To postponejulys games in tokyo. Good morning. If youre in scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England this morning, a frosty start annual see plenty of sunshine. As we come further south, the rest of england and wales, like yesterday, a third bit of cloud, patchy rain and drizzle. Ill have all the details coming up. Its thursday, the 19th of march. Our top story schools across the uk will shut from tomorrow in an attempt to stem the coronavirus outbreak and ease the pressure on the nhs. Emergency legislation to tackle the crisis will be introduced in parliament today. Meanwhile, some people are being urged not to use public transport for anything other than essential journeys after the death toll passed 100. Heres our news correspondent, simonjones. Schools correspondent, simon jones. Prepare schools correspondent, simonjones. Prepare to close and knows schools prepare to close and nobody knows for how long. You need to take home your books. Exams have been cancelled in england and wales, with decisions due in scotla nd and wales, with decisions due in scotland and Northern Ireland. After schools shut their gates from friday afternoon, they will remain closed. For most pupils, the vast majority of pupils, until further notice. Only the children of key workers, such as nhs staff, police and delivery rivals and pupils considered vulnerable, will be allowed to go in. The decision to shut schools was one that ministers here at the department of education have been putting off taking what has long as they felt they could. They recognise they felt they could. They recognise the turmoil this will create for families and not least pupils, who now face an uncertain educational future. But with the virus spreading, the government felt it had no choice but to act. Schools and universities are calling for urgent clarity about how children will be assessed. The government says it will work with exam boards to make sure pupils get the qualifications they need. But the Walton Family from bristol are left with questions stop holly wont sit her gcses and millie, who is a teacher, will set her exams at home. People have said this was the pinnacle, this is what youre going to do, and it almost feels wasted. Theyre going to be the generation that havent sat gcses and a levels, thats always going to mean their results are sort of tainted by that andl results are sort of tainted by that and i think its really important we just support them as much as we can. Its not just just support them as much as we can. Its notjust schools being shut. Parts of the underground network in london are to be closed stop and to help the nhs, emergency laws will be introduced in parliament which will allow the registration of retired or soon to be qualified nurses and paramedics. There will be legislation too to prevent renters from eviction. This is a message from eviction. This is a message from the governments chief medical officer. From today a new tv advert will offer health advice, but the warning is there may be more restrictions on daily life to come. This is going to be a long haul. Weve described it as a marathon, not a sprint, and we do have to be able to do things over many weeks to months if we are going to be actually seriously get on top of this epidemic thats heading our way. There may well be significant other things that the Prime Minister may wish to do. But as the queues at the supermarkets illustrate, this is a nation on edge, unclear what the future holds. Simon jones, nation on edge, unclear what the future holds. Simonjones, bbc news. Lets get more on this from our Political Correspondent, Jonathan Blake, whojoins us from our westminster studio. Good morning to you, jonathan. Talk us good morning to you, jonathan. Talk us through the announcements expected today in relation to emergency laws and new legislation. Yes, the emergency legislation that the government has drawn up in response to the Coronavirus Crisis will get its First Reading in parliament, and that begins a process which is expected to end by the middle of next week when this bill will become law, and it does contain sweeping powers that the government will have at its disposal if and when theyre needed. Some of those weve heard about already, related to getting recently retired nhs staff back into theirjobs quickly, allowing those volunteering in the nhs to do so for several weeks without losing theirjobs, but some new detail as well on things like powers for police to today in people and put them in isolation if there is a need to do that for Public Health, and also to suspend operations at ports and airports if a shortage of border staff personnel. These measures will be time limited to two years and the government says they will only be usedif government says they will only be used if and when theyre needed, but labour have concerns, they say mps should get a fresh vote on these powers every six months, while they do recognise the need urgent action needs to be taken. There also calling on the government to increase statutory sick pay and extend the ban on elections, and well hear more about that in Parliament Later. Jonathan, thank you. Meanwhile, several countries across europe are imposing more stringent measures in a bid to stem the coronavirus pandemic. Belgium is the latest country to tell its citizens to stay at home except for work and essential journeys. Lets speak to our europe reporter, gavin lee, who is in brussels. Gavin, good morning. You are in lockdown, of course. Give us the picture there and of course across the rest of the european mainland . The picture for europe and the big worry is at the moment 2a hours ago, when we last spoke, there were 75,000 confirmed cases in the whole of europe, thats risen by 20,000 to just under 95,000 cases across europe. The big two worries that spring out, italy, 35,000 cases there are nearly 3000 deaths, and that death rate has risen by i3 . We are nearly two weeks into the quarantine and yet there is still no sign those numbers are slowing down, and that the lockdown has worked, and that the lockdown has worked, and the government is now considering whether to ban any outdoor activity, including going for a bike ride, walking with friends, and really enforce what would be a proper quarantine. Germany as well, theres 12,000 cases, far germany as well, theres12,000 cases, far fewer deaths, 28 germany as well, theres12,000 cases, farfewer deaths, 28 in germany. Angela merkel giving a rare speech, she speaks at christmas to the public and its the first time in 15 years shes done it at any other time, she says this is the greatest crisis for germany and europe since the second world war. Were not seeing panic buying in certain spain and italy. We are seeing increased panic buying in belgium, netherlands, germany, the dutch have a word for it, the government appealing for them to stop storing excess food and toilet paper when its not needed. That seems to be a growing problem in Northern Europe dikili. Hamstering, thanks for that, gavin. Northern europe dikili. Hamstering, thanks forthat, gavin. Northern europe dikili. Hamstering, thanks for that, gavin. Northern europe. Up to 20,000 military personnel are being placed on standby to help in the governments response to the outbreak. The new Covid Support force will see double the number of troops and Service Personnel prepared to help civil authorities such as the police and health service. Hundreds of british tourists are being flown back to the uk after they were left stranded on board a cruise ship in the caribbean following an outbreak of the coronavirus. The ms braemar was allowed to dock in cuba after it was refused entry by a number of other countries. Six people on board have tested positive for the virus. Households will get relief on their energy bills from today under emergency measures to help families hit by the coronavirus outrbeak. Customers with pre payment meters who may not be able to add credit will be able to ask their supplier to keep them connected as part of new measures unveiled by the department for business. Celebrities including gal gadot, Natalie Portman and will ferrell have come together on social media to record john lennons hit imagine to spread a little joy to those in isolation. Lets have a listen. Imagine theres no heaven. Its easy if you try. Imagine theres no heaven. Its easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us only sky. Imagine all the people. Below us. Above us only sky. Imagine allthe people. Below us. Above us only sky. Imagine all the people. Living for today. Imagine all the people. Living for today. Studio imagine all the people. Living for today. Studio its one imagine all the people. Living for today. Studio its one of those ones where you start singing along at home as they are going along. What a great idea we started singing along here wonder woman star gal gadot posted the video on instagram on day six of her self quarantine. It has been viewed more than two million times and urges people to come together and unite amid the coronavirus pandemic. I feel like we should have heard more than that. Can we listen again . Living for today. Living fortoday. Living for today. You may say that im a dreamer. But im not the only one. Studio do you know whats good . Theyve all done it in the same key. Theyve obviously co ordinated to make sure that works. Coordinated and i think a little bit competitive. But theres some good voices. To listen to and well play all play more of that this morning. Good to listen to. Well keep playing it. I like the hair of wealth errol, proper bed hair the hair of wealth errol, proper bed hair will ferrell. For the latest developments on the coronavirus outbreak, including what symptoms to look for, how to reduce your risk of becoming infected, and advice for those with Underlying Health conditions, just visit our website or go to the bbc news app. All the latest detailed government advice can also be found at the gov. Uk website. Just follow the coronavirus link. After the announcement yesterday about schools in england closing tomorrow, friday, Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, joining us at 7 30am. Lots of households have lots of questions. Lots of students have lots of questions about exams, how its going to work in practice, who are the key workers whose children will be allowed to stay on at school . If youve got particular concerns, let us know this morning and well do our best to put those questions to Gavin Williamson. 6 11am is the time. Good morning, stop what happens now, ive been away with the sport, is it all a list of whats not happening . Pretty much, and what could be potentially affected. We got knock on effects of things being pushed back and then youve got the looming Olympic Games injuly, august time youve got the looming Olympic Games in july, august time just youve got the looming Olympic Games injuly, august time just becoming gradually more precarious, those gams, more pressure from athletes. We heard the heptathlon World ChampionKatarina Johnson thompson yesterday saying with whats going on we need to prepare, we are athletes, we are trying to peek at this time to perform for our best. Matthew pinsent yesterday said we need to call it off. Lots of athletes not saying no knowing where they stand. The world as president , said code, said there wont be a level Playing Field going into these gams come what may sebastian coe. If youre an italian Long Distance runner stuck in your house at home, how can you train and be at your best come the games in tokyo in a few months . Going ahead with the olympics would be irresponsible, the words of an organising committee member, as pressure builds to postponejulys games in tokyo. Hayley wickenheiser, who won four gold medals in ice hockey for canada, says to move ahead with such conviction is insensitive given the state of humanity. The premier league is set to reiterate its commitment to completing the season. They will hold an emergency Board MeetingVia Conference Call today. All games have been postponed until at least the 11th of april because of coronavirus. In formula one, the traditional summer break has been brought forward and extended to 21 days in march and april as a result of the outbreak. The new season is yet to start, following last weekends australian grand prix being postponed. The next three races in the calendar have also been suspended. And the le mans 24 hour race has been postponed for the First Time Since 1968. The delay pushes the event from june to september, into the 2020 21 season, which is due to begin at silverstone. Organisers said moving the race was the most appropriate way forward in the current exceptional circumstances. Tennis as well, no professional tennis untiljune. That is pushed back, so that puts wimbledon in jeopardy and the french open has been pushed back. If there is any professional sport this season, it is squashed into the last month and spilling over into next season. Is squashed into the last month and spilling over into next seasonm it is the word. Thanks, kat shall we talk about the weather and find out whats going on . I think spring is going to be sprung eventually. Heres carol with a look at this mornings weather. Good morning, naga, welcome back i thought you had left only you, you we re thought you had left only you, you were hoping brilliant to have you back, you were missed good morning. The weather today is very similar to yesterday, so if youre in Northern Ireland or scotland or Northern England today, skies rather like this one. This weather watcher picture from yesterday in aviemore. If your further south in parts of, for example wales or the rest of england, theres a fair bit of around and also some drizzle and patchy rain. Some murky conditions first thing this morning so not as cold. You can see the cloud associated with the rain weve just seenin associated with the rain weve just seen in parts of england and wales. The rain is fairly patchy, drizzly conditions, murky, but to the south of that, still mild and to the north of that, still mild and to the north of it, it is cold and were looking ata of it, it is cold and were looking at a frosty start as well. So, a lot of dry weather across scotland, much of dry weather across scotland, much of Northern England, north wales and also Northern Ireland withjust of Northern England, north wales and also Northern Ireland with just one or two showers. We hang onto this cloud for much of the day across southern areas with the rain in parts of east anglia, into south wales and south west england. Temperatures are lower than yesterday, some parts of the south yesterday, some parts of the south yesterday hit 15 or 16 degrees. Today were looking at temperatures between six and 10 degrees. But temperatures and below average, for example, in cardiff. It should be around 11 at this stage in march, so thats a big drop. If youre under the cloud and rain, it will feel a touch nippy. Through the evening and overnight, we still have our weather front in the south producing all this cloud, again weakening all the time so the rain very light, patchy and some drizzle. North of that, its going to be cold under clear skies so what you will find is there will be a hard frost in parts of north east scotland and the temperature could drop to 5 or possibly 6. The wind also picking up possibly 6. The wind also picking up in the English Channel, and that will continue tomorrow, particularly the western side of the English Channel, and there will be windchill from this. Showers coming in from france across the Channel Islands. A few of those could get into southern counties, we could see a future in east anglia, but north of that once again from the cloud in the south, back into drier conditions and also sunny skies. Tomorrow the wind coming from the north sea will be a north easterly, chilly if youre on the coast and it would blow in a few showers around eastern areas. The north east, for example, North Eastern scotland and also North Eastern scotland and also north east england. Feeling cool, only five in lerwick to highs of around ten in the Channel Islands. Well done, you got three of us in even though you couldnt get the Channel Islands right |j even though you couldnt get the Channel Islands right i have missed your abuse, now go weve missed you, carol see you soon, carol. Thanks very much take care. Lets take a look at todays front pages the sun says schools out til summer, after the Prime Minister announced all schools are to close tomorrow amid the coronavirus outbreak and exams planned for may and june have been postponed indefinitely. The daily mail rounds up the social distancing measures announced by the government, including reports that 20,000 British Military troops will be on standby to support the nhs. The telegraph also leads on School Closures and suggests the government is drawing up plans to lock down london, restricting public transport and closing pubs and restaurants. The image shows mps in the commons yesterday, where they followed social distancing advice to keep at least 1 metre apart. Online lots of news sites, including the metro, have shared this image of an elderly man looking at empty shelves in a