is just like somebody sticking a knife in my groin and twisting it,

and not being able to put any weight on it whatsoever. sometimes the pain makes me physically sick, and i am really struggling at times. christine is not alone. waits for routine care are at their highest levels because of the pressure from covid—19. nearly 6.5 million people, a record, are waiting for treatment, including knee and hip operations. figures for last november show nearly 200,000 people had waited more than a year for treatment. that's before the second wave really hit. compare that to the year before the pandemic, when the figure was less than 2000. the royal college of surgeons in england has described the number of patients waiting as calamitous and says the figure could be even higher. what we saw during the first surge

was that patients were frightened to come to hospital. i think that was true in november too. the number of patients in a kind of hidden waiting list were building up in addition to this, so it's likely the figure is even bigger. the pressures are being felt far wider than london and the south, which has been the epicentre of the second wave. 0ne hospital in swindon has declared a critical incident due to the large number of patients needing treatment for the coronavirus. the respiratory ward is busier than it has— the respiratory ward is busier than it has ever— the respiratory ward is busier than it has ever been before, with multiple _ it has ever been before, with multiple covid patients needing breathing support and oxygen. this is in addition to the usual chest conditions _ is in addition to the usual chest conditions we see every winter. today. — conditions we see every winter. today, hospitals in birmingham announced they would temporarily suspend kidney transplants due to the critical covid—19 situation there. across the nhs, there are serious staffing challenges. 0n the 6th of january, serious staffing challenges. 0n the 6th ofjanuary,100,000 serious staffing challenges. 0n the 6th ofjanuary, 100,000 staff were

reported absent, almost double the number compared to last year. eg�*s reported absent, almost double the number compared to last year. 5096 of those were due _ number compared to last year. 5096 of those were due to _ number compared to last year. 5096 of those were due to covid, _ number compared to last year. 5096 of those were due to covid, either- those were due to covid, either illness— those were due to covid, either illness or— those were due to covid, either illness or isolation. that just indicates _ illness or isolation. that just indicates the huge pressure that cove it _ indicates the huge pressure that cove it is — indicates the huge pressure that cove it is putting in staffing, which, — cove it is putting in staffing, which, meeting that high demand due to covid, _ which, meeting that high demand due to covid, is— which, meeting that high demand due to covid, is incredibly challenging. christine _ to covid, is incredibly challenging. christine says she is determined to get through her ordeal, however hard the weight is for an operation, and is hoping it willjust be a few months. the challenge facing the nhs in reducing the waiting list could, though, take years. let's speak now to nigel edwards, chief executive of the nuffield trust, a think tank focused on improving healthcare. good afternoon. good afternoon. these are eye — good afternoon. good afternoon. these are eye watering _ good afternoon. good afternoon. | these are eye watering statistics. your thoughts first of all? thea;r these are eye watering statistics. your thoughts first of all? they are indeed. your thoughts first of all? they are indeed- 0ne _ your thoughts first of all? they are indeed. one really _ your thoughts first of all? they are indeed. one really important i your thoughts first of all? they are indeed. one really important point|

indeed. 0ne really important point to make is, as we heard sophie's report there, just because these are planned surgeries does not make them not important for individuals. we tend to focus on treating emergencies, but people who need hip replacements or cancer surgery, that is really important to them and often makes a difference between their ability to function, to work, to care for others, so there is a lot of human stories behind this that make it even more worrying, i think. . , y that make it even more worrying, i think. . , , that make it even more worrying, i think. , , .,, think. absolutely, some serious . uali think. absolutely, some serious auali of think. absolutely, some serious quality of life — think. absolutely, some serious quality of life issues. _ think. absolutely, some serious quality of life issues. and i think. absolutely, some serious quality of life issues. and we i think. absolutely, some serious| quality of life issues. and we are not yet through the pandemic, no matter how much we might be talking and focusing on the vaccine is that we have a long way to go as a nation, so what on earth is being done, can anything be done at the moment, to start planning to try to deal with the backlog? that moment, to start planning to try to deal with the backlog?— deal with the backlog? at the moment. _ deal with the backlog? at the moment. as _ deal with the backlog? at the moment, as you _ deal with the backlog? at the moment, as you know, i deal with the backlog? at the moment, as you know, we i deal with the backlog? at the | moment, as you know, we are deal with the backlog? at the i moment, as you know, we are in a very serious situation. every single day since the 1st of january was busier than the peak during april, and there are now over 30,000 people in english hospitals. wales is

suffering even more seriously, and the number of hospitals, as we have heard, starting to have to cancel quite urgent surgeries. the comment from the royal college of surgeons is also worth thinking about. there has been a big drop off in people being referred to hospital earlier in the year during the early part of the pandemic, and the number of new patients starting treatment has still not recovered to pre—pandemic levels, even before the recent uptick. so out there, i'm afraid, there will be a lot of people waiting to be put on the waiting list, so the waiting list conceals probably a rather more serious problem. and unfortunately, there are no easy fixes for this type of issue. at the moment, everybody is busy treating covid—19, but coming out of that, they will be a lot of tired and exhausted staff, and i think we will have to take that into account as well. so i'm afraid it may take some years for this

situation to get back to where we were in, say, 2010—11. situation to get back to where we were in, say, 2010-11.— situation to get back to where we were in, say, 2010-11. some years. goodness, _ were in, say, 2010-11. some years. goodness, that _ were in, say, 2010-11. some years. goodness, that is _ were in, say, 2010-11. some years. goodness, that is sobering. - were in, say, 2010-11. some years. goodness, that is sobering. well, | goodness, that is sobering. well, when ou goodness, that is sobering. well, when you look— goodness, that is sobering. well, when you look at _ goodness, that is sobering. well, when you look at the _ goodness, that is sobering. well, when you look at the health i goodness, that is sobering. -ii when you look at the health service, you have to remember what a big organisation it is, we have lost several months' worth of work. every month, 1.6 million people start new treatment, which fell down to 600,000 in april. it started to pick up 600,000 in april. it started to pick up but was still only 1.2 million. that was in october. so i'm afraid there will be... we are already having large numbers of people waiting some time, 6 million people of the waiting list before the pandemic, and as you reported, the number of people waiting over a year has gone up from around 1600 in january 2020 to 163,000 in october, and it continues to grow, and there

is just no easy way to run those numbers down without some very hard work and quite a lot of money. i was auoin to work and quite a lot of money. i was going to ask— work and quite a lot of money. i was going to ask you. — work and quite a lot of money. i was going to ask you, in _ work and quite a lot of money. i was going to ask you, in the _ work and quite a lot of money. i was going to ask you, in the last - work and quite a lot of money. i was going to ask you, in the last hour, i was speaking to a consultant cardiologist who is extremely worried about a huge backlog within her discipline, and talking about cardiology, people who need in some cases very urgent attention. she did make the point that earlier on in the pandemic, she had been able to see some of her patients by approaching the private sector, essentially, doing nhs work but in a private institution, if i can put it that way. is that one avenue that could be explored?— that way. is that one avenue that could be explored? indeed. one of the difficulties _ could be explored? indeed. one of the difficulties in _ could be explored? indeed. one of the difficulties in the _ could be explored? indeed. one of the difficulties in the early - could be explored? indeed. one of the difficulties in the early part i the difficulties in the early part of the pandemic was that anything to stand in their specialised staff you need to make those sorts of services work were busy with covid come of this, which we will hopefully do soon, some of the staff can be

released back to doing this. —— any fittest. but i think there is going to have to be some tricky conversations and i susect to be some tricky conversations and i suspect that _ to be some tricky conversations in. i suspect that the obstacle to be some tricky conversations a.“ic i suspect that the obstacle to getting a deal with them is a financial one, which is, they want to return to do in private practice and providing private medicine, but i am very reluctant to use wartime analogies for this. they are overused and often not very helpful. but the seriousness of the situation as we come out of this, i think, is not dissimilar to perhaps where the country was in the late 1960s, and we really probably do need all hands to the pumps. the problem is, i think, that the treasury and central government do have a sort of idea that somehow, once the pandemic has

gone, we can press the reset button and be back to normal. i think that isn't true. the nhs will still be very short of staff. they may be even more short of staff because we are seeing some disturbing reports today, for example in the british medicaljournal, about the extent to which nurses particularly as suffering from very serious post—traumatic stress problems caused by the experiences of treating people during the pandemic. so i'm afraid it's a long time before things will settle down and weaken put this behind us. nigel edwards, we will speak again, but thank you forjoining us. a very sobering conversation, but many thanks for your thoughts, sobering conversation, but many thanks foryourthoughts, nigel thanks for your thoughts, nigel edwards, thanks foryourthoughts, nigel edwards, ceo of the nuffield trust. the coronavirus vaccine is being given in a small number of high street pharmacies in england, as part of a pilot scheme getting under way today. six chemists are the first to give appointments, with up to 200 taking part in the next two weeks.

duncan kennedy reports. this was the day the covid vaccine came to our high streets. among the first to get a jab was 82—year—old derek. in this case, at a superdrug in guildford. ila derek. in this case, at a superdrug in guildford-— in guildford. no problem at all. i neverfelt _ in guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it. _ in guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it. the _ in guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it. the lady _ in guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it. the lady was i in guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it. the lady was very l never felt it. the lady was very efficient and polite, so no problem. this is one of six pharmacies in england to begin offering the jab today. it hopes to give 1000 doses a week, operating from 8am to 8pm. pharmacies have been pressing the government for some time to get involved in the vaccine roll—out. you are now involved. can you deliver? ~ , �* you are now involved. can you deliver? . , �* , you are now involved. can you deliver? ~ , �* , , ., deliver? absolutely. i'm very proud that here in — deliver? absolutely. i'm very proud that here in guildford _ deliver? absolutely. i'm very proud that here in guildford superdrug i that here in guildford superdrug today, our pharmacists and nurses will be among the first in community pharmacy on the high street to provide the vaccine. we have highly skilled and experienced vaccinated who have been involved in the flu vaccination programme this year, so we stand ready and able to provide the service to the nation. the

we stand ready and able to provide the service to the nation.— the service to the nation. the way it works is — the service to the nation. the way it works is that _ the service to the nation. the way it works is that these _ the service to the nation. the way it works is that these people, i the service to the nation. the way it works is that these people, and i it works is that these people, and anybody else who comes to a pharmacy, must have an appointment. you can'tjust turn up on spec and hope to get one. then, once you are here, you are put into a waiting area, you then go and get your get your vaccination, and then there is another monitoring area where you sit for 20 minutes before being allowed home. it already, some have turned up without appointments because they did not press save at the bottom of their online booking form. i the bottom of their online booking form. . . the bottom of their online booking form. ., ., ., form. i books, and then i made a note of the _ form. i books, and then i made a note of the appointment, - form. i books, and then i made a note of the appointment, that. form. i books, and then i made a note of the appointment, that i l note of the appointment, that i have, _ note of the appointment, that i have, but— note of the appointment, that i have, but i didn't page down the page _ have, but i didn't page down the page where i would have found save and a _ page where i would have found save and a reference number. but they should _ and a reference number. but they should remember, people of 80 are not all_ should remember, people of 80 are not all computer savvy. so should remember, people of 80 are not all computer savvy.— should remember, people of 80 are not all computer savvy. so where are we now with — not all computer savvy. so where are we now with a _ not all computer savvy. so where are we now with a whole _ not all computer savvy. so where are we now with a whole vaccination - we now with a whole vaccination roll—out? well, the jab will soon be available at a total of 2700 sites across the uk. as well as hospitals, gp surgeries and large hubs, around

200 of the community pharmacies should come online in the next fortnight. more will follow. this boots pharmacy in halifax is another of the sites to begin work today. for now, only bigger branches are being used, as they can deliver large volumes of injections and maintain social distancing. we large volumes of injections and maintain social distancing. we are a trusted site. — maintain social distancing. we are a trusted site, because _ maintain social distancing. we are a trusted site, because they - maintain social distancing. we are a trusted site, because they come - maintain social distancing. we are a l trusted site, because they come here for flu vaccinations, they get their medicines from us, and it's somewhere that's familiar to them, somewhere that's familiar to them, so it means they are local people, the elderly people, the younger people, the workers, they cannot have access to this vaccine which is vitally important. the have access to this vaccine which is vitally important.— vitally important. the first day of harma vitally important. the first day of pharmacy vaccinations _ vitally important. the first day of pharmacy vaccinations appears i vitally important. the first day of| pharmacy vaccinations appears to vitally important. the first day of- pharmacy vaccinations appears to be going well, it now seems some hospitals to high streets, the full array of health services are being mobilised to deliver cavy protection. —— covid protection. 0ur health editor hugh pym told me more about the government's hopes for the rollout.

roll—out of this vaccine is absolutely crucial, at enough speed to get enough people covered as quickly as possible, and the government has this target of 15 million doses being offered to the priority groups by february, so there is a huge effort we heard there is a huge effort we heard there in duncan's piece, in surgeries and gp herbs, we have heard news from england about the roll—out in different regions today, and this is the percentage of 80 plus individuals, the priority groups, that will have had their first dose, and a big variation here. north—east and yorkshire, it is 46% of those who are 80 and over who have had the first dose, but in the east of england, in london, it is down much nearer 30%. so an indication thereof may be difficulties in some areas, and others moving quite a lot faster. and as you say, we have seen from the figures today, the state of the nhs in terms of routine surgery in

november with this very long waiting list and very large numbers waiting more than a year for their operation. that was before the cancellations which we know have happened in the last few weeks because of covid pressure. these are the figures for england, in scotland and wales and northern ireland report at different times, but there will be pressure right across the uk and the various areas where routine surgeries are carried out. travel from south america to the uk could be banned as part of the government's attempts to control the spread of covid. ministers are meeting to discuss possible measures, which are in response to a variant that first emerged in brazil. it comes as new rules requiring travellers arriving in england to have a negative covid test, have been delayed from friday to monday. people who've had covid—i9 are protected from getting it again for at least five months, according to a study led by public health england. but the research suggests that while someone who's had it has 83% immunity, they can still carry

the virus and pass it on to others. 0ur science correspondent rebecca morelle has more. coronavirus fast, and the number of people who have already had covid is rising. this latest study looked at how likely they are to catch it again. 6500 health care workers who had been infected in the past were tracked and given regular tests. most were protected from the virus for at least five months, and they are now being monitored to see how long this immunity lasts. but there were a few ri infections, with 44 potential cases detected, and some had high enough levels of the virus to put them at risk of spreading its weathers. it to put them at risk of spreading its weathers. , ., ,., , ., weathers. it is a sobering thought, but not totally _ weathers. it is a sobering thought, but not totally unexpected - weathers. it is a sobering thought, but not totally unexpected that - weathers. it is a sobering thought, | but not totally unexpected that with time, immunity will dwindle, and therefore, they will be some people who, having caught the virus right

at the outset of all of this, may now be becoming vulnerable again, and therefore, they should be careful. �* , ., , and therefore, they should be careful. , ., , ,. ,, careful. because of this, scientists sa that careful. because of this, scientists say that vaccination _ careful. because of this, scientists say that vaccination is _ careful. because of this, scientists say that vaccination is still - careful. because of this, scientists say that vaccination is still vital - say that vaccination is still vital for everyone. we say that vaccination is still vital for everyone-— say that vaccination is still vital foreve one. ., ., for everyone. we can only say that there is protection _ for everyone. we can only say that there is protection for— for everyone. we can only say that there is protection for the - for everyone. we can only say that there is protection for the length l there is protection for the length of time _ there is protection for the length of time we can follow people up. it looks_ of time we can follow people up. it looks like — of time we can follow people up. it looks like it — of time we can follow people up. it looks like it acts similarly to the vaccine, — looks like it acts similarly to the vaccine, and it may be that the vaccine — vaccine, and it may be that the vaccine will boost this immune response — vaccine will boost this immune response and allow people to have even better immune activation in the future _ even better immune activation in the future. , , .., even better immune activation in the future. , , _, ., future. scientists will continue to study immunity. _ future. scientists will continue to study immunity, but _ future. scientists will continue to study immunity, but the - future. scientists will continue to study immunity, but the advice l future. scientists will continue to l study immunity, but the advice for now is to stay at home, remembering hands, face and space whether you have had the virus or not. donald trump faces trial in the senate after becoming the first us president to be impeached twice. last night members of the house of representatives voted to charge him with inciting last week's violence at the capitol building in washington. after that vote, the president released a video in which he didn't mention impeachment, but urged americans to unite and avoid violence.

barbara plett usher reports. the ayes are 232. the nays are 197. the ayes are 232. the nays are 197. the resolution is abducted. with that, the motion is laid on the table. —— the resolution is adopted. so ended a week like no other in washington, with the astonishing collapse of donald trump's final daysin collapse of donald trump's final days in office. lawmakers return to a capital transform. national guard troops deployed to protect them from the support of the departing president, he would stomp congress. the house looks like a war zone. the debate to impeach the president for starting the violence was sharp. the president starting the violence was sharp. ire: president must be starting the violence was sharp. ii9 president must be impeached, starting the violence was sharp. ii9: president must be impeached, and starting the violence was sharp. ii9 president must be impeached, and i believe the president must be convicted by the senate, a constitutional remedy that ensures the public that will be safe from this man who is so resolutely determined to tier down the things

that we hold dear and that hold us together. —— teardown. it is all about getting the president, no matter what. it is an obsession that has now broadened. notjust about broadened. not just about impeachment broadened. notjust about impeachment any more, it is about cancelling, — impeachment any more, it is about cancelling, they have said, cancelling, they have said, cancelling the president and anyone that disagrees with them. but cancelling the president and anyone that disagrees with them.— that disagrees with them. but most re - ublicans that disagrees with them. but most republicans did _ that disagrees with them. but most republicans did not _ that disagrees with them. but most republicans did not defend - that disagrees with them. but most republicans did not defend mr - that disagrees with them. but most i republicans did not defend mr chung. instead, they questioned the process and warned it would deepen divisions. in ten voted for impeachment, a stark difference from the first time round one year ago. next, this goes to the senate for trial, but only after the inauguration ofjoe biden, when mr trump will have left office. but i cannot emphasise _ trump will have left office. but i cannot emphasise there - trump will have left office. pm i cannot emphasise there must be trump will have left office. eli i cannot emphasise there must be no violence, no lawbreaking and no vandalism of any kind. in a video message. _ vandalism of any kind. in a video message. he _ vandalism of any kind. in a video message, he still— vandalism of any kind. in a video message, he still did _ vandalism of any kind. in a video message, he still did not - vandalism of any kind. in a video| message, he still did not concede the election, but with the threat of more attacks to come, he called for protesters to remain peaceful. mob violence goes _ protesters to remain peaceful. irv violence goes against everything i

believe in, and everything our movement stands for. no true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. supporter of mine could ever endorse politicalviolence. no supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. no true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement, or our great american flag. no true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their fellow americans. threaten or harass their fellow americans-_ threaten or harass their fellow americans. �* , , :, ,, , . americans. it's been one week since the riaht, americans. it's been one week since the right. there _ americans. it's been one week since the right, there is _ americans. it's been one week since the right, there is one _ americans. it's been one week since the right, there is one more - americans. it's been one week since the right, there is one more week i americans. it's been one week since the right, there is one more week to go beforejoe biden is inaugurated. in the middle of this, the house says it has acted to protect democracy by impeaching mr trump. but a peaceful transfer of power still feels fragile. with president trump now impeached for inciting the us capitol riot, what does this mean — for him, for president—elect biden, and for the united states? paul adams reports. it's a rare distinction to be impeached twice in a year. it's what the history books will record before anything else. that donaldj

the history books will record before anything else. that donald] trump incited the crowd that attacked the capitol and tried to overturn the result of the election, including a threatening call to georgia's secretary of state. i threatening call to georgia's secretary of state.— threatening call to georgia's secretary of state. i 'ust want to find 7000 votes. _ secretary of state. i just want to find 7000 votes. said _ secretary of state. i just want to find 7000 votes. said the - secretary of state. i just want to i find 7000 votes. said the president will be tried, _ find 7000 votes. said the president will be tried, but _ find 7000 votes. said the president will be tried, but when? _ find 7000 votes. said the president will be tried, but when? the - find 7000 votes. said the president l will be tried, but when? the senate, where the process will take place, is in recess till tuesday. the outgoing republican majority leader mitch mcconnell won't bring senators back early. forjoe biden, anxious to get on with his agenda, it is a dilemma. the president—elect has suggested the senate could split its time between conducting the trial and confirming key administration appointments, delicate and perhaps explosive mix. jae appointments, delicate and perhaps exulosive mim— explosive mix. joe biden is trying to thread a _ explosive mix. joe biden is trying to thread a needle _ explosive mix. joe biden is trying to thread a needle here, - explosive mix. joe biden is trying to thread a needle here, becausej explosive mix. joe biden is trying i to thread a needle here, because he believes in accountability for trump and thinks it is important to draw a line in the sand, but he also wants his presidency to not be defined by

the past presidency. he doesn't want every headline injanuary the past presidency. he doesn't want every headline in january 2021 onward to be about donald trump. but this is difficult for the republicans too. what happens to their party if donald trump is convicted? a week ago, his son offered a stark warning. this convicted? a week ago, his son offered a stark warning.- convicted? a week ago, his son offered a stark warning. this is not their republican _ offered a stark warning. this is not their republican party _ offered a stark warning. this is not their republican party any - offered a stark warning. this is not their republican party any more. i their republican party any more. this is— their republican party any more. this is donald trump's republican partx _ this is donald trump's republican -a , this is donald trump's republican '3 _ ~ :, , :, :, , :, party. words that will haunt senior republicans _ party. words that will haunt senior republicans for _ party. words that will haunt senior republicans for months, _ party. words that will haunt senior republicans for months, perhaps l republicans for months, perhaps years to come. without donald trump's fervent base, the party is nothing, and they are still standing by their man. ila nothing, and they are still standing by their man-— nothing, and they are still standing b their man. :, ., ., ,, :, by their man. no matter what kind of evidence you — by their man. no matter what kind of evidence you show, _ by their man. no matter what kind of evidence you show, no _ by their man. no matter what kind of evidence you show, no matter- by their man. no matter what kind of evidence you show, no matter what l evidence you show, no matter what the court say, these people are so determined and so passionate about donald trump having won the election, that explains what happened a week ago, what continues to happen right now.— to happen right now. washington is swarmin: to happen right now. washington is swarming with _ to happen right now. washington is swarming with troops, _ to happen right now. washington is swarming with troops, more - to happen right now. washington is swarming with troops, more than i to happen right now. washington is| swarming with troops, more than in iraq and afghanistan combined, a measure of the real fear that donald

trump's embittered supporters could still try and disrupt next week 's inauguration. a team of experts from the world health organisation has arrived in the chinese city of wuhan for a long—delayed investigation into the origin of the coronavirus, first detected more than a year ago. the group will spend two weeks in quarantine before visiting different sites under chinese supervision. 0ur china correspondent robin brant is in the city and told me it isn't yet known how forthcoming the authorities there will be. it has been a long time coming, and it is more than a year here, of course, since the outbreak began, this first recorded cases here at the now infamous market over the river on the other side of the city of wuhan. there were technical delays last week, disagreements about visas, dates and arrangements, but the team is here and ready to start their work. they will be in a hotel under quarantine for two

weeks. they will be daily conference calls with their chinese counterparts, and after that, and further two weeks of visits. the key question is access. what kind of access will they get two crucial places here in wuhan and possibly beyond across the rest of china, but what kind of access also get research material? the chinese side and authorities have been gathering over the last year. at this stage, we just don't know. all this is over the last year. at this stage, wejust don't know. all this is in the context as well of people on both sides talking about the science and how important it is, but at what we have here now and for several months is a very established propaganda campaign. china's state media talking about whether in fact the coronavirus outbreak even began here in wuhan or in china. was it in italy or spain earlier? that is designed to undermine the very reason that the who team are here in the first place. the pandemic is putting a huge strain on the healthcare

system in california, with people waiting hours to be admitted to hospital and patients lining hospital corridors. many people travelled across the united states during the christmas period, fuelling the number of infections in the state. sophie long reports. the pressure on los angeles' health care system has reached new, dangerous and desperate levels. ambulance teams have been told not to take those unlikely to make it to hospital, doctors must decide who should receive the shrinking supplies of oxygen. heartbreaking choices for medical workers and for the families of the hundreds die here every day. nurse bernie is both. covid claimed his father leo's life just after christmas.— life just after christmas. when it ha--ens life just after christmas. when it happens to _ life just after christmas. when it happens to you _ life just after christmas. when it happens to you and _ life just after christmas. when it happens to you and you - life just after christmas. when it happens to you and you see - life just after christmas. when it happens to you and you see a i life just after christmas. when it i happens to you and you see a loved one that you can't help, you can't hold their hand, and so that they know you are there for them, that was very, very difficult for me. the

risk of contracting the coronavirus here in los angeles has never been greater than it is now. one in five people tested are testing positive. that is four times the number doing sojust two months that is four times the number doing so just two months ago, and that is four times the number doing sojust two months ago, and public health officials are warning that it could get worse still when hospitals are already overflowing. people have been ordered to stay at home to stop that from happening. but more than 66,000 people in los angeles don't have a home. their lives already a constant battle for survival,. constant battle for survival, now they must confront covid too. this new semipermanent structure was built to give shelter to more than 100 women. instead, it's become a makeshift covid word. its intended occupants remain on the streets, wear face and sanitiser, protection from the pandemic, our luxury few can afford. this is the most horrific battle we have ever been in in 130 years of our history. this

horrific battle we have ever been in in 130 years of our history.- in 130 years of our history. this is relentless- _ in 130 years of our history. this is relentless. the _ in130 years of our history. this is relentless. the national- in 130 years of our history. this is relentless. the national guard i in 130 years of our history. this is| relentless. the national guard are now on the — relentless. the national guard are now on the ground, _ relentless. the national guard are now on the ground, here - relentless. the national guard are now on the ground, here learning | relentless. the national guard are . now on the ground, here learning and to protect themselves as they assist medical workers overwhelmed and exhausted by this six fold surge in admissions. but why is it happening? white here and why now? we admissions. but why is it happening? white here and why now?— admissions. but why is it happening? white here and why now? we have been too indecisive- — white here and why now? we have been too indecisive. we _ white here and why now? we have been too indecisive. we have _ white here and why now? we have been too indecisive. we have too _ white here and why now? we have been too indecisive. we have too many - too indecisive. we have too many what i call implementation bottlenecks. we know what we need to do but can't get it out there. disneyland and the la dodger stadium are now being transformed into mass vaccination sites in the hope of stopping the super surge. more on that to come, and more on coronavirus and the vaccine, and more besides the next an hour. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. hello. a slow—moving weather fronts across the country today has brought a combination of snow to the north and rein to the south, and it will lingerfor most of rein to the south, and it will linger for most of the afternoon. this was earlier. you can see

whether snow has been sitting down from the north of england. heavy rain to the east of the pennines as well, down into the south—east corner. it leaves a legacy of card for the rest of the afternoon. that's the best of the brightness and northern ireland, but still a nagging northerly wind here. temperatures will still be subdued generally across the country, just a couple of degrees above freezing weather cloud and rain lingers. my other across the south—west. tonight, snow and rain could ease away, we can have a problem with ice and freezing rain forming as temperatures fall around or below freezing in many places. widespread frost and fog first thing in the morning. icy stretches will clear away to a quieter friday before more heavy rain returns for saturday. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines.

the number of people waiting for routine hospital treatment last november reached a record high, at nearly four—and—a—half million. vaccinations in high street pharmacies — a pilot project gets under way in england to deliver the covid jab. a study finds most people who've had covid do have immunity from it for at least five months — though they can still carry the virus and give it to others. donald trump denies inciting last week's violence at the capitol — after he becomes the first us president to be impeached twice. and thousands of laptops and tablets are donated to help children being home—schooled after a bbc campaign. sport, and a full round up from the bbc sport centre.

andy murray's participation at the upcoming australian open is in doubt after the former world number one tested positive for coronavirus. the tournament starts in three—and—a—half weeks. he's said to be in good health and was due to leave in the next two days but he'll stay at home to self isolate — and there's a question mark over whether he'll be allowed to travel to melbourne outside of the chartered flights put on by the organisers. if he's given the go ahead he'll have to test negative before departing and then complete a 14 day quarantine period upon arrival. dom bess and stuart broad were the stars for england on the opening day of the first test against sri lanka. both took wickets in galle, as england finished the day on top. joe wilson was watching. escape for a moment into a different world cold crickets. they are, in his 15th year with england, stuart broad. he struck again before lunch as sri lanka

slumped. this crickets ground is gloriously nestled along side the sea. deserted. almost. this man has been waiting to watch england for almost ten months but no spectators are allowed. the authorities permitted him to sing before moving him on. now restricted by quarantine england's players had little preparation but they were sharp. watch this shot. england's black was in.

—— england's luck was in. a sweep from the captain as they thrived. england 127—2. the view, getting better. aston villa have been forced to postpone another premier league match due to the pandemic. they closed their training ground last week after a number of positive tests. wednesday's game against tottenham had already been postponed. sunday's match at home to everton has now been called off. meanwhile danny ings has tested positive for coronavirus. the striker has been self—isolting since getting his test results after southampton's win over liverpool ten days ago. he'll miss their game against leicester on saturday. the olympic 100m hurdles champion brianna mcneal has been provisionally suspended for a violation of anti—doping rules. the american won gold at the rio games in 2016.

it's understood that the charge relates to the tampering or attempted tampering with the testing process. it carries a ban of up to four years, and because mcneal has been banned in the past that could be doubled to eight years. and the masters snooker continues this afternoon. kyren wilson is up against david gilbert curently before defending champion stuart bingham takes on shaun murphy in the evening session. these are live pictures from milton keynes where they're into the qurterfinals. kyren wilson playing david gilbert. you can watch it live via the bbc sport website, the app and the bbc iplayer. that's all the sport for now. new figures from nhs england show the number of people waiting for routine hospital treatment has reached a record high — at almost 11.5 million.

at the end of november more than 190,000 people had been waiting for a year. earlier i spoke to dr sonya babu—narayan, associate medical director at the british heart foundation and consultant cardiologist. she told me how the delays were affecting patients with heart problems. we certainly do have a backlog. there are things that we can measure and things that we can infer ahead. —— infer are hidden. there is a waiting list of people waiting for heart procedures. that includes open heart surgery and other procedures such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and so on. that waiting list looks smaller than usual which might sound like a good news story but it is because people are not getting on the waiting list in the first place.

a better way to look at this is perhaps to look at how many people required heart procedures before the pandemic in the same time period. we are seeing 96,000 fewer procedures since the onset of the pandemic than we would expect. that is 12,000 open heart surgeries. all of us would understand that having a heart procedure is not a luxury. clearly these need to be done. many people have had their care disrupted who have cardiovascular disease. 96,000 fewer procedures. will some of that be people who have a problem but they are not going to the gp, and some of them are people who have started the process but have been told, sorry, there is a delay? it is a range, i am assuming. that is an excellent question. it will be a mixed picture.

essentially we know that fewer people are even being referred to hospital—based cardiology services. people have declared differently in terms of their symptoms. also, people whose symptoms are maybe worsening at home. they might be getting more breathless or have chest pain, or corona heart attack. it is more than people's behaviour we think. we also know that the nhs has not been able to deliver at the scale at which it normally does and that nature it normally does because of the need to treat people for coronavirus. many thousands of people have not had a diagnostic test that they are waiting for, that test that they are waiting for, that test could be the reason that we realise somebody needs a heart operation or a heart treatment, or could show a worsening of their

heart disease, for example. it is not only a delay in having procedures and heart surgery that we know about, it is the fact that people are not even joining that waiting list, the backlog is likely to be far more immense. covid—19 case rates have fallen in most regions of england, according to the latest weekly surveillance report from public health england. the figures also show case rates in england are falling among all age groups except for people aged 80 and over. the highest rate continues to be among 20 to 29—year—olds. robert cuffe is the bbc�*s head of statistics.

he has been looking at these new figures. what stands out for you about this latest data? there are some glimmers of hope in the case numbers you have just described. they tell us what will be happening in the coming weeks with people going into hospital and people going into hospital and people die. we should not get too carried away with those. it is in the backdrop of continuing news of people going into hospital and people going into hospital and people dying. these figures from public health england, is kind of a wrap—up of the data up until last sunday, a lot of the figures are coming out, they should not be too surprising that we are seeing hospitals under significant pressure. we are seeing record numbers of deaths every day. but there might be a little bit of a glimmer of hope at the way those numbers are going. some falls, which i suppose we have to take a little heart from, and we can look at regional variation,

which is always interesting as well. what are the regional differences? that picture of london and the south—east consistently have had the highest number of cases. that is still the case. but you are seeing falls across most age groups, most regions. the reason we have to be careful when we look into these numbers as think of the week we compare, the most recent week for data was the week everyone came back to work, 4—10th january, we are comparing to the week before that, the week around christmas. there is reason to suggest those terrifying numbers we saw christmas week, maybe 70,000 cases in a day, when you look in detail at the numbers, what you see is over the four days of christmas nobody came forward for testing. the testing numbers felt very low. loads of people came forward, we saw a lot of positive tests on 29th december. that seven

the average for the weekjust before 4th the average for the weekjust before lith of january probably includes a lot of people who did not get tested at the end of the previous week, they put it off, had their christmas dinner, then came in and got tested. while this means that the fall, we do not want to get carried away and seat numbers are definitely coming down, because the week we are comparing two was probably artificially high, it does mean that terrifying increase we sawjust before new year may have been a bit of an artefact. it is a kind of a silver lining. the rate of growth slows down, that would be better news than we have had for a long time, that would be a glimmer of hope even if it is not time to get carried away. a quick thought about age ranges. the highest concentration is still in that age bracket 20—29. policymakers look at this data. this goes into their thinking of what they do and what restrictions we may

or may not be living under for the coming months. iwonder what or may not be living under for the coming months. i wonder what they might do with that sort of information. the real question in the coming weeks is going to be what happens in nursery care. we have closed down most schools and the question is when we are going to open the map again. those are the big levers we have. there might be things we can do. the trouble as it is sometimes difficult when you get into low ages to get a clear picture from that information. these figures are looking at people who come forward and then gets tested positive. you think that probably if you have got a two—year—old daughter —year—old who has got symptoms they are likely to disclose them and less likely for their parents to bring them in. we want to wait until we see the figures tomorrow from the office for national statistics. they go out and swap people at random and their

estimates of what is going on in those younger age groups where we have the questions coming up now, they are less moved around by who is coming forward for testing. we have to hold fire until we see the data tomorrow. we will talk again then. thank you. post—brexit customs delays that have prevented scottish fishermen exporting goods to european markets have been described as teething problems by the government. european importers have rejected lorry loads of scottish fish, after the need for health checks and export declarations meant the produce had taken too long to arrive. elspeth macdonald is from the scottish fishing federation and she's been explaining the impact of the delays. we have had some processors in the north—east who have incurred six—figure losses. we have vessels in our fleet, even some small vessels, losing tens of thousands of pounds over the last two weeks.

the situation is such that we know that some of the larger fishing vessels that are able to are going to steam to denmark and [and their catch there because some of the prices on the markets here in scotland have been reduced by up to 60% in some cases. an inquiry by mps has found that not enough is being done to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers. the chair of the international development committee, sarah champion, said they'd heard repeatedly of abusers acting with impunity, whistleblowers being hounded out ofjobs and victims finding it impossible to seek justice. the report comes nearly three years after oxfam was found to have covered up sexual exploitation by staff in haiti, throwing the spotlight

on the entire aid sector. sarah champion is with us now. from what i have read of what your committee has produced it seems staggering to me that this is still going on three years after a lot of this was uncovered. has nothing improved in that time? we found that their policies have improved. lots of people now talk about it but it has not been embedded into the culture of the organisation. you mentioned what happened in haiti, and the oxfam scandal that arose out of that. what happened in oxfam was because the government took a strong line with them they have really worked to change their organisation's culture. that is what we found is at the nub

of this, aid beneficiaries were not being listened to or consulted on how the safeguarding was put in place, also when reports were fed through of exploitation and abuse, the organisations, to be generous, turned a blind eye. in some cases the actively retaliated by sacking whistle—blowers, putting nda in place, also what disturbs me was, this feels endemic. different aid organisations all over the world, we were healing of the same levels of expectation and abuse going on, almost with impunity. it shocked as as a committee. you are talking about nondisclosure agreements being used as well. some of these organisations must be receiving government money? receiving millions and millions of pounds of taxpayers money. let me be

clear. the vast majority of organisations and aid workers are doing it for the absolute right reason, they really care. until they take a cold look at themselves and realise that, to be quite honest, aid work is probably the last place where abusers can continue without the checks and balances they would have in other forms, the checks and balances they would have in otherforms, until aid organisations realise that they become a safe space for abusers, thatis become a safe space for abusers, that is what we are finding. the government is funding these organisations. it cannot go, they are surprised at the next scandal. it needs to make sure it is a condition of funding that safeguarding is embedded in the organisations. it is safeguarding is embedded in the organisations.— organisations. it is still a safe lace, organisations. it is still a safe place. as _ organisations. it is still a safe place. as you _ organisations. it is still a safe place. as you put _ organisations. it is still a safe place, as you put it, - organisations. it is still a safe| place, as you put it, because, organisations. it is still a safe i place, as you put it, because, a organisations. it is still a safe - place, as you put it, because, a lot of them are working in environments that are unstable whether politically or because of a natural disaster, they are not working in

more usual conditions, is that white can thrive? :, , :, can thrive? that is part of it. their very — can thrive? that is part of it. their very nature _ can thrive? that is part of it. their very nature of - can thrive? that is part of it. - their very nature of humanitarian responses, it is a unrelated environment. organisations rush in and all of that usual safeguarding checks and balances are not in place because of that. also, there is an extreme power imbalance. the people that are being served have nothing. they are entirely dependent on the aid workers to give them the food, give them equipment. one organisation that had gone in and analysed what was happening at distribution points found, it is largely women that are being abused, women were having to have sex with the aid workers to get the stove to cook their food. but the stove something they were entitled to. but unless you tell the beneficiaries what their rights are, how to complain, how to get involved at the development stage of these

programmes, that this meant this power imbalance kicks in, and that is what abusers look for. they look for that extreme imbalance. the other thing we found was that aid organisations were laissez faire about following through with reports. the reporting processes were not good. the investigations often did not happen. the excuse they used was, it was a subcontractor, or it happened abroad, it is not under our legislation. what we need to see is those aid organisations following the enquiry all the way through and getting justice for the survivors. because, to be quite honest, they are receiving taxpayers money to serve people, not to facilitate abuse. that is very upsetting, a lot of what you have to say. thank you for talking to us. we did ask oxfam for an interview.

it said it was unable to, as it's part of an ongoing process with the charity commission. a spokesman said, "perpetrators of sexual abuse have no place "within oxfam or any aid agency. "the committee is right to demand that all of us in the sector do more "to tackle abuse and in particular the power imbalances that "allow it to take place. "in recent years, we have made significant strides "in addressing our past failings but we know there is more to do." doctors from the british asian community are helping with efforts to tackle covid in pakistan—administered kashmir. the charity midland doctors has been working with hospitals there to provide training and equipment used by the nhs. this is one of the centres getting

help from a charity led by british asian doctors.— help from a charity led by british asian doctors. these doctors are helinr asian doctors. these doctors are helping our _ asian doctors. these doctors are helping our department - asian doctors. these doctors are helping our department of- asian doctors. these doctors are i helping our department of health. logistics, mitigation, lab investigations. we are doing much better compared to six months back. with around 500,000 cases and more than 10,000 deaths pakistan has been fighting a second wave of coronavirus. why do you think pakistan has feared a bit better than some places thought it would? the a bit better than some places thought it would? a bit better than some places thou~ht it would? , :, :, :, thought it would? the proportion of mm: thought it would? the proportion of young people _ thought it would? the proportion of young people in _ thought it would? the proportion of young people in pakistan _ thought it would? the proportion of young people in pakistan is- thought it would? the proportion of young people in pakistan is higher. young people in pakistan is higher than in some places. secondly, in the community we can see the immune system is more competent, that could be an explanation. medics from nottingham and derby flew out to help earthquake victims

and noticed a need for more health care provision. as well as medicine, the charity is also training staff. how to treat covert —— how to treat covid, how to run the ventilators, and so forth. covid, how to run the ventilators, and so forth-— covid, how to run the ventilators, and so forth. ,, , , ., and so forth. staff members need to look after themselves, _ and so forth. staff members need to look after themselves, even - and so forth. staff members need to look after themselves, even if - and so forth. staff members need to look after themselves, even if it - and so forth. staff members need to look after themselves, even if it is i look after themselves, even if it is a case _ look after themselves, even if it is a case of— look after themselves, even if it is a case of being in touch regularly. as a _ a case of being in touch regularly. as a junior— a case of being in touch regularly. as a junior dr, i feel i can see some — as a junior dr, i feel i can see some of— as a junior dr, i feel i can see some of my— as a junior dr, i feel i can see some of my experiences with what other— some of my experiences with what other health professionals are going through _ other health professionals are going through. pis other health professionals are going throu~h. r a' , :, other health professionals are going throu~h. a , ., ., , through. as pakistan and everywhere else uts through. as pakistan and everywhere else puts its — through. as pakistan and everywhere else puts its hopes _ through. as pakistan and everywhere else puts its hopes on _ through. as pakistan and everywhere else puts its hopes on the _ through. as pakistan and everywhere else puts its hopes on the vaccine - else puts its hopes on the vaccine the charity says it will continue to

work to plug gaps in the country's health system. in these unusual times, there have been many unexpected things going viral on the internet — but how about the singing of sea shanties becoming a craze on tiktok? the interest was sparked by this man, 26—year—old scottish postman nathan evans, whose renditions of ancient seafaring songs have attracted millions of views online since december. and i'm very pleased to say nathan evansjoins us now. a very warm welcome. i cannot

believe how often this has been watched. ~ :, believe how often this has been watched. ~ ., :, , :, ., ,, believe how often this has been watched. ~ ., :, .,~ :, ., watched. what do you make of it all? it is absolutely _ watched. what do you make of it all? it is absolutely crazy. _ watched. what do you make of it all? it is absolutely crazy. i _ watched. what do you make of it all? it is absolutely crazy. i knew - watched. what do you make of it all? it is absolutely crazy. i knew that - it is absolutely crazy. i knew that people would watch it to a certain extent but it never would i have expected this stop the joys of technology. i apologise. i could not hear anything you said but i'm hoping i can hear you next time. you are a postman by profession. does this mean that people recognise you on your rounds? what have people been saying to you? sorry, i cannot hear a word. saying to you? sor , i cannot heara word. , ., sorry, i cannot hear a word. just a second. sorry, i cannot hear a word. just a second- the _ sorry, i cannot hear a word. just a second. the joys _ sorry, i cannot hear a word. just a second. the joys of _ sorry, i cannot hear a word. just a second. the joys of technology. i sorry, i cannot hear a word. just a l second. the joys of technology. let as have one more go. i wanted to know whether people recognise you on your rounds now? x�*i�*eg. know whether people recognise you on your rounds now?— know whether people recognise you on your rounds now? yes. there has been a few times- — your rounds now? yes. there has been a few times. about _ your rounds now? yes. there has been a few times. about four _ your rounds now? yes. there has been a few times. about four times - your rounds now? yes. there has been a few times. about four times i - your rounds now? yes. there has been a few times. about four times i have i a few times. about four times i have gone to take parcels to doors and they have seen the somehow, and they

are, i know you face. it has been through social media. loath? are, i know you face. it has been through social media.— through social media. why see shanties? _ through social media. why see shanties? is _ through social media. why see shanties? is that _ through social media. why see shanties? is that something i through social media. why see l shanties? is that something you through social media. why see - shanties? is that something you have always loved? always loved ? finally always loved? finally enough, no. it started back injuly last year. finally enough, no. it started back in july last year. somebody left a comment under one of my videos asking me to do a sea ashanti and it reached about1 million views, since then there has been so many requests. —— asking me to do sea shanties. requests. -- asking me to do sea shanties. : , :,' , requests. -- asking me to do sea shanties. : , , :, ., requests. -- asking me to do sea shanties. : , ., shanties. any offers of a record contract? _ shanties. any offers of a record contract? not _ shanties. any offers of a record contract? not yet. _ shanties. any offers of a record contract? not yet. hopefully. i shanties. any offers of a record i contract? not yet. hopefully. that would be nice. _

would be nice. we are out of time. thank you for the technology —— sorry for the technology problems. come back to us when you have got that record deal. i will hopefully speak to you again soon. i hope we could hear some of that. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear. plenty of gear changes with the weather over the next couple of days. no two days will be the same. the northern half of the country today, many scenes were like this. heavy snow first thing in the morning across scotland and northern england. heavy rain through north—west england, the midlands, down to the london area. the risk of localised flooding. the rain and the snow will tend to linger through much of the afternoon.

this has been the story over the last few hours. but it is chiefly rain further south. as we go through the rest of the afternoon, slowly brightening up into northern ireland. brisk northerly wind here. in terms of the feel of the weather, it stays mild into the south—west corner but elsewhere it will be a cold afternoon particularly with cloud and rain. temperatures in some places struggling to climb 1 degree or so above freezing. tonight, rain and snow will start to ease away. there could be some dense freezing fog in places. there is the risk of icy stretches. these will be the temperatures, widely around or below freezing.

if you have to make a journey it is worth bearing in mind ice freezing fog could be an issue tomorrow morning. here is that next gear change. once we have got rid, hopefully, of the dense freezing fog, in some places that will linger for some time, it will be a quieter and brighter day for many. it will continue to feel cold. just that little bit milder the further west you are. friday into saturday, the next low pressure moving in, turning increasingly wet and windy. that means a spell of more heavy rain across the country on saturday. gear change once again comes on sunday. drier and brighter.

this is bbc news. i'm reeta chakrabarti. the headlines... the number of people waiting for routine hospital treatment last november reached a record high, at nearly four and a half million. leading health experts warn it could take several years for the backlog to be cleared. it's not only a delay in having procedures and heart surgery that we know about, it's the fact that people aren't even joining the waiting list. the backlog and the true scale of need is likely to be far more immense. in the last few minutes the government have announced passengers from many countries in south america will be banned from entering the uk amid concerns over a new variant of coronavirus there. vaccinations in high street pharmacies — a pilot project gets under way in england to deliver the covid jab. donald trump denies inciting last

week's violence at the capitol after he becomes the first us president to be impeached twice. no true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. disrespect law enforcement or our great american flag. thousands of laptops and tablets are donated to help children being home—schooled online after a bbc campaign. and, no sign of rustiness — a strong start for england's cricketers against sri lanka, in their first test since august. hello, good afternoon.

a record number of patients have been waiting to start non—urgent hospital treatment in england — nearly four and a half million at the end of november, with the number of those waiting more than a year for treatment 100 times higher than before the pandemic. the royal college of surgeons says the figure shows the calamitous impact of coronavirus. newly released data also shows that one in four patients admitted to accident and emergency departments waited more than four hours for a bed in november. nhs england has warned that services face an exceptionally tough challenge. our health correspondent sophie hutchinson reports. christine stubbs lives with constant and debilitating pain. she urgently needs a hip replacement but her operation has been cancelled and she doesn't know when it will happen. she says she has been so desperate, she has considered ending her life. what does it feel like when you try to take a step? it's just like somebody is sticking a knife in my groin and twisting it, and not being able to put any weight

on it whatsoever. sometimes it actually makes me feel physically sick, the pain, and i really am struggling at times. christine is not alone. waits for routine care are at their highest levels because of the pressure from covid—19. nearly 11.5 million people, a record, are waiting for treatments, including knee and hip operations. figures for last november show nearly 200,000 people had waited more than a year for treatment. that's before the second wave really hit. compare that to the year before the pandemic when the figure was 1,400 people. —— was less than 2,000. the royal college of surgeons in england has described the number of patients waiting as calamitous, and says the figure could be even higher. what we saw in the first surge was that patients were frightened to come to hospital.

i think that was true in november, too. the numbers of patients in a kind of hidden waiting list are probably building up in addition to all this, so it is likely that the figure is even bigger. the pressures are being felt far wider than in london and the south, which has been the epicentre of the second wave. one hospital in swindon has declared a critical incident due to the large number of patients needing treatment for the coronavirus. today, hospitals in birmingham announced they were temporarily suspending kidney transplants due to the critical covid—19 situation there. across the nhs, there are serious staffing challenges. on 6th january, 100,000 staff were reported absent, almost double the number compared to last year. 50% of those were due to covid, either illness or isolation. that indicates the huge pressure that covid is putting on staffing, which, meeting that high demand due to covid is incredibly challenging.

christine says she is determined to get through her ordeal, however hard the wait is for an operation, and is hoping it willjust be a few months. the challenge facing the nhs in reducing the waiting list could, though, take years. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. well, we can speak now to professor william harrop—griffiths first i want to bring you some news that the scottish labour party leader richard leonard has resigned. laura kuenssberg says his performance had been criticised in recent months. we are expecting a statement from sir keir starmer very shortly. i think in fact we can see a tweet now from our political correspondent from richard leonard...

that news just breaking now that the scottish labour leader richard leonard has resigned, and will be speaking to our political correspondent on that issue very shortly. let's go back now to the nhs. we can speak now to professor william harrop—griffiths who's the vice president of the royal college of anaesthetists. he joins us live from west london. good afternoon to you, thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news. some very grim and difficult statistics emerging today about the impact of coronavirus on the nhs. are these statistics are things that were a surprise to you or do you just see this in your day to day work? :, ~' , :, just see this in your day to day work? :, ,, , :, :, just see this in your day to day work? :, ,, i. :, ., ,, just see this in your day to day

work? ., ~' i:, :, ., ~' :, work? thank you for talking to me toda . work? thank you for talking to me today- this — work? thank you for talking to me today- this is _ work? thank you for talking to me today. this is no _ work? thank you for talking to me today. this is no surprise - work? thank you for talking to me today. this is no surprise at - work? thank you for talking to me today. this is no surprise at all. i today. this is no surprise at all. we have seen the waiting list rising steadily, then rapidly through the first surge. we made some progress in between in the summer and autumn, but now they will go up again. it is no surprise, but speaking as a doctor it is very distressing. this represents the hidden pandemic behind the coronavirus pandemic. the people who are suffering, whose cancer may be progressing, who may be suffering disability because they have to wait for their operations. this is something that we as the nhs must do our best to redress as soon as we possibly can. we are under enormous pressure in the hospitals at the moment, and the one thing that would relieve the pressure the most at the moment was if we had fewer patients with coronavirus coming into the hospitals. so if there is one message i want to give you and everybody out there from the

royal college of anaesthetists, it is please, do what you can to prevent the spread of coronavirus and then we can start to work on the backlog of people who desperately need surgery. lgale backlog of people who desperately need surgery-— need surgery. we know that the covid-19 numbers _ need surgery. we know that the covid-19 numbers are _ need surgery. we know that the covid-19 numbers are hitting i need surgery. we know that the - covid-19 numbers are hitting record covid—19 numbers are hitting record highs right now, it is more serious thanit highs right now, it is more serious than it was in the spring just in terms of the numbers. visit also the case that there is capacity within the nhs in the private hospital is being used less extensively than they were the first time round? there is effectively less capacity in the nhs because it is the winter. we always come under winter pressures, and even in the absence of coronavirus hospitals are under particular pressure in the winter, so yes, there is less effective capacity. the nhs is already starting to use the private sector, it is happening around me in london, nurses and surgeons are going out

into the private sector. it is not being used as much as it was, that may come. but the biggest impact that you could all make is to obey the government guidance, stay at home, hands, face, space if you have to go out, and get the test if you get symptoms. that will relieve the pressure and allow us to do hip operations like on christine that you just heard from. so operations like on christine that you just heard from.— operations like on christine that you just heard from. you 'ust heard from. so the effect of you just heard from. so the effect of this backlog _ you just heard from. so the effect of this backlog on _ you just heard from. so the effect of this backlog on patients - you just heard from. so the effect of this backlog on patients is - of this backlog on patients is extremely distressing, but it is quite apparent that nhs staff are also under extreme duress here, aren't they? lgale also under extreme duress here, aren't they?— also under extreme duress here, aren't the ? ~ :, aren't they? we are under extreme duress. aren't they? we are under extreme duress- we — aren't they? we are under extreme duress. we are _ aren't they? we are under extreme duress. we are working _ aren't they? we are under extreme duress. we are working in - duress. we are working in extraordinary circumstances. we are getting sick ourselves because we are looking after patients with covid, but we will do everything we cannot only to look after those patients who come into hospital with the covid infection but as soon as

we get the opportunity to start working on this backlog we will. but it will take months, it may take years, and i want to say out there to the leadership in this country, this will take extra investment for more staff, capacity and equipment to work this backlog off as quickly as possible and make sure the people waiting do not suffer any more than they have suffered.— they have suffered. professor, --eole they have suffered. professor, people will _ they have suffered. professor, people will be _ they have suffered. professor, people will be listening - they have suffered. professor, people will be listening to - they have suffered. professor, people will be listening to you | they have suffered. professor, - people will be listening to you and thinking... feel very distressed at the idea that it may take years for this backlog to be dealt with. if you are a cancer sufferer, if you have had radiotherapy or chemotherapy put on hold at the moment, how are you meant to deal with that sort of news? [30 moment, how are you meant to deal with that sort of news?— moment, how are you meant to deal with that sort of news? do you know, i can't imagine _ with that sort of news? do you know, i can't imagine what _ with that sort of news? do you know, i can't imagine what it _ with that sort of news? do you know, i can't imagine what it is _ with that sort of news? do you know, i can't imagine what it is like. - with that sort of news? do you know, i can't imagine what it is like. my - i can't imagine what it is like. my heart really goes out to people like that. all i can say is that as your

nhs we will prioritise the people who need the most urgent surgery, the most urgent treatment. we will bring you in as soon as we can. share the message with all your friends and family, do what you can to limit the spread of the virus and that will give us a chance to get your treatment done as quickly as possible. your treatment done as quickly as ossible. , :, :, :, ., ,, your treatment done as quickly as ossible. , :, ., ,, :, possible. very good to talk to you. the vice president _ possible. very good to talk to you. the vice president of— possible. very good to talk to you. the vice president of the - possible. very good to talk to you. the vice president of the royal i the vice president of the royal couege the vice president of the royal college of anaesthetists. thank you. let's get more now on the resignation of the leader of scottish labour. nick, tell us more, why has this happened? it scottish labour. nick, tell us more, why has this happened?— why has this happened? it comes a bit out of the _ why has this happened? it comes a bit out of the blue. _ why has this happened? it comes a bit out of the blue. richard - why has this happened? it comes a | bit out of the blue. richard leonard has put out a statement in the last 20 minutes saying he will stand down with immediate effect. he has decided that is the best course for the party. in other senses it is not

a great surprise because richard leonard had faced internal criticism within the scottish labour party for the way he has led it over the last three years. there have been previous attempts to get rid of him, they all failed, some of them at the very last minute. but it seems now the pressure on richard leonard from his internal critics has got too much and he's decided to go, potentially before he was pushed. he is from the corbyn wing of the party, he was a strong ally of jeremy corbyn, a cheerleader of the former labour leader but some in the party were deeply unimpressed with the impact he has made in scottish politics. but also critical of the way he has dealt with the independence issue. you will know there has been some mixed messages let's say from the labour party on independence over the last couple of years, and some in the labour party blamed richard leonard for that. ultimately, it looks like he has

come under more pressure again over the last few weeks to stand down and he has taken the decision to do so. this matters, even if you are not in scotland and you are wondering if it is a big issue. does it matter? it does because we are five months out from an election of the scottish parliament which will be one of the most important in recent years, where the question of scottish independence is front and centre. we know the snp are leading all the polls and they look untouchable at the moment in scottish politics. one of the things that some on the prounion side were hoping is that labour could make more inroads into scottish politics and something possibly by getting rid of richard leonard, they will have a better chance of doing so.— leonard, they will have a better chance of doing so. while you were s-reakin , chance of doing so. while you were speaking. we _ chance of doing so. while you were speaking, we have _ chance of doing so. while you were speaking, we have got _ chance of doing so. while you were speaking, we have got a _ chance of doing so. while you were speaking, we have got a statement from the labour leader, sir kier starmer. it says the sort of things you would expect him to say. he

thanks richard for his service to the party. he points out that richard leonard led a scottish labour through some of the most challenging and difficult periods in our country's history including a general election and the pandemic. he runs through some of the policies richard leonard espoused and wishes him the best for the future. all of this leads to the question about the future, and who might be likely to replace him. it future, and who might be likely to replace him-— future, and who might be likely to replace him. it is a good question, and i replace him. it is a good question, andl rot replace him. it is a good question, and i got to _ replace him. it is a good question, and i got to say — replace him. it is a good question, and i got to say it _ replace him. it is a good question, and i got to say it is _ replace him. it is a good question, and i got to say it is early - replace him. it is a good question, and i got to say it is early days - and i got to say it is early days and i got to say it is early days and it is hard to make any cast—iron predictions, but in the last ten minutes or so i have been phoning some people in the scottish labour party and the one name a few people have brought up is the glasgow msp who stood against richard leonard three years ago for the scottish labour leadership. he did pretty well, given that at the timejeremy corbyn had just been re—elected convincingly. the expectation is richard leonard would walk

that. there's not a lot of love lost between richard leonard and some in the party. a couple of people saying this has come too late, frankly. it is too close to the scottish election in may for the labour party in scotland to rebuild and put out a new prospectus ahead of the holyrood election, but whoever takes over will be hoping to do so, and i would be hugely surprised if anas sarwar is not one of those politicians. thank you. the coronavirus vaccine is being given in a small number

of high street pharmacies in england, as part of a pilot scheme getting under way today. six chemists are the first to give appointments, with up to 200 taking part in the next two weeks. duncan kennedy reports. which side will your...? this was the day the covid vaccine came to our high streets. among the first to get a jab was 82—year—old derek mersh, in this case at a superdrug in guildford. no problem at all. i never felt it, the lady was very efficient and very polite, so no problem. this is one of six pharmacies in england to begin offering the jab today. it hopes to give 1,000 doses a week, operating from eight in the morning until eight at night. pharmacies have been pressing the government for some time to get involved in the vaccine roll—out. you are now involved — can you deliver? absolutely. i'm very proud that here in guildford superdrug today, our pharmacists and nurses will be amongst the first in community pharmacy on the high street to provide the vaccine. we have highly skilled and experienced vaccinators who've been involved in the flu vaccination programme this year, so we stand ready and able to provide the service to the nation. the way it works is that these

people and anybody else who comes to a pharmacy must have an appointment. you can'tjust turn up on spec and hope to get one. then once you're here, you're put into a waiting area, you then go and get your injection and then afterwards, particularly for older people, there is another waiting area where you're monitored for 20 minutes before being allowed home. but already, some people have turned up without appointments because they didn't press "save" at the bottom of their online booking form. i booked, and then i made a note of the appointment that i had, but i didn't page down the page where i would have found "save" and a reference number. but they should remember, people of 80 are not all computer savvy. so, where are we now with the whole vaccination roll—out? well, the jab will soon be available at a total of 2,700 sites across the uk. as well as hospitals, gp surgeries and large hubs, around 200 of the community pharmacies should come online in the next fortnight,

with more to follow. this boots pharmacy in halifax is another of the sites to begin work today. for now, only bigger branches are being used as they can deliver large volumes of injections and maintain social distancing. we are a trusted site because they come here for their flu vaccinations, they get their medicines from us, and it's somewhere that is familiar to them, so it means that the local people, the elderly people, the young people, they can all have access to this vaccine which is vitally important. the first day of pharmacy vaccinations appears to be going well, and it now seems that from hospitals to high streets, the full array of health services are being mobilised to deliver covid protection. duncan kennedy, bbc news, in guildford. i'm joined now by our health correspondent, nick triggle. there is some very grim figures out

today about how other nhs services have been affected by coronavirus. yes, we have been charting over recent weeks this rise in numbers in patients with covid admitted to hospital. one in three patients in hospital. one in three patients in hospital now has covid, in some hospitals over half, and that is pushing out other services, disrupting some of the key services hospitals provide. routine operations which we have just been hearing about, there is growing numbers on the waiting list. 4.46 million people waiting for knee and hip replacements, cataract operations to improve eyesight, and thatis operations to improve eyesight, and that is the highest since records began in 2007. 192,000 that is the highest since records began in 2007.192,000 of that is the highest since records began in 2007. 192,000 of those have been waiting over a year, and to put that into perspective, back in february before the pandemic hit, there was just february before the pandemic hit, there wasjust1600 february before the pandemic hit, there was just 1600 waiting that long, so it's had a huge impact on

those patients. we are also seeing increasingly long waits for people brought into a&e and have to be admitted onto award. hospitals are struggling to find them beds and one in four patients admitted now wait overfour in four patients admitted now wait over four hours for that bed. we also have figures for critical care beds. since the start of november the nhs has to open up more critical care beds, the numbers have increased by a quarter to over 5000. they are having to draw in staff, staff have been redeployed from some of those areas into critical care to help with the surge in covid patients. help with the surge in covid atients. : :, , , , . patients. amongst this difficult news is the _ patients. amongst this difficult news is the glimmer _ patients. amongst this difficult news is the glimmer of - patients. amongst this difficult news is the glimmer of hope i patients. amongst this difficult - news is the glimmer of hope which is the vaccine, which is being rolled out. it the vaccine, which is being rolled out. , :, , ., out. it is, and it is gathering ace. out. it is, and it is gathering pace- today _ out. it is, and it is gathering pace. today is _ out. it is, and it is gathering pace. today is the _ out. it is, and it is gathering pace. today is the first - out. it is, and it is gathering pace. today is the first day i out. it is, and it is gathering i pace. today is the first day we out. it is, and it is gathering - pace. today is the first day we have a regional breakdown of how many people have been vaccinated, and we can perhaps see a chart looking at the proportion of the over 805. this

is the age group that have been prioritised for vaccination, and it is important because this age group is important because this age group is most of the people who have died from covid are in this age group. we can see the north—east and yorkshire have managed to vaccinate up to the 10th of january 45% of the over 805. the overall average is a third. ea5t the overall average is a third. east of england and london are close to the bottom, but you can see there is not a huge spread across the regions. that suggests the vaccination programme is slowly kicking into gear. if we compare the uk to other nations around the world, numbers of vaccinations per head, we are third in the world. so we have got out the blocks quickly, but given the rising rate of coronavirus, we need to and obviously the target is by

mid—february that over 15 million people over the age of 70 will be offered the vaccine so there is still some way to go here, but as these figures show it has been a good start. these figures show it has been a good start-— these figures show it has been a aood start. :, ,, i. ,:, . a good start. thank you so much. nick trir rle, good start. thank you so much. nick triggle. our — good start. thank you so much. nick triggle, our health _ good start. thank you so much. nick triggle, our health correspondent. i triggle, our health correspondent. the transport secretary has announced a travel ban on arrivals from brazil and portugal. let's go to damian grammaticas. what has grant shapps said? he let's go to damian grammaticas. what has grant shapps said?— has grant shapps said? he has announced _ has grant shapps said? he has announced a _ has grant shapps said? he has announced a very _ has grant shapps said? he has announced a very broad - has grant shapps said? he has announced a very broad travel| has grant shapps said? he has i announced a very broad travel ban covering the whole of south america, and even more than that, portugal as well. that is because of the links between portugal and brazil in particular, so many travellers coming from brazil would traditionally head to somewhere like portugal and then onwards. so he has also included portugal in this ban.

it is a ban on direct flights between those places. what it doesn't include, the exceptions are people with residents rights and uk nationals. so if you were brazilian and you had residents rights, or you are a uk national you are allowed to travel. it would have to be indirect because the flights are not operating. also from portugal, hauliers, so truck drivers who would be travelling overland bringing consignments to the uk would still be allowed to come in as well. but all of those travellers would need other than the drivers, would need to continue to do the isolation on arrival here. it is a broad travel ban essentially covering south america and portugal.- ban essentially covering south america and portugal. thank you for that update- — america and portugal. thank you for that update. our _ america and portugal. thank you for that update. our correspondent - that update. our correspondent damian grammaticas.

people who've had covid—19 are protected from getting it again for at least five months, according to a study led by public health england. but the research suggests that while someone who's had it has 83% immunity, they can still carry the virus and pass it on to others. our science correspondent rebecca morelle has more. coronavirus is spreading fast, and the number of people who have already had covid is rising. this latest study looked at how likely they are to catch it again. 6,500 health care workers who'd been infected in the past were tracked and given regular tests. most were protected from the virus for at least five months. and they're now being monitored to see how long this immunity lasts. but there were a few reinfections, with 44 potential cases detected, and some had high enough levels of the virus to put them at risk of spreading it to others. it is a sobering thought, but it's not totally unexpected that with time immunity will dwindle, and therefore there will be some people who, having caught the virus right at the outset of all this,

may now be becoming vulnerable again, and therefore they should be careful. because of this, scientists say that vaccination is still vital for everyone. we can only say that there is protection for the length of time we can follow people at. it looks like it's acting similarly to the vaccine, and it may be that the vaccine will boost this immune response and allow people to have an even better immune activation in the future. scientists will continue to study immunity, but the advice for now is to stay at home, remembering hands, space and face, whether you've had the virus or not. rebecca morelle, bbc news. joining me now is drjulian tang, a consultant virologist at the leicester royal infirmary. good afternoon. i wonder if we can be clear about this. this study suggests most people are protected

from catching covid—19 again for at least five months but that is because that is as long as the study has gone on for, isn't it, so it could be the people are protected for longer? could be the people are protected for loner? , could be the people are protected for longer?— for longer? yes, that's right. we know from _ for longer? yes, that's right. we know from the _ for longer? yes, that's right. we know from the other _ for longer? yes, that's right. we i know from the other coronaviruses that antibodies may be detectable for at least one to three years. you also have t cell immunity as well, so i suspect that immunity will last longer than that. certainly i had my antibodies for at least eight months, nine months myself. so you cau~ht months, nine months myself. so you caught coronavirus _ months, nine months myself. so you caught coronavirus last _ months, nine months myself. so you caught coronavirus last spring? - months, nine months myself. so you caught coronavirus last spring? yes, | caught coronavirus last spring? yes, i not caught coronavirus last spring? yes, i ot it caught coronavirus last spring? yes, i not it in caught coronavirus last spring? yes, i got it in the — caught coronavirus last spring? yes, i got it in the first _ caught coronavirus last spring? yes, i got it in the first wave _ caught coronavirus last spring? i9: i got it in the first wave and i have antibodies that have been tested, and i have levels that haven't dropped for at least eight months. so i think that will be the same for other people, such as health workers who have been infected previously. that health workers who have been infected previously.— health workers who have been infected previously. that is good to know. is there _ infected previously. that is good to know. is there a _ infected previously. that is good to know. is there a level— infected previously. that is good to know. is there a level below - infected previously. that is good to know. is there a level below which | know. is there a level below which when antibodies drop you are no

longer protected?— when antibodies drop you are no longer protected? there will be, and that will vary — longer protected? there will be, and that will vary between _ longer protected? there will be, and that will vary between different - that will vary between different people, i suspect, that will vary between different people, isuspect, to that will vary between different people, i suspect, to some extent because of the additional t cell immunity that may or may not be boosted as much as the antibodies in some people. but as your previous interviewee suggested, if you go out and about in the community with your mask on, following regulations, if there is a low level of exposure that may boost your immunity. if you get the vaccination, that will also boost your immunity, as well as national exposure to low—level circulating virus in the community. like when you go to the supermarket for example. 50 like when you go to the supermarket for example-— for example. so it is important to have that vaccine. _ for example. so it is important to have that vaccine. i _ for example. so it is important to have that vaccine. i wonder - for example. so it is important to have that vaccine. i wonder if - for example. so it is important to have that vaccine. i wonder if you j have that vaccine. i wonder if you could clarify about t cells which provide another form of immunity. yes, they make antibody response to

a vaccine or infection, and the t cells are also stimulated to help reduce the antibody. there are also t cells which will destroy virus—infected cells as well, and they are also primed by the vaccine and natural infection and will be boosted as well by second doses of the vaccine and exposure to circulating virus in the community as well. :, ~ circulating virus in the community as well. :, ,, , :, :, circulating virus in the community as well. ., ~' , :, :, ., as well. thank you for that. i suppose _ as well. thank you for that. i suppose this _ as well. thank you for that. i suppose this news _ as well. thank you for that. i suppose this news is - as well. thank you for that. i suppose this news is that - as well. thank you for that. i - suppose this news is that having had covid—19 does give you at least five months immunity is good news for people like yourself and others working in the health service, who have had coronavirus and could be exposed to it again? yes. have had coronavirus and could be exposed to it again?— exposed to it again? yes, in fact there is an _ exposed to it again? yes, in fact there is an earlier— exposed to it again? yes, in fact there is an earlier study - exposed to it again? yes, in fact there is an earlier study by - exposed to it again? yes, in fact there is an earlier study by the i there is an earlier study by the oxford group that shows the same thing, in fact up to 90% protection for six months, which i have also shared with my colleagues in the health care service and hopefully

that will boost their morale and reassure them that they should be protected from their natural immunity. protected from their natural immunity-— protected from their natural immuni . :, . ., , immunity. thank you so much. that is drjulian tang- — immunity. thank you so much. that is drjulian tang. thank— immunity. thank you so much. that is drjulian tang. thank you _ immunity. thank you so much. that is drjulian tang. thank you so - immunity. thank you so much. that is drjulian tang. thank you so much - drjulian tang. thank you so much for your time. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise leah. hello. a slow—moving weather front across the country today has brought a combination of snow to the north and rain to the south, and it will lingerfor much of the afternoon. this was earlier. you can see where the snow has been sitting down from the north of england. heavy rain to the east of the pennines as well, down into the south—east corner. it leaves a legacy of cloud for the rest of the afternoon. that's the best of the brightness into northern ireland, but still a nagging northerly wind here. temperatures will be subdued generally across the country, just a couple of degrees above freezing where the cloud and rain lingers.

tonight, snow and rain could ease away, we can have a problem with ice and freezing rain forming as temperatures fall around or below freezing in many places. widespread frost and fog first thing in the morning. icy stretches will clear away to a quieter friday before more heavy rain returns for saturday. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... the number of people waiting for routine hospital treatment last november reached a record high, at nearly four and a half million. the government announces passengers from south america and portugal will be banned from entering the uk amid concerns over a new variant of coronavirus there. vaccinations in high street pharmacies — a pilot project gets under way in england to deliver the covid jab. a study finds most people who've had covid do have immunity from it for at least 5 months — though they can still carry

the virus and give it to others. donald trump denies inciting last week's violence at the capitol — after he becomes the first us president to be impeached twice. and thousands of laptops and tablets are donated to help children being home—schooled online after a bbc campaign. sport now, and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, here'sjohn watson. good afternoon. andy murray's participation at the up coming australian open is in doubt after the former world number one tested positive for coronavirus. the tournament starts in three—and—a—half weeks. he's said to be in good health and was due to leave in the next two days but he'll stay at home now to self—isolate — and there's a question mark over whether he'll be allowed to travel to melbourne at all, outside of the chartered flights put on by the organisers. if he's given the go—ahead he'll

have to test negative before departing and then complete a 14—day quarantine period upon arrival as russell fuller explains. murray is said to be in good health but he needs to complete his ten days of self—isolation in the uk but he would then need to return a negative test before being allowed to board the flight to australia. this flight were supposed to be leaving today if they haven't already left. over the next 36 hours, 15 planes full of players will arrive in melbourne to begin two weeks of quarantine and this window of a revival in australia was very carefully negotiated between tennis australia and the relevant health authorities so what we don't yet know is whether mulvey will be given permission to arrive late. —— whether murray will be given permission to arrive late. if he is given the green light she will not be able to play for 14 days but at least as part of a province team he will be allowed out of his room to practise foot like all the players

for five hours a practise foot like all the players forfive hours a day practise foot like all the players for five hours a day so potentially could still get himself in the shape he needs to be in that competition. england spinner dom bess says he can bowl better despite his five wicket helping to skittle sri lanka out forju5t135 on the opening day of the first test in galle. he took his last four wickets forjust nine runs. stuart broad pitching in with three wickets of his own as this series got under way having been pushed back in march. england's reply didn't start well with both openers out cheaply — england closed the day on 127—2, captain joe root making a half—century. they're nowjust eight runs behind. i haven't done might probably haven't— i haven't done might probably haven't bowled us, i scarcely know that i_ haven't bowled us, i scarcely know that i haven't bowled as well as i could _ that i haven't bowled as well as i could have — that i haven't bowled as well as i could have done. i have got away with maybe one or two but i think is cricket _ with maybe one or two but i think is cricket we _ with maybe one or two but i think is cricket we flip it and if you look at how — cricket we flip it and if you look at how well the others bold up front

ithink— at how well the others bold up front i think it _ at how well the others bold up front i think it is — at how well the others bold up front i think it is exceptional and really sets the — i think it is exceptional and really sets the tone early on. aston villa have been forced to postpone another premier league match due to the pandemic. they closed their training ground last week after a number of positive tests. wednesday's game against tottenham had already been postponed. sunday's match at home to everton has now been called off. meanwhile, danny ings has tested positive. the striker has been self—isolting since getting his test results after southampton's win over liverpool 10 days ago and will miss their game against leicester on saturday. more positive tests in formula one too. ferrari's charles le clerc is self—isolating after a positive test. the olympic 100m hurdles champion, brianna mcneal, has been provisionally suspended for a violation of anti—doping rules. the american won gold at the rio games in 2016. it's understood that the charge relates to the tampering or attempted tampering with the testing process. it carries a ban of up to four

years, and because mcneal has been banned in the past that could be doubled to 8 years. the british gymnast nile wilson has announced his retirement at the age of 24. he won olympic bronze in the horizontal bar at the 2016 games and this is him winning gold in the horizontal bars at the commonwealth games in 2018. posting about his retirment on social media wilson says gymnastics is his first love, his addiction. that gave him purpose and experiences he could never have dreamed of. and the masters snooker continues this afternoon. kyren wilson is up against david gilbert before the defending champion stuart bingham takes on shaun murphy in the evening session. the first of the quarter finals is under way. we are bringing you some live pictures now. we'll send you can see in the chair bear and it is proving to be a tight one, this. —— in the chair, there. it is 3—3 at

the moment. we will have that second quarterfinal a little bit later on, as i was saying. gilbert currently at the table, wilson leading at the moment, just that slim lead in that frame, the v— three and it is the first of six who will go through to the next round. —— it is 3—3. that's all the sport for now. donald trump faces trial in the senate after becoming the first us president to be impeached twice. last night members of the house of representatives voted to charge him with inciting last week's violence at the capitol building in washington. after that vote, the president released a video — in which he didn't mention impeachment, but urged americans to unite and avoid violence. barbara plett usher reports. the ayes are 232. the nays are 197. the resolution is adopted without objection. the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.

so ended a week like no other in washington, with the astonishing collapse of donald trump's final days in office. lawmakers returned to a capitol transformed. thousands of national guard troops deployed to protect them from the loyal supporters of the departing president who had stormed congress. the people's house looked like a war zone. the debate to impeach the president for inciting the violence was sharp and emotional. 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 so resolutely determined to tear down the things that we hold dear and that hold us together. it's always been about getting the president, no matter what. it's an obsession, an obsession that has now broadened. it's not just about impeachment any more, it's about cancelling, as i've said, cancelling the president and anyone that disagrees with them. but most republicans

didn't defend mr trump. instead, they questioned the process and warned it would deepen divisions. and ten voted for impeachment — a stark difference from the first time around a year ago. next, this goes to the senate for trial, but only after the inauguration ofjoe biden, when mr trump will have left office. but i cannot emphasise that there must be no violence, no lawbreaking, no vandalism of any kind. in a video message, he still didn't concede the election, but with the threat of more attacks to come, he called for protesters to remain peaceful. mob violence goes against everything i believe in and everything our movement stands for. no true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. disrespect law enforcement or our great american flag. no true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass

theirfellow americans. it's been one week since the riot, and there's one week to go before joe biden is inaugurated. in the middle of this, the house says it has acted to protect democracy by impeaching mr trump. but a peaceful transfer of power still feels very fragile. barbara plett usher, bbc news, washington. let's speak to our washington correspondent gary o'donoghue. gary, first of all, is it a certainty that this case against president trump will go ahead in the senate? , president trump will go ahead in the senate? i i, president trump will go ahead in the senate? i :, ., ., president trump will go ahead in the senate? i i, ., ., senate? yes, it will go ahead in the senate. i don't _ senate? yes, it will go ahead in the senate. i don't think _ senate? yes, it will go ahead in the senate. i don't think there - senate? yes, it will go ahead in the senate. i don't think there is - senate? yes, it will go ahead in the senate. i don't think there is any i senate. i don't think there is any wriggle room there for the senate is not to take it up. they are obliged to take up an article of impeachment under the constitution if it is sent to them by the house of representatives. there could be some movement around timing and of course with the democrats getting those two

extra senators from georgia next week they will have much more control over the timing of things but the senate will have to do it, the trial will have to go ahead in some form of another. the question is, how long will they give to it, how big a process will it be in terms of witnesses, had subpoenaed documents, all that kind of thing, or will they try and get it over as quickly as possible? lgale or will they try and get it over as quickly as possible?— or will they try and get it over as quickly as possible? we have heard about the fears _ quickly as possible? we have heard about the fears of _ quickly as possible? we have heard about the fears of what _ quickly as possible? we have heard about the fears of what may - quickly as possible? we have heard| about the fears of what may happen next week in the lead up tojoe biden's inauguration. what is the atmosphere like? i biden's inauguration. what is the atmosphere like?— biden's inauguration. what is the atmosphere like? i think there's a lot of anxiety. _ atmosphere like? i think there's a lot of anxiety, to _ atmosphere like? i think there's a lot of anxiety, to be _ atmosphere like? i think there's a lot of anxiety, to be honest. - atmosphere like? i think there's a lot of anxiety, to be honest. i - lot of anxiety, to be honest. i mean, there are 20,000 national guard troops coming into the capital. that is more troops in the streets of the nation's capital than there is in afghanistan and iraq. it is a militarised situation, in that sense. there are going to be a lot

of roadblocks, road closures, snipers on reeves, we have already seen those pictures of, you know, soldiers sleeping on the floor inside the capitol building. —— snipers on rooves. there is a lot of anxiety about what might be planned. some say the process might melt away, some say they are planning on some spectaculars, a lot of chatter online and a lot of warnings from the fbi as well but i think there is a lot of uncertainty in the coming days about whether or not we will see any kind of repetition of what we saw last week which, i mean, interestingly, has become more, i think, worrying to people as the days have gone on, as the pictures on the video have started to emerge from inside it has become more serious, i think, from inside it has become more serious, ithink, than from inside it has become more serious, i think, than even on the day itself. white tobacco, i think thatis day itself. white tobacco, i think that is very interesting. does that go some way towards explaining president trump is not very different tone that we just heard

theirin a sense, you pay your money and you take your choice with president trump, this dave versus that day. it was only last wednesday that day. it was only last wednesday that he said to the same people we love you, your very special. yesterday he was saying to them you don't represent me. you have to make your own choice about which one of those who thing is the real donald trump. there are certain on the legal risks for him and he is in some sort ofjeopardy and that may explain some of those comments yesterday, but he didn't concede the election. again, given the opportunity, he didn't concede it and you can imagine that for those hardcore supporters of his out there that sit there, you know, thinking about what they might do next they might be thinking well, the president hasn't conceded, why should we? our washington correspondent there, danny o'donoghue. the government has defended its decision to ask locals councils

to use covid funding to pay for free food for struggling families in england over half term. teachers and head teachers say changing how these meals are provided could lead to "chaos" and put millions of pupils at risk. the criticism follows widespread condemnation from many over the meagre offerings in some of the food parcels being given to children who would normally receive free school meals. i am joined now by the assistant general secretary of the national education union, ros mcneil. good afternoon to you. how would you like this to be done instead and what would normally happen? instead and what would normally ha en? ~ ii i instead and what would normally hauen? ii , , instead and what would normally hauen? i, ,ii, , happen? what is confusing as it would be much _ happen? what is confusing as it would be much clearer- happen? what is confusing as it would be much clearer and - happen? what is confusing as it| would be much clearer and much happen? what is confusing as it - would be much clearer and much safer to use the term time system to cover half term. what we should use it as the school system where the school are allowed to give free school meal vouchers are many that system for extended this half term, it would be much safer, much easier, and if we did it that way we could try and guarantee that all the families eligible for free school meals could

get it during half term. that is really what we need to try and secure. it really what we need to try and secure. i really what we need to try and secure. , i, really what we need to try and secure. i i, ii i i secure. it is not as if the children are not being _ secure. it is not as if the children are not being provided _ secure. it is not as if the children are not being provided for, - secure. it is not as if the children are not being provided for, they| are not being provided for, they just been provided for through a different means, and what are your concerns? i i, i , i, concerns? our concern is that it will create _ concerns? our concern is that it will create a _ concerns? our concern is that it will create a postcode _ concerns? our concern is that it will create a postcode lottery i concerns? our concern is that it. will create a postcode lottery and it is a safe way to make sure that all the 1.3 million children who are eligible for this will get the support they need during half term. what the government said today it is, hey, let's use the covertly integral grants. that went to local authorities and wasn't ring fenced for schools offer free school meals. local authorities have already to use that majority of that funding and it is in no wave ring fenced for free school meals as it, it is not a secure way to make sure that you get support. the distinction this year between half term and school term matters much less. we need their children have access to food during half term. the safest way would be for the government to get the national voucher scheme up and running and heads and schools are

really waiting so that gavin williamson has said that he will get that ready. a5 williamson has said that he will get that ready. as soon as that is up and running we need that operates what half term as was the hole in the whole in springtime.- what half term as was the hole in the whole in springtime. while you have been speaking _ the whole in springtime. while you have been speaking we _ the whole in springtime. while you have been speaking we have - the whole in springtime. while you have been speaking we have had i the whole in springtime. while you have been speaking we have had a | have been speaking we have had a response from the government. a spokesperson said, as was the case over christmas, vulnerable families will continue to receive meals and other essentials by a through the £170 winter grant scheme lunch that year. —— £170 million winter grant scheme. launched last year. they say there is this why government support. what is the legal situation? isn't the case that councils are obliged to provide meals for any family that requires an? it meals for any family that requires an? i , , i meals for any family that requires an? i , ' i i, an? it is very difficult for the government _ an? it is very difficult for the government to _ an? it is very difficult for the government to make - an? it is very difficult for the government to make that i an? it is very difficult for the - government to make that guarantee if they go via this route. a much safer way would be to make sure that the voucher system goes across the half term. staying and asking schools to redirect families to local authorities showing that half term

is not a guarantee that all of those families will get to have that support so it is really important to use the voucher system. this will lead to a lot more questions and queries this week. parents will come to schools, come to heads and say we don't understand how we're going to get out much and get our free school meals are bought during half term so this willjust lead to more pressure, more chaos, and more confusion. it would be much safer if the government was able to confirm that they would just keep the national voucher system up and running to half term. it is not up and running yet so they need to get it in place. that way, they can and i schools have a flexible approach to use that system or national voucher scheme. this is downright good way to do it but we need is a policy in place of hamilton. with over a million families eligible for free school meals. the visibly no good argument is not make that food and is not fairfor them to be

facing a postcode lottery. to and is not fair for them to be facing a postcode lottery. to be fed to the government, _ facing a postcode lottery. to be fed to the government, they _ facing a postcode lottery. to be fed to the government, they wouldn't i to the government, they wouldn't argue against that, it is just the means by which you get the food to the families concerned. to have any sensors to quite why the government has change the system but this week? —— do you have any sense as to why. .. -- do you have any sense as to wh i �* i, why... there isn't time for enhancements _ why... there isn't time for enhancements to - why... there isn't time for enhancements to be i why... there isn't time for i enhancements to be surprisingly why... there isn't time for - enhancements to be surprisingly run clear. this system will confuse local authorities and parents. there is no good rationale for coming up with this proposal when they are at the moment working behind the scenes to get a voucher system up so that families can get hold of vouchers via their school that they can then spendin via their school that they can then spend in local shops so the government are about to get the system back up and running. if it is doing that and it is already the second week of this term, they are about to do that, there is no good rationale for them to say that actually, it won't operate during half term, during half term we want you to direct family somewhere else. there is no good rationale that we can see. it would be safer, fairer, and get more of an equal entitlement

if you could make sure that schools can still provide vouchers to families that week. there is huge financial pressure on families at the moment. there are lots and lots of low income families who are not eligible for free school meals so we're talking here about the 1.3 million families and very, very, very low incomes. there are lots of families who get universal credit you don't have access to free school meals we also need to make sure we actually extending provision, helping families get access to being able to provide food. there is no good defence to say we won't do it in half term. families still need that access to food during that week and this term, as parents know, there is much less distinction between half term and school term because of the number of children that are learning remotely from home at the moment. whites like many thanks. that is someone education union. thank you very much. education union. thank you very much- that _ education union. thank you very much. that is _ education union. thank you very much. that is from _ education union. thank you very much. that is from the - education union. thank you very much. that is from the national| much. that is from the national education

breaking news on the resignation of richard leonard's and a generous reaction from his political opponent. it's been a week since bbc local radio re—launched it's make a difference campaign, which aims to bring communities closer together and already there has been a huge response from so many of you. this time people have been asked to donate laptops and tablets to help children who are learning home. fiona lamdin has been to meet some of the people donating them and catch up with families who have been helped.

this was the moment when this finally received a laptop on loan from the school. that was one week ago. thank you very much. it is like a heavy weight is lifted off. no more shouting, can i use your phone? they know that each person has got a slot on the laptop. as a result of the bbc make a difference campaign we have been overwhelmed by your generosity. in just seven days we have had over 5000 devices deleted. the bbc has just learned that 20,000 extra devices are coming in the next few weeks from businesses. one of those who donated was madeline. i heard the appeal on the bbc. we had two laptops upstairs that have been doing nothing for a couple of years so i just wanted to find out and help and give.

my husband passed away from covid four weeks ago. he was so generous and kind. he would have done it himself. he would have been proud of me, i am sure. madeline hasn't been able to hold her husband's funeral yet but she's so determined to help she has already taken the laptops to the local school. if people don't have the technological know—how to erase the data, they can be reassured that if they pass that laptop to us we will make sure it is completely clean up anything that is left on there. on the other side of the city we meet this family. these ten—year—old identical twins have been relying on paper hand—outs from their school. earlier this week the government promised another 300,000 devices to disadvantaged children learning at home. wow! taking the total to 1.3 million. now we have this we'll be able to join in the live lessons. i want to be a dr, so i have to work very hard. having these laptops really helps my education. i would like to say thank

you for this donation. it is a life changer. and it is also a life—saver. fiona lamdin, bbc news. you can go to the web address on the screens are fine details of the charities will help to get laptops you might want to donate safely to the children who need them most. growing vaccine confidence has led to a boom in the over—505 booking summer holidays. coach and tour operators say they've seen a rush to book, with some seeing an almost 200% increase over the last two weeks. simon browning reports. holidays. millions of us missed out last year. no sea, no sun, no long sunset drinks. instead, we got cancellations and refunds. now, as the mass roll—out of the vaccine gets under way,

tour operators say we're booking again and looking for sunnier climes. tui is the uk's biggest tour operator. greece, turkey and spain are our favourites. in the last few weeks, over 50% of our bookings on our website have been the over—505. we're seeing people booking longer holidays. so, rather than the straight seven nights, they're booking 105, 115 and 145, maybe trying to catch a bit of that missed holiday back up, and we're seeing them go in more multi—generational and broader groups. so, it's a bit more of a bigger family holiday that is coming through. it's notjust holidays abroad. national express says bookings have surged 185% in the 65—plus market, compared to the same period last year. we launched our spring/summer brochure just this weekend gone, and on monday we took a week's worth of bookings in one day. many of them have had their first jab, and they know that within 12

weeks that they will receive their second jab. that gives them a level of certainty. whilst we all dream, it has been a tough year for the industry. abta estimates 90,000 jobs have been lost. this is utterly fantastic news, hugely welcomed by an industry that has been entirely devastated by this pandemic. ten months into this crisis and the travel industry has still received zero dedicated financial support from the government. so, this is the first sign of the light at the end of the tunnel for the sector. who isn't going to want a holiday after the annus horribilis that was 2020? we're yearning for sun whilst the days are dark. for some, the vaccine brings hope for sunnier times ahead. simon browning, bbc news. in these unusual times, there have been many unexpected things going viral on the internet — but how about the singing of sea shanties becoming a craze on tiktok?

the interest was sparked by this man — 26—year—old scottish postman nathan evans, whose renditions of ancient sea faring songs have attracted millions of views online since december. he says he can't believe the attention he has received. it's crazy. it's absolutely crazy. i knew that people would watch it to a certain extent but never, ever in all my years would i have expected this. i think about full times i've gone to take parcels to doors and they've heard, they've seen me on tiktok somehow and then they've been light, i know yourface tiktok somehow and then they've been light, i know your face and that's what it has been from, it has been through tiktok. it all started back injuly through tiktok. it all started back in july last through tiktok. it all started back injuly last year. through tiktok. it all started back in july last year. somebody left a comment under one of my videos

asking me to do leaf upjohnny, which is a sea shanty, and i done that one. it reached about a million views and then since then it has just been so many requests for different songs in different sea shanty is to be sung. now it's time for a look at the weather with louise leah. plenty of gear changes with the weather over the next couple of days. no two days will be the same. the northern half of the country today, many scenes were like this. heavy snow first thing in the morning across scotland and northern england. heavy rain through north—west england, the midlands, down to the london area. produced risk of localised flooding. the rain and the snow will tend to linger through much of the afternoon. this has been the story over the last few hours. you can see whether

you can see where the snow is, but it is chiefly rain further south. as we go through the rest of the afternoon, slowly brightening up into northern ireland. brisk northerly wind here. in terms of the feel of the weather, it stays mild into the south—west corner but elsewhere it will be a cold afternoon particularly if you keep the cloud and the rain. temperatures in some places struggling to climb 1 degree or so above freezing. tonight, rain and snow will slowly start to ease away. winds will fall light, and that could cause an issue. there could be some dense freezing fog in places. there is the risk of icy stretches. these will be the temperatures, widely around or below freezing. if you do have to make an essentialjourney first thing tomorrow morning, it is worth bearing in mind ice and freezing fog could be an issue tomorrow morning.

here is that next gear change. once we've got rid, hopefully, of the dense freezing fog, and in some places that will linger for some time, in the icy stretches, it will be a quieter and brighter day for many. it will continue to feel cold. 2—4 degrees at the very best. just that little bit milder the further west you are. friday into saturday, the next low pressure moving in, turning increasingly wet and windy. isobars starting to push across the chart — that means a spell of more heavy rain across the country on saturday. gear change once again comes on sunday. drier and brighter. and quieter.

this is bbc news i'm reeta chakrabarti. the headlines the number of people in england waiting for routine hospital treatment last november reached a record high, at nearly four and a half million. experts warn it could take years to clear the backlog it is not only that they delay in having procedures and heart surgery that we know about. it is the fact that we know about. it is the fact that people are notjoining the waiting list, the backlog is likely to be far more advanced. in the last few minutes the government have announced passengers from many countries in south america will be banned from entering the uk amid concerns over a new variant of coronavirus there. richard leonard resigns as scottish labour leader after three years in the role donald trump denies inciting last week's violence at the capitol — after he becomes the first us

president to be impeached twice: