Tonight at 10 the uk records the highest number of covid deaths in a 24 hour period, as the pressure on hospitals reaches new levels. Weve got patients on the third floor, the fourth floor. This ward goes all the way around to the other side, its 29 patients. Sixth floor, seventh floor, eighth floor. Another covid patient in here. Ninth floor. We meet more staff and patients at the royal london hospital, sharing their powerful testimony of life in the pandemic. How do you ever prepare for people just dying and dying and dying you know . Although its ourjob and we deal with dead people every day, this. This level, i think, has taken its toll. Its the second of our special reports from the royal london. Were also in washington, on the eve of the president ial inauguration. Joe biden was in tears as he left his home state, paying tribute to his late son, as the president tried to define his own legacy. I stand before you truly proud of what we have achieved together. We did what we came here to do and so much more. And in their sleeving video, donald trump says he is praying for the success of the new administration but wont attend the inauguration and he still hasnt conceded defeat. Preparations are being made as storm christoph is set to bring extreme rainfall to the uk, with parts of wales, the midlands and the north of england set to suffer. And leicester have been taking on chelsea, in a bid to go top of the premier league. And coming up in sport on bbc news more on the premier league, where west ham make it three wins out of three in 2021, as they stop west broms recent revival. Good evening. The United Kingdom has recorded the highest number of covid deaths in a 24 hour period since the pandemic struck last year, at more than 1600. Experts say its likely that the coming weeks will see figures even higher than this, but they also point out that the number of new infections is falling and the number of vaccinations continues to rise. That news will offer some much needed hope to nhs staff throughout the uk. The faculty of intensive Care Medicine say that many hospitals are now overwhelmed, with some staff almost on their knees, after many months of treating desperately ill patients. That is certainly the distressing reality of life at the royal london hospital, and tonight, in the second of his special reports, clive myrie discovers the heavy
price being paid by both staff and patients. The birth of a new day brings a familiar demon more Covid Infections, and more death. And its 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 thats handled hundreds of bodies in this pandemic. How do you ever prepare for people just dying and dying and dying, you know . Although its 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, yeah. And i hate to say that,
because i hate to think of it like that, but yeah, yeah, it is, almost, yeah. Thats what the pandemic� s done, i mean. Yeah. Its no one� s fault. No. Sorry. Ive done this for years, you know, imjust. When someone says to you, how does it make you feel . , and youre saying how it makes you feel, and, 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 . Weve got patients on the third floor, fourth floor. This ward goes all the way round to
the other side, its 29 patients. Sixth floor, seventh floor, eighth floor. Another covid patient in here. Ninth floor. Another one in here. 10th,11th. Again, round the other side, theres 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 thats 12 floors in total. 12 out of 15 floors, more than 400 patients, and there arent enough staff. Its 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. Dont know what i would have done without you today. 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 dont feel they understand fully the scale of the problem. So i dont feel taken for granted we dont. So you think the public dont get the pressure that is on everyone working in this hospital and up and down the country . No. I definitely dont think they do. Cos i think if they did, they really wouldnt 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 theyll take the patient. Ventilation� s become very difficult again just now. As Kathy Macgloin leads the team trying to keep her alive. But theres bad news. So youre full, is that right . Now the pressures really on, but quiet professionalism kicks in. Not too good. Breathings not great. Machines beep 0k. Yeah, good. Relief enough oxygen is now finally reaching the patient� s lungs. And yet, kathy isnt an intensive care doctor, shes 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 . Im sweating, and its notjust the ppe. So, i mean, shes young, shes someones relative. This is something precious that were holding and were trying to do. Erm, yeah, its quite frightening. Frightening one word that defines covids second wave for the nhs. Heartbreaking is another, as marie healy checks on a 28 year old man with no underlying conditions, but whos been on a ventilator for more than three weeks. Obviously very distressing, and. This is a very serious complication at this stage. Hes also got other family members in Critical Care as we speak. Time to call his wife. Now, i know that he is quite sick. He could die from this, by the way. Im sorry to have to say that. I know, love. I know. Dont worry. Were doing everything we can for him. Very difficult, because. Its very difficult because this poor family have been through a huge amount, and theyre actually so nice. That makes it more difficult. The inner turbulence revealed. The rain mirrors shamimas recent tears for herfamily. She took maries call, as her husband fights for his life. His condition remains serious, on life support. Clive myrie, bbc news. The reality of the pandemic for staff and patients at the royal london. That was clive myrie reporting, with camera journalist David Mcilveen and producer sam piranty. Lets look at the latest government figures. There were 33,355 new Coronavirus Infections recorded in the latest 24 hour period, which means that the average the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 43,257 and continues to fall. Hospitals have had an average of 37,946 covid 19 patients in the week to last sunday. As we mentioned, 1,610 deaths have been reported thats 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. Lets go through the latest figures on the uks programme of vaccination. 204,076 people have had theirfirst dose of one of the three approved vaccines in the latest 24 hour period. That takes the overall number of people whove vaccination in the uk to more than 4. 2 million. 0ur medical editor fergus walsh is here. Can fergus walsh is here. We talk about the number of deaths can we talk about the number of deaths we have been reporting today . Yes, terrible figures. You saw in clives report the appalling impact that the pandemic is now having at hospitals in london. But i can tell you it is the same across almost all of the uk. The hospitals i visit, and you saw it in that report, the
pressure on staff, they are shell shocked, drained. They have been doing this now for nearly a year. There are almost 38,000 Covid Patients in uk hospitals. That is 16,000 more than at the peak last april and all this at the busiest time of the year for the nhs. Covid cases, as you said, are beginning to come down but it will take a couple of weeks but that to feed into a reduction in deaths but even once we passed the peak, we have really got to expect a long and hard struggle through winter. Can to expect a long and hard struggle through winter. To expect a long and hard struggle through winter. Can we talk as well about the whole through winter. Can we talk as well about the whole issue through winter. Can we talk as well about the whole issue of through winter. Can we talk as wellj about the whole issue of resistance to the virus in its various forms . People talk a lot about the antibodies. What can we say about that today . Antibodies. What can we say about that toda . Antibodies. What can we say about that today . That today . There are new figures from the office that today . There are new figures from the office for that today . There are new figures from the office for national from the office for national statistics, looking at how many people have previously had a Coronavirus Infection and built up antibodies, which should give them some protection for several months. If we look at the latest study for december, it is estimated one in eight people in england had antibodies to coronavirus. 0ne eight people in england had antibodies to coronavirus. One in ten in wales. 0ne antibodies to coronavirus. One in ten in wales. One in 11 in scotland and one in 13 in northern ireland. Around double the levels in october. That is just a snapshot, a point in time and many who had coronaviruses in the first wave, nearly a year ago, they mill staff may still have some immunity but there antibodies wont show up any more. One positive, in the weeks and 0ne positive, in the weeks and months ahead, we will see a rise in antibody levels in the population from people who have had a vaccine. 0k, from people who have had a vaccine. Ok, thanks again, fergus. Fergus walsh, our medical editor. Lets move on to the daves are main story. Donald trump is spending his last full day as president of the united states, beforejoe biden is sworn in tomorrow as the nations 46th president. But in a break with tradition,
mr trump will not be attending his successor� s inauguration, as hes decided to fly to his resort in florida in the morning. Thousands of soldiers have been deployed around washington dc in the biggest security operation ever seen for a president ial inauguration, and much of the us capitol, the home of american democracy, has been fenced off, following the riot by mr trumps supporters a fortnight ago. One the eve of mr biden� s inauguration, letsjoin our north america editor, jon sopel, in washington. It has been a presidency that has defied all that convention and why should it end any differently . Joe biden has now arrived in washington, dc a few moments ago and will spend the nightjust across the street from the white house. But donald trump and mr biden will not meet. Instead, tomorrow morning, donald trump will be up early. He has
awarded himself a military parade and then the inauguration with out donald trump will take place. Just a mark of how bitter relations have become between the president and Vice President , mike pence has decided he will skip the donald trump leaving do that attend joe biden � s inauguration. 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, but even 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 dont 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, and 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 hed point to as one of the achievements from the four years in office. But it will be his behaviour since the election that will be his lasting legacy. The most audacious and unexpected Foreign Policy move came when donald trump flew to singapore to meet his north korean counterpart, kim jong un. The meeting diffused tensions but has done nothing to slow north Koreas Nuclear programme. Here, Donald Trumps election programmes were upended by the covid outbreak and the damage it did to the us economy. Coronavirus didnt cost him the election, but his erratic handling of it and occasionally bizarre statements didnt help him. And then i see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do Something Like that. By injection . And just a little later, america was convulsed by the death of george floyd at the hands of a white policeman. Amid the protests and rioting, donald trump saw an opportunity to present himself as the tough president of law and order. Tonight, hes issued a farewell video. This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping america safe and prosperous. But there is still no concession that he lost, and now impeached twice, it will be what has happened in america since the president ial election that donald trump will likely be remembered for. He still faces a Tricky Senate trial with the influential republican leader, once a firm supporter, piling in. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president
and other powerful people. But from tomorrow, the focus will be onjoe biden today leaving wilmington, delaware for the last time before sworn in. Well, excuse the emotion. But when i die, delaware will be written on my heart. There will be a flurry of announcements and actions in his first days in office. But perhaps the overriding goal will be to lower the political temperature and bring a fractured nation together. It will be a herculean task. Today in Donald Trumps final day in office, the grim death toll from coronavirus passed 400,000. It will be one of the biggest challengesjoe biden faces when he takes over, to improve the roll out of vaccines and get more people to wear masks. As
nick bryant reports, and i should say his report contains flashing images. We normally associate new york with the self confidence of america. But the Coronavirus Crisis has shown us the frailties of the worlds most powerful land. Siren wails. In the final weeks of the trump presidency, there have been days where more than 4,000 americans have died a higher death toll than on september the 11th. Its bizarre, its scary, its frightening. Angelina proia lost herfather. Theyre not in the same reality. Her mourning made more painful by family members who refuse to believe the coronavirus took his life. Shes angry at donald trump for spreading misinformation and downplaying the pandemic. Furious, angry, confused. Disconnected, abandoned. Those are all ways to describe how i feel. There are 350,000 plus people whove died and it doesnt seem like any of those people matter. I mean, its insane. Weve seen queues for covid testing, weve seen queues for covid aid but theres hope at the end of this line of medical staff and teachers. A school gym that only weeks ago served as a polling station has now become a vaccine hub. And done. Much to the relief of new yorkers such as michelle kleinbaum a teacher on the educational front lines. Yourupperarm. Ive been working in person pretty much since the beginning and itjust feels like a weight� s been lifted off my shoulders, that i can go back now with a different peace of mind. Joe biden has set the goal of 100 million doses in the first 100 days of his presidency, and despite concerns about vaccine supply, here we witnessed a can do spirit thats so emphatically american. Theres been so much despondency in the city for the past ten months but this is really
the turning point. I believe it will be the turning point. Were going to get new york city back up and running in no time. A little bit more spread out, give yourself six feet, give yourself six feet. This isntjust a health crisis, its been an economic catastrophe. And in a city that never sleeps, were seeing food banks now having to open 24 hours a day. Joe biden is promising an almost 2 trillion rescue package. The challenge is enormous, the crisis is huge but america is strong and i believe and im hopeful that the president could turn things around. Therell be talk of a new day in america but will be the biden in america but will the biden presidency really be a panacea . The politics of this country are so sickly, the divisions are so deep. The coronavirus has revealed so Many American ailments. Nick bryant, bbc news, new york. And undoubtedly there will be a lot of talk tomorrow about a new era starting in america. And of course thatis starting in america. And of course that is true to a certain extent, there will be a new occupant in the white house, but the problem isjoe biden inherits dontjust disappear with the 46th president starting his term. You can tell that by the security we can see behind me that has had to be put in place following the bitterly contested election, division, the 74 Million People who voted for donald trump who still may feel they need some convincing. That will be the focus ofjoe biden� s inaugural address, that this is a time of Grave National peril for the usa and that it is time for people to come together. The words will be powerful, but delivering it is going to be an uphill struggle that will probably determine the success of or
failure of the biden era. We will be back in washington with you tomorrow. Jon sopel, our north american editor. More now on our main story tonight. In the first week of january, nearly a quarter of all covid related deaths in england and wales were among care home residents according to the latest data from the office for national statistics. Since the start of the pandemic in march last year, just over 25,000 care home residents with covid have died across the uk. 0ur social Affairs Correspondent alison holt has more details. 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. You know, hopefully, we wont 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. Weve put walk through booths in our homes that disinfect you as you go in and out of the building, but, you know, theres a feeling that if it gets into a home, theres very little you can do, and youve just got to hope that the therapies and the treatments that are available in hospital might allow more people to survive and come back. Todays official figures record 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. Couldnt 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 theyve 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 couldve gone down and seen her, because i used to go down there two or three times a week at one time. The hope lies with the vaccine. This nottinghamshire care home, where theres a small outbreak, had a new arrival from hospital soon after residents had theirjabs and before the vaccinations could be fully effective. The person who came from the hospital wasnt vaccinated, and theyre very poorly at this moment in time. However, all of our residents were offered the vaccination
on new years eve, so our other resident who has tested positive but has had the vaccination is not poorly whatsoever. Many care staff are still traumatised 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 deputy chief medical officer for england has suggested there could be a regional approach to re opening the countrys schools. Drjenny harries told mps that schools in areas with high Covid Infection rates were likely to stay closed for longer. Ministers say more than 800,000 laptops and tablets have been supplied to support home learning. But as our education correspondent Elaine Dunkley reports, some schools are still waiting for their devices to arrive. Weve got 400 altogether. At raynville academy in leeds, classes are full. Some children are at school because they cant get online at home. We were dealing with parents who were struggling with devices, and then the free school meals
and the hampers and the vouchers. A child can attend school if one parent is a key worker or if theyre classed as vulnerable. The government has also expanded the offer of a school place to children who lack devices for Remote Learning or a space at home, which means 30 additional children at this school. Weve got families with three, four, five siblings, all trying to get round one or two devices. I could have done with double the amount easily because of the type of families that weve got here. We need to make sure that were equipped to deal with everything that we need to do, and that weve got the technology and the training. In england, the government has issued 800,000 laptops to schools, but its still short of its 1. 3 million target. Brilliant, good lad. Donna and lucas have struggled. Theyve recently been given a device, but most of their Remote Learning has been done without a laptop. It was really difficult because i was having to use my mobile phone, because obviously i was having to have phone calls as well and stuff, and obviously your battery dies quicker on a mobile. The laptop now is helping to keep his education going. Not obviously to the standards
of the teachers, but the best of my ability that i can give him at home so he doesnt miss out on any more education. Five times as many children are in school compared to the last lockdown, which has raised concerns amongst teachers about the spread of covid. At this secondary in 0ldham, there are other issues around attendance. Currently, only 70 of students are online during lessons, and the head teacher is worried. A number of our students would be classified as disadvantaged and that means that theyre open to higher risks, whether it be from Child Sexual Exploitation or involvement in county lines gangs. Its 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 it not only helps them, but keeps them safe. Supporting disadvantaged children at home is a big challenge, and so is how to reopen schools safely. I think the key message here is i know everybody wants very certain planning and dates for opening and closing. Unfortunately, thats not how the virus works. I think its likely that we will have some sort of regional separation intervention. The Digital Divide is widening the disadvantage gap. And with uncertainty over when schools will open, theres growing concern about the education and welfare of children left without devices. Elaine dunkley, bbc news. 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 former conservative Prime Minister theresa may has accused her successor, borisjohnson, of abandoning what she called britains position of global moral leadership. Writing in the daily mail to mark the inauguration of us president joe biden, she criticised mrjohnson for failing to honour british values
when he threatened to break International Law during the brexit trade talks. Its understood the governments Emergency Committee cobra has met to discuss the risks of flooding, with major incidents declared in South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester as storm christoph is set to bring extreme rainfall to parts of the uk. Parts of wales are expected to see around 200 millimetres of rain with 150 millimetres in the north of england. Amber weather warnings have been declared in yorkshire and the humber, the north west, east midlands and the east of england. 0ur correspondent danny savage reports from the yorkshire town of doncaster. 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 these streets close to the town centre, they dont want a repeat of this, when the nearby river don burst its banks, back in 2019. I were in the garden, up to about to here