This is bbc news im rebecca jones. The headlines at 5pm. The uk records 17 and a half thousand new cases of covid 19 as tighter restrictions to control coronavirus are expected in the worst affected areas of england next week local leaders want more details of those potential plans. Weve said all along, we want to have an open and meaningful dialogue with the government. Ive asked them to speak to areas where, potentially, they could be facing more stringent lockdown measures. People waiting over a year for hospital treatment in england hit a 12 year high as fears grow about the pressure of coronavirus on the nhs donald trump has refused to take part in a virtual president ial debate minutes after the organisers said next thursdays event
would be held online. British airways bids farewell to its last boeing 7a7 jumbo jets four years earlier than planned due to the pandemic. And Prince William says he wants to bring optimism and positivity to efforts to solve Climate Change as he launch
Is not possible when we can see that in other countries, where people are now beginning to experiment with releasing some of the measures a bit to see what happens. A glimmer of relief in china which records no new domestic cases of coronavirus for the First Time Since the pandemic began last year. Heads, shoulders and knees and toes and keeping the kids amused one playgroups efforts to keep going online. From tomorrow at around 3. 30pm, all schools in the uk will shut their doors indefinitely in an unprecedented nationwide shutdown. But there are continuing urgent questions about the closures, and exactly how they will affect pupils, and parents. A list of the key workers whose children can still go to school is due to be released later today. There are ongoing discussions about how to award older pupils grades after gcse and a level exams in england and wales were cancelled yesterday. Ministers are also coming under increasing pressure to announce a package of financial help for peop
To reduce the spread of coronavirus. We are predominantly basing our activities and experiencing experiences outdoors to limit frequent touch to key areas like table tops. The government suspends all rail franchises to prevent firms collapsing as season Ticket Holders are told theyll receive refunds if they choose to stay at home during the pandemic. The death toll in spain continues to rise. More more than 2,000 people with the virus have now died in the country. And in other news, the former first minister of scotland, alex salmond, has been cleared of attempted rape and a series of Sexual Assaults, including one with intent to rape. Hello. The Health Secretary, matt hancock, has described people who ignore government advice on social distancing as very selfish. Ministers are considering tougher measures if people continue to gather in large numbers, orfail to observe advice about how to stop the spread of coronavirus. This is london this morning it looks a lot quieter than over the
Including lean on me, lovely day and aint no sunshine has died from heart complications. Hello, good afternoon. The first of the nhss Nightingale Hospitals has been opened, set up to expand capacity during the coronavirus outbreak. Its been built in less than a fortnight, inside the excel Conference Centre in east london, and the first patients are due to arrive early next week. It comes as the uk records 684 coronavirus related deaths in a day. Its the highest rise so far, but slightly below the expected trend. The death toll now stands at 3,605. Meanwhile, from self isolation the Prime Minister took to twitter to urge people to stay inside this weekend mrjohnson also said he would continue his isolation as he still has a fever. And more messages of support on their way, as its announced her majesty the queen has recorded a special broadcast to the nation, which will go out on sunday evening at 8pm. More on that soon, but first, our correspondent Angus Crawford reports on the opening
The figure is 6,000 higher than the average for the time of year, when deaths normally start falling after the flu season. The department of Health Confirmed that there have been outbreaks in more than 2,000 care homes in england alone. In a warning on the economy, the uks spending watchdog said a three month lockdown could cause uk growth to drop by 35 byjune, sending the rate of unemployment to 10 . Our Health Correspondent lauren moss is with me. If we can look at the figures we have got today, two sets of figures. Talk is through them. The first ones you mentioned were released by the office for National Statistics and came out this morning on the spot all deaths that have occurred in the community, not just in all deaths that have occurred in the community, notjust in hospital and they go up to friday the 3rd of april, so there is around a ten or 11 day delay where we are at now, so like i say, these are deaths that have happened inside and outside of hospitals so include care hom