today at six: the highest number of deaths recorded in a single day since the pandemic began. we've got patients on the third floor, fourth floor... this ward goes all the way round to the other side, it's 29 patients. ..sixth floor, seventh floor, eighth floor... another covid patient in here. ..ninth floor. no wonder some hospitals are all but overwhelmed — and why doctors and nurses are physically and emotionally drained. how do you ever prepare for people just dying and dying and dying? although it's ourjob and we deal with dead people every day, this level, i think, has taken its toll. in scotland, the toughest restrictions are extended to at least the middle of next month. also tonight... schools in england could re—open at different times — it will depend on infection rates

region by region. unprecedented security in washington on donald trump's last full day in office — tomorrowjoe biden will become the 46th president. the environment agency warns of a volatile situation as storm christoph approaches — flood warnings cover north and east england. # happy birthday to you # happy birthday, dear kathleen # happy birthday to you. # kathleen is 105 years young today — and she's survived covid too. and coming up on bbc news: as the players continue to keep fit, the isolation row rumbles on ahead of the australian open.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. more than 1,600 covid deaths have been recorded in the last 2a hours. that's the highest figure since the pandemic hit the united kingdom and just one indication of the numbers of people becoming extremely sick with the coronavirus. nhs staff know the implications of those numbers only too well. the body representing intensive care medicine says some units are already overwhelmed. tonight in the second of his special reports from the royal london hospital, clive myrie, with camera journalist david mcilveen and producer sam piranty, shows the human cost on both staff and patients of the relentless pressure of coping with the pandemic. the birth of a new day brings a familiar demon. more covid infections. and more death.

and it's others who must stare into the abyss to spare our eyes. like hannah, a senior mortician at the royal london hospital, part of a small team ofjust five that's handled hundreds of bodies in this pandemic. how do you ever prepare for people just dying and dying and dying? although it's ourjob and we deal with dead people every day, this level, i think, has taken its toll. does it feel like a conveyor belt? it does, it does, in a way, yes. i hate to say that, because i hate to think of it like that, but yes, yes, it is, almost, yes. that's what the pandemic�*s done, i mean... yeah. it's no-one's fault. no.

sorry. i've done this for years, you know, i'mjust... when someone says to you, how does it make you feel, and you say how it makes you feel, yeah, this is how it makes me feel. the inner turbulence revealed. and yet, outer strength is what we crave — a brave face in those fighting the virus on our behalf. as every day, the hospitals fill up, including the royal london. how many floors are taken up by covid patients here? we've got patients on the third floor, fourth floor... this ward goes all the way round to the other side, it's 29 patients. ..sixth floor, seventh floor, eighth floor... another covid patient in here. ..ninth floor... another one in here. ..tenth,11th... again, round the other side, there's another 29 patients. ..12th, 13th... this is our third ward, with 31 patients. - ..and then obviously, up here... so each four of these four bedded bays contain covid patients. ..the14th and 15th floor,

so that's 12 floors in total. 12 out of 15 floors, more than 400 patients, and there are not enough staff. it's madness. and curiously, despite all the drugs and fancy equipment, the simple technique of periodically turning over a covid patient — or proning — can help force oxygen into scarred lungs. but the manpower needed is immense. turning and turning and turning again. day after day. and in the middle of the storm, consultant marie healy. a commanding presence. still coming. go, go, go. and a friend to all. for those less scrupulous about social distancing and wearing masks, she gives the benefit of the doubt — despite the effect on the nhs.

i think the public want to do the right thing, but i don't feel they understand the scale of the problem. so i don't think taken for granted, we don't. so you think the public don't get the pressure that is on everyone working in this hospital and up and down the country? i definitely don't think they do. i think if they did, they really wouldn't hesitate to do the right thing. back on the ward, the oxygen levels plummet of a covid patient in their mid—20s. proning must be quick, but more specialist care may be necessary to oxygenate the blood through an artificial lung. consultant pj zolfaghari, who predicted a second coronavirus wave, calls papworth hospital in cambridge to see if they will take the patient. ventilation has become very difficult again just now. kathy macgloin leads the team trying to keep her alive.

but there is bad news. now the pressure is really on, but quiet professionalism kicks in. 0k, yeah, good. relief, enough oxygen is now finally reaching the patient�*s lungs. and yet, kathy isn't an intensive care doctor, she's a consultant anaesthetist, offering a helping hand, like the trauma surgeons, paediatricians, immunologists, all mucking in during this appalling covid crisis. i feel a lot better now. how worried were you? i'm sweating, and it's notjust the ppe. so, she's young, she's someone's relative. this is something precious that we're holding and we're trying to do. and yeah, it's quite frightening.

frightening — one word that defines covid's second wave for the nhs. heartbreaking is another. as marie healy checks on a 28—year—old man with no underlying conditions, but who has been on a ventilator for more than three weeks. obviously very distressing and... this is a very serious complication at this stage. he also has other family members and critical care as we speak. in critical care as we speak. time to call his wife. now, i know that he is quite sick. he could die from this from this, by the way. i'm sorry to have to say that. i know, love. i know. don't worry. we are doing everything we can for him.

very difficult because... it is very difficult because this family has been through a huge amount. and they're actually so nice. and that makes it more difficult. the inner turbulence revealed. the rain mirrors shamima's recent tears for herfamily. she took marie's call, as her husband fights for his life. his condition remains serious on life support. clive myrie, bbc news. the latest government figures show there were 33,355 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period — which means that on average the number of new cases reported per day in the last

week is 43,257 and continuing to fall. hospitals have had an average of 37,916 covid—19 patients in the week to last sunday. 1,610 deaths were reported — that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on average in the past week, 1,181 deaths were announced every day. the total number of deaths so far across the uk is 91,470. let's get an update on the uk's programme of mass vaccinations. 204,076 people have had theirfirst dose of one of the three approved covid—19 vaccines in the latest 24 hour period, taking the overall number of people who've had their firstjab to more than 4.2 million. 0ur medical editor

fergus walsh is here now. i write out those statistics just now, we saw clive's report, it is still such a grim picture. it now, we saw clive's report, it is still such a grim picture.- still such a grim picture. it is, and clive's — still such a grim picture. it is, and clive's report _ still such a grim picture. it is, and clive's report really - still such a grim picture. it is, l and clive's report really showed still such a grim picture. it 3 and clive's report really showed the brutal impact that covid is having on london because my hospitals but i can tell you that it is a similar picture in hospitals throughout the uk, they are under intense pressure and there are almost 30,000 covid patients in hospital. that is 16,000 more than at the peak last april. and cases are, thankfully, beginning to fall but it will take a few weeks for those to have an impact on debts, and even once we do pass the peak of deaths, there will be a relentless death toll from this pandemic in this latest wave throughout the winter. we pandemic in this latest wave throughout the winter. we don't want

to bombard our— throughout the winter. we don't want to bombard our viewers _ throughout the winter. we don't want to bombard our viewers with - throughout the winter. we don't want to bombard our viewers with loads . throughout the winter. we don't want to bombard our viewers with loads of| to bombard our viewers with loads of figures but we've also had the latest survey from the office for national statistics, can you go through the highlights? this national statistics, can you go through the highlights? this is in antibodies- _ through the highlights? this is in antibodies. this _ through the highlights? this is in antibodies. this is _ through the highlights? this is in antibodies. this is a _ through the highlights? this is in antibodies. this is a survey - through the highlights? this is in antibodies. this is a survey of. antibodies. this is a survey of people who have previously had coronavirus and have since built up antibodies which should protect them for some months. if you look at the figures, it is estimated that in december, one in eight people in england had antibodies, one in ten in wales, one in 11 in scotland, and one in13 in in wales, one in 11 in scotland, and one in 13 in northern ireland. that is a huge rise over 0ctober, it is a snapshot, many people who got covid in the first wave will no longer have antibodies. 0ne positive is that in coming months, we should see a really steep rise in antibody protection among people who have had the vaccine. , ., protection among people who have had the vaccine. , . , the vaccine. fergus, thanks very much. england's deputy chief medical officer has suggested there could be a regional approach to re—opening the country's schools.

drjenny harries told mps that schools in areas with high covid infection rates were likely to stay closed for longer. apart from vulnerable children and those of keyworkers, all other students have been home schooling. the government has delivered more than 800,000 laptops and tablets to support remote learning, but as our education correspondent elaine dunkley reports, some schools are still waiting for devices to arrive. at this school in leeds, classes are full. some children are at school because they can't get online at home. ~ ., ., ,., , home. we are dealing with parents stru: calin home. we are dealing with parents struggling with _ home. we are dealing with parents struggling with the _ home. we are dealing with parents struggling with the prices - home. we are dealing with parents struggling with the prices and - home. we are dealing with parents struggling with the prices and free | struggling with the prices and free school meals... struggling with the prices and free school meals. . .— struggling with the prices and free school meals... families have had a lot to deal — school meals... families have had a lot to deal with. _ school meals... families have had a lot to dealwith. here, _ school meals... families have had a lot to deal with. here, a _ school meals. .. families have had a lot to dealwith. here, a lack- school meals... families have had a lot to deal with. here, a lack of - lot to deal with. here, a lack of devices come into data has meant 30 additional children in classes. families with several siblings trying to get round one or two devices. i could have done with double the amount because of the type of families we've got. we need

to make sure we are equipped to deal with everything we need to do and we have the technology and the training. in have the technology and the trainina. ., ,., training. in england the government has issued 800,000 _ training. in england the government has issued 800,000 laptops - training. in england the government has issued 800,000 laptops to - has issued 800,000 laptops to schools but it is still short of its 1.3 million target. donna and lucas have struggled, they have reason to be given a device but most of their remote learning has been done without a laptop. i remote learning has been done without a laptop.— remote learning has been done without a laptop. i was planning to use my mobile _ without a laptop. i was planning to use my mobile phone. _ without a laptop. i was planning to use my mobile phone. i _ without a laptop. i was planning to use my mobile phone. i need - without a laptop. i was planning to use my mobile phone. i need for l use my mobile phone. i need for phone calls as well and oversee the battery dies more quickly on a mobile. the laptop is helping to keep his education going. it is to the best of my ability that i can give him at home so he doesn't miss out on any more education.- out on any more education. higher attendance — out on any more education. higher attendance in _ out on any more education. higher attendance in some _ out on any more education. higher attendance in some primary - out on any more education. higherl attendance in some primary schools compared to the last looked and has raised concern amongst teachers about the spread of covid but at this secondary in 0ldham there are other issues around attendance. currently only 70% of students are online during lessons in the head teacher is worried. abs, online during lessons in the head teacher is worried.— teacher is worried. a number of students have _ teacher is worried. a number of students have been _ teacher is worried. a number of

students have been classified . teacher is worried. a number of| students have been classified as disadvantaged and that means they are open— disadvantaged and that means they are open to higher risks, whether it is from _ are open to higher risks, whether it is from sexual exploitation, involvement in county lines gangs. it is involvement in county lines gangs. it is our— involvement in county lines gangs. it is our business to make sure we know_ it is our business to make sure we know where — it is our business to make sure we know where they are and do everything we can to give them the opportunity to engage in learning because — opportunity to engage in learning because it not only helps them but keeps _ because it not only helps them but keeps them safe.— keeps them safe. supporting disadvantaged _ keeps them safe. supporting disadvantaged children - keeps them safe. supporting disadvantaged children at - keeps them safe. supporting i disadvantaged children at home keeps them safe. supporting - disadvantaged children at home is a big challenge, and so is how to reopen schools safely. it is likely we will have _ reopen schools safely. it is likely we will have some _ reopen schools safely. it is likely we will have some sort _ reopen schools safely. it is likely we will have some sort of - reopen schools safely. it is likely. we will have some sort of regional separation, and it is likely that as risks hopefully starting to recede, it may move across the country. the diuital it may move across the country. the digital divide is widening, —— widening the disadvantage gap and our growing concern about the educational welfare of children left without devices. in scotland, lockdown restrictions have been extended until at least the middle of february — with most schools and nurseries to remain shut until then.

the first minister, nicola sturgeon, said although coronavirus case numbers seemed to be declining, any relaxation could "send the situation into reverse". the current restrictions had been due to expire at the end of this month. a group of welsh politicians have apologised after it emerged that they drank alcohol on welsh parliament premises, days after a ban on serving drinks in pubs came into effect. senedd authorities are investigating the incident involving labour's alun davies and conservative members paul davies, darren millar and nick ramsay. they deny breaking any rules. bbc wales political editor felicity evans is in central cardiff. what more do we know about this, felicity? what more do we know about this, felici ? , . , , what more do we know about this, felici ? , ., ,, felicity? this happened back in december. _ felicity? this happened back in december, just _ felicity? this happened back in december, just days _ felicity? this happened back in december, just days after - felicity? this happened back in december, just days after the l felicity? this happened back in - december, just days after the welsh government imposed what was at the time a very controversial ban on alcohol in pubs and restaurants.

these politicians met in the senate, licensed premises and drank wine during what they say was a work—related meeting. this has provoked outrage across the political spectrum and the conservative politicians involved are all frontbenchers and full davies is the group leader in the senedd who wants to put himself forward as a possible first minister in the forthcoming welsh parliament elections in may. labour's alan davies has been suspected from his group pending an investigation —— suspended. nick ramsey is yet to comment, but all of the others have apologised although they insist they did not break any rules, they do admit that some might regard their behaviour as not being in the spirit of those rules. but despite the apology, i think they are going to face further questions over all of this. . , . ~ face further questions over all of this. . , ., ~ i. face further questions over all of this. . , ., ~' ,, , face further questions over all of this. . , ., ~ , . nearly all care home residents in england have now been vaccinated against covid. but it's come too late for many. according to the office for national statistics nearly

a quarter of all covid related deaths in england and wales in the first week of january have been of care home residents. and since the start of the pandemic in march, just over 25,000 care home residents have died with the virus across the uk. 0ur social affairs correspondent, alison holt reports. the routines they hope will keep covid—19 at bay — spraying, cleaning, the careful donning and doffing of protective equipment, all now part of everyday life here at eachstep blakeley, a dementia home in greater manchester. in the first wave of the pandemic, they lost nine residents to the virus. now they have a second outbreak. scary. we did it the first time in the first wave. coming to work, it was so scary. hopefully we won't have it as bad as last time. so far, only two people here are showing symptoms,

and some in the home have had vaccinations. but across england and wales, care homes are now seeing a significant rise in covid related deaths. we have put walk—through booths in our homes that disinfect you as you go in and out of the building, but there is a feeling that if it gets into a home, there is very little you can do and you just have to hope that the therapies and the treatments that are available in hospital might allow more people to survive and come back. today's official figures recorded deaths of care home residents registered in england and wales in the first week of january. it includes 1,370 residents who died in care homes or in hospital with covid—19 a factor. it may include some registrations delayed over the new year. but that accounts for 23% of all covid—related deaths for the week. and remember, care home residents represent less than 1% of the population. she was so smiley. everybody loved her. couldn't do enough for people...

among those who died was 97—year—old beatricejones. she was in a kent nursing home not too far from her daughter, but part of the heartbreak is that they have seen so little of each other in the last ten months. i just feel the virus has robbed me of that. a complete year of my mother when i could've gone down and seen her because i used to go down there two to three times a week at one time. the hope lies with the vaccine. at this nottinghamshire care home, where they have a small outbreak, they are already seeing the difference it makes after a new arrivalfrom hospital. the person who came from the hospital was not vaccinated and they are very poorly at this moment in time. however, all of our residents were offered a vaccination on new year's eve, so our other resident who has tested positive but has had the vaccination is not poorly whatsoever. many care staff are still traumatized by losing so many residents in the first wave. now they find themselves in a race between the virus and vaccinations. alison holt, bbc news.

the time is 6.20pm. our top story this evening: the number of covid deaths recorded in the last 24 hours is the highest since the pandemic began. the body representing intensive care medicine say staff are almost on their knees. and it is two areas in northern england declare a major incident because of expected flooding, we report on the preparations taking place. coming up on sportsday on bbc news: a result that rocks the world of cricket. india break australia in what's been described as one of the greatest test wins ever. this is donald trump's last full day in the white house. tomorrow, joe biden will be sworn into office as the 46th president of the united states. a massive security operation is being mounted in washington, to make sure there is no repeat

of the scenes two weeks ago when mr trump's supporters stormed the capitol. mr trump will not attend tomorrow's innauguration ceremony. 0ur north america editor, jon sopel reports on a transition like no other in living memory. where once a sea of faces would greet the incoming president as he stood on the capitol steps, tomorrow it will be flags. thousands and thousands of stars & stripes. this is partly about covid—19 but more so now about security. the entire national mall, which stretches for two miles, has been closed off. washington, dc has been transformed into a fortress, with 25,000 national guardsmen drafted in. razor wire and fencing everywhere. now, nearly two weeks on from the storming of congress by a mob incited by donald trump. we fight like hell. and if you don't fight like hell, you will not have a

country any more. the shock in america over that attempt to overthrow a fair and free election seems to deepen with each passing day, not dissipate. washington has become a city on edge. the last time the president was seen in public was a week ago when he went to the border wall. something he'd point to as one of the achievements from his four years in office. and today we celebrate an extraordinary milestone, the completion of the promised 450 miles of border wall. 450 miles. but it will be his behavior since the election that will be his lasting legacy. his wife, melania, has released a video bidding farewell. though, in a clear break with tradition, she is not invited the incoming first lady to the white house. the past four years have been unforgettable. as donald and i conclude ourtime in the white house, i think of all the people i have taken home in my heart and their incredible stories of

love, patriotism, and determination. joe biden was yesterday packing meals for a food bank near his wilmington home. this evening, he will address the twin concerns of covid—19 and economic hardship. the trump presidency is drawing to a close in the disgrace of his second impeachment and a trial still to come, and the death toll from coronavirus about to pass 400,000. for the past 150 years, the outgoing president has been on the steps of the capitol to hand over the patent to his successor. but not tomorrow. donald trump has still not conceded. the trump campaign have been through every legal and constitutional avenue to overturn the results, and sometimes well beyond the legal means but they have failed and the election was found to be fair. arguably the crisis in american democracy today and the violence of

two weeks ago all stems from one man unable to accept defeat and unable to say i lost. thank you very much. a major incident has been declared in south yorkshire as authorities there prepare for significant flooding from storm cristoph. the environment agency says a combination of heavy rain and snow through the middle of the week will create a "volatile" situation. amber weather warnings — meaning there is a potential risk to life and property — have been issued for parts of yorkshire and the humber, the north west, east midlands and the east of england. danny savage is in bentley near doncaster for us this evening. in doncaster this afternoon, people were doing what they could to get their homes ready for flooding. council lorries were out clearing drains and gullies just in case. in the streets close to the town centre, they don't

want a repeat of this, when the nearby river don burst its banks back in 2019. in the garden, up to about to here. in the house, it was roughly a foot high. in that same street today, kev wingfield admitted he is worried. devastating to the whole community. we don't want to go through all that again. but this time, the council are better prepared, which is a good thing. but it gets everybody worried. and everybody has now started to move things upstairs, again. the sandbags are already out in anticipation of flooding. a major incident has been declared in south yorkshire. last time, people complained about a lack of preparation. brothers adam and john have seen it all before. i've seen it up here when it was really bad. if it is anything like that, if they think it will be anything like that, i'm definitely concerned because there were people up to their necks in it. people had to swim out of the houses. and that is not really something i would want to deal with.

in west yorkshire, anxiety is high in the calder valley around hebden bridge, an area damaged so many times before by flooding. it will be devastating. if it is anything like it was in february, it will be really devastating. the concerns of the local residents, especially the ones that have flooded before, is, "oh, here we go again." and unfortunately, that is one of the things of living in a valley bottom. but we can try and do whatever we can to minimize the effects of flooding. further afield, heavy rain has been causing problems in nottinghamshire, where it was a lottery whether or not you got through this road. danny savage, bbc news. and in the last hour or so, greater manchester has declared a major incident, expecting flooding over the next couple of days. the central message from police there is although we are under covid restrictions at the moment, if your home is flooded and you need to get out of it, then do leave your property, and don't worry about the covid restrictions in place. more

heavy rain is expected over the next couple of days, the midlands and the north of england still expected to be the worst affected areas, inland first, then the lower valleys heading out towards the coast perhaps on thursday. danny, thank you very much. there's been a very special birthday party at a care home in devon. kathleen wiltshire is 105 today. but what makes her birthday all the more remarkable is the fact that she's just recovered from covid. jon kay reports. # happy birthday, dear kathleen. amidst the gloom, some light. kathleen, 105 today. eight weeks ago, she was in bed with covid. sadly, four other residents died. but she amazed staff and pulled through. she is just such a strong person. she is full of life. she is so stoic and stalwart. she was determined to get back out

to be with everybody and enjoy her daily life again. born in 1916, before the spanish flu pandemic, kathleen was a shopkeeper and a butlins redcoat. she has six great—grandchildren. it wasn't just the covid that put her life at risk. staff feared her dementia would worsen in isolation. but she has bounced back. how tough is she? very tough. a lot tougher than me i think. really? yes, she is very tough. very tough, strong lady is kathleen for her age. once a redcoat, always a redcoat. kathleen was in charge of entertainment this afternoon. staff want her recovery to inspire others. there is hope. there are wonderful stories. she is through this. we are having a lovely day. yeah, happy birthday to her. 105. can't believe it, can you?

and what do you get a centenarian covid survivor for her birthday? well, kathleen has had her first vaccine. that didn't hurt. laughter jon kay, bbc news, exeter. and a happy birthday from all of us. time for a look at the weather. here's chris fawkes. it is all about stormer christophe, and here is the cloud which has been pouring down all day across northern ireland, parts of england and wales and a reminder that by thursday some areas of the high ground, wales, the peaks on the pennines could pick up over 150 millimetres of rain and the amber warning across these areas, these are the most sensitive areas because rivers are running at high levels and that was before the rain even began to fall, but things will continue to deteriorate as we go through the night with further outbreaks of persistent, heavy rain pushing on across wales and the rain

getting heavier over the night. some snow mixed in across the high ground in northern