New research has found. As covid19 empties some classrooms particularly in the north of england calls for a rethink over next years exams. With one week to go until the us election, campaigning intensifies for donald trump and his rivaljoe biden. And i am live in warm springs georgia werejoe and i am live in warm springs georgia were joe biden and i am live in warm springs georgia werejoe biden has made a Campaign Stop in a solid republican district. Why . It is going democratic confidence. And dancing to their own tune we speak to two women of colour whove made it in the arts. And coming up in the sport on bbc news, one of the star names in sprinting, christian coleman, will miss next years postponed Tokyo Olympics after missing three drug tests. Good evening. An attempt by migrants to cross the channel from france has resulted in tragedy, after two adults and two children died when the boat carrying them sank. French Officials Say that 15 others have been taken to hospital. Borisjohnson said his thoughts were with the victims families, and vowed to crack down on the criminal networks behind such perilous journeys. A large search and rescue operation began earlier after the vessel was seen in difficulty near dunkirk. More than 7,400 migrants have reached the uk in small boats this year, thats a significant rise from 2019 when 1,825 successfully crossed. 0ur correspondent nick beake is in dunkirk tonight. Good evening. The search operation went on for most of the day but as you can see there is now an eerie silence in the port of dunkirk. The water is still as you would imagine but earlier this morning, two miles out to see it was very different and the conditions were said to be very treacherous but yet a group of up to 20 migrants embarked on a Journey Towards the uk. As we know, some we re towards the uk. As we know, some were plucked to safety while others did not survive and this is said to be the deadliest day for attempt a crossing so far this year and it has prompted the Prime Minister tonight to crack down on the criminal gangs behind these crossings. The search for a better life in britain endedin search for a better life in britain ended in this corner of france this morning. Of all the days to attempt the perilous crossing, this was not the perilous crossing, this was not the one. Rough waters, high winds. Rescue teams responded after a small migrant vote was spotted in trouble. Two adults and a five year old and a five year old, all from iran could not be saved. Translation at this stage, the appraisal of the situation is not yet complete. We think there are 1920 yet complete. We think there are 19 20 people and one person is missing who possibly could be an infant. We are still trying to firm up infant. We are still trying to firm up the details with the help of an interpreter but there are people who we are scared to push too far but who are able to talk to us. Earlier this year, the scale of this problem became vividly clear, the desperation of those clinging to life, the british navy has been patrolling these waters as part of the fight against what Boris Johnson tonight called the ruthless criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people. Officials say they have stopped 650 crossings in the past week alone. There have been crossings in the winter months every year since this phenomenon started in 2018 but clearly the numbers have been extremely high this year, u na cce pta bly extremely high this year, unacceptably high and that has been driven by a number of factors, including covid and the switch and travel patterns. We are responding to that with the french in order to reduce the number of crossings and in the viability of this route. The migrant in the viability of this route. The m ig ra nt votes in the viability of this route. The migrant votes seized in British Ports tell their own story, but the government has said that france needs to do more to hold the crossings and the home secretary says she wants the route to the uk to be unviable, a stance which has been praised and criticised. None of the people here want to get into boats and they do not want to put their children through the risks. If they have an alternative, im sure they have an alternative, im sure they would take it. What we need to do is give them an alternative that they can take and it is not right, these are ordinary people and the children are just like others, they play, laugh and do not want to get into boats. As local French Hospital ca re into boats. As local French Hospital care for the people who were plucked from the water today, investigators continue their work. The people smugglers of calais and dunkirk are said to have warned migrants living nearby that tougher British Action is imminentand nearby that tougher British Action is imminent and that may force the hand of those who feel they have nothing to lose. Nick bay, bbc news, dunkirk. Our home editor mark easton is here its a question thats asked repeatedly, but what drives people to take such risks . Why would migrants put small children and themselves into a tiny boat to cross the channel in rough seas just to get to britain . The short answer i suppose is that the only place you can claim asylum from the British State is in britain. If you want to join family who are already here or seek the security of life in the uk, you have to somehow get onto our island and that means smuggling yourself in, almost certainly using criminal gangs to help you achieve it. Coming from iranfor example, help you achieve it. Coming from iran for example, there really is no other way. For the home secretary and the government, this tragedy illustrates why britain needs to make that dangerous route across the channel in their words unviable, stop the boats, sent people straight back as soon as they arrive, send them back to their homeland, in the hope that that deters people from attempting the journey in the first place. Last year a committee of mps warned the government that a policy that focuses exclusively on closing borders will drive migrants to take more dangerous routes and push them into the hands of the criminal groups and they urged ministers to expand groups and they urged ministers to ex pa nd safe groups and they urged ministers to expand safe and legal routes for asylu m expand safe and legal routes for Asylum Seekers and interestingly, some french politicians have gone further, saying that the British Government lacks even an ounce of humanity by not allowing people to claim asylum from outside the uk. Our thoughts tonight will of course before the children, little children whose love michael whose young lives were cut short but soon the focus will shift on to how we can end this murderous trade in human cargo. Mark, thank you. Mark easton there. Scientists have found that immunity to coronavirus may decline sooner than they had previously thought. A study by Imperial College london found the number of people with covid 19 antibodies had fallen by around a quarter betweenjune and september. Adults under the age of 2a had the highest levels of antibodies and those over 75 the lowest. Heres our science correspondent rebecca morelle. Antibodies are the immune systems best defence against covid 19. They block the virus from entering our cells, and stay around in case of reinfection, but the latest research has found they dont last long. It does suggest that immunity is likely to wane over time after youve been infected, and were now about six months past that first wave of infection. This is not particularly surprising because seasonal coronaviruses, which weve known about for a long time, do tend to produce some immunity, but it does wane after 6 12 months. This is one of the largest surveys of its kind, carried out across england on more than 350,000 people. Injune, scientists found that 6 of adults who had been tested had detectible coronavirus antibodies. By september, though, that had fallen to 4. 4 . Thats a drop of more than a quarter in a matter of months, and the fastest decline was seen in people aged over 75, and in those whod had the virus with no symptoms. So does this mean you can get covid twice . There have now been a few confirmed cases of reinfection, but its not yet clear whether symptoms are less severe the Second Time Around because the bodys defences are already primed, and scientists are studying other parts of the immune system, like t cells, to see if they play a longer lasting role. All of this has implications for the vaccines in development around the world. If Natural Immunity doesnt last long, what does this mean for them . I think we should remain optimistic about the up and coming sars cov 2 vaccines. They will work in very different ways to drive the immune response. And so we can remain hopeful that they will indeuce a more robust and more long lasting immune response that will protect people for much longer than natural infection would. It may well be that future covid vaccines need to be administered more than once. Achieving herd immunity is unlikely without a vaccine, especially if antibodies to natural infection are shortlived. So for now, it means everyones sticking to the rules of hands, face and space, as theres still much we need to learn about coronavirus and immunity. Rebecca morelle, bbc news. The latest government figures show the uk reported the largest number of deaths in a single day since the end of may. 367 deaths were reported over the week to last tuesday. Thats people who died within 28 days of a positive covid 19 test. That means on average in the past week 200 deaths were announced every day. It takes the total number of deaths so far across the uk to 45,365. Our health editor, hugh pym, is here. So the largest number of covid 19 deaths since may put that into context for us. Yes, that figure of 367 daily reported deaths is pretty surprising, but there is this tuesday effect whereby sometimes deaths over the weekend are delayed with the reporting and it pushes up the tuesday figure. To look at the Bigger Picture of where we are, you can look at excess deaths, deaths from all causes over and above what you would expect at this time of year and let us look at a chart that demonstrates that. This is where the uk. This is all uk deaths over five yea rs, uk. This is all uk deaths over five years, the average for each month, you see it start the quite high and then falls away. Let us look at what has been happening so far this year. You see it tracks the average but then this very sharp spike in april and may. The red area there is covid 19 deaths and the blue area or their excess deaths, possibly linked to covid because people were not seeking hospital treatment were not getting it and then it falls back towards the five year average and has now picked up a bit in the last few weeks going up to october the 16th, that red area, the access all covid deaths, 6 above the five year average but still way short of that pic back in april or may. Thank you. You pin there. Secondary School Attendance in england has fallen further due to covid 19, down from 87 to 83 . And there is growing evidence the picture is far worse in many areas in the north of the country. A coalition of business and Council Leaders in the north of england says the government needs to rethink whether Holding Exams next year is fair. Our education editor, branwen jeffreys, reports now from oldham. Oldham has been hit hard by coronavirus, its schools feeling the impact. Teachers and pupils self isolating, just keeping going sometimes a challenge. As a school of 1500, to have 900 children out makes it nigh on impossible to be able to operate normally. To have a quarter of my Teaching Staff isolating for two weeks, even though they will do their best online in giving every bit of support to a child, it doesnt beat being in the classroom with that expert. For you, is this part of the same bigger debate about fairness, about Free School Meals . I think our major concern is that if youre a young person hearing this information now, your value, your worth, your dignity isnt really being respected in the same way it should be. The National Figures dont tell the full story of whats happening across the north of england, where data we have seen shows that a third of teacher cases of coronavirus at one point were in the north west of england, and pupil attendance in secondary schools has fallen as low as 60 or 70 , raising huge questions about the fairness of next years exams. Because many schools in the south have reached half term barely affected. Maths, english, science, rs, history. Like many parents in oldham, kelly is worried. Gabriel is due to sit gcses next year. I think theyll try and make us sit them as much as possible, so im hoping we will. But i also think there is a good possibility we wont be. Ijust dont think its a level playing field, if students are in school down south because theyre not as badly affected compared to a lot of the young people up in the north. Its adding a great deal of pressure to them. We would like a plan b that is an ongoing assessment. For teachers like vic, it has been exhausting. He is self isolating after contact with a case. Day to day its been really difficult to plan for education in the classroom. Really difficult to plan who is going to be in the classroom, really challenging. No planning. Youve had cover lesons being done, youve had teachers covering each other, which has seen an increase in work load, stress. Schools in the north fear a winter of disruption. Back up plans for exams are promised by christmas. Plans needed to ensure fairness from north to south. Branwenjeffreys, bbc news, oldham. The Prime Minister is under pressure to clarify his covid 19 strategy after more than 50 conservative mps signed a letter describing the situation in Northern England as unparalleled. The mps, who make up the newly formed Northern Research group, have written to Boris Johnson, pressing him for a clear roadmap out of the tough restrictions their areas face. And they warn that the pandemic threatens the Prime Ministers pledge to level up northern communities. All of the highlighted areas are presently, or soon to be, under the toughest tier 3 restrictions by thursday, and theyre all in the north west or in the midlands. It means that for 8 Million People, household mixing is extremely limited, and pubs and bars not selling meals are closed. The central belt in scotland and the whole of Northern Ireland are also under similar controls, while the whole of wales is in a firebrea k national lockdown. Theres speculation that areas of north east england and West Yorkshire could be the next areas to enter tier 3. Our Political Correspondent alex forsyth reports from wakefield in West Yorkshire. With winter on the way, wakefield is wondering, what next . People here are living with high level restrictions, worried there are tougher rules still to come. For amy, who opened her plant shop just months ago, the prospect of any long lockdown is daunting. Trying us best every day, every, like, local person that still gets up and comes in, despite of all the worry and the scaremongering thats going on, just dont forget that were here and we need that support, because otherwise, yeah, we are going to decline. This city centre, like so many, has been hit hard in recent months. It was one of the seats the tories took from labour for the first time in decades at the last election, with a promise of investment and attention plans pushed off course by coronavirus. In his shop just off the high street, woodworker scott says its going to take a lot to help these communities bounce back. If you walk round wakefield at the minute, theres probably about 20 or 30 shops completely shut. We really need some encouragement to get people back into the town centres and start spending again. But were just not getting the help that we need at the minute. Do you think the government will deliver on its promises . Well, if they dont, theyre going to get a big backlash from the north, its as simple as that. Thats the fear for several of this regions tory mps. Theyre calling for a clear route out of lockdown for parts of the north that have been living with restrictions for some time. We are asking people to give up huge civil liberties. I dont think its unreasonable to say that the other side of that coin should be show us the way out, but we need to move beyond covid virus into the recovery stage. Theres no exact science to lifting local rules its kept under constant review. The fear for some, though, is lasting economic damage, exacerbating existing north south divides. Part of this is the fact some of these mps want to be seen to be sticking up for their communities, and they claim its not an attack on the government. But its a stark reminder for number ten. Some of the places that feel most bruised by this pandemic are the very areas that Boris Johnson has promised a brighterfuture. For most, this has been an unexpected year, but ministers insist their plans are still intact. I absolutely share my colleagues frustration at restrictions, but i also share their passion and ambition for the north. We absolutely will remain committed to investing in infrastructure, investing in education and skills, in newjob placements. Back in wakefield, even among those trying to enjoy half term at this castle and cafe, theres a sense of weary resignation about whats to come. Theres not a lot we can do about it. We just have to do the best we can, really. I think the government have handled it well, whoever they are, because its the unknown to everybody. But when the worst of this pandemic has eased, how these local economies are rebuilt could determine how this Political Landscape looks. Alex forsyth, bbc news, wakefield. The first minister of scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has been setting out the details of scotlands tiered covid restrictions. She addressed msps at holyrood this afternoon. Lorna gordon is in glasgow for us now. Which areas are under what . I , reeta, Nicola Sturgeon said that the new strategy with levels numb 0 numbfourwould the new strategy with levels numb 0 numb four would avoid the need for a one size fits all approach. It could see areas like the highlands, shetland and the western isles, areas with low levels of transmission moved into a lower tier, 1, where people in these areas could have fewer restrictions. The central belt, with the tightest restrictions, would be in tier 3. There was also a warning that north and South Lanarkshire could be moved into tier 4, which would see nonessential shops shut. The first minister also talked about easing of restrictions on hospitality, though. Right across the central belt at the moment, pubs and restaurants are all closed, but tier 3 areas, pubs and restau ra nts closed, but tier 3 areas, pubs and restaurants will be allowed to reopen, although not serving alcohol indoors. Tier 2 areas will be allowed to serve alcohol with meals up allowed to serve alcohol with meals up to eight oclock in the evening. The scottish conservatives are calling for a Business Advisory council to help inform decisions going forward, while labour are asking for msps to be allowed more time and more opportunities to scrutinise the governments strategy. In exactly one weeks time, voters in america will be deciding who the next president of the United States will be. This election has already proved remarkable for the Record Number of postal votes and early voting going on in many states. While the democratic candidate joe biden is currently leading President Trump in the National Polls, that doesnt guarantee victory. The race is very much still on, as our north america editor, jon sopel, explains from one of the states being watched very closely georgia. One week to go, and joe biden has georgia of all places on his mind. No democrat has won here in decades, yet polls suggest this once rock solid republican state is there for the taking. Joe, go home though famous Southern Hospitality was markedly absent from the Trump Supporters who lined the roads leading to where he was speaking. Colour wise and look at the difference between this and the trump reality, social distancing in place. I am running to healthis nation, i have said that from the beginning, it is badly necessary. So where are we with the race between donald trump and joe biden . Joe biden has been enjoying a significant lead across the country, latest average say he is as much as ten points up on donald trump, but in us elections, National Polls are slightly meaningless. Remember, in 2016, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by three million and still lost the presidency to donald trump. The key to this election is what happens in the swing states. Joe biden has a steady lead in wisconsin, michigan and pennsylvania, the three Northern Industrial states that propelled donald trump to victory in 2016, but hes also level or ahead in iowa, georgia, North Carolina and arizona. And it is the same picture in florida and texas. And werejoe biden to win one of the last two states, its hard to see how donald trump can win. The remarkable phenomenon about this election is early voting. In 2016, 135 million americans cast a ballot in the president ial election. With a week to go, so far more than 60 million americans have already voted, and that means if turnout remains the same, well, nearly half of americans have already voted. What is also astonishing is the number of young people who voted early. In 2016, in michigan, 7000 people aged between 18 and 29 went to the polls before polling day. This time round, it is over 140,000 so far. In other words, a 20 fold increase. And its a similar story in florida and North Carolina. And in georgia, that number is 31,000 in 2016. Its already 170,000 this year. These are numbers thought to favour the democrats massively, but donald trump says hes confident that next tuesday there will be a red wave of his supporters coming to vote that will propel him to victory. Hes doing multiple rallies per day. Today hes en route to michigan, wisconsin and nebraska. Ive got to say, im working my as off here and there is a sophisticated data Mining Operation that takes place at these events, ensuring that everyone who attends is also registered to vote. This was his successful 2016 playbook. Ijust want i just want to update you on the early voting. Here in georgia, two thirds of the total turnout from 2016 have voted. In texas, it is 82 , giving democrats cause for optimism. At this time four years ago, with a week before polling, democrats was similarly optimistic and we know what happened a week later. Reeta. Jon, thank you, jon sopel there. And for our clear and simple guide to the us election, explaining how it works, and allowing you to enter certain words and phrases to find out more, please go to bbc. Co. Uk news or to the bbc news app. Now, as the brutal civil war continues in syria, there are fears that the humanitarian disaster will be made even worse by coronavirus. The Health Care System has already been decimated by years of fighting, and cramped makeshift accommodation could lead to the virus quickly taking hold. Darren conway has been to the rebel held province of idlib and sent this report. The road to idlib has been a journey of misery for so many. This is one of the last remaining parts of syria that hasnt been retaken by the regime. Millions of civilians have funnelled into this Little Corner of north west syria in an attempt to escape the fighting. But the people that live here are about to face yet another battle covid 19. Dr kaddour is head of the two largest hospitals in idlib. Hes one of only 600 doctors for a population ofjust over four Million People. Very few covid tests are being done. While we were here, an average of 400 were carried out a day. Up to 40 of those tested positive. Aeroplanes, rockets, corona, angry, poor, assads security its the same. All of them, all of these terms mean for us death. Life is already tough enough here. Its a daily fight for survival. A free food hand out quickly turns into a mob. But there are no masks to be seen. At times like this, prayer is about the only support the people here can rely on. But at this mosque, there is no social distancing. And if you thought that it was tough living in idlib city, just take a look at the refugee camps. Up to 1. 5 Million People living in filthy, cramped conditions. This is atma camp its one of the largest, and it seems like the perfect breeding ground for the virus, yet the official statistics show that only a handful of people have tested positive here. One of the reasons for this is that only people who are showing symptoms and are willing to come forward are being tested. But theres a stigma that comes along with being a covid carrier here. Little zane has the virus he caught it from his father. Translation people have treated me as if im disgraced. If they see me in the streets, they walk away from me. A couple of days ago, i went to get some groceries from the store, and people moved away from me as if i am the virus, as if i will kill them. So, unlike zane and his father, most people would prefer to suffer through the illness in silence, which in camps like this, means that they are superspreaders. Would you say that the virus is out of control in the camps . Its out of control, yes, absolutely. This winter will be very bad, very dark, very hard. We dont have many places for people in camp, we dont have many medi kits for these, we do not have many fuel for make children and babies and women more warm in the camp. We dont have food enough for them. No one really knows just how bad the outbreak is in the camps. This is a population who have already endured the worst of humanity. Its hard to imagine, but if the outbreak in the camps is as bad as predicted, life here is about to become even harder. Darren conway, bbc news, idlib, syria. Britains arts sector has been badly hit by the pandemic, with jobs lost, theatres closed, and cultural events put on hold. Times are even more challenging for people from ethnic minority backgrounds trying to make their way in the industry. As part of black history month, our Community Affairs correspondent Adina Campbell has been speaking to two women of colour whove made it to the top. In this painting, tell me what you see. The ship tries to distance itself from the nightmare. This latest play by Winsome Pinnock explores race and slavery. It was due to open in manchester just days before the lockdown in march. How dare he make something so ugly beautiful. But like many other theatre productions, its been put on hold. The play could not have come at a more poignant time, just months after the death of george floyd in the us. My generation have been trying to speak about this for decades. We have been trying to write about these things. Weve witnessed these deaths. This is not new to us. Winsome pinnock was the first black female writer to stage a play at the Royal National theatre. Shes also written for shows like eastenders