let's talk to our political correspondent ian watson. the correspondent ian watson.ess the home secretary leading the daily press c0 nfe re nce the home secretary leading the daily press conference today as we pass this very sobering point with more than 20,000 hospitalised s. this very sobering point with more than 20,000 hospitalised 5. that's right. a sad and tragic day. we now know there are more than 20,000 grieving families, people who have lost loved ones who have died in hospital of the coronavirus. although that is a personal tragedy for all of this family is concerned, it has also became something —— become something of a grim benchmark figure. several government scientific adviser said last month that we would be doing well if we could keep the numbers beneath 20,000. that has now, of course, been surpassed. it is no surprise that priti patel at the government's press c0 nfe re nce was that priti patel at the government's press conference was stressing the need to maintain social distancing measures. she gave no indication of an early end to lock down. tha

earlier, i spoke to our political correspondent, ian watson, who highlighted how the passing of over the uk compares to predictions from government experts a month ago. there's been very much more grim news than even the government's own experts were expecting or at least hoping for. they always stressed there is a degree of uncertainty but, certainly, in the middle of march, the chief scientific adviser said that it could be a good outcome if deaths were kept beneath 20,000. that was then echoed, of course, by the nhs's medical director in england and indeed one of the other government advisers too. but in the end it's been impossible to keep those deaths beneath 20,000 and, for that reason and for all the grieving families who are out there, we have now got further advice from the government that it is important that people continue the social distancing measures which were introduced last month. it is important, the government say, because, although they are working to some extent, a second wave of infections has to be avoided. but i think that message isn'tjust directed at the ge

let's talk to our political correspondent, ian watson.e a month ago have not come to pass? that is right. very grim news than even the government's experts were expecting. but in the middle of march, the chief scientific adviser said it would be a good outcome if deaths we re would be a good outcome if deaths were kept below 20,000. and indeed that the other government advisers as well but in the end it was impossible to keep those deaths but leith 20,000, and for that reason and for all the grieving families, we have now got further advice from the government that it is important that people continue the social distancing measures which were introduced last month. it is important, the government say, because although they are working to some extent, a second wave of infections has to be avoided. i think that message is notjust directed at the general public. some of it has also been directed at members of the conservative party because some of them have been expressing concerns privately about the effect of the lockdown, the social dista

thank you for that, ian watson there, in downing street.ns concern among care providers about testing for staff and residents in care homes in england. the bbc has spoken to more than 200 providers, and three quarters say none of their staff has been screened. access to testing for residents, also appears to be patchy. the government says more people will be tested. here's our social affairs correspondent, alison holt. at harbour house residential home in dorset, they're keeping one of their residents who's returned from hospital isolated. they've been in lockdown for weeks now, and need to be sure that no—one brings covid—i9 into the home. what is it you're doing now, lana? i'm going to see brian. he's been self—isolated for 14 days, so we're putting on personal protective equipment. they've been told they need at least two suspected cases before they get testing of residents. hello, brian, can i come in, please? and for staff, the nearest drive—through testing centre is a three—hour round—trip away. these are fluid—resistant surgical mask

ian watson at westminster. let's recap the main points from the briefing at downing street.reduction in hospital admittance of people with coronavirus symptoms. he said it is down to the public observing social distancing measures. we now have a very definite trend in reduced number of people in hospitals. that is most marked in london and i think you can also see that in the midlands and the beginnings of that in other areas of the uk. and so that is definitely showing that our compliance with social distancing is proving to be beneficial, it is reducing the transmission and spread of the virus. and of course for those unfortunately or more critically ill, again a minority, in the next slide you can see the proportion of critical care beds that are being used for covid—19 patients in the uk. you can see that proportion is declining, as indeed the absolute number. again, evidence that all the hard work everyone has been doing to maintain the social distancing rules is paying off. then finally the last couple of slides are deaths. all deaths are tragic and my heart goes out t