kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news.cdotal stories out of spain, one of a british woman taking a neighbour's dog out for a walk and told by police to go home. leather case in a small village where people had booked to go to the local bar and the manager was going around knocking on doors telling people he was going to be shut down in accordance with the advice —— in another case. people are obviously concerned about the impact on the health. away from spain, other european countries are bringing in new restictions to combat the spread of the virus. france has announced the closure of all public places that are non—essential to public life. that includes restaurants, cafes and cinemas. long—distance train, plane and bus travel is going to be progressively reduced over the coming days. local elections have taken place across the country today, although turnout is down by 5%. the austrian chancellor has announced that gatherings of more than five people are now banned. and the vatican says the pope will carry out the tradit

our correspondent kathryn stanczyszyn has more. on your marks, get set, go! it's business as usual for these park runners in richmond, many across the country are still going about their weekend is normal. but the uk has moved into the next phase in its fight against covid—19 and attempt to display prevent of the disc spread of the virus. now the bbc understands the government is drawing up emergency legislation to ta ke drawing up emergency legislation to take a more robust measures from as early as next weekend. the evidence tells us that stopping mass gatherings doesn't have a huge impact on the spread of the virus, but for example, the decision has been taken in some countries because of the impact on public services and because when you have a mass gathering that draws on the police and the ambulance service to support it. many sporting events are being affected, most football matches have been suspended and this weekend is a six nations rugby is cancelled. the world health organization says europe is now the upper centre, there have been more than 1200

kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news.ith me now, with more on the increase in the number of coronavirus—related deaths in the uk. a number of things are going on, we know there are discussions about what to do about large gatherings of people and the ruled might change on that but firstly let's talk about the update on the number of fatalities, people who have died as a result of contracting coronavirus. this is an announcement from nhs england who say there have been ten more deaths due to covid—19 which brings the total number in the uk up to 21, from 11 yesterday, the largest amount in a day, doubling overall. we hear that out of those patients come at the age group is broadly over 60, one patient in their 60s, one in their 70s, five in their 60s, one in their 70s, five in their 80s and one in their 90s. two have not had the aegis specified but they were being cared for by nine different trusts across the country datum at their —— their ages. eight spread across the country. and a reminder that the virus is in almost a

kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news.ountries are bringing in new restictions to combat the spread of the virus. france has announced the closure of all public places that are non—essential to public life. that includes restaurants, cafes and cinemas. long—distance train, plane and bus travel is going to be progressively reduced over the coming days. local elections have taken place across the country today, although turnout appears down by 5%. germany is to close its borders with france, austria and switzerland tomorrow, although goods and commuters will be able to cross between the countries. in austria itself, where around 800 cases have been reported, gatherings of more than five people have been banned. and in the vatican, the pope will carry out the traditional easter week celebrations without worshippers because of the pandemic. us airports have been thrown into chaos as new coronavirus health screening measures for people returning from mainland europe come into force. long queues formed as travellers waited for h

kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news. are bringing in new restictions to combat the spread of the virus. we have told you about temple bar and the death toll in italy. we are going to move on to another place thatis going to move on to another place that is affected. several cruise ships are reported to have cases of suspected coronavirus. more than 600 british passengers are on board the braemar, which is off the coast of the bahamas. 20 guests are in isolation, having shown flu—like symptoms, after five people tested positive for covid—19. there are also 20 crew members who are isolated, including a doctor. the foreign office is working with fred olsen cruise lines to help bring uk citizens home from the vessel. i should say one of the strange things about this job is you are reading the same story every hour, but not in the same bulletin. hopefully that will not happen again. us airports have been thrown into chaos as new coronavirus health screening measures for people returning from mainland europe come into force. l

kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news.pean countries are bringing in new restictions to combat the spread of the virus. in ireland, publicans in dublin's popular tourist area of temple bar have announced a complete closure of all bars and nightclubs with immediate effect. it means the area, which takes in excess of 20 million euros a week, will be closed down for st patrick's day on tuesday. france has announced the closure of all public places that are non—essential to public life. that includes restaurants, cafes and cinemas. pharmacies and food shops are open. long—distance train, plane and bus travel is going to be progressively reduced over the coming days. local elections have taken place across france today, although turnout appears down by 5%. germany is to close its borders with france, austria and switzerland tomorrow. goods and commuters will be able to cross between the countries. in austria itself, where around 800 cases have been reported, gatherings of more than five people have been banned. the netherlands

kathryn stanczyszyn reports. another european capital city almost deserted.wn, meaning people are banned from leaving home except for buying essential supplies and medicine, orfor work if they can't do so remotely. authorities have decided to use drones to encourage those out on the street to return to their houses. schools are shut, museums and sports venues closed, and restaurants and cafes can only do home deliveries, a huge adjustment for society. a week ago, we were fine. we were all dancing, partying, out on the streets, and, within seven days, we are now confined to our homes, so this is something very serious to consider, and the spanish culture is to be outside, so it's very hard for people. the uk has advised against all but essential travel to spain, but british citizens there already are being allowed to fly home. with 191 deaths, spain is europe's worst—hit country after italy, with confirmed cases rising by 1500 injust21i hours. italy has now recorded more than 11100 deaths. it began a nationwide lockdown almost a week ago. yesterday, there were

kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news.t and deputy first ministers of northern ireland have been meeting leaders from the irish government, including the prime minister leo varadkar, to discuss a plan for responding to coronavirus on an all—ireland basis. in a news conference after the meeting, first minister of northern ireland arlene foster explained the steps they have agreed. we have both moved from the container face we have both moved from the containerface to we have both moved from the container face to the delay phase and in this new phase there are a number of staged actions, some of which we have taken, some of which will be taken in the coming period. obviously all based on scientific and medical advice pundit whilst these actions will have a significant impact for a period of time in ourdaily significant impact for a period of time in our daily lives, they are designed with one objective and that is to save lives. it has been very good today to hear the details of the particular medical circumstances in bothju

our correspondent kathryn stanczyszyn has more. on

around the world — but first this report on the situation here in the uk from our correspondent kathryn stanczyszyn get set, go! it's business as usual for these park runners in richmond, many across the country are still going about their weekend as normal. but the uk has moved into the next phase in its fight against covid—i9, an attempt to delay the spread of the virus. so far that hasn't involved banning mass gatherings, but now the bbc understands the government is drawing up emergency legislation to take more robust measures from as early as next weekend. the evidence tells us that stopping mass gatherings doesn't have a huge impact on the spread of the virus, but, for example, the decision has been taken in some countries because of the impact on public services and because when you have a mass gathering, that draws on the police and the ambulance service who need to support it. many sporting events are being affected — most football matches have been suspended and this weekend's six nations rugby is cancelled. the world health organization says europe is now the epicentre. there have been m

our reporter kathryn stanczyszyn is in centenery square for us now. good morning.6 british craftspeople around 120 hours to make it and it will stand here proudly counting down the days, the hours, minutes and seconds to the biggest event the west midlands has ever seen. there's going to be quite a big celebration going on here a little bit later on. you can see the flags have been going up and matthew has been putting the finishing touches to that. this one... there are 71 nations and territories that will take part in the commonwealth games and1 will take part in the commonwealth games and 1 million people... more than1 million games and 1 million people... more than 1 million people games and 1 million people... more than1 million people are games and 1 million people... more than 1 million people are expected in birmingham, a showcase for the city. i'm joined by dame louise martin, the president of the commonwealth games federation. it's a bit ofa commonwealth games federation. it's a bit of a moment, it is quite a big thing. did you think we needed to realise

kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news.h me now, with more on the increase in the number of coronavirus—related deaths in the uk. it is worth talking about those additional deaths. earlier we heard from nhs england that there have been ten further deaths down to covid—19 in the last 2a hours. that has basically doubled the death toll which was at 11 and is now 21. there has been some more detail about those individuals and where they have died, and have been cared for. we know that eight of those ten are 60 or over, one in their 60s, one in their 70s, five in their 80s and one in their 90s with two not specified. they were being cared for by nine separate hospital trusts, quite a wide span across england and buckinghamshire, sandwell and west birmingham, wolverhampton, leicester, berks, st george's, london north west, north middlesex and chester and as you said, crucially, all ten were in an at risk group. we heard about the type of people that might be more at risk, more elderly people come up with existing lung conditions