This is bbc news. The headlines at 11 00 sweeping and extraordinary measures to deal with coronavirus the forced closure of pubs, restaurants, and gyms, and an unprecedented rescue package for workers and businesses. You may think that you are invincible but there is no guarantee that you wont get mild symptoms and you can still be a carrier of the disease and pass it on to others. It came as the government promised to pay all employees 80 of their salary up to £2,500 a month an unprecedented move, said the chancellor. Today i can announce that, for the
first time in our history, the government is going to step in and help to pay people s wages. But for businesses across the country, theres huge anxiety. Iam going i am going to be honest, im struggling to hold it together at the moment and it is notjust going to be me, it is going to be all of us. A major London Hospital becomes the first in the uk to temporarily run out of Critical Care capacity for coronavirus patients. And at 11 30, well be taking an in depth look at the papers, with our reviewers. Good evening and welcome to bbc newss. Good evening and
welcome to bbc news. The Coronavirus Crisis is changing life as we know it, dramatically tonight, after the government ordered the immediate closure of almost all the places we go to for leisure, with bars, pubs, restaurants and gyms among them. The radical move came with an equally radical package of financial help from the chancellor, to try to protect businesses, jobs and the vulnerable. Rishi sunak declared that never before had there been state intervention on this scale in this country. He announced that the government would pay up to 80 of peoples wages up to a maximum of £2,500 a month to those whose jobs are at risk. And the Prime Minister borisjohnson demanded the immediate shutting down across the uk of the vast majority of places where we socialise and exercise. The measures, unprecedented in their scale and scope, came as government advisers issued a sobering warning. They said unnecessary social contact
will have to be avoided for the best part of a year, to prevent nhs intensive care units from being overwhelmed. The latest figures show that there have been 3,983 confirmed coronavirus cases in the uk, although experts think the total number is considerably higher. And there have been 177 deaths. With our first report this evening, heres our political correspondent, alex forsyth. This will be a familiar sight across the country from tomorrow. Restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, all shut down. No longer by choice, now by command. The impact enormous for business, having to cope with the doors closed, and for workers, wholl have nowhere to go. The Prime Minister said these were the next necessary steps to try and slow the spread of this virus. We are collectively telling
telling cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants, to close tonight, as soon as they reasonably can, and not to open tomorrow. Though, to be clear, they can continue to provide take out services. Were also telling night clubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres to close on the same timescale. A serious moment matched by a significant intervention from the chancellor. A package worth billions, not just for employers, but those losing work and wages too. Were paying peoples wages, up to 80 , so someone can be furloughed rather than laid off to protect theirjobs. Were deferring over £30 billion of taxes until the end of the financial year. Were lending unlimited sums of money interest free for 12 months. Were abolishing Business Rates altogether this year if youre in hospitality, retail and leisure. Were providing cash grants of £25,000 for Small Business properties. These closures come with a price. How long, if you can, do you see these measures lasting, and how do you plan to enforce them . I think everybody can see the imperative of doing what is necessary, of protecting our nhs and saving lives. As the signs go up and shutters come down, many will be working out what the help on offer means for them, whether its enough. Claires just taken on a five year lease of this pub in norwich. Wed like to believe that well come through the other side of this. We really, really, really do. And im going to be honest, im struggling to hold it together at the moment. And its not going tojust be me, its going to be all of us. The government is putting in place significant measures to try and counter the impact of this virus in just days and weeks, policies that would usually take
months if not years to implement, and all with the knowledge the decisions it takes now will have crucial consequences for all of us as the way we live our lives profoundly changes. This is a state intervention on a new level. Some want more from the chancellor. Id like him to increase the level of statutory sick pay. Id like him to make sure that employers pay their way in making sure people get their wages. And id like to see that he improves benefits for those people who are unemployed and carers, and those with disabilities. In scotland, an acknowledgement people will have to make sacrifices. Doing everything we can to slow down the spread of this virus now means that we will save lives and we will protect our nhs. We cannotjust carry on as normal. Life right now is not normal. It will certainly feel very different very soon. Now the struggle to manage this virus has reached a whole new level. Alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster. As we heard, a swathe of Public Places across the uk are being told to close, in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As the Prime Minister announced that all pubs, bars and restaurants should closed, people were surprised at that the immediacy of the order. Can i finish my paint, thats what i said. Can i finish my pint, thats what i said. Before you were kicking us out. Drink up and go home was the gist of the announcement. Its the sensible thing to do, having them shut down and after this you will see it from today, people, the public not being outside as much. You dont really believe its happening. Obviously it needs to happen. It will affect many people, just general routine as well so yeah, quite shocking. The bar manager here now has to shut up shop
but was putting on a brave face at. Weve kind of modelled our Business Plan around sort of a three month to six month closure, should that be the case, and we think we can get through it with the help of the government and the loans. Harrogate was a town of disparities. Some restaurants and bars had closed down before today. Now, its a blanket order. On a friday night bars and restaurants should be busy and crowded, but look at the street here. Its virtually deserted. Friday the 20th of march, 2020, will be remembered as the night that part of our culture, part of our lifestyle, abruptly stopped. And for how long . At the local theatre they reckon at least until the start of may. A few stragglers were making use of last orders, some pubs were virtually giving away beer tonight. Shutting them is just another sign of how serious the government is about wanting us to stay in the not giving us an excuse to go out. Danny savage, bbc news, harrogate. Back now to those sweeping measures announced by the chancellor, rishi sunak, who said therell be no limit to the funds hell make available to get the uk economy and its workers through the Coronavirus Crisis. In a move never seen before, the government will help pay the wages of millions of workers in the private sector theyll pay 80 of their salaries, up to £2,500 a month, backdated to 1st march. It will ensure people retain theirjobs, even if their employers cant afford to pay them. Alongside that, companies will have their vat payments deferred until the end ofjune, and for the next 12 months universal credit will be increased by a thousand pounds for the year. Mr sunak said he was introducing unprecedented measures for unprecedented times. Our business editor
simonjack reports. One of east londons popular social hotspots on a typical saturday. This is what it will look like this weekend. The government tonight ordered the closure of the venues like this, but the effect has already been catastrophic for the hospitality industry. 85 of workers here have already been let go, and the owner insists the government rebates for up to 80 of workers wages wont prevent further redundancies. Every business is now going to have to work out following the announcement of the governments contribution how many employees they can save. Because even with 100 , businesses arent going to be able to save everyone thats still on the payroll. I think with the 30 people weve got left, were going to sit down and work out with our cash flow now and see how many of those we can save. It wont be everybody. On a normal saturday night, two and a half thousand people would come through this food hall, but its now shut for the foreseeable future. Although the government has announced hundreds of billions
of potential support, it is not size that matters, its the speed with which businesses can get at that support, and for many, its already too late. Like workers at this hotel near aviemore in scotland, who live on site and were told to leave theirjob and their home immediately. I gotjust let out, they say to me i have to leave and i get fired, they didnt even give me any reasons. I have been working here for two years. So, throw people like that in the middle of a pandemic, its notjust a normal loss ofjob, its a pandemic. And what about the millions of self employed people like theatre director kat roby and her colleagues who are trying to work out what the future holds for them . All of us are self employed, and we have no idea what that means in terms of our income, anyjob security, whether we can pay our rent next month, and we have no idea when any shows or any work will start again for any of us. Today it was announced that the self employed would be able to defer tax payments and get greater access to benefits, which will be increased. Many businesses are also desperate for a guarantee they wont forfeit their lease if they dont pay the rent. Companies and business groups are grateful for the biggest Government Intervention in the private sector in living memory, but say its evidence ofjust how big a health turned economic crisis the uk and the world is facing. Simon jack, bbc news. The governments scientific advisors have warned that people will need to avoid unnecessary social contact for the best part of a year alternating between strict and less strict measures to help intensive care units cope. Its in marked contrast to the Prime Ministers assessment yesterday, that the uk could turn the tide of the disease in 12 weeks. Heres our medical correspondent, fergus walsh. Intensive care units are overwhelmed in italy. There have been more than 600 deaths there in the past 2a hours alone. The only way to avoid that here, say government scientists, is to keep our strict social distancing controls in place for at least six of the next 12 months. That includes school closures, household isolation and stopping all unnecessary social contact. The scientists are trying to prevent one huge peak of cases of covid 19 which would overwhelm nhs intensive care units. Instead, there would be a series of smaller peaks spread out throughout a year. To achieve this, they would suppress and then release the virus, by turning the social distancing measures on and off like a tap to control the flow of patients into intensive care. They predict a two to three week delay between measures being put into place and their impact being felt in intensive care. The scientists estimate that 2 of those aged under 50 who get infected will need to be admitted to hospital, rising to 44 among the over 80s. Warmer weather reduces flu cases, but the science is unclear whether the coronavirus outbreak will subside in summer. The fatality rate for covid 19 is very age dependent, varying from 0. 01 or one in10,000 among the under 20s, rising to 8 or one in 12 among the over 80s. A vaccine could save millions of lives globally. Public Health England scientists at porton down in wiltshire are playing a key role, but its unlikely to be ready for at least a year. Fergus walsh, bbc news. The headlines on bbc news
sweeping and extraordinary measures to deal with coronavirus. The force closure of pubs, restaurants and a james and an unprecedented rescue package for workers and businesses. Gymnasiums. The government promises to pay all employees 80 of their salaries up to £2500 per month. An unprecedented move, says the chancellor. But for businesses, huge anxiety about how long the restrictions will last. A major London Hospital has become the first in the uk to announce that it had for a time run out of Critical Care capacity to treat coronavirus patients. Northwick Park Hospital declared a Critical Incident for 2h hours and contacted neighbouring hospitals about transferring patients. It comes as more than 65,000 former nurses and doctors in england, wales and scotland are being contacted about returning to work to help deal with coronavirus. Heres our health editor, hugh pym. The Critical Incident was declared at northwick Park Hospital late yesterday. Patients were diverted to other local hospitals. The reason given was increasing numbers of patients with coronavirus. In a message to staff, the trust which runs Northwick Park said this means that incident alert was stood down this afternoon, but it highlights the strain across the nhs in london, as one doctor at another hospital explained. I guess if things get really bad, then theres the worry that intensive care beds will get completely full and further patients wont be able to be admitted, or well have to make horrible decisions about who gets an intensive care bed and who doesnt, even though, in normal circumstances, we want to give them to everyone, and those can be really harrowing times. The pressure was clear when a nurse, after a long shift, couldnt buy food and pleaded with shoppers not to empty the shelves, in a widely watched social media clip. Its people like me that are going to be looking after you when youre at your lowest. Just stop it, please englands chief nursing officer told me how sad she was to hear dawns story. Oh, its heartbreaking when you see nurses across the country working 48 hour shifts, week shifts. Theyre working so hard and they will be working even harder, im absolutely sure. But im asking for all supermarkets to open their doors for those that are working in health and social care, providing this expert care to our patients. This cab firm in the east midlands is offering free delivery of food to nhs staff, as well as those who are vulnerable. They say they made 300 deliveries in the last few days. A calls gone out to retired staff to come back to the nhs front line. Bridget worked for 38 years in the health service, mostly as a senior nurse, and is ready to return. Its a scary prospect because we dont know enough about this disease at the moment, and, you know, ithink theres a lot to be learnt, but i think its really important for me to go back in, and i think ijust have to take it as it comes. Its clear that nhs leaders are expecting immense pressure as case numbers surge. Thats why they want to bring back retired staff. But many doctors and nurses are very concerned about what theyre facing up to right now. And the work of staff was seen at first hand by the duke and duchess of cambridge, visiting an nhs111 call centre one part of the huge effort being made across the service. Hugh pym, bbc news. Schools across the uk closed their doors this afternoon with no clear idea of when theyll reopen. Theyll be shut to all but vulnerable pupils, and the children of key workers. Theres also been more detail on how grades will be calculated for pupils whose exams have been cancelled, as our north of england correspondentjudith moritz reports. Its not even easter and this could be the last school drop off of the year. For the children, its bizarre. For their parents facing weeks of home teaching its daunting. Have a great day it can bring tears to your eyes if you think too much, so you kind ofjust roll with the punches and just do what you can, really. Its going to be hard. Weve already looked through my five year olds folder and its lots of phonics and im thinking, oh, my god, phonics whats phonics . for children in year 6, its extra emotional