Hello and welcome to viewers in the uk and around the world. Coronavirus is now affecting more than 160 countries and has claimed more than 13,700 lives. The rate of new infections in italy has fallen for the first time. The country experienced 651 new virus deaths in the last 2a hours in comparison with almost 800 yesterday. The current death toll nears 5,500. Spain is to impose 30 day entry restrictions on most foreigners from midnight at ports and airports. Spanish nationals, foreign residents, air crew, cargo workers, Health Workers and diplomats will be exempt. The country had already closed its land borders a few days ago. And in germany, Angela Merkel has announced a ban on gatherings of more than two people in public outside work. This ban will be in force for at least two weeks, but it will not apply to people of the same household. The number of cases in germany has been climbing rapidly, although the number of deaths remains low. Announcing the ban, she made an emotional appeal to citizens to stick to the rules. Translation i am very moved by how many people are adhering to these social distancing rules. It is how we show care for the older people and people with Underlying Health issues for whom this virus is most dangerous. In short, this is how we save lives. Please all go along with this. Do the right thing for our country, show reason and empathy. Bojan pancevski is the germany correspondent for the wall streetjournal. Hejoins us now from berlin. Thank you forjoining us. Germany is saying the number of cases rise quite rapidly. Why not fatalities. Why is that . Several reasons i think. Most people would agree the primary reason is because essentially the initial outbreak here in germany was driven by younger people, younger people with milder symptoms and rarely ever dying from the disease. So essentially, that coincidence brought germany a bit of time. Initially, the outbreak happened in areas where they celebrate carnival and then of course it was also driven by people coming back from their ski holiday in italy and austria, which became later hotspots of the virus in europe. And then the virus engulfed kindergartens in schools. So the initial wave was then pushed up, the age letter and it takes a while to get to the old and vulnerable. However, people are saying we will get there so we are about to experience a sort of dramatic change in that regard u nfortu nately. Dramatic change in that regard unfortunately. There has been criticism of the united kingdoms paper two conduct widespread testing so paper two conduct widespread testing so far. But if germanys approach . Exactly. Here, they have boosted their testing capacities already in early february i think. And it is pretty much to anybody who wants to be tested can be tested and will be tested, so germany has been testing. Rather patients are people who believe have been in contact with somebody who was infected you can go to yourgp into somebody who was infected you can go to your gp into these mobile driving stations, number of ways you can get tested and people are taking advantage of that. So germany has done about 200,000 test in the last couple looks alone. Some say that one of the reasons why are mortality rate is so low is because our figures have been closer to the dark figures have been closer to the dark figure to the reality of infection. The general assumption is that the reality of infection is different than the official figures obviously in that there are many more people infected than we know. The who, there was an Imperial College study last week that sort of said you should multiplied by ten. So the express and germany perhaps that number is much lower than elsewhere. Angela merkel putting herself into quarantine after coming into contact with somebody with the virus. What sort of level of alarm i think cause acosta country . It is too early to say. In her way, she held a press conference the machine lets find a healthy administered after that, the news came in that her doctor had tested positive. She put herself in self isolation. She looked fine and healthy. She will be conducting interest of the state from her apartment in berlin. I thinkjudging by the initial reaction in the media, there is no panic, no hysteria. Germans are typically sober and calm, so they are just observing what is happening. There has been however a lot of speculation about her health last year because she had these couple of times she had a fit of shaking, especially during official appointments when the National Anthem was played. She was at one point forced to remain seated while the anthem was being played. There isa the anthem was being played. There is a bit of speculation about her health and she is 65, she is almost in the risk group, so i think if it we re prove n in the risk group, so i think if it were proven that there is a Serious Development of the illness come people would get worried but for now she looks perfectly healthy. Thank you forjoining us. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state of new york has risen to over 15,000 out of which nearly 8,000 people are in the city of new york thats nearly a third of all cases in the united states. The mayor of the city bill de blasio has warned that vital supplies needed to fight the outbreak were expected to run out within ten days, particularly ventilators. 0ur correspondent Barbara Plett usherjoins us from washington. Why is new york so exposed . why is new york so exposed . I think there are two reasons why you have seen this growth in cases. 0ne there are two reasons why you have seen this growth in cases. One is that new york city is very densely populated. That is something the governor has mentioned a number of times, a lot of people and a small space of this virus can spread quite easily. It people if do not deserve the social distancing in the governor again did admonish them today saying you are not taking it as seriously as you shed. The other reason is the testing has increased. They have made a priority at trying to get increase the testing so that means there are more cases they are finding because they are able to check for more cases. Barbara, for the moment, thank you. We expect President Trump to make a statement on coronavirus and a little while and we will keep an eye on what he says and bring that to you. Italy has announced a slight decrease in the rate of new infections these were up just 9 . A critical week lies ahead to see if the infection curve continues to flatten. This comes as the residents of the worst hit region lombardy have been coming to terms with life where all outside and physical activity has been banned. As our correspondent sima kotecha reports. Every day, it gets quieter here. Now, even hotels are closing after the government ordered all nonessential businesses to shut down, another move that turns this tourist city into Something Like a ghost town. Hotel proprietors are anxious about what lies ahead. Translation on a financial level, lets hope the state helps us in some way. If they dont, it will definitely be very worrying. But on the other hand, shes keen to isolate. We dont know who is positive with coronavirus. Even we could be infecting people who come to stay with us. Thousands of doctors from across italy have applied to be part of a Task Force Working in the worst affected areas. Here in rome, a moving tribute to all those working in hospitals and trying to save lives. It says, we stand with you. Planes with extra medical supplies have arrived from russia to help hospitals here cope with the rising death toll. In an attempt to slow the spread of the virus, in some regions, people are no longer allowed to go more than a few hundred metres from their homes. It seems as if europe has stopped and each day, with new death figures, it feels that little bit more still. In spain the state of emerency has been extended for two weeks until the 11th of april in the face of the pandemic. Prime minister Pedro Sanchez has also tightened restrictions on arrivals at ports and airports. Speain has announced its worst figures yet 394 deaths in one day. Damian grammaticas reports. Streets drained of life, but out of sight, spains fight against the virus is ceaseless. Here, in a hotel, the first of many that are being requisitioned to serve as an overflow for ha rd pressed hospitals, its how spain is trying to contain the infection. So the Prime Minister has been forced to govern by teleconference. He announced the current state of emergency will last until mid april. Restrictions on daily life getting even tighter. And this is what we found when we ventured beyond madrid. Empty motorways. Miles and miles of them. Virtually no traffic. This is one of spains main north south highways. The only things moving . Trucks. Filled with food. So apart from the bare essentials to keep this country functioning, spain really has come to a standstill. But despite these measures, there is no sign that the spread of the virus is being brought under control. The shutdown has left this entire country eerily emptied, Public Places abandoned. And this is the ancient city of cordoba, usually filled with tourists. Not now. Nothing. If the virus is a natural disaster, it is one that has left everything intact. Just the people have vanished from view. Manuelas family have run their gift shop here for 100 years. Translation it is like a nightmare. My main worry is nobody in my family gets the virus. Back in madrid, lorry loads of oxygen for a new 1000 bed Treatment Centre the army is building in the citys convention centre, as all of spains efforts are now directed at trying to save lives. Damian grammaticas, bbc news, madrid. Here in the uk, the british Prime Minister has urged the public again to follow the rules for social distancing to slow the spread of coronavirus. Speaking in downing street, he said the government would bring forward further measures if necessary if the two metre rules isnt observed. The number of people who have died in the uk with coronavirus has risen to 281. Heres our Health Editor hugh pym. He was very going out of his way to thank people for sacrifices they have made as he said for not going out, cancelling plans and so on and businesses who couldnt open, but there was a pretty strong hint that if this social distancing policy wasnt having the effect of reducing the rate of growth of cases, that further measures would follow, the government has never ruled out in the uk further measures being a bit tougher and closing bits of public transport or moving towards people being really told to stay at home and some sort of measure like that as in france, but has not got to that point at the moment. There was a hint that if people didnt go along with the official advice to limit social contact when they left home, more might follow. But we still have an increase in cases and fatalities. Yes. And news today of a fatality in the uk, somebody who was 18, just 18. Thought to be the youngest so far. That said, it was somebody with an Underlying Health condition and this is sadly the case with Vulnerable People with Underlying Health conditions that they are more likely if they get the virus to suffer quite serious consequences, but certainly very tragic news that somebody of that age has the headlines on bbc news. Germany bans all social gathering of more than two people as it attempts to stem the spread of the pandemic. Italy announces a slight decrease in the rate of new infections for the First Time Since the pandemic took hold. The uk Prime Minister warns of tougher measures if social distancing advice isnt followed he says people who are acting irresponsibly are putting lives at risk. Sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, heres katie. Hello. The International Olympic committee have given itself a four week deadline to look over a number of options, including postponement, before making a decision about the games in tokyo. At an executive Board Meeting today, they ruled out cancelling the event, but agreed to reconsider the start date injuly. Ioc president , thomas bach has writen to all athletes, admitting that. This follows further pressure from athletes around the world, who are adding their voices to calls for the tokyo 0lympics and paralympics to be postponed. Global athlete, fronted by the british olympic cycling champion, callum skinner, says that the games should be pushed back. If theyre not, skinner thinks that we could see athletes boycotting the event. I think they are concerned about having that decision less on their judgement. I think what we prefer to see would be the ioc and ipc to take leadership in this example and say that they dont consider it to be safe. I remember of all of the members of the 2016 rio 0lympic games there was a lot of worry about the zika virus, in comparison to coronavirus. This is an issue not totally in the hands of the organisers. Even if they do plan to push ahead which i would think would be ill advised, you can still see mass boycotts and that would do pretty long term damage to the olympic movement. The former Manchester United midfielder marouan fellaini has tested positive for coronavirus. The belgium international, who currently plays in the chinese premier league, is reportedly in isolation in hospital. According to his club, he is fit and well, despite the positive test, and they believe he will get better soon. In scotland, hearts captain, Steven Naismith has taken a 50 pay cut to help his club survive during the coronavirus pandemic. It comes after hearts owner ann budge had asked all staff to halve their salaries to make sure the club could survive while the football season is suspended. Now the former england cricket captain, Michael Vaughan says that he believes it was the right decision to delay the start of the season. The country championship was supposed to start on the 12th april, but instead its been pushed back until the end of may. Englands International Summer is meant to begin injune with a three test series against the west indies. Cricket is like many sports, up in the airof cricket is like many sports, up in the air of when they know that they will be able to play again. I think they made the right decision and date today we are getting different m essa 9 es date today we are getting different messages about this terrible virus and cricket will just messages about this terrible virus and cricket willjust have to go on the expert advice. If later on in the expert advice. If later on in the summer cricket can take place in the summer cricket can take place in the International Calendar can take place from june the 4th, that would be terrific but i think first and foremost cricket like everybody else is just foremost cricket like everybody else isjust hoping foremost cricket like everybody else is just hoping that everybody stays safe and sport really becomes secondary and what the country are going through and the whole world at this stage though it is whirring time for the sport but like everybody in society, we will knuckle down and fight through it and im sure well be back later on in the summer. And finally some live sport for you. As golden 60, with localjokey vincent ho on board, came from last to first to win the Hong Kong Derby in a near empty, show tin racecourse in hong kong. Golden 60 won by a neck over play a del puente to become only the second horse to win all three legs of hong kongs four year 0ld classic series. Thats all the sport. Theres more on the bbc sport website. Bye for now. Thank you, katie. A new report warned that American Adults of all ages are being effected by the coronavirus. While older patients are at greater risk of dying a large number of those hospitalised are between 20 and 5a years of age. It also found that young people around the world are being complacent about health warnings. With me now is dr chris carlsten, head of respiratory medicine at the university of british colombia. She thank you forjoining us. How much of a risk does coronavirus post to all people of all ages . It doesnt really spare anyone honestly was up doesnt really spare anyone honestly was up one doesnt really spare anyone honestly was up one of the great myth understandings of is that the young individuals who generally are less symptomatic are therefore in some way immune. Misunderstanding. That is not true. About 50 of the infections appears to have been transmitted by those that are not symptomatic. So the young individuals who may well not be symptomatic can easily transmit this and do harm to the community. Why do young people seem to think that they are not going to be affected . That isa are not going to be affected . That is a complicated question. I think it is for a number of reasons. Perhaps primarily of which they havent suffered Previous Health ca re havent suffered Previous Health care problems in general and so they have a bit more of a sense of protection. There is alsojust have a bit more of a sense of protection. There is also just still surprisingly perhaps more were to get out, we have to continue to push to that everyone know that they are pa rt to that everyone know that they are part of the solution. And ijust hope that we can get that little fraction that is left that seems to be resisting the call to isolate and get them to be part of the solution. How much of it is is down to disbelief or maybe not even trusting what the authorities are telling them . I think probably a relatively small amount but i think that does exist. Here is the problem. Just a few people that can violate these recommendations can be a big part of spreading the virus because of course it is an ex mental growth, meaning that each individual that is spreading will then spread to other and become quickly a huge problem. Exponential growth. Even if its only a few individuals who started the i do get them to listen . What m essa 9 es the i do get them to listen . What messages really get through . thought about that a lot. I firmly and the belief we shouldnt be shaming them. It is really notjust the youth. Part of the problem. People of every age group that are not following directions. Perhaps more youth than others but regardless i think we have to really be clear that this is a community effort, we are all in this together and appeal to the fact that nobody wa nts to and appeal to the fact that nobody wants to do harm, they are not malicious, but they just are wants to do harm, they are not malicious, but theyjust are not fully aware and if we can encourage them ina fully aware and if we can encourage them in a positive way that will be much more productive. Knowing what we know then about how coronavirus is transmitted, what impact will it haveif is transmitted, what impact will it have if even just a small proportion of the population do not listen . As many of you have heard, it is something that gets out of hand quickly and in some places already has. So the idea that an individual ora has. So the idea that an individual or a group has. So the idea that an individual ora group of has. So the idea that an individual or a group of individuals to have a profound effect downstream is something that Everybody Needs to understand and that is why we have two double our efforts to get that word out into do within reason to adverse these rules. Enforce these rules. Thank you forjoining us. If youre a practising christian you might have found yourself in a quandry today, how to attend sunday church while also following instructions to stay at home. But it turns out you can do both at the same time. By attending a virtual church. The bbcs sofia smith galer travelled into cyberspace to mix with the avatars of people attending one vr church. Heres her report. We are kind of one church in many meta verses. Hey, everyone. No flying today. Some people have come looking like how they would dress in real life. There are a few robots here as well. Jesus was dead and buried and rose again and you would think it wouldve been amazing. Jesus is here. Lets go start this church. Hi, sofia. Nice to see you. It is the first time ive ever been to a service with a flying preacher. Sometimes we do crazy things. One day in the summer and i was blown away, i was like look at this world, and 360. And in that moment i thought, you know what i would like to do . I would like to start a church here. It was just a whim of a thought. We started out with a handful of people, this one service, then many people from europe were like we love your church but it is like one or two in the morning, so we expanded the vr church to europe and then many who bore or from many who where from like new zealand and Asian Countries wanted to be a part of the church, so we can easily have up to 550 people in vr church. We have four different services. Our vision is to spread our love to establish these faith communities across different time zones. Notjust time zones, meta verses. So upspace is a meta verse. It is like a virtual city. Other ones like rec room and chat. We want to plant churches in these different virtual cities. Do you attend physical church as well as vr church . I do not. Im actually one of those people that are physically disabled. And confined to my home. So yes, i only attend here. This is actually my first time. I am used to physical churches. I have autism and i am really sensitive to sounds and all people around me. Right now i think most of the people are muted so you dont hear all the sounds around you, so it is way less tiring and it is really nice. So thank you jesus for another year of vr church. Europe vr church. Usa and australia. Vr church world. Thank you for leading us now through 2020, amen. Amen, everyone. She really was there. Tech to the rescue. You are watching bbc news. In the uk, the fashion chain primark is the latest in a string of high street retailers to temporarily shut up shop. Its cancelling all future orders and is expected to close all of its its 189 stores from tonight. Heres our Business Correspondent katy austin. There have been queues at wholesalers and a spike in online shopping. Amazon has struggled to keep up with demand for household staples and medical supplies. But non food shops which rely on walk in customers have suffered badly. Timpsons is closing its 2,000 sites after a 60 fall in sales. We have based our assumptions on the fact that we will be closing our shops for at least three months. Weve got to cut costs as quickly as we can but make sure we look after the colleagues who have been with us a long time and to make sure that it is viable for them as well. Shops dont have to close but Health Concerns and lack of trade mean more and more are, from river island tojohn lewis, where shutters will fall across the country on monday night, although its online operation will remain open. Now primark is expected to close all 189 of its uk stores tonight and it doesnt have an online offering to full back on. Primark has weeks and weeks of stock already on its way to the uk by sea and more sitting in warehouses. So it has cancelled all future orders for now to avoid buying things it simply wont be able to sell. Many struggling stores are asking already under pressure landlords to defer rents. Then theres the impact of cancelled orders on the vast Retail Supply chain. They may be planning two to three years ahead with manufacturers all over the world. And this isntjust about the uk, retailers all over the world are having to withdraw from manufacturing commitments. So the knock on effects on the Global Economy are going to be quite significant and will last for quite some time. Emergency government measures such as scrapping Business Rates are designed to protect firms and jobs. Shops hope when they are out of hibernation, customers will return. Katy austin, bbc news. Now its time for a look at the weather with helen willetts. Good evening. Under the clear skies this evening and overnight, temperatures will fall away and well have a widespread and quite sharp frost once again. The only exception being the north and west, where this thick cloud is approaching. With the wind light as well we might see some mist and fog. Heading into monday, some showers for the Channel Islands as well. Quite a sharp frost as we approach monday morning. Yes, a chilly start but we should lose the easterly wind weve seen through the weekend and so temperatures will lift more readily. Well see increasingly hazy sunshine for Northern Ireland and scotland with this weather front and some patchy rain coming to the highlands and the islands. Here with the strengthening wind, touching gale force, it will temper our temperatures. But most will see 12 and 13 and on the east coast, where its been so chilly, double figures. One or two showers for the Channel Islands. That rain will hang around for the north west of scotland, and a met Office Warning is in force here. It will push south to scotland and Northern Ireland on wednesday. Hello this is bbc news. The headlines. The Prime Minister warns of tougher measures if social distancing advice isnt followed he says people who are acting irresponsibly are putting lives at risk. We will keep the implementation of these measures under constant review and yes,