Lovely good weekend and had some and lovely warm weather, and people flocked to the south west if they had booked in advance orjust the south west if they had booked in advance or just wanted the south west if they had booked in advance orjust wanted to see what would happen, that would have kick started the season and would have hopefully taken them through. Of course, at the moment, that has not happened, because it hasnt been able to happen. For the last two or three weeks, tourist leaders have been asking people not to come. Com pletely been asking people not to come. Completely the opposite of what they would really like to be saying and what, traditionally, they would be saying. This year is different. This year, they do not want people to come, as they say,. The Health Services in this region probably could not cope. The Health Authorities have said do not come here. If they have a huge influx of emergency and into a e and i see you, this part of the world is
not. A huge influx it would really struggle with. This would have been a really good start to the season, traditionally. We do not always have this lovely weather. Sometimes, over easter, it is raining and everybody hopes for a better may bank holiday. This bank holiday has been extraordinary. Really warm, really lovely. If you have been lucky enough to have a back garden or to be able to walk to somewhere like this, you would be able to get out and enjoy it. Certainly the vast majority seem to have stayed at home. I dont know how frisby and kite flying fits in with the now its time for a look at the weather. If you have already been out today, iam sure if you have already been out today, i am sure you will ever notice just how much colder it feels today. A chilly wind blowing off the north sea. Often clouded across eastern
parts of the uk. Easter monday is going to be the coldest day of the week. These are our 5pm temperatures. Around 12 degrees in london, and only 6 degrees on the north sea coast in newcastle. Tonight, a widespread airfrost is expected towards the south, and certainly a frost towards the south coast. These are the city temperatures. Many rural spots, coast. These are the city temperatures. Many ruralspots, it will be below freezing. Tomorrow, little recalled, because the wind is going to ease. In many areas, with a sunny day, fairly average temperatures, around 13 degrees, it will not feel too bad at all. Through the week, it will warm up a little bit. Hello this is bbc news. The headlines. The number of people who have died in the uk with coronavirus rises by more than 700, pushing the total number of deaths above 11,000. As spain and italy begin to relax restrictions the uk faces its fourth week in lockdown with the government set to assess social distancing measures. The mother of one of the nurses praised by borisjohnson for helping save his life says shes exceptionally proud of her daughter. It doesnt matter what patient she is looking after, this is what she does, andi is looking after, this is what she does, and i just is looking after, this is what she does, and ijust find it incredible that she. Any nurses can do this. Russia records its biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases over two and a half thousand with more than half of them in the capital, moscow. Now on bbc news, its coronavirus what you need to know, presented by annita mcveigh. Hello and welcome to this bbc news and special. Im anita mcveigh. Stay with us over the next half an hour to we share the latest information on the coronavirus outbreak. We will take you into an intensive care unit any hospital in london to show you what doctors are confronted with as they care for patients who have severe cases of covid 19. Plus chris morris from the bbcs Reality Check Team will bust more of the myths that have sprung up about the coronavirus. And a reminder that there is further advice, news and information about coronavirus in your area on the bbc news website. But first, the dramatic spread of the pandemic has put Health Services in some countries under immense pressure through the sheer scale of people requiring specialist treatment. Our medical correspondent fergus walsh and cameraman adam walker got exclusive access to one intensive care ward
at University College hospital in a Central London to give us this rare insight into what Health Professionals are having to face on a daily basis. It is completely unimaginable, and we are not at the peak yet. This is the front line in a war. Apart from two patients, every patient we are looking after has got covid. We cant cope with a big spike, we just cant. Every day, some battles are won and some a re lost. All the patients here are critically ill. We are planning for many more patients, for all theatres to be full of covid patients, and possibly beyond. It is. You know, none of us have ever seen anything like this. This used to be a Recovery Area for patients after surgery. Now its an intensive care unit for covid 19 patients. A huge part of the hospital has been transformed in order to deal with coronavirus. Ive been in intensive care nursing for about 23 years now, and ive never seen anything like this. Even with the london bombings, never seen it in such a short, condensed period of time. Many of the patients here are elderly, or have Underlying Health problems, but not all. I think perhaps i was a bit naive when we started. I had assumed that it would be the older and sicker in here, weve a mixture from people in their 40s to people in the 70s. A lot of them have got higher Blood Pressure and diabetes or a bit of respiratory disease. But some of them are coming through who are young and fit. The patients here have severe pneumonia inflammation of the lungs. They must be heavily sedated while on a ventilator, a machine which takes over the breathing. Patients can spend two weeks like this. Many drugs have been tested, but there is as yet no proven treatment for coronavirus. So, its oxygen and. Organ support. And amazing nursing care, really. One thing that does help is turning the patient onto their front. It increases the oxygen getting into the lungs. What seems like a simple procedure takes time and lots of pairs of hands. With ventilated patients, extreme care is needed. All of the this while staff wear full of personal protective equipment. Ok, can we just checked that hes ventilated . Their only barrier against coronavirus. Every time a doctor or nurse goes on to the unit, they must don full safety gear. You cant wear this and work for more than a couple of hours, because you got a crashing headache, you get a dry mouth. You have to get out. Staff write their names on the open so staff write their names on the open so they can be quickly identified. If it is an emergency on the itu, the head of Critical Care was seen by walkie talkie poverty can give a second opinion. He needs to be there, so the full kit has to be put on. They use walkietalkies because there advisers mean they cant communicate on the telephones. It is a training, physically and mentally. It is really hard, and some of us are it is really hard, and some of us a re fully it is really hard, and some of us are fully cant cope with it. We have got huge numbers of nurses, doctors and physics, and not all of them can deal with it, so they can only spend a short time, or not any time. It is not uncommon for some of
our staff to have had panic attacks, just finding the so stressful. You have got to really support people. Some people just cant do it. Despite the possible risk to themselves, the medical cut serves staff carry on. 12 hour shift, 60 hours per week are the norm. They worry about the patients, about each other, and those they love. Worry about the patients, about each other, and those they lovelj worry about the patients, about each other, and those they love. I think it is very hard on families. My kids are at home, my wife is home schooling. It is easy in a way for me, i am doing myjob, home schooling. It is easy in a way for me, iam doing myjob, i home schooling. It is easy in a way for me, i am doing myjob, i am home schooling. It is easy in a way for me, iam doing myjob, iam busy day. They dont really know what it is like here, whether we are bringing home the virus. And they have just been amazing, just let me do what i need to do, and i am just incredibly grateful to them. What is striking here is a sense of calm. In the face of adversity, doctors and nurses to simply get on with the job. The staff here are dealing with the biggest challenge ever faced by
the biggest challenge ever faced by the nhs. They can save many of the patients, sadly not all of them. And still, more macro to keep coming every day. And no one is sure how long this will last. For now, they can cope, but that depends on all of us are can cope, but that depends on all of us are playing our part. What is your message to people watching or listening to this . If people dont stay at home and they sneak out, this is going to continue to happen, and our staff are going to be exposed for longer. We are not going to have the equipment to do the best we can buy everybody who needs it, we can buy everybody who needs it, we do need to flatten that scarf, and it is so serious, and ijust wish people would really listen to what the government and we are seeing. Flatten that curve. It is harrowing to see the devastation caused by coronavirus, and humbling
to witness the resilience of nurses and doctors, the heroes of this crisis. I didnt take this seriously enough. This man isjust 37, and has breathing difficulties due to the virus. You dont know how bad it is until it actually hits you are, and so until it actually hits you are, and soi until it actually hits you are, and so i would absolutely urge everybody to listen to the government guidance and stay away from people. He has a wife and two children. Everything to fight for. I have felt at times but my fight for. I have felt at times but d fight for. I have felt at times but my body has been willing to just give up completely, and im not. Im a very young and fit individual. From the moment patients arrive at a e, nurses and doctors face the
risk of infection. I do worry about my stuff, because they are being exposed to patients who have a dangerous disease. The man in charge leads from the front. I am a doctor myself. I work with coronavirus patient. I am also anxious, but on the other hand, we are all professionals. We know how to protect ourselves, and we note the risky, so we can deal with this. The biggest transformation has been in intensive and high dependency care, project number of beds has increased fivefold, with plans are for even more. But will it be enough . Can they cope with the sword . All those questions are dependent on three things, people, kitand questions are dependent on three things, people, kit and oxygen. We have enough people, that is difficult, because inevitably we have had staff go off. Currently, we have had staff go off. Currently, we have enough oxygen. Our problem todayis have enough oxygen. Our problem today is having another ventilator. The very sickest patients will need a ventilator to breathe for them. you look at her itu, there are two non corona patient, both of them longest day weaning off ventilator solo, the race has been taken over by corona. We have got another hospital during our cancer, but does this is essentially becoming a huge corona centre, yeah. Everyone going into intensive care must work full protective clothing. Pets have been created in every available space. Beds have been created. This is an anaesthetic room attached to an operating theatre, and just look inside here. Thats operating theatre has now been repurposed for it to intensive care beds. I mean, it to intensive care beds. I mean, it is actually rather overwhelming, because it just
it is actually rather overwhelming, because itjust reinforces the level of threat, the level of preparation such as going on here, and just what we are facing. It is the same layout in ten operating theatres, leaving just two for emergency surgery. All hospital visits have been stopped, only in exceptional circumstances mighty Family Member of a very sick patient be admitted. It is the personal curse of what is happening to patient, which isjust irritating sometimes. It is really hard, because we cant let your relatives into see their loved ones, so for the patients may not be aware, the relatives are really feeling this. Like all of us, the doctors and nurses ponder upon life will return to normal. Certainly, and my family, we have got a holiday booked in august. We have all kind of got that asa august. We have all kind of got that as a date, and i hope, like everyone
in the country, i know that i am not suffering like a lot of people out. The whole country is suffering here. And the whole country knows it was an immense debt to nhs front line staff, putting themselves at risk from coronavirus a day after day. To save lives. That report by a medical correspondent fergus ross, with a camera walker. Next, it is becoming clear that widespread testing for coronavirus is going to be crucial as countries try to navigate their way out of the crisis. There is confusion about what that means and how it might be achieved, asjim reid reports. Most scientists agree that testing for this virus is critical. Part of the rubicon save lives and break out of the lockdown. We have a simple message for all countries a test, test, test. There are two main types of tester
for coronavirus. At the moment, we are using something called a pcr test. These look for genetic material related to the virus. You are asking the question, does a person have the virus in their system at the time of the test . It detects the rna genome of the virus itself. So detects the rna genome of the virus itself. 50 pcr testing can tell someone currently has dividers, crucial for both patient and health ca re crucial for both patient and Health Care Workers. But it needs to be analysed and a laboratory. That ta kes analysed and a laboratory. That takes time and is expensive. You need to skilled staff, and chemicals called reagents, which are in short supply. That is one reason why many countries have struggled to increase testing rates. Some, like south korea, have moved much faster than others. Testing, along with infection tracking, is partly how it has managed to keep deaths are take note level. Translation we have set this up as an alternative for many people can get tested in a short space of time. The second type of
test looks for antibodies in blood. This is much faster. Itjust needs a prick of a blood that can be sent in the post or even analyse at all. The Antibody Testing reveals who has been exposed and who has mounted immune response to dividers. It is a pretty good guess as to whether a person may already been immune to this virus. An Antibody Test is a cheap and doesnt need a laboratory to process the results, but it doesnt work straightaway. It can ta ke doesnt work straightaway. It can take weeks to produce enough antibodies to measure, and there are real questions about the accuracy of the test produce so far. If a can prove they were, there are clear advantages. It will allow us as Health Care Workers and their families to see if they have had a covid infection, and that might allow a lot of Health Care Workers to return to the front nine. The other topic that has been widely discussed as a of covid 19 passport to say that you have the infection and that you can return to work more
generally. The it as an immunity passport might let some knave lockdown if tests show they have already had the disease, but it is controversial. It will open up Ethical Attitudes about a society, one Ethical Attitudes about a society, u Ethical Attitudes about a society, one group allowed to get back to work. People are already being accused any media today of a sort of police state, so there is an awful lot of societal ramifications for how this is going to be used. There isa how this is going to be used. There is a third type of test which firms are developing. These sets can detect an ongoing coronavirus infection, but rather than all the expensive lab work needed for a pcr test, these should be far cheaper and quicker based on a nasal swab or saliva sample. That could be critical in parts of the world that might not have advanced testing facilities. We might expect that some companies would be able to deliver a rapid test for £1 or two point. That would be a game changer
if after ten minutes we could identify a large proportion of those infected. The next step is to prove these are test cant work effectively and quickly. It is not one but a combination of all of these technologies that can perhaps help us keep the virus in check until a vaccine is developed. One of the latest countries to advise people to work masks or cover their faces in public as the united states, despite the guidance from experts at the who that medical masks should be reserved for health ca re masks should be reserved for Health Care Professionals and not used by the general public. As a yacht, indonesia and morocco are now among the countries that have made wearing a face mask and public are compulsory. The bbcs science editor has been investigating how effective wearing them can be. A computer simulation of someone coughing in a supermarket. This is new research is still to be confirmed, but shows how coronavirus could spread and linger
in the air, infecting people nearby. The scientists involved in state the obvious conclusion as to avoid places that might be busy. First of all, dont go there if you dont need to go there. If you need to go there, go there only as seldom as possible. And number three, state there as short a time as possible. If someone is showing symptoms, they shouldnt be going to the supermarket or anywhere else, but there is growing evidence that people can have the virus and not show symptoms, and that is one reason why the Us Government and many others are now urging people that if they do have to go out, they we re that if they do have to go out, they were a mask. In morocco, for example, there is not a Government Order to work masks come up with the threat of prison or fines to back that up. But the World Health Organization and the british given belief that measures like those just arent needed. Here in the uk, the
guidance is that it is Health Care Workers and carers who should work masks, underbody is that supplies might run out if the public are trying to buy them as well. And if the is. There are different views among scientists. One is that if you were a mask you might reduce the risk of passing the virus to others, another is that once you put one on, you might get a false sense of security. You might think you can get close to people again, or stop washing your hands so often. And she might treat the mask too casually. Wearing a mask must be consistent. It is not want to wear one and then ta ke it is not want to wear one and then take it off to smoke a cigarette or eat a meal. It must be one full time. At the same time, when the masks is taken off, the outside surface may be contaminated as well, and hands become contaminated and then could serve as a source of infection. In any event, more and more countries are demanding that people were masks. In indonesia,
they are handing them out. And the Italian Region of tuscany is a scaling up deliveries because eve ryo ne scaling up deliveries because everyone will have to wear one. Attitudes are changing fast. We had to cape town now, come up at an unprecedented truce has broken out between rival gangs in the townships around the city as a south africa tries to control the spread of coronavirus. Gang leaders have halted their turn first undetermined to deliver the spread of coronavirus. Gang leaders have halted their turf is and return to delivery networks, used the years for drugs trafficking, to get food to poor households instead. The bbcs africa correspondent Andrew Harding reports. These are some of the most dangerous streets in south africa and the world. Poor communities fought over relentlessly by rival drug gangs. But today, a virus i do nationwide lockdown may have achieved what they please, even at the army have failed to do. What the police. This is the american gangs tour. Most of these men have been injail, some are killers. But today, instead of selling drugs and robbing people, they are bagging ourfood supply selling drugs and robbing people, they are bagging our food supply for hungry families. I got a phone call from two different languages posing, we are starving, and i thought, hey, if these guys are starving, they are at the top of the food chain. The rest of the people will be in serious strive. To help, the gangs are drawing on their own particular skill set. The best distributors in the country. They are used to distributing other white powders, but they are distributing things, and they are distributing things, and they are distributing things, and do not everybody. What is the Community Think . There is relief for sure that a ceasefire is taken hold during the lockdown. We help one another, even if it is because, even if it is people who dont get along. There is no such thing as gangsterism. In these terms, all of us gangsterism. In these terms, all of us stand together. But it is hard to tell what people here really think about the men who have terrorised their neighbourhoods for decades. The authorities are sceptical. Their neighbourhoods for decades. The authorities are scepticallj dont the authorities are sceptical. dont think it exonerates you when you have done so much evil. One good did it doesnt wipe it all away. Maybe they can commit to slightly more long term good. Put on the forums permanently and stop intimidating and robbing residents, then we are good. Because of the lockdown, i am then we are good. Because of the lockdown, iam not then we are good. Because of the lockdown, i am not able to form, diamond johannesburg, not cape town. But to gang leaders agreed to talk over the phone. Do you think your community will be changed about this experience . Yes, maybe as well. And thatis experience . Yes, maybe as well. And that is what is happening now . Do you think that will last . Once the
virus is over, maybe the fighting will start again . Maybe the fighting will start again . Maybe the fighting will start again . Maybe the fighting will start again. But i trust in god. God will make a way. So, a temporary ceasefire, a temporary lockdown, and just the sliver of a chance that the virus will bring lasting change to some of the most dangerous streets in the world. Finally, throughout our series we have been hearing from chris morris and the Reality Check Team, who had been a myth busting some of the fake stories treatments and cures you may have heard about covid 19. We are going to be in this for the long haul, and separating fact from fiction is really important. Here are some more myths you should be aware of. Number one, lemonjuice are aware of. Number one, lemonjuice a re protected aware of. Number one, lemonjuice are protected from covid 19. There have been plenty of claims about things you should eat or drink to thwart coronavirus, and the lemon
juice method just want to go away. It started with a viral social media posts containing advice from a fake chinese scientist. To be clear, lemonjuice is obviously chinese scientist. To be clear, lemon juice is obviously not bad for you, in fact, fruit and vegetables are essential work nearly all of us have to stay at home. They can help keep you healthy, but they dont stop you getting a virus like this. Myth number two, mosquito bites can infect you with dividers. We all know you can get other diseases are from mosquito bites, but there is no evidence are taught that the little brits can infect it with coronavirus. I can, brits can infect it with coronavirus. Ican, remember, brits can infect it with coronavirus. I can, remember, this isa coronavirus. I can, remember, this is a respiratory virus is spread many pundits and coughs or sneezes. The best place to protect yourself is to avoid close contact with anyone who is sick, and to keep washing your hands. Number three, blood donations will get you a free test. Some people are hoping they
might geta test. Some people are hoping they might get a free coronavirus a test if they donate blood. That is absolutely not the case, but there has been a persistent false belief on social media but it might be. To be clear, you dont get tested for covid 19 if you give blood. In the last thing staff need blood banks wa nt last thing staff need blood banks want is sick people coming in. Not of course can you get dividers from a blood donation. The best advice for now, try to stay healthy while scientists work towards medical breakthroughs. That is it for now, but before we go, here are some of the letters are striking images from the letters are striking images from the last few days as they coronavirus continues to affect so many of us. It amounted you can keep up to date with all the latest information on the lockdown in your area and your country on a website, and you can contact me on twitter at any time. Thank you for watching. Hello. Im sure you will have noticed how much colder it feels today to stop a chilly wind blowing off the north sea, often cloudy across eastern parts of the uk, and infact sea, often cloudy across eastern parts of the uk, and in fact Easter Monday is going to be the coldest day of the group. These are our 5pm temperatures. Around 12 degrees in london, and only 6 degrees on the north sea coast in newcastle. Tonight, a widespread frost is expected from the north towards the
south, down to the south coast. These are the city temperatures. In rural spots, it will be below freezing. Tomorrow, it is going to feel a little less recalled. That is because the point is going to ease, and in many areas, with a sunny day, and in many areas, with a sunny day, and fairly average temperatures, around 13 degrees, it is actually not going to feel too bad at all. Gradually, through the week, it is going to be warming up a little bit. Home. I dont know how frisby and kite flying fits in with the
hello, this is bbc news. The headlines. The number of people who have died in the uk from coronavirus rises by more than 700, pushing the number of deaths above 11,000. As spain and italy begin to relax restrictions, the uk faces its fourth week in lockdown, with the government set to assess social distancing measures. The mother of one of the nurses praised by Boris Johnson for helping to save his life says she is exceptionally proud of her daughter. It does not matter what patient she is looking after. This is what she does. I find what patient she is looking after. This is what she does. Ifind it incredible that any nurses can do this. Russia records the biggest
daily increase of coronavirus