This is bbc news, im julian worricker. The headlines at 4pm. 273 people in the uk have tested positive for coronavirus thats up from 209 yesterday, according to latest figures released today. 16 Million People in northern italy are placed in quarantine for a month because of the virus. In lombardy, ski resorts, gyms and nightclubs cant be opened. Restaurant customers must sit at least a metre apart. China reports its lowest number of new infections in a single day since january. Here, new emergency laws including court cases over video link or phone to help tackle the virus are announced. Borisjohnson meets victims of flooding, as a doubling in funding for flood defences
to £5 billion is to be announced in wednesdays budget. He defends not turning up when bewdley was underwater. M he defends not turning up when bewdley was underwater. It is all too easy for a Prime Minister to come to a place in the middle of an emergency. It is not so easy for the emergency. It is not so easy for the Emergency Services because what they have to do is then break off. Meghan uses one of her last appearances as a senior royal to urge men to do more to respect women. Value and appreciate the women in your lives, and also set the example for some men who are not seeing it that same way. And we will bring you a special programme on coronavirus, how it spreads and the action you can take, thatis spreads and the action you can take, that is in half an hour here on bbc news. Good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. Its been confirmed that the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the uk has risen to 273. Thats up from 209 yesterday. 23,500 people have been tested for the virus the vast majority have been given the all clear. There have been two deaths. Dr amir khan is a gp in leeds. He said he wasnt surprised at todays jump in the number of people contracting coronavirus. We are moving on from the containment phase to the delay phase, and it is really important that people adhere to the hygiene measures that the government are putting out there. You mentioned those two phases because we are still in that containment phase now, but clearly it is only a matter of time before we move on. Yes, and i dont think theres much time before you move on and the whole purpose of the delay phase is to stop a massive peak of people being infected all at the same time
and overwhelming our nhs services, so we know that people are going to be infected and we know it will be a lot of people but we want that number to climb slowly and that is the purpose of the delay phase, so we are not overwhelmed as Health Professionals ourselves by the demand. The chancellor has said the government is ready to deliver whatever action is required to deal with your coronavirus crisis. Rishi sunak who delivers his first budget on wednesday said a range of options was being looked at to help businesses survive the impact of employees going sick. Our Political Correspondentjonathan employees going sick. Our Political CorrespondentJonathan Blake reports. The effects of the coronavirus outbreak are clear to see, a country taking steps to cope, unsure what the ultimate impact will be. And in the midst of the crisis, the chancellor is preparing a budget. The economy is strong, he claims, but there will be measures to ease the impact, and some help for businesses feeling the strain. We are looking very hard
at the range of scenarios and making sure that in each of those we can respond appropriately, and that means providing support for public services, and we have already done that with regard to the nhs, making sure we can support vulnerable people, and also making sure we can help businesses get through what could be an impact on their businesses that could be significant but for a temporary period of time. Under new emergency laws drawn up by the government, volunteers will be able to work in the Health Service for up to four weeks without losing theirjobs. Court cases could be held via video link to ensure the Justice System can function, and recently retired Health Workers will be able to return to work without an impact on their pension, moves welcomed by those working in the nhs already under strain. We have been very short staffed in the nhs and in social care in particular for a long time now and so the additional help will be very welcome indeed. Part of the reason it is going to be so helpful is it is going to help us to be able to move people out of hospital who are well but cannot go home because they need additional
help at home and that isnt available very easily at the moment in the social care system. There was relief this morning forformer passengers of the diamond princess cruise ship, kept in quarantine after being flown back from japan. We are looking forward to going home, thank you. Its a relief. What has it been like in there . 0k. Its lovely. They have looked after us. Empty shelves have prompted tesco to become the latest supermarket to limit the sales of some products as experts advise there is no need to panic buy. Jonathan blake, bbc news. Italy has imposed sweeping restrictions on the movement and activities of more than a quarter of its population in areas of the north and east of the country. Some 16 Million People are affected by the virtual lockdown as the government tries to limit the spread of coronavirus. The restriction applies to the entire lombardy region, italys wealthiest, and 14 other provinces. All travel not deemed essential is banned. Jon donnison reports. In central milan this
morning, an uneasy quiet. A quarter of italys population, some 16 Million People, including those living in the countrys second biggest city, now in quarantine. Translation we are facing an emergency, a national emergency. We have done so from the outset with exceptional precautionary measures, and we are facing it with great awareness, without underestimating the situation. But such a drastic measure is an admission that italy has so far failed to contain the virus, with around 6,000 cases and more than 230 deaths. It is not a complete lockdown. Trains and planes will still run, but many travellers are choosing to stay home and police will be able to restrict peoples movements. Bars and cafes can stay open but must ensure customers can sit a metre apart. Marzio toniolo, a Primary School teacher, has been making a video
diary with his family. He has already been in quarantine for several weeks. He says people have to cooperate with the new measures or the problem will get worse, with hospitals already overloaded. Venice, which ordinarily welcomes more than 20 million tourists a year, is also now considered a red zone. Rome is not part of the quarantine area, but this morning, pope francis gave his weekly address by video link rather than from the traditional balcony overlooking worshippers in st peters square. And all top flight football matches across the country will be played behind closed doors until at least april, but as the number of cases continues to rise rapidly, the question some are asking is this all being done too late . Jon donnison, bbc news. For a second consecutive day in china there have been fewer than 100 new cases of coronavirus and the whole country. Health authorities are reporting 44 new expected cases in the past 2a hours. There have been a further 27 deaths, all of them concentrated in Hubei Province where the outbreak began. A little earlier we spoke to doctor claire sta ndley earlier we spoke to doctor Claire Standley and assistant Research Professor at Georgetown University who specialises in the public response to Infectious Disease. She says it is encouraging there has been a poll on the number of new cases in china. There are still new cases in china. There are still new cases so it definitely hasnt been killed off yet. Any decrease in new cases is an encouraging sign. China put in extremely stringent control measures starting already injanuary and so we are hopefully seeing some of the impact of those measures, but we are into much now, so there is a time like we know there is a relatively long incubation period with the spires and so it is a bit
wa ry with the spires and so it is a bit wary to tell whether we are releasing the back of it or whether cases will continue to dramatically increase think what we are seeing is some of the countries that have the most impact from sars back in 2003 seem most impact from sars back in 2003 seem to be coping better particularly with respect to the testing and management of contacts, tracing the patients and seeing who they have come into contact with. So i think itjust goes to show that experience and preparedness can really improve a countrys response. Dont forget, you can keep up to date with all the developments around the coronavirus outbreak online. You can find out about the symptoms to watch out for, and what it means for you, on the bbc news app, and on our website. Thats bbc. Co. Uk news. The Prime Minister borisjohnson has been visiting the flood affected town of bewdley in worcestershire this afternoon. The area was one of the worst affected by last weeks flooding after defences buckled, forcing many residents to be evacuated from their homes. The visit comes as the treasury revealed that funding for flood defences in england will be doubled
to £5. 2 billion over five years in the forthcoming budget. Speaking a little earlier the Prime Minister responded to accusations that his visit had come to light for those affected by the flooding. Its all too easy for a Prime Minister to come to a place in the middle of an emergency. Its not so easy for the emergency. Its not so easy for the Emergency Services because what they have to do is then break off and as you know, the command has to find somewhere to brief you, everybody has to gather there. They are then diverted from their work four hours. What i have been doing since the flooding began is coordinating a national response, but also looking at what we can do in the next months and years to ensure that this country really is ready to cope with the impacts of flooding. There are very beautiful and interesting things you can do, things that will generatejobs for the things you can do, things that will
generate jobs for the long term, think that will make the landscape more beautiful. We can change the way we fund agriculture, for insta nce way we fund agriculture, for instance the change in the way we support farmers, to encourage them to plant more trees, to put in flood defences, to manage the water u pstrea m defences, to manage the water upstream and all of that we are now going to be able to look at. When these barriers came in people were reassured that their houses would be protected and they failed up and down the severn because of the height of the water, what reassu ra nces height of the water, what reassurances can you give them, whatever money you throw at them they want to know that despite the money these. Their houses flooding. Youre absolutely right. The problem with these barriers is they were overtop. They are great bits of kit but when you have a big flood like that they are not going to be effective. The thing we have to look at is the rules which currently say that you cant put in permanent defences when you have only got a small number of household
potentially affected, and so the case we need to make is that it is not just a number of case we need to make is that it is notjust a number of households, it is also the economic damage, the damage to confidence, all the rest of it, in the town. And that is where working with the Environment Agency we now want to make progress. That was the Prime Minister during his visit to bewdley the suffering. The latest headlines. 273 people in the uk have tested positive for coronavirus up from 209 yesterday according to the latest figures. 16 Million People in northern italy are placed in quarantine for a month because of the virus. The Prime Minister has received a mixed reaction during a visit to flood hit bewdley in worcestershire where he announced a doubling of funding for flood defences. Time for sport. For a full round up from the bbc sport
centre. Thank you. We start with by centre. Thank you. We start with rugby union and frances100 record in the six nations championship is under threat from scotland. They we re under threat from scotland. They were leading at murrayfield when there was a sending off. Scotland went ahead from the resulting penalty and Sean Maitland went over to make it 19 7. It could be 21 7 now. That would be a result. France have been favourites having won every match so far. Two games in the premier league today, the Manchester Derby is about to get underway while in the early kick off chelsea thumped everton 4 0, ruining Carlo Ancelottis return to his former side. Michael redford reports. When youre reunited with an old friend, sometimes a handshakejust wont do. Ifirst friend, sometimes a handshakejust wont do. I first returned to sta mford wont do. I first returned to Stamford Bridge for Carlo Ancelotti nearly nine years on from being
sacked by chelsea. Frank lampard played a key role for the italian back then. Now they have a new start. Billy gilmour was just nine yea rs old start. Billy gilmour was just nine years old when ancelotti was asked in town. Now he was making his First Premier League start. And playing for a Team Premier League start. And playing fora team in premier league start. And playing for a team in control from kick off. Mason mount had already been denied once when his next chance arrived he wouldnt be denied again. Josies has been inconsistent of light, but back to back wins were beckoning when pedro made it 2 0 before half time. The 15 minute break did little to reenergise everton. Instead it was chelsea who picked up where they left off, much to the delight their manager. And it was the last time he would be celebrating. Beside rampant and ruthless. Evertons defensive resolve nonexistent. Chelseas Biggest League win of the season. They are now two points off third. For ancelotti this was a reunion to forget. Michael radford, bbc news. Rangers have ended their recent run of poor form with a one nil win at ross county. Before today,
steven gerrards side had gone three domestic games without a win but ryan kents deflected late winner earned them victory and moved them to within 13 points of leaders celtic with a game in hand. Australia have thrashed india by 85 runs in the womens t20 World Cup Final in melbourne. It was set to be the biggest event in womens sporting history and katy perry was there to begin proceedings. After her performance, it was an extremely one sided final australia were ruthless, posting an imposing score of 184 4 from their 20 overs with half centuries for alyssa healy and beth mooney. India were bowled out for 99. The final attendance of 86,000 just fell short of the biggest crowd at a womens sporting event. Its been announced that the bahrain grand prix will be the first ever formula 1 race to be staged without spectators due to coronavirus. 0rganisers issued a statement to say it was halting ticket sales for the event later this month and would only allow participants into the event. Aprils chinese grand prix has already been spotponed. The sports governing body the fia has set up a crisis cell
to monitor the situation. Altior is facing an uphill battle to defend his title at the Cheltenham Festival according his trainer Nicky Henderson due to a bout of lameness. Altior would be the first horse for 35 years to win the queen mother champion chase three times. The horse suffered his first career defeat over jumps at ascot last november, but returned to win over his preferred two miles at newbury last month. And on International Womens day bryony frost has won a double at southwell on the historic all female race card featuring both jumps and flat racing. Frost won on silent steps and clare du guy. Thats all the sport for now. Scotland now leading 21 7 at murrayfield. Ill have more for you in the next hour. Thank you. Time to get answers to some of your questions on the
coronavirus. Joining me to provide all the answers is doctor chris smith, a virologist at Cambridge University and presenter of the naked scientist podcast. Welcome. Thank you. A lot of questions so i will head straight in and we will try to work through as many as we can. Start with this one is it safe to go to the dentist or should i cancel my appointment . There is no threat that youll get from going to the dentist over and above going to any other kind of appointment. The threat comes from who you meet in the waiting room. If you have nothing to give to them and they have got nothing to give to you in terms of infections, no risk whatsoever. The dentist will do anything. If it a routine appointment it might be why dont i just wait until it seems safer . What
if everyone does the same thing and no one goes to the dentist when they feel unwell the they shouldnt be any risk. Janice has been in touch and she has a more complicated inquiry. She is 55 and has asthma with complications and she says, when i even get so much as a common cold my lungs clog up virtually immediately. She then says, i am a music teacher travelling between nine different schools, in close contact with about a thousand children every week. And watching be enough to protect me . How will i know if i need to be in hospital . And she adds, she doesnt quite have faith in the 111 phone service to be able to respond quickly enough if she gets seriously ill