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 Champion Katarina 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 Meeting Via 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 supermarket in epsom. The photo went viral after stores introduced limits on the number of items shoppers could purchase in order to prevent panic buying. Interesting that because ijust notice on the back of the telegraph, by tesco, supermarkets putting out information and they are putting out their advice to say they are doing everything to keep the stores stocked but they want customers to limit themselves to certain items and the idea is to ensure the vulnerable and elderly customers can shopin vulnerable and elderly customers can shop in store. Just think of others is the message. Picking up on that, lots of different shops are giving us lots of different shops are giving us the same message. The shells would be stocked if people are buying as much as they need. An interesting double page spread in the times. 0, a retailer saying a memberof the times. 0, a retailer saying a member of staff has been discreetly holding back toilet paper rolls for the disabled and the elderly. I was ina the disabled and the elderly. I was in a supermarket the other day and of the person at the deal telling me they have started to receive abuse from customers because they cannot get the products they want. It is just not fair. There is a guide to what different supermarkets are doing when it comes to rationing. A free maximum on all goods from one. Some opening earlier for pensioners. In the mailand some opening earlier for pensioners. In the mail and lots of other papers, reports that lesser brief 50th birthday has been cancelled. Glastonbury. Millions of pounds of revenue lost and the wider implications for the hospitality industry. 200,000 jobs are estimated to have already been lost. Millions feeling exposed at the minute. The government have 24 hours to save jobs. If you work in hospitality or lots of industries where consumer demand has been reduced, if you are having to work from home, reduced pay, we will be looking at that. In the daily express, the levels and the daily express, the levels and the abramovich, who own hotels, these big x footballing millionaires opening the hotels to nhs staff who have had to work long shifts. Neville family. So they are pledging 176 hotel rooms for nhs staff and this one as well, a knock on effect from the announcement of School Closures, a plea from various organisations, do not forget exercise for children. It is not just about providing educational support for children having to stay at home but to keep them moving as well. An important point because a lot of people mulling over how it is going to work in the weeks to come. A park run was cancelled yesterday. Loads of families take part in those. Lots of grassroot spots saying not to go to your local tennis et cetera. A knock on effect from the closure of schools. It is notjust from the closure of schools. It is not just about Mental Health from the closure of schools. It is notjust about Mental Health but physical health as well. In complete contrast. Lots of people looking at things on line. In the guardian, in case youre wondering what to do when you are self isolating, bench time 50 must watch tv shows. Bbc breakfast on the list. We provide lots of information as well. Thank you very much. No problem. Lets pick up on those announcements yesterday. Gcse and a level students in england and wales would have been just months away from their summer exams. But now theyre waking up to the reality that they wont be sitting them after yesterdays schools shutdown announcement. Lets remind ourselves of what prime minster borisjohnson said as he setout measures to counter the growing spread of the virus. After schools shut the gate from friday afternoon, they will remain closed for most pupils, for the vast majority of pupils until further notice and i will explain what i meant by the vast majority of pupils. The objective is to slow the spread of the virus and we judge this is the right moment to do that but, of course, as i have always said, we also need to keep the nhs going and to treat the rising number of cases so we need Health Workers who are also parents to continue to go to work and we need other critical workers with children to keep doing theirjobs as well, from Police Officers who were keeping us safe, from supermarket delivery drivers, social care workers who look after the elderly and who are so vital. We will set out more details shortly about whom we mean in these groups. We therefore need schools to make provision for the children of these key workers who would otherwise be forced to stay home and they will also need to look after the most Vulnerable Children. This doesnt mean, that exams will not take place as planned in may and june though we will make sure that pupils get the qualifications they need and deserve for their academic career. I note that these steps will not be easy for parents or for teachers and for many parents this will be frustrating and it will make it harderfor them to will be frustrating and it will make it harder for them to go out to work and, of course, that is one of the reasons why we have not wanted to go ahead and that is why we are now working on further measures to ensure we support notjust business as but also individuals and their families to keep our economy going. The thing we must protect in order to achieve those aims of saving lives and protecting people is to make sure that the nhs intensive Care Capacity make sure that the nhs intensive ca re capacity and make sure that the nhs intensive Care Capacity and the Ventilator Capacity is not breach. That is what we have to keep looking at to make sure we do not get a position where that is breach. As this moves fast that and i alluded to this on monday more measures will be needed and right from the beginning we said schools are one of the things we could do but they are less important than some of the others that have been taken but we now think we are at a stage where this extra bit is an important measure to make sure we stay under that critical detecting the nhs icu Ventilator Capacity so that is the reason for now saying this should go ahead at this time. It is important to stress, and this is really critical, it is not because schools are dangerous places for children. They are not. Children have a very mild or asymptomatic version of this disease so they are the list at risk and it is not a dangerous place for teachers. The reason for this is because of the effect it can have two knockdown the transmission, put some delay into the system, put some brea ks some delay into the system, put some breaks into the system of the transmission of this disease, to bring it down, to protect those people who might get the much more serious version and end up in intensive care or a ventilator. That is the reason now is an important time to do it. It is not instead of and cannot supplement the other measures. The other measures are crucially important and we all have our part to play to make sure to make those measures as affect as possible to try to drive this down and stay below the critical threshold. Two elements. The science. The beginning part from borisjohnson about some of the logistics to do with exams. How they will test those young people who should have been having their exams. If youre concerned about that, were speaking to the education secretary at 7 30am this morning. Also if you are a parent, a key worker or you think you are a key worker and want to establish that we can also address some of those questions. Tonight, well be bringing you more answers to your questions on coronavirus in a question time special presented by fiona bruce at 8pm on bbc one. Opportunities all day throughout the bbc to get some questions in and hopefully we can try and answer as many as we can thoroughly. Still to come on breakfast, the Green Goddess is back, as the over 70s face self isolation, fitness guru diana moran will show us how to keep fighting fit at home. For us how to keep fighting fit at home. A lot of people have for a lot of people they would not have a clue who diana moran is but from some of us, it is a blast from the past. Telling us how to stay fit at home. Time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. Good morning from bbc london. Im tolu adeoye. Big changes has been set out by transport for london as attempts grow to reduce the pace of the coronavirus outbreak. From today, up to 40 underground stations are to close. The night tube has been cut on weekends and there will be fewer bus services. Tfl says the reduced services will enable critical workers to make essential journeys. We can take a look at the underground board straighaway. The reduced service is in action, with the circle line running every 10 minutes and the hammermith and city line every 15 minutes. You can see the waterloo and city line is running today but that line will close from tomorrow. And you can find out which stations are shut on the tfl website. A Union Representing couriers who work for deliveroo says a fund set up by the company requiring an offical sick note for those with coronarvirus to make a claim is unworkable. The independent Workers Union of Great Britain says its proving impossible for riders who are genuinely sick or self isolating to get sick notes. Deliveroo says its committed millions of pounds to make sure riders who are diagnosed are supported, and is exploring other ways riders can be helped. A brief look at some of the other travel then. London bridge is closed to general traffic in both directions between London Bridge station and monument station due to roadworks. So expect delays there. In east ham, barking road is closed in both directions between denmark arms and east ham library due to a police investigation. Now the weather with Elizabeth Rizzini. Good morning. Rather grey and chilli across the capital for the next couple of days but something much better to look forward to on the weekend with plenty of sunshine in every focus. Today outbreaks of drizzle on and off through the day so some wet weather around. The weather front of me so yesterday is ever so slowly pushing its way northwards. It is mystic, murky with drizzle is on and off but turning dry through the south in the afternoon. 7 9d the peak of the temperatures. A light easterly breeze. Layers of cloud. A bit of drizzle overnight. Overnight lows between four and six celsius. The easterly wind tomorrow will strengthen and it will feel rather cold. Tim temperatures top temperatures. More sunshine over the weekend. Pleasantly warm in the sunshine. High pressure dominates the start of next week. During this difficult and uncertain time, a bit of positive news can go a long way. Our bbc local radio stations have launched the make a difference campaign, telling good news stories of people and organisations who are helping keep the most vulnerable and isolated in our communities going. Theyll be doing this every day at a quarter past the hour and a quarter to. So make sure you tune in. Im back with the latest from bbc london in half an hour. Now its back to naga and charlie. Bye bye for now. Hello, this is breakfast, with Charlie Stayt and naga munchetty. Well bring you all the latest news and sport in a moment, but also on breakfast this morning as schools prepare to close, how do you keep kids occupied at home . Its time to go back to the drawing board. Childrens author and illustrator rob biddulph will tell us why. And well see how one Toddler Group is proving its childs play if you have a laptop and a bit of imagination. I dont like mondays. Tell me why well talk to bob geldof about his first Boomtown Rats album in 36 years. Good morning, heres a summary of todays main stories from bbc news schools across the uk are to close until further notice from tomorrow to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The government has said only the most Vulnerable Children and those whose parents are key workers will still attend. Gcse and a level exams will be cancelled in england and wales, and decisions are due to be made in scotland and Northern Ireland. Decisions are due to be made about exams in scotland and Northern Ireland soon. Meanwhile, ministers will today outline details of new Emergency Powers which could be used to tackle the threat of the virus. The emergency coronavirus bill will include measures to strengthen the nhs, shut down the uks ports and airports and bolster Police Powers to detain people suspected of having the virus. As the Coronavirus Crisis deepens, hundreds of you are continuing to get in touch with questions about covid 19. Here to give us some answers are epidemic specialist professor sian griffiths, and frontline gp dr fari ahmad, who joins us from manchester. Good morning to you. Good morning. Good morning to you. Good morning. Good morning to you. Good morning. Good morning to you as well, doctor ahmad. Lots of questions youve been answering. How does the government get to the point of identifying how many infections are out there, the number of tests is going up to 25,000 . When he 5000 a day. So far weve done Something Like 65,000 test weve done Something Like 65,000 test 25,000 weve done Something Like 65,000 test 25,000 a day. But its been a matter of producing the test. Were aiming for 25,000 a day next week and then go up from that, so the aim is for 25,000 a day. For clarity, of those 56,000 tests, of those who tested positive . We know that because those are the numbers of people. Thats the numbers of people. Thats the number of cases each day, so that is currently. What was the number yesterday . It went up 100 or something yesterday, so what you say is with this increasing number of cases that are tested for, that shows the epidemic curve is being followed. There will be many more cases in the population because we havent been testing. Its the number of cases that we know are positive out of the 56,000, so its a very small number and it may be we havent caught everybody who has the disease. Doctor ahmad, you speak to us this morning with two hats on, youre a mother but also a gp. On the testing, one of the things thats been a concern to people working in the nhs is if they self isolate for a period of time, they wont know for sure whether or not they have had coronavirus and thats a real concern because if they know that they can go back in the system but if they dont know. Its been an area of concern, hasnt it . It has. I know lots of doctors and other healthcare workers who, if their child has had a cough and a fever, are self isolating. So theyre not available for up to two weeks. But if we had the test and we could work out if it was coronavirus and if it wasnt, or if it was the flue, then they could come back a lot quicker and it would be really helpful for us and it would be really helpful for us to have access to that. And also, doctor ahmad, as a parent, you will be very aware of the announcement on School Closures across the uk. How is that going to affect gp surgeries now . Sol now . So i think lots of people are going to have to discuss this. Fortunately, as nhs workers, our children will be looked after in school if we need that to happen. I remind ourteenagers. School if we need that to happen. I remind our teenagers. We are school if we need that to happen. I remind ourteenagers. We are not at all happy with that option people are going to be trying to make arrangements so they can still carry on working. I know places are looking at trying to do stuff online from home. It is changing, certainly it is changing how we work and how we manage patients now and probably ona we manage patients now and probably on a long term basis as well. Doctor ahmad, never a bad time to remind people about the basics and the symptoms and what people should be looking for, especially if you have children at home . Yeah, so the main symptoms are either a fever or a cough. A cough that is recent and carrying on. If you have those then clinically that would give you that diagnosis. There is a really useful nhs 111 online symptom cejka you can use and it will work you through if you do have it and how much it is affecting you and then what help you should access if you need any. Testing as well . Testing will become more available, especially for healthcare workers who are worried, and people who are looking after sick and elderly people. They will know if they have the disease and they will know not to make other arrangements. Theyve been worried about this, and rightly so. Theres been debate about whether home testing kits are going to be available but at the moment gp surgeries dont have them . Point of swa b surgeries dont have them . Point of swab testing is what they are introducing but it is a new test. The virus was new, they had to produce the tests very quickly and its a matter of scaling up and weve been discussing with industry how to scale up. Public health england, that is. Down the track we hope to have antibody testing, so whos had the disease, so that might be more useful. If you can test it with a cough, thats one thing, but if you can test if youve got the antibodies to the disease, then you are safe and you wont transmit it. Thats what we are going to do and hopefully it wont be too balance. Lots of people have been asking from the beginning about whether there could be rain second wave. One is can you catch it twice and secondly is there a danger we deal with it now and then it comes back. We dont know if you can catch it twice, this isa know if you can catch it twice, this is a new disease. Were hoping its like most viruses and we get immunity and we wont get it twice, but could we have another peek . Weve moved into the suppression phase, that is what social distancing is all about. They are about keeping us at home and away from big gatherings. Its about not having the close contact to spread the disease. If we can bring cases down that way, that will help the nhs code with the first wave. Looking at china, the biggest risk at the moment is although the numbers in wuhan have been reduced entirely, in fact to almost no cases now, handfuls, china has seen more cases because of imported cases from europe. Its not as simple as getting it down in the uk, we are a global society. Doctor fari ahmad, we had lots of questions from viewers. Clive is asking whether he should attend a schedule dental appointment. I ask this because gp surgeries are putting out the m essa g es to surgeries are putting out the messages to their patients to not go to the surgery, though any schedule appointments, how should treated . Scheduled. I would hope his dentist s surgery would get. It depends if youve got symptoms, you shouldnt be going anywhere, but otherwise it might be worthwhile calling before hand to otherwise it might be worthwhile calling beforehand to make sure they are running as an or if they want you to take precautions. Running behind. You were nodding their if people are worried about their appointments, they need to speak to the gp all the gp surgery or the dentist. If youre going to go then please tell people youre not going to go for your appointment so you dont get wasted appointments. While dealing with coronavirus, we have people at risk with long term conditions, like diabetes, Heart Disease or Cancer Patients who need treatment or advice. We dont want to ignore people with other diseases, so we need to maximise the Healthcare Service capacity as much as possible. We welcome your expertise, professor and doctor ahmad. Thank you for your time. Coronavirus first emerged in the chinese city of wuhan late last year. The authorities there imposed a Strict Lockdown to try to stop it spreading. Today there have been no new domestic cases recorded in china for the First Time Since the pandemic began. Chinas National Health Commission Said all of the 34 new cases confirmed were people who came from abroad. Lets get more now from our correspondent in beijing, stephen mcdonnell. Good to see you. Does this feel to you like theres been a shift when we think about the number of cases, and where theyve come from . Well, it is certainly a big day in china, symbolically at least, to go from the days when we had 80,000 plus infections to the last 24 hours when theyve added zero new infections in theyve added zero new infections in the whole of the country in terms of home grown cases, and the only extra infections were getting now the dozens coming in from overseas. Also, as if to really ram home the symbolism of this, in wuhan city, where this global emergency first began, people there are being allowed out today for the first time for a month and a half. Theyve been cooped up inside their homes and their going to be able to walk around outside. They re their going to be able to walk around outside. Theyre doing this ina around outside. Theyre doing this in a staged process, and you cant move that from from where you live, but nevertheless, imagine all that time stuck indoors it must be a great feeling for them to have a walk around outside and breathing in the fresh air and the like. Looking at the official figures, some people will say you cant believe them because theres been under reporting potentially from officials worried the Central Government might judge them in terms of the handling in their area or those who are sick arent coming to hospital and also not being caught in the official numbers, but nevertheless, if we assume the overall trend is instructive, i mean, as i said before, more than 80,000 infections at the peak and were now to 7000 or so people currently infected, so 70,000 plus people have come through and recovered. Ithink 70,000 plus people have come through and recovered. I think it would give people hope in other countries to see theres light at the end of the tunnel. It is so interesting, as you pick up on that point, stephen, light at the end of the tunnel, europe of course in a very different situation. You said the allowance of people to go out is going to be staged, have you been given any indication of what that will look like . Numbers. And you say they have to stay fairly close to where theyre staying at the moment . Yeah, im just talking about wuhan city, the worst hit city. There perhaps theyll say that building, you can all come outside from 3pm to 4pm. The building next door, 5pm to 6pm, and its all being managed area by area. Perhaps people can only walk inside their Housing Estate or Something Like that, but when theyve been indoors for all that time, they willjust be happy to get outside. Its an indication this is a step towards normality that hopefully in the coming weeks will mean there will be much more of this normality, if i can put it to you that way. Also there are some places in hubei where you can move from city to city, so the authorities are being careful, they are only loosening slowly because theyre worried about these Chinese People coming back from europe, north america, boarding planes, some of them have the disease and they know it, theyre taking drugs to suppress their temperature, arriving here and when they have a proper check they are found to have the virus. Beijing has been the worst hit city in terms of recent arrivals. 34 new cases today, around 21 of those are people flying in to beijing. This is why there are still quite strict warrantee there are still quite strict warra ntee measures if there are still quite strict warrantee measures if you come into china from overseas. Youre going to have to spend either time at home for a couple of weeks or in a designated quarantine centre. Thanks very much, Stephen Mcdonell in beijing. Cap has all the sport now and its been a tale of whats not happening kat. Its interesting, when you hear sports stars and the authorities hearing about it, talking about it, they are mindful that there is sport and theres health. Even though they say its confusing and they want clarity, they are all saying the same thing, they are all saying the same thing, the most important thing is the health of people. I think thats the overriding message but theres this weird persistence from the tokyo 2020 organisers that its going to go ahead. This. Matthew pinsent, one of Great Britains most successful olympians, yesterday said the ioc is tone deaf and you need to listen to the athletes and the advice because japan is pushing ahead. Dave said the games are going ahead dave said. Theyve said if it will happen injuly or august, could said. Theyve said if it will happen injuly oraugust, could be rain postponement injuly oraugust, could be rain postponement theyve injuly oraugust, could be rain postponement theyve said. Tokyo sticking with the message that going ahead with the olympics is still on the cards. Going ahead with the olympics would be irresponsible, the words of an organising committee member, as pressure builds to postponejulys games in tokyo. Ioc president thomas bach says ensuring athlete safety will be a priority at the tokyo Olympic Games, but hayley wickenheiser, who won four gold medals in ice hockey for canada, disagrees, saying sport must be a leader in promoting social distancing and that asserting the olympics will go ahead regardless is detrimental. Sporting events are massive gatherings of people. We have to be encouraging people to stay home, to stay put to contain this virus so if we could have an olympics injuly, that that could be possible. But right now, i think the tone and the messaging saying, were going ahead, is really non compassionate to what a lot of people in the world are going through. The premier league are holding an emergency meeting today to reiterate its commitment to completing the season. All games have been postponed until at least 4 april because of coronavirus. With the season up in the air, it leaves teams like bournemouth, who are in the relegation zone, not knowing where their future lies. That would be disastrous for us. I think there needs to be some kind of fairness. Theres so many different circumstances, so many things that can happen from this point. It is something we are delighted to have been able to come to an agreement with. Our staff will operate the hotels as normal and held workers will be allowed to stay without any costs in the next few months when they need isolation away from family members who might be affected. Footballers getting affected. No matches or training. Phil foden had a go, hes missing his football but keeping his eye in with the loo roll. Now, footballers are getting more inventive with how to pass the time away from their normal schedules. Many have been posting videos of themselves doing the toilet roll challenge its keepy uppies with, youve guessed it, loo roll. Premier League Footballers floor to their talents. Theres no shortage of footballs. They could use a ball. The toilet roll is an emblem. They didnt look like they were wasting the toilet roll. It did seem intact. Everyone gets one toilet roll to do that with. It could be used, it was intact. You heres carol with a look at this mornings weather. She would never do anything like that. I couldnt do it anyway if i tried the weather this morning, very similarto the weather this morning, very similar to yesterday, some of us off toa similar to yesterday, some of us off to a bright start but a cold one with frost around, 2 at the moment in cockermouth in cumbria and in darlington, another beautiful start but cold, below freezing if youre stepping out. Further south, but cold, below freezing if youre stepping out. Furthersouth, no weather watchers pictures just yet from further south, ploughed around and patchy light rain and also light drizzle and this is the line of demarcation between the mild air in the south and cold air in the north. Cold air in Northern Ireland, Northern England, wales, and mostly dry barone or Northern England, wales, and mostly dry bar one or two showers and some showers. Further south, all this cloud extending from the wash to aberystwyth south and that is producing drizzle and light and patchy rain. Temperatures today ranging from six to around 13 and ive picked out the six deliberately in cardiff, way below average. The average in cardiff and london at this stage in march is 11, so fairly nippy if youre stuck this stage in march is 11, so fairly dippy if youre stuck under this stage in march is 11, so fairly nippy if youre stuck under the cloud and rain and drizzle. This evening and overnight we have it, a weather front weakening all the time, so there bit of cloud first in southern england and wales with drizzle still. North of that under clear skies its going to be cold, cold enough for a hard frost and parts of north east scotland could fall as as 5 but under the cloud and the rain and the drizzle, certainly not feeling that cold. Tomorrow its going to be windy in the English Channel and coastlines adjacent to it and we are likely to some showers coming in from france across the Channel Islands, and also across the Channel Islands, and also across some southern counties, we could even see a few in east anglia but again, the north of england, north wales, Northern Ireland, drier conditions with a fair bit of sunshine. One thing to note is weve got our north easterly wind coming in from the north sea and that could well blow in some showers in some eastern areas along the coast, and here to wind that wind it will feel a bit nippy. Here too with that wind. This weather front is veering towards the north west. High pressure influences our weather so things will be more settled. Breezy during saturday but there will be a lot of dry weather and a fair bit of sunshine. This weather front out towards the west looks like it might make much in the way of inroads into Northern Ireland, and temperature wise were still feeling nippy because of the breeze, six to 12. Thanks, carol, see you later on. Thousands of people face being out of work as a result of the measures being implemented to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Nina is taking a look at what your rights are if that happens to you. So many questions for so many people, especially in the self employed sector, thats where the most worry is. And also parents worrying about what to do with the kids next week, lots of us worrying this morning about that. Too early to say how manyjobs are lost or exposed at the minute. One reputable think tank thinks 25 million jobs could be lost globally across various industries. A quarter of the uk workforce is employed in sectors where consumer demand has shrunk because of the impact on social contact, so pubs, restaurants, retail, entertainment. What does that mean for employees that employers employers that have staff to pay . Peter runs 3 restaurants and delis in liverpool and manchester and hes worried about being able to pay his staff of around 100 after this month. Right now we are physically closing down, emptying our fridges right now we are physically closing down, emptying ourfridges and closing up and getting ready for what we think will be a to or three month closure from that. First paydayis month closure from that. First payday is friday, payroll costs about £110,000, and we have to do that this friday. In four weeks time when weve had four weeks of no trade, you will have the running of that payroll. Our concern it is low and there is no way we will have the resources to pay it back. Trading for a long, long time once all this recovers is not going to be great. It clearly isnt going to be great. Our biggest concern and question for the government is when are they going to produce protective legislation that stops us losing our business, or someone losing their house because they cannot keep up the repayment . So what can workers do, if anything . The repayment . So what can workers do, ifanything . If the repayment . So what can workers do, if anything . If your employer is like peter and there isnt the work for you, they might put you in something called short time working where your hours are temporarily cut. If you cut your hours completely, youre then entitled to something called guaranteed pay, that equates to £29 per day and is more than basic and if its but your employer may choose you to get more than that and if youre unemployed you could get statutory redundancy pay, a week per year if youve been with the employer for two years. You can then start implying for benefits. Jobseekers allowance. Universal credit if youre over 20 and mortgage holidays that can help with housing costs. Lots of people are wondering what will happen next week when the kids at home. If you can do yourjob at home then you should get full pay. If not, the pay is at the discretion of your employer but the Prime Minister said last night he recognises the pressure School Closures will put on lots of families. We expect more measures, in his words, to help individuals. Really complicated for everybody and lots of good advice on the government website and we will try to answer as many questions as we can possibly. Very anxious time for lots of people. Nina, thanks very much. Time for the news, travel and weather where you are. Good morning from bbc london. Im tolu adeoye. Big changes has been set out by transport for london as attempts grow to reduce the pace of the coronavirus outbreak. From today, up to 40 underground stations are to close. The night tube has been cut on weekends and there will be fewer bus services. Tfl says the reduced services will enable critical workers to make essential journeys. We can take a look at the underground board straighaway. The reduced service is in action, with the circle line running every 10 minutes and the hammermith and city line every 15 minutes. You can see the waterloo and city line is running today but that line will close from tomorrow. And you can find out which stations are shut on the tfl website. A Union Representing couriers who work for deliveroo says a fund set up by the company requiring an offical sick note for those with coronarvirus to make a claim is unworkable. The independent Workers Union of Great Britain says its proving impossible for riders who are genuinely sick or self isolating to get sick notes. Deliveroo says its committed millions of pounds to make sure riders who are diagnosed are supported, and is exploring other ways riders can be helped. A brief look at some of the other travel then. Its queueing as normal on the blackwall lane towards the blackwall tunnel. London bridge is closed to general traffic in both directions due to roadworks. In east ham, barking road is closed in both directions between denmark arms and east ham library due to a police investigation. Now the weather with Elizabeth Rizzini. Good morning. Rather grey and chilly across the capital for the next couple of days but something much better to look forward to at the weekend with plenty of sunshine. Today outbreaks of drizzle on and off through the day so some wet weather around. Our weather front we saw yesterday is ever so slowly pushing its way northwards. It is misty, murky with drizzle is on and off but turning dry through the south in the afternoon. 7 9 the peak of the temperatures. A chilly but light easterly breeze. Overnight, very little change. Layers of cloud. A bit of drizzle into tomorrow morning. Overnight lows between four and six celsius. The easterly wind tomorrow will strengthen and it will feel rather cold. Top temperatures of only nine celsius but quite a lot of added windchill. Staying mostly dry but plenty of cloud. More sunshine over the weekend. Pleasantly warm in the sunshine. We still have actually easterly wind and High Pressure dominates into the start of next week. During this difficult and uncertain time, a bit of positive news can go a long way. Our bbc local radio stations have launched the make a difference campaign, telling good news stories of people and organisations who are helping keep the most vulnerable and isolated in our communities going. Theyll be doing this every day at a quarter past the hour and a quarter to. Im back with the latest from bbc london in half an hour. Get london in half an hour. In touch with us if you have stories get in touch with us if you have any stories of people helping in your areas. Bye for now. Good morning. Welcome to breakfast with Charlie Stayt and naga munchetty. Our headlines today calls for the government to urgently explain what will happen to thousands of students hit by the scrapping of this years gcses and a levels as the uks schools close down. Parts of the London Transport Network are shut. The government will introduce emergency legislation to help tackle the cornonavirus crisis. Calling in the troops. A covert support force will help the Coronavirus Crisis. What next in the world of work . With millions working from home, and millions more wondering how safe theirjobs are, ill be looking at your rights calling in the troops. Good morning. In sport going ahead with the olympics would be irresponsible, the words of an organising committee member, as pressure builds to postponejulys games in tokyo. What you had yesterday is more or less the same as today. In the south, cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle and in the north, frosty start with sunny spells and a few showers. Ill have all the details coming up. Its thursday 19th march. Our top story schools and universities are calling on ministers to give more details about plans to close classrooms from tomorrow in an attempt to stem the coronavirus outbreak. Gcses and a level exams have been cancelled in england and wales, prompting questions over how pupils will be graded. A decision on exams in scotland is expected today. Meanwhile, the emergency coronavirus bill, which includes new laws to tackle the crisis, will be presented to parliament today. Heres our news correspondent, simonjones. Schools prepare to close and nobody knows for how long. You need to take home your book. Exams have been cancelled in england 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 drivers 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 had been putting off taking what has long as they felt they could. They recognise the turmoil that 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 ensure pupils get the qualifications they need. But the Walton Family from bristol are left with questions. Holly wont sit her gcses and millie, who is a teacher, will have to look after the children 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 and i think its really important we just support them as much as we can. Its notjust schools being shut. Parts of the underground network in london are to be closed. And o 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 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, bbc news. Lets get more on this from our Political Correspondent Jonathan Blake who joins us from our westminster studio. Now we know some measures will be introduced, the question is how quickly they get put into legislation . Yes, and it will be a speeded up timetable in parliament over the next few days. Later today the government will have the First Reading youll and in their sweeping powers at the governments disposal to use as they see fit. One includes getting recently retired nhs staff back into theirjobs and allowing those volunteering for several weeks not to lose theirjobs, but more details on other powers, for example giving Police Powers to detain people and put them into isolation if needed on Public Health grounds and also the possible closure of ports and airports if there are enough border staff due to sickness arent enough. As i said, this is due to go through in parliament quicker than legislation would normally do and partly thats because its been drawn up with the agreement and support of the opposition parties. Nevertheless, labour have some concerns. Jeremy corbyn has written to the Prime Minister saying while the party understands urgent action is needed, he says these powers should be reviewed and voted on by mps every six months. Whereas the legislation means they will only be reviewed every two years. They are due to be introduced in Parliament Later and unusually also mps wont vote in the normal way, it will go through with a nod of the head in the house of commons. Jonathan, thanks very much. No on how pupils who wont be able to ta ke no on how pupils who wont be able to take gcses in a levels in england and wales because of School Closures will be assessed. John maguire is at a school in bristol. Hello, john. Lots of people pointing out quite rightly this morning that school staff will carry on working because they are expected to look after the children of key workers, for example, but most pupils wont be attending school. What preparations are in place and how has it in received . The key thing, charlie, listening to whatjonathan the key thing, charlie, listening to what jonathan was saying the key thing, charlie, listening to whatjonathan was saying and also inside mens report and our headlines, the word that has come back we havent heard it since brexit, clarity simons report. The monday morning press conferences from the Prime Minister raised as many questions as answers, thinking about the imprecations going forward. Weir at Bristol Grammar School on the edge of the city of bristol, 1300 children aged between four and bristol, 1300 children aged between fourand 18, bristol, 1300 children aged between fourand18, it bristol, 1300 children aged between four and 18, it is an independent private school. They were going to close because so many staff were unavailable for various Different Reasons this afternoon, but they are looking at planning now for the next couple of weeks. Interestingly, going through the Easter Holidays as well, so not just going through the Easter Holidays as well, so notjust the next two weeks but the weeks after and of course into what should be the next term. The deputy was telling me earlier hes already had 70 members of staff here volunteer to help, and hes stressing and saying to the students here that this isnt the last day of term, there will be Distance Learning and they will be able to log in and they will be sent e mails, worksheets, lots of various different computer programmes these days enable children to learn remotely and for staff to support them but crucially, of course, no exams. What is going to happen to exams. What is going to happen to exams and the Big Questions for those in years 11 to 13 doing gcses and a levels, what will happen now and a levels, what will happen now and how will they be given their graves that the progress theyve not obviously made no far but also they will have made by the end of the academic term . Its that word again, normal. At the moment theres just normal. At the moment theres just no normal. John, thanks very much. On the issue of clarity, lots of people getting in touch this morning especially to do with education, gcses and a levels. Especially to do with education, gcses and alevels. Assessments. Many questions on that stop Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, joining us in about 20 minutes, around 7 30am. We will put as many of those questions to him as possible for Gavin Williamson at 7 30am. We will speak to a head teacher and parents with children with different Educational Needs. He will be listening so we will get those questions to him as well. The government is doubling the number of military personnel who are on standby to 20,000. The so called Covid Support force will assist civil authorities. Lets speak to our defence correspondent, jonathan beale. Jonathan, good morning. What will the military be doing . There hasnt been any major request from Government Departments. As you know, there are military personnel on standby to help civil authorities at any given time. They help with flooding, for example. Theyve helped in the past in small numbers when theres been an increase terrorist threat, so there are 10,000 troops on standby, military personnel as well. That is being increased to 20,000, so there will be call ups for reservists too. They are identifying specific tasks that they may be involved in. So, for example, their training 150 military personnel to drive oxygen tankers for hospitals if they r required. They may be asked to help to back up the police, for example, to back the border force, to back up the Prison Service too, that request hasnt happened so dont expect lucy troops out on the street, but there are troops and planners out there with Government Departments working out where they might needed to see troops. Jonathan beale, thanks very much. 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. Good morning, gavin, what is changing . We are 24 hours into strict confinement measures in belgium, its not being called a lockdown yet, theres a bit more wiggle room than in italy and france, where lockdown is have also happened, while only food stores are openin happened, while only food stores are open in belgium, Everything Else has shut down and theyve open other aspects of society. Libraries and hairdressers are allowed to stay open but it still means if youre walking the streets, you have to either be with members of your family or no more than one friend. There are police car and foot patrols on the streets of all the major towns and cities. In the next few days they say they wont bring in fines but by the weekend if people are still not abiding by that, they will and the cases, 1500 cases confirmed of coronavirus in belgium, and the Health Ministry is looking at the curve of italy. Go back 19 days, italy was rising at a similar rate, around 1500 there, now we know it is 35,000 cases, so that the big concern. Whether they are doing enough. In the next couple of days they are wondering whether to make the quarantine even more strict. Gavin, thank you very much. Another 475 people have died in italy, bringing the total to nearly 3000. Seam architecture is our reporter in rome. Obviously italy being seen as one of the key areas to keep an eye on . Simon architecture. Absolutely. The situation is dire, the north of the country is where it is worse. The president of lombardy, the region where it is highest in infection, is warning people that if they dont stop moving around they will stop being treated. 40 arent moving, they arent staying at home, they are going to work and the president has been given this morning, imagine people not being treated at hospital. In milan we expect chinese experts to arrive in the next two hours, they are bringing nine tons of kit. Extra masks and ventilators to help doctors cope. Looking at pictures from the uk with all the people hoarding from supermarkets, its rather different here, people arent doing the same. What is interesting is to countries are dealing with a Health Crisis in a very different way. The Prime Minister saying it will get a lot worse before it gets better, so we expect those figures to continue rising. Really alarming. Thanks very much. We will have more on the coronavirus injusta we will have more on the coronavirus injust a moment. Lets we will have more on the coronavirus in just a moment. Lets take we will have more on the coronavirus injust a moment. Lets take break with the weather and carol. Good morning. Look at that picture, ill we getting some rain . Some of us have it, this is bromley in Greater London from one of our weather watchers, but not everyone gets one. A cold and frosty start for these areas but sunshine today. For the rest of england and south wales, fairly cloudy with patchy rain and also drizzle. You can see how its been falling through the night in parts of england and wales with snow on the tops of the hills. That will continue on and off through the day, but move further north and we are back into. After that chilly start, sunny skies and there will be some showers around, more notably in the north and west, one or two in Northern Ireland and you could catch one in Northern England but most will miss one. The main wet weather is further south. Temperatures today ranging from six to 12, but if youre under this rain band, look at the maximums, only five in birmingham and six in cardiff, way below average for this stage in february. Later this afternoon if youre outside in scotland, still a lot of dry weather around with showers wintry on the tops of the mountains. You could get the odd road shower in Northern Ireland and Northern England but most wont. Rogue. Quite bright in north wales but then we run into this cloud and still patchy light rain and drizzle and cloudy in the Channel Islands. We will have this through the night but that at least will help maintain the temperatures, and the wind will pick up also in the English Channel. Behind that, something drier and clearer and colder with a widespread ha rd clearer and colder with a widespread hard frost, particularly in the north east. Thank you very much, carol. Pleasure. It is 7 15am. Yesterday it was announced that schools, colleges and nurseries across the uk would close to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Across the uk would close to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. In a moment, well be taking a look at how it has impacted parents, teachers and children, but first, lets take a look in more detail at the governments announcement. All schools will close by friday until further notice, with no indication as to when theyll re open. There will be teachers there, though. Children with social workers and special Educational Needs and those whose parents are classified as key workers will be allowed to stay in school. In england and wales, gcses and a levels have been cancelled. In scotland, pupils are due to start exams in the next few weeks, an announcement on those is expected today. Theres been no decision on exams in Northern Ireland yet. The Prime Minister yesterday said there were plans for students to receive the qualifications they need. Its not yet clear how this process will work. Were joined now by headteacher ian fenn, as well as parents Kelley Williams sanders in caerphilly, and Katherine Kowalski whos in cornwall. Lets talk about it, kelley. Youre a parent, tell us your situation as youre looking at it next week. How many children do you have and whats going to happen . Ive got two children of school age, one is five and one is 13, so the 13 year old isnt too bad. He can deal with himself but the 5 year old. I work from home and while that sounds great, in theory its not because i still need to be in a secluded area in the house and i cant have my 5 year old wandering in and out of screening to me. It will be a nightmare. Im dreading it. Have you got any particular issues . I can understand in the house it will be tricky, you think its manageable . It will be manageable if i can get my hours in workjuggled because i normally work from 9am to 3pm, so while the kids are in school. If i can get some of my hours broken up, perhaps it will be manageable because i dont have any childcare. My because i dont have any childcare. My husband works away, my parents are in self isolation. So, yeah, u nless are in self isolation. So, yeah, unless i can get my hoursjuggled, theres not a great deal i can do. Its a situation so many people will be able to relate to this morning, kelley. Katherine, ill start with the same question charlie asked kelley. Whats your situation . How do you expect the coming weeks and next week to pan out . |j do you expect the coming weeks and next week to pan out . I think its going to be extremely challenging. I have two children as well. My youngest attends a special school. He needs a very specialist type of education and theres things we simply cant replicate for him at home, things like hydrotherapy, physio, he uses specialist equipment for communication. My daughter attends a mainstream school, shes a bit older, shes 11, shes probably a bit easier to cater for. Again, i work from home, like kelley, and trying tojuggle all of work from home, like kelley, and trying to juggle all of this work from home, like kelley, and trying tojuggle all of this is going to be an extreme challenge. I dont know if theres an easy answer. We need to keep working and also we have to care for our children. What guidance have you been given as a parent of someone who has special Education Needs . With had support from my school that my sun goes to, they sent letters home to families and were very helpful to keep us informed last week and the support we could expect from the school weve had. The challenge is the lack of clarity from Central Government. We dont know weather our children. In a special school, most have education, health and care plans, for example, and yesterday the education ministers said children with ehcps will be able to go to school and i dont know how thats workable in a special School Environment where often the staff to child ratios are such that as soon as staff go sick, they cant resource it and it doesnt work. Often our children are medically vulnerable and we wouldnt wa nt medically vulnerable and we wouldnt want them to be in school anyway. We pre empted the decision to close schools and kept our children at home from monday for that reason. Thats interesting, katherine, were talking about education and we will talking about education and we will talk to the education secretary Gavin Williamson, so thats one issue we will try to put to him. Ian, held at sale little bit, youre a head teacher and you, like eve ryo ne a head teacher and you, like everyone else, is trying to work out clarity. Everyone wants clarity. Are you clear about what youre going to do next as a head teacher . Help us out a bit. I have to hoist an assembly in about an hour and a half andl assembly in about an hour and a half and i have to answer questions host. Such as . Going to college, getting grades, i have a daughter due to go to university, are her predict grades going to be used . What is going to come into effect so the children can progress their careers . With all these questions, which i imagine you had yesterday and the day before, when you put this to the department of education or press the department for some a nswe rs , or press the department for some answers, what is the answer . Are they working on it . Do they not have them . What they working on it . Do they not have them . What is they working on it . Do they not have them . What is it saying to you . They must be working on it because if theyre not then it is unthinkable. Im absolutely confident they will be working. They say theyre working with ofcwal to get the qualifications children need but we dont know what that means. Theres some children stressing about how many grade nines they will get and others are worried about scraping a two, three, four, five, so theres so two, three, four, five, so theres so many different emotions involved here. Some kids breathing a sight of relief, they havent worked hard so they will be ok can i ask a couple of practical things . As of monday, which group of peoples children will be able to come to school . Your staff are going to be working. I know schools are closed but staff will be there what are being deemed key workers children with special needs, so what is your understanding of who will be allowed to have children in school . Im not totally sure, because we have children who are vulnerable but they dont hit one of the thresholds. Give us an example of what that might look like, what kind of people are you talking about . We have a child where Domestic Violence is suspected, and weve made referrals and so far they have said that, you know, it is not a child in yet, in need yet, and we dont think its rich that level, but we are unsure and worried. You pass on your concerns to social services . Its reached. So its in that grey area . How do we keep those children monitored and safe . We are all very good at getting work packs out and getting the website with work on, thats not going to be the issue. The issue will be the children wanting to do it and also the ones who are vulnerable. Can we go back to the key workers . Were getting a lot of questions this from parents who are saying this is myjob, and i a key worker . What do you know at this stage about who classifies as a key worker . Next to nothing, but i will find out. It is hard to be critical of a government that is trying to manage an unprecedented situation, and im sure when the minister of state comes and answers these questions, he will have answers. Can i ask, is it your concern . And where speaking to Gavin Williamson shortly, is it your concern a lot of students will come to school because their parents will be saying it is practically difficult because my job be saying it is practically difficult because myjob is important and difficult because myjob is importantandi difficult because myjob is important and i need to carry on. What are your concerns about that . Each school will have a different set of concerns depending on the profile but thats not my concern, my concern is what will happen to young people wandering the streets. When you are addressing this in an hour at school today, how much ability do you have . How much capacity do you have in school with your teachers to say if you are concerned, especially with those at risk of sexual abuse at home, Domestic Abuse at home, poverty at home, come and talk to us and we will try to help you. How much capacity do you have to be able to offer that real help . Where in a very strong position, not every school is. Exactly. Only 48 hours ago one of my staff said lets collect and distribute food. We are in a. We are able to package up and give vulnerable families food to ta ke and give vulnerable families food to take home that they couldnt get anywhere else. I was astounded by the generosity of some of the parents and community. Im assuming teachers have the training because this is going to be a concern about children who are vulnerable . Yes. Pa rents children who are vulnerable . Yes. Parents have the training teachers have the training to confront these children to say there is somewhere safe for you to go, this is important. Absolutely and this is important. Absolutely and this is important. Absolutely and this is because weve been doing this is because weve been doing this throughout. This isnt something we will suddenly start doing but it is difficult if we dont have access to the children, so we will have to find and work out ways where we can keep in contact with the most vulnerable if they dont come to school. Katherine, you outline very clearly, and obviously you face a very challenging time coming up with your two children, what is it you would like to hear now from the government that would give you reassurance . Or practical help . What would you like to hear . I would like to hear they are working cross departmentally, because education is one factor but for many families with disabled children, with schools closing and us children, with schools closing and us wanting to protect our children, it means respite care isnt available to us. Thats often the thing that keeps families like mine functioning and together. Without it, we are at risk. Many of us receive things called direct payments from our local authorities to help pay for that respite care, and what id like to is the government and local authorities working together to use that creatively to support families in different ways. Also Mental Health support for parent carers, we are a strong bunch and usually challenging situations but this will be extremely hard. Used to. We have to keep the show on the road for our Vulnerable Children. Kelley, the same question. We are speaking to Gavin Williamson in four minutes, what do you want to hear from the government . We need to know a timeline, how long are the kids going to be kept home . As katherine said, its not just going to be kept home . As katherine said, its notjust their education, its the larger aspects of life. Paying the rent, your bills, food, heating the house, you know . Everyone is going to be at home that little bit longer now, so we know when we we need to know when we are going to get respite stop the kelley and Katherine Kowalski, thank you for your time. Ian, thank you. Good luck with the pupils at the assembly and the school as well. Thank you very much. Youre very welcome. Gavin williamson will be joining usjust after welcome. Gavin williamson will be joining us just after 7 30am. Welcome. Gavin williamson will be joining usjust after 7 30am. Thats whats coming up next. Time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. Good morning from bbc london, im tolu adeoye. Big Service Changes have been set out by transport for london because of the coronavirus outbreak. From today, up to 40 underground stations are to close. The night tube has been cut on weekends and the frequency of tubes and buses will drop significantly. Tfl says the reduced services will enable critical workers to make essential journeys. Lets take a look at the underground board now. The reduced service is in action already. Particularly on the circle line, which is running every 10 minutes, and the hammermith and city line, thats every 15 minutes. You can see the waterloo and city line is running today but will completely close from tomorrow. And you can find out more details on the changes as well as which stations are closed on the tfl website. A Union Representing couriers who work for deliveroo says a fund set up by the company requiring an offical sick note for those with coronarvirus to make a claim is unworkable. The independent Workers Union of Great Britain says its proving impossible for riders who are genuinely sick or self isolating to get sick notes. Deliveroo says its committed millions of pounds to make sure riders who are diagnosed are supported, and is exploring other ways riders can be helped. A brief look at some of the other travel then. Its queueing as normal on the a13 into town through the goresbrook interchange. London bridge is closed to general traffic in both directions due to roadworks. In east ham, barking road is closed in both directions between denmark arms and east ham library due to a police investigation. Now the weather with Elizabeth Rizzini. Good morning. Rather grey and chilly across the capital for the next couple of days but something much better to look forward to at the weekend with plenty of sunshine. Today outbreaks of drizzle on and off through the day so some wet weather around. Our weather front we saw yesterday is ever so slowly pushing its way northwards. It is misty, murky with drizzle is on and off but turning dry through the south in the afternoon. 7 9 the peak of the temperatures. A chilly but light easterly breeze. Overnight, very little change. Layers of cloud. A bit of drizzle into tomorrow morning. Overnight lows between four and six celsius. The easterly wind tomorrow will strengthen and it will feel rather cold. Top temperatures of only nine celsius but quite a lot of added windchill. Staying mostly dry but plenty of cloud. More sunshine over the weekend. Pleasantly warm in the sunshine. We still have an easterly wind and High Pressure dominates into the start of next week. High pressure dominates the start of next week. During this difficult and uncertain time, a bit of positive news can go a long way. Our bbc local radio stations have launched the make a difference campaign, telling good news stories of people and organisations who are helping keep the most vulnerable and isolated in our communities going. Theyll be doing this every day at a quarter past the hour and a quarter to. Im back with the latest from bbc london in half an hour. Now its back to naga and charlie. Bye bye for now. Hello, this is breakfast with Charlie Stayt and naga munchetty. Schools and universities are calling for the government to urgently explain what will happen to thousands of students who will not be able to sit their gcses and a levels this year. The exams have been scrapped as schools across the uk will close from tomorrow. The government has said only the most Vulnerable Children and those whose parents are key workers will still be able to attend school. Decisions are due to be made about exams in scotland and Northern Ireland soon. Meanwhile, ministers will outline details of new Emergency Powers which could be used to tackle the threat of the virus. The emergency covoronavirus bill will include measures to strengthen the nhs, shut down the uks ports and airports and bolster Police Powers to detain people suspected of having the virus. 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. More on the imminent closure of schools and universities to try to stem the corona virus outbreak. Education secretary Gavin Williamson is with us in westminster. Thanks for your time. Could you remind people of the changes from tomorrow . Tomorrow will be the last normal day that schools are having. At the close of school, we will repurposed the schools to provide a safe setting for key workers but also some of those most Vulnerable Children where school is an absolute and critical lifeline for them. It wont be the usual education setting people are used to, it wont be teaching the national curriculum. There wont be the tests running, and sadly there wont be the exams taking place here. Well come onto the exam issues, many people have questions about that, but firstly can you help in relation to key workers and i will bring in some questions. Jen has said can you ask mr williamson about when he will release the list of key workers to allow heads to plan ahead of monday. Who are the key workers . The Cabinet Office will be listing a full list later today and that will detail all those occupations. If i can give a few exa m ples, those occupations. If i can give a few examples, all those people working within the nhs, and we often talk about the doctors and nurses, but theres so many more people who make sure a hospital is able to run and properly function. All those people who are involved in that endeavour will be included, and there will also be the need for those who work within schools, those who are providing the support in orderfor who are providing the support in order for doctors, who are providing the support in orderfor doctors, nurses who are providing the support in order for doctors, nurses and those nhs staff, in order to get to the hospitals. But then more widely theres the fact that we still need to have our Critical National infrastructure that continues to work and function right around the country. We also need to be ensuring we have delivery drivers delivering the food and the resources we need to our shop right across the united kingdom. So, to be clear, later on today there will be a complete list of those people deemed to be key workers. The advice to parents checking whether they are in that group, what should people do . Is it the responsibility of the school to determine . The parents who are not included in this list will be immediately aware that their child will not be offered the place in terms of the School Setting because obviously theyre not included on that list but well be sharing this information with every single school, and all media outlets, which iimagine school, and all media outlets, which i imagine well report on it pretty widely as well. One issue raised by quite a lot of people is the grey areas. Key workers, we understand there will be a clear list. If a head teacher has a clear list. If a head teacher has a pupil in their school who have no they have reported to social services in relation to suspected Domestic Violence, so its within the system but they dont have a social worker, its not gone beyond that point, are they children who should be in school . If there are particular concerns, such as what you outlined, by the head to, we deliberately took the move to include Vulnerable Children in this for exactly that reason and what we would do is we would be working. Weve already had discussions with local authorities who run the social services, and if there were concerns about particular pupils in that manner, of course we would be wanting to make sure they are in a safe and proper environment, and that was an issue being dealt with. The safety of children is the key driver in terms of everything we do. That would be at the discretion of the head teachers . What we would do is we would ask them to work with the local authority who does the social services in that area. An incredibly relationship between social services and schools in the safeguarding work in schools do, but what we would immediately do is make sure that children, where there are people who have been flagged up by head teachers and teachers, make sure that is dealt with and make sure that is dealt with and make sure they have a safe place in order to be able to come, which would be a School Environment. We have a message from a head teacher at a primary school. She asks, what about the fact we have been told to stay open all through the Easter Holiday as well. She is concerned about emotionally exhausted and dwindling stuff over the next four weeks and beyond. Are you asking schools to stay open over easter as well . We are asking schools to Work Together to provide provision right through the Easter Holiday and we are also asking further education colleges, universities, the whole Education System as to how we can Work Together because we recognise that there is an enormous amount of pressure and we want to ensure that pressure and we want to ensure that pressure does not fall into single individuals continuously so how we can Work Together with schools to make sure teachers, head teachers, are able to get a break and come away from school is critical. We have to remember, we are looking at providing a sort of education setting for 10 of the children who would usually be attending school so on average that means 40 children in every school for an average school size of 400. A much lower level of staffing to do that and one key area is to look at how schools can be working together to share some of that burden. We have also made it clear to schools that we will be covering the financial cost of any extra cost they incur as a result of doing this. Can we turn our attention to children with special Educational Needs and that could be all sorts of different circumstances. What provision has been made. A particular issue raised in relation to staffing ratio. There is flexibility the government in staying in that but clearly for children with special Educational Needs, different rules apply. Can you explain . In terms of a bill we are bringing forward to parliament, we are able to lift some of the restrictions we originally had in terms of skills so schools are able to flex the ratios stop many children with special needs would be covered with an educational and Healthcare Plan covered with an educational and healthca re plan but covered with an educational and Healthcare Plan but it is critical we look at it this is why we are working so closely with local authorities because some of these schools will be affected by the spread of this virus, about how we can backfill some resources into those schools that there will be lots of pa rents those schools that there will be lots of parents who make the decision that they do not want their child to be in that education setting and want them at home. As people are trying to work outjust what they will do next week, if there is a family situation in which a working parent has to stay home because their children are not in school, what is their situation in relation to pay . The reason that we are doing all of this is to deal with the call issue of stopping the spread of this pandemic. Every action that we take and that this is certainly something is education secretary i would ever want or be in a position to make this decision, but it is about stopping the spread of this virus and we do need people creating space around them. We are asking people to work from home. The government has outlined a whole set of measures in terms of both supporting businesses, supporting those people in terms of statutory sick pay and actually doing everything they can to make businesses a position to continue paying their works at. |j understand that but my question was slightly more immediate. If on monday someone was expected to be at work, the reason they cannot be at work, the reason they cannot be at work is to look after their children, is that the equivalent of a self isolation in terms of what their rights are in terms of statutory sick pay or compensation of some kind . The government has a ready made clear they want as much of the workforce to be able and for much of the population to be isolating themselves in the best possible way in order to make sure that we stop the spread of this virus. The reason that we have taken what is quite an incredibly unusual step in terms of closing the schools is to stop the spread of the pandemic and every action we are asking people to take is to keep them safe and to keep them secure but we recognise that, when people are self isolating and when people are self isolating and when people are ina are self isolating and when people are in a position that they are not going to be able to do as they were, they need to be the support that and thatis they need to be the support that and that is what the government is doing. Im going to ask about exams with a question from tracy. Please explain on how qualifications and grades will be awarded . We will be issuing details of this tomorrow. We have already sat down with the head teachers union, universities are uk, working very closely in terms of making sure that every child gets that qualification. As they would be expecting them in the summer. We will be bringing the details out tomorrow. We have discussions with stea k tomorrow. We have discussions with steak holders reticle in terms of delivering this but we recognise it is going to be really important for children because the best form, the best process to have is of course an examination process and this is what we would always be wanting to do and wishing to do and will do in the future but it is very important that children will have an appeals process and habitability if they do not believe that the grade they have is correct or write or a proper reflection of their work over their education and have recourse to address that. They will be no exams as planned, that is a clear and people understand that because it would have fallen directly in the peak period. That is ruled out. What are the options on the table as it stands now because were getting a lot of questions from the staff but also from the students themselves who are asking what will happen . We are going to be issuing details of this tomorrow but we will be aiming and we cannot with total guarantee be able to say resource will be out in august because we do not know how the spread of the virus will affect the spread of the virus will affect the examining board and the people who issue the grades but our aim will be to issue people gcses as we usually do and other things but it is in usually do and other things but it isina usually do and other things but it is in a different system than how we have done it in the past but we recognise there will need to be a proper and thorough appeals process. This is certainly not ideal and certainly not something we want to do but it is a decision we had to make with a heavy heart but the details, the more in depth details will be coming out tomorrow, going to every school, college and all universities. As it stands today and i think maybe you said that this just a moment ago, those children who were working towards gcses and a levels who were working towards gcses and a levels that they are no longer working towards those exams, is that the official position . Were not going to be in position where we can run with full confidence and exam process between now and next summer. We will have a process that is unfairand rightfor we will have a process that is unfair and right for those pupils who put an enormous amount of work, not just over the who put an enormous amount of work, notjust over the last year or two yea rs, notjust over the last year or two years, but all the way through their education and making sure they get a proper and fair qualification that is reflective of that work that they have been doing. I know as a dad myself, and having two children who we re myself, and having two children who were working towards the gcses how important it is for them and every child and that is what were going to do. I have to say, it is absolutely hard breaking to be in this situation where you are having to ta ke this situation where you are having to take these decisions stop no one would want to do that because of the work and effort that has gone into this but all my work and efforts will be focused on trying to make sure that all children get the grades that they have been working towards, making sure we do everything and that that happens as normally would be the case. Recognising this is as good a system as we would like because the best system is an exam system, making sure we have a proper and fair process of that, if they do not think that is right or that is not correct, they have an ability to get some redress into that. Away from education specifically, there are a number of newspaper headlines relating to the next step in terms of maybe legislation or further measures the government may take to do with isolation and distancing between people, the consent possibly that the guidelines and the warnings are not being taken seriously enough, maybe particularly in london. What measures are being considered at this stage . The Prime Minister said yesterday there currently werent any plans to ta ke there currently werent any plans to take things further in terms of london, as youvejust take things further in terms of london, as youve just referenced, but it is an evolving situation and were looking at the scientific and medical advice. Every were looking at the scientific and medicaladvice. Every step were looking at the scientific and medical advice. Every step that the government has taken over the last few weeks has been about addressing the core issue, about the spread of this virus, the government has a lwa ys this virus, the government has always been looking at what extra measures it can do to slow things down. The Prime Minister said it has plans he has plans to do that but you have to keep these issues under review. Gavin williamson, thanks for your time, the education secretary. Thanks forjoining us and we can speak to carol to find out whats going on with the weather, theres been rain but the gorgeous blue sky gives us some good morning everyone. Blue skies and a cold start here and that is the picture across scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England and north wales. Further south another weather watchers picture and it is cloudy and grey and murky and it is cloudy and grey and murky and it is cloudy and grey and murky and it is damp. That is because we have a weather front across southern areas which will be with us for much of the day, producing drizzle or generally light and patchy rain. As we move north of that, Northern England, scotland, Northern Ireland, one or two showers around but for most of us we will miss them and we have the sunshine. Cold temperatures ranging between six and 12 degrees. Cardiff and birmingham, five and six degrees as your maximum temperature this afternoon and it will fill cold stop this afternoon, if you are out and about in scotland, we have a lot of dry weather, sunshine, showers knocking around, one or two showers across Northern Ireland and Northern England but they are the exception rather than the rule. Easy sunshine at times in wales. More cloud and that patchy light rain and drizzle as we come further south. Is bangla, the midlands, south wales and at times south west england. The weather front continuing to sink south as a weak feature overnight. The wind strengthening across the English Channel and some showers across the channel and islands. Behind that weather front, it will be cold under clear skies. Widespread frost. Temperatures for example across north east scotland could fall as low as 6. Example across north east scotland could fall as low as 6. Thank you very much. It looks like the temperatures are about average for this time of year . It depends where you. Some are above, some low. In cardiff and birmingham well below, five or six degrees below. It is chilly. It really is but it does look at least were getting some respite with the sunshine. Especially this weekend stop people can enjoy some walking out and getting some exercise done as well. See you in about ten minutes with their headlines. Millions of people think the way they work are transformed. In and amongst the changes, and how they are changing that work environment, can they work at home . are changing that work environment, can they work at home . I was interested by your conversation with the secretary and you must them, if lam the secretary and you must them, if i am well, and i the secretary and you must them, if lam well, and i have the secretary and you must them, if i am well, and i have to look after my children, what are my rights . Is it the same as statutory syncope. We have the right to look after dependence but not the right to full pay and what we can do if it continues is a for universal credit, jobseekers allowance but no automatic payment if youre home to look after the kids although the premise minister did say he appreciates that pressure this is putting on individual families and they are looking at measures to support families but nothing specificjust yet. The phrase is being used and the Prime Minister has said, anyone doing the right thing should not be penalised and, as every step in this process changes, skills possibly having to be at home, that is another step and those questions will have to be addressed. We had an e mail from darren. His will have to be addressed. We had an e mailfrom darren. His son will have to be addressed. We had an e mail from darren. His son is having to self isolate and he has taken time off and he having to self isolate and he has taken time offand he is having to self isolate and he has taken time off and he is doing the right thing so wondering what he is entitled to. If the government advise is to self isolate, you are automatically entitled to statutory sick pay if you are employed. If you are self employed, you are entitled to apply for employment support allowa nce. To apply for employment support allowance. We will have a look now at what the impacts on jobs. It allowance. We will have a look now at what the impacts onjobs. It is too early to sayjust how manyjobs have been lost or feeling exposed but one thing to access around 25 millionjobs could be lost globally across various industries. Here in the uk, pubs, restaurants, entertainment, what does it mean for employers with stuff to pay. Peter has around 100 employees and he is diversifying with on line stores but he is worried about letting people go. Right now we are physically closing down, clearing fridges and getting ready for what could be a 2 three month closure for that. For us paydays on friday. We have everything to do that this friday. Infour everything to do that this friday. In four weeks time, when we have had four weeks of no trade, our concern is the payroll is at a low and there is no weight we will have the resources to pay it back because trading for a long, long time, once all this recover, it is not going to be great. Our biggest concern and question for the government is, when are they going to produce a protective legislation that stops us losing our business or losing their land because they cannot keep up with payments. If your employer is like peter, you can put in for short term working where your hours are temporarily cut. If i was a loss completely, youre entitled to 29 pounds per day your employer may choose to top that up. If youre made redundant, which we know is happening, you would normally be in touch to do statutory redundancy payment. And while youre looking for work or if you are self employed, you can apply for benefits. Jobseekers allowance which is a £73 a week if you are over 25 or there is universal credit and mortgage holidays to help with housing costs. Lots of people have been asking what happens next week when your kids are at home and, if you can do your full time job at home, with the kids, is there anyone out there who can do that . You are entitled to full pay beyond that you are at the discretion of your employer. You mentioned the children being off school in the coming weeks. We will be talking to the general secretary of the National Association of head teachers just to find out what head teachers have been told to do and how they are preparing because a lot of teachers, most teachers will still be at school over the coming few weeks. Schools will be close to certain stu d e nts schools will be close to certain students but will be asking which will be allowed and what guidance they have been given. What will you do all that time at home . How do you keep your kids occupied . If they are at home a lot more, maybe in self isolation, maybe go back to the drawing board. We have spoken to a Childrens Book illustrator. A bit of drawing, a good way to spend time. I like that. A few minutes to eight. We will be back with you at eight. We will be back with you at eight oclock with the headlines but first find out what is happening wherever you are this morning. Good morning from bbc london, im tolu adeoye. Big Service Changes have been set out by transport for london because of the coronavirus outbreak. From today, up to 40 underground stations are to close. The night tube has been cut on weekends and the frequency of tubes and buses will drop significantly. Tfl says the reduced services will enable critical workers to make essential journeys. Lets take a look at the underground board now. The reduced service is in action already. Particularly on the circle line, which is running every 10 minutes, and the hammermith and city line, thats every 15 minutes. You can see the waterloo and city line is running today but will completely close from tomorrow. And you can find out more details on the changes as well as which stations are closed on the tfl website. A Union Representing couriers who work for deliveroo says a fund set up by the company requiring an offical sick note for those with coronarvirus to make a claim is unworkable. The independent Workers Union of Great Britain says its proving impossible for riders who are genuinely sick or self isolating to get sick notes. Deliveroo says its committed millions of pounds to make sure riders who are diagnosed are supported, and is exploring other ways riders can be helped. A brief look at some of the other travel then. A3 London Bridge is closed to general traffic in both directions between London Bridge station and monument station due to roadworks. There is a contraflow for buses, taxis, motorbikes and cycles. Finally in east ham, barking road is closed in both directions between denmark arms and east ham library due to a police investigation. Now the weather with Elizabeth Rizzini good morning. Rather grey and chilly across the capital for the next couple of days but something much better to look forward to at the weekend with plenty of sunshine. Today outbreaks of drizzle on and off through the day so some wet weather around. Our weather front we saw yesterday is ever so slowly pushing its way northwards. We see misty, murky with drizzle is on and off but turning dry through the south in the afternoon. 7 9 the peak of the temperatures. A chilly but light easterly breeze. Overnight, very little change. Layers of cloud. A bit of drizzle into tomorrow morning. Overnight lows between four and six celsius. The easterly wind tomorrow will strengthen and it will feel rather cold. Top temperatures of only nine celsius but quite a lot of added windchill. Staying mostly dry but plenty of cloud. More sunshine over the weekend. Pleasantly warm in the sunshine. We still have an easterly wind and High Pressure dominates into the start of next week. High pressure dominates the start of next week. During this difficult and uncertain time, a bit of positive news can go a long way. Our bbc local radio stations have launched the make a difference campaign, telling good news stories of people and organisations who are helping keep the most vulnerable and isolated in our communities going. Theyll be doing this every day at a quarter past the hour and a quarter to. Im back with the latest from bbc london in half an hour. Now its back to naga and charlie. Bye bye for now. Good morning welcome to breakfast, with Charlie Stayt and naga munchetty. Our headlines today coronavirus School Closures the education secretary tells this programme that the list of key workers whose children will still be allowed to attend will be released later today. We are at a school in bristol, where staff and students say they want clarity, especially about gcse and a level results. The government will introduce emergency legislation to help tackle the cornonavirus crisis, as parts of the London Transport Network are shut. What next in the world of work . With millions working from home and millions more wondering how safe theirjobs are, ill be looking at your rights when it comes to pay. Good morning. Going ahead with the olympics would be irresponsible. The words of an organising committee member, as pressure builds to postponejulys games in tokyo. Good morning. Weather wise, what you had yesterday is what you will get today. In the southern half of the country, cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle, in the north, a frosty start with sunshine. More details, later. Good morning. It is thursday the 19th of march. Our top story the education secretary outlined schools and universities are calling for the government to urgently explain what will happen to thousands of students who will not be able to sit their gcses and a levels this year. The exams have been scrapped as schools across the uk will close from tomorrow. In the last hour, Gavin Williamson said it is important key workers can do theirjobs. The government will release the list of the key workers later today. If i can give you a few examples, all those people who are working within the nhs, and we often talk about the doctors and nurses, but there are so many more people who make sure that a hospital is able to run and to properly function. So all those people who are involved in that endeavour will be included. There will also be the need for those who work within schools, those who are providing the support in order for doctors, schools, those who are providing the support in orderfor doctors, nurses and those nhs staff in order to be able to get to the hospitals. But then more widely, there is the fact that we still need to have our Critical National infrastructure that continues to work and function right around the country. We also need to be ensuring that we have delivery drivers delivering the food and the resources that we need to our shops right across the united kingdom. He also asked questions many parents and children are concerned about about what will happen with gcses and a levels. He said tomorrow, more clarity will be offered. We will be bringing out the details tomorrow. We are having a few more discussions with some of those stakeholders that are obviously absolutely critical, in terms of delivering this. But we recognise it is going to be really important for children because the best form, the best process to have is an examination process. This is what we would always be wanting to do and always wish to do and will do in the future. But it is very important that children will have an appeals process and have an ability if they dont believe that the grade they have is correct or right or a proper reflection on their work and effo rts proper reflection on their work and efforts over their education, that they have recourse in order to address that. That was the education secretary Gavin Williamson talking to usa secretary Gavin Williamson talking to us a few minutes ago, saying tomorrow there will be more clarity offered as to exactly what is going to be expected from those who have been studying for gcses and a levels and how those exa m exam results will be clarified. Ministers outlining details on Emergency Powers that could tackle the virus. Meanwhile, ministers will outline details of new Emergency Powers which could be used to tackle the threat of the virus. The emergency coronavirus bill will include measures to strengthen the nhs , shut down the uks ports and airports and bolster Police Powers to detain people suspected of having the virus. Lets get more on this from our Political Correspondent Jonathan Blake who joins us from our westminster studio. Some clarity today due on key workers . Reassurances from the education secretary Gavin Williamson but very little detail in terms of a nswe rs but very little detail in terms of a nswers to but very little detail in terms of answers to the questions that students, teachers, head teachers and universities will be asking now, having heard the news that schools across the uk will close as of tomorrow. On those key issues of exams, as to how pupils will get the grades of the a levels, gcses, scottish highers and other exams they were due to take in the summer and what it will mean for them going to university, if that is their chosen path, and what teachers are to do and to tell people in the meantime. And as well, whose children will get a place at school during this shutdown. That list of so called key workers. Werejust going to have to wait it seems, later today, for details on that and then tomorrow to hear more about how then tomorrow to hear more about how the exam system or a replacement for will work. So a lot of frustration, im sure, from parents, teachers, stu d e nts im sure, from parents, teachers, students are like this morning, left in limbo, really, after that announcement yesterday about School Closures. So these new measures to be announced today to do with legislation, the powers that government will be bringing in . Yes, sweeping new powers for the government and this legislation has been drawn up at short notice in response to the Coronavirus Crisis. Some we have heard already, getting recently retired nhs staff back into theirjobs. Also, new detail on things like powers for the police to detain and isolate people on Public Health grounds and the possible closure of ports and airports if there are not enough Border Force Staff to carry out their roles. Unusually, this wont be voted on in the normal way by mps because the opposition are broadly in support of it, although labour would like to see mps vote on these powers every six months as opposed to the two year time limit that the government has set. Jonathan, thank you. The government is doubling the number of military personnel who are on standby, to 20,000. The so called Covid Support force will assist civil authorities. Lets speak to our defence correspondent, jonathan beale. Jonathan, mocked good morning. What exactly is going to be the role of this . At the moment you already have around 10,000 troops who are on standby, military assistance to civil authorities. You would have seen, for example, troops out helping in flooding. We have seen in the past military on the streets when there has been an increased terrorist threat, in small numbers, i have to say. As you say, they are doubling the number of those troops and military personnel who are on standby. What are they doing at the moment . There are military Liaison Officers and Government Departments and local authorities helping with contingency plans. They will train up contingency plans. They will train up 150 drivers to carry oxygen to hospitals, if that is required. What could they do . They could back up the police, they could back up the borderforce, the Prison Service, if that request comes through. But at the moment, do not expect to see troops on the streets. That request has not been made but they are ready there if necessary. Jonathan, thank you for taking us through that. This time of year is usually an anxious one for School Pupils getting ready for end of year exams, gcses and a levels. It has all changed, schools are closing up those tests are cancelled and stu d e nts those tests are cancelled and students are facing a whole new host of concerns. Breakfasts john maguire is at Bristol Grammar School for us this morning. Many questions, some of which were a nswered many questions, some of which were answered by the education secretary this morning. I wonder what the senseis this morning. I wonder what the sense is down there of this tricky period that is coming up for schools and who will be there and who wont be there . Yes, it is tricky, it is strange. There is a slightly strange atmosphere. It is the last day of term but it is not the last day of term. Theres at least another couple of weeks, the course. Some stu d e nts couple of weeks, the course. Some students will carry on studying through easter and then we dont know when summer term will start. Lots of questions. We will publish hear a few more in a minute. Bristol grammar school, 1400 pupils here between 4 18. The entire range of education up until university level. Matthew, good morning, deputy head teacher here because the head teacher here because the head teacher is in self isolation because he has a bit of a cold, flu like symptoms over the last few days. You are going to close any way at the end of today, why is that . Thats right, like many schools across the country weve experienced increasing staff numbers choosing to self isolate to take care of their families or to take precautions for themselves and that has made it increasingly difficult to provide an education here at the school. From tomorrow we are moving to remote learning. You will carry that plan on through the Easter Holidays as well, how will you manage it . We will stay open for the children and families who are key workers. We have 70 staff teaching volunteer staff who volunteered to be here with the children at that time. We will explore today what we can offer through the holiday as well. Ultimately, trying to remove learning and putting it online will make a big difference to our children in the continuity of education. For the children with exams coming up, education. For the children with exams coming up, we education. For the children with exams coming up, we had some indication from the education secretary a few minutes ago on the programme that we will get some more detail soon. What are your thoughts on that . We were expecting the announcement about School Closures yesterday but the one about exams came as an bombshell. We are looking forward to what that will be. It has created a large amount of anxiety amongst our pupils, those taking exams. We hope there will be clarity given so we know what will happen going forward. Good luck to everyone. We have some students, eve ryo ne everyone. We have some students, everyone lined up he has two metres apart. It looks like a western movie, slightly strange but you can understand. Angus, how are you, strange times. You were expecting or hoping to go to university in the autumn. What are your thoughts . have University Offers for september andl have University Offers for september and i think it isjust the uncertainty of not having a plan, with exams and predicted grades. We dont know if the carry on working, its confusing. It is confusing, lets hope we get some answers in the next 24 hours. Chloe, you are in the next 24 hours. Chloe, you are in the same boat, you are about to do your a levels. You are not going to do them now, is it good news or bad news . I think it is hard to say. Obviously for some people, relieved we are not having exams but i think really it just be we are not having exams but i think really itjust be on feels we are not having exams but i think really it just be on feels a we are not having exams but i think really itjust be on feels a bit odd we are coming to the end of our School Career and there is nothing to finish it off with. Like angus was staying, just uncertainty of not knowing if we will have our predicted grades used or if we will have to sit them in august. I think once we know what will be happening in place of that, it will be reassuring. These are young people who would have made all sorts of plans over the last couple of years and all ofa plans over the last couple of years and all of a sudden they have evaporated. Good morning, some of you are in lower sixth so you will be doing your a levels hopefully next summer. Some of the out of school activities, plays and things like that, what impact is it having on school life . We actually had our upper school play cancelled which is obviously devastating. We have been rehearsing that since. Even before december. It isjust the uncertainty of whether we will be able to perform it or not, its hard for us all to cope with and manage. Difficult, isnt it . Gavin williamson use the word heartbreaking earlier on in his interview with charlie and i think thatis interview with charlie and i think that is right. And you are a sixth former used a more independent learning, Distance Learning if you like. What your thoughts about how you will have to manage your education over the next weeks and maybe even months . It would definitely be different to what we are used to. But as sixth formers, we are used to independent learning. With the internet we can e mail our teachers and with a strong community, we communicate whether teachers and our fellow students. I think it will be difficult but we will get on with our studies for the re st of will get on with our studies for the rest of the year. Ok, well done to all of you, thank you very much indeed for keeping your distance from each other this morning and talking to us. Difficult times ahead i think, isnt it, that these students . That the staff as well. Some plans are in place. Once we get more answers, there will be an idea of what happens next. But really, does anyone know what happens next . From Bristol Grammar School, back to you in the studio. Studio thank you. I know the social distancing there, it hasnt gone unnoticed. Thank you. Time now 18 13. Lets pick up on that theme and find out how schools are dealing with the closures. Paul whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of head teachers. Good morning and thank you for your time today. I suppose we should start, this has been an eventuality, schools closing you must have been given a heads up. How have you been preparing for this . What we know is that it has been a difficult decision for government to take and it has been based on the scientific and health advice. The secretary of state has been very clear to us that the mission for schools changes now, in response to a whole society effort to deal with coronavirus and what is being expected is very different. We havent been able to really deal with the effects of the decision until we knew exactly what it would be. We are at the same stage as everyone else right now. Reacting to the decisions made yesterday. So it is a big day for education today. What is very, very clear is schools are being seen as the important centres of community that they are and education as we know it will change for the next few weeks and possibly months. We dont know how long this will last. We are being asked to support a whole country effort to deal with the virus, as i say. That is to do things around supporting the most vulnerable and to make sure that key workers, to make sure the fabric of society stays intact and they are able to get to work as well. So it isa able to get to work as well. So it is a big day, as i say. We will be answering all the questions coming through as best we can over the next 24 hours. The key to what you are saying is you will answer them as best you can. We have spoken to a head teacher today who has an assembly with the kids in the school later today and is knowing that there are many questions he isnt going to be able to answer. We spoke to the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, about half an hour ago, 45 minutes ago. To be fair, he a nswered 45 minutes ago. To be fair, he answered the questions but clarity still is lacking. What do you exactly need to know . Give me the top three questions you feel havent been answered yet. We need to deal with exams. We have got some description, we know exams are not going to take place over the summer. At least we have that certainty. We now need to work with the department to work out exactly what will be done. We suspect there isa what will be done. We suspect there is a role therefore teacher assessment. We know that teachers know their students very, very well. What the secretary of state had said today about exams as there is a fallback position that will be agreed. Then the key worker list and the spread of the key worker less. I think there are some issues around that, about people who may not automatically appear on the list but will need to be considered. We will be helping them in terms of the conversations that our members have on the school gate about that and feeding that in. That will be very important. Then we will be working very, very hard with School Leavers today about making sure that those considered to be Vulnerable Children have access to school and the breadth of the inclusion on that. From some of the interviews i have seen on your programme today, those questions around someone who doesnt have an education and care plan or doesnt fall under looks after children, what we do . That is the type of thing we will be going through today. Just picking up on your last point, that was one of the question is asked to the education secretary. How much is this going to be left to the discretion of head teachers, when there is a suspicion, for example, that a child is being abused at home or vulnerable at home and school is a haven for them . Are teachers going to be told, you have to turn away children that are not on children of key workers or are not on a certain list, or if a child turns up and says i need to feel safe, a teacher will be allowed to let the men . It is very clear that school is closed in most instances for most pupils. That will give. Inaudible to make those decisions. Inaudible i think we have to remember that schools should not be doing this in isolation. It will be very important that social services and social Care Services are available as well. So conversations at Community Level can ta ke conversations at Community Level can take place about children. Concerned about. We are struggling with the sound quality. I will try one more question. Another issue that has been brought up is the whole. The levelling that has been brought up is the whole. The levelling up the number of teachers and the number of pupils in the classroom. Particularly when it comes to special Educational Needs. What is going to happen if that response, that ratio drops because of illness or self isolation . Who are you concerned about most, which sector are you most concerned about when it comes to ca re most concerned about when it comes to care or education being withheld . Iam not to care or education being withheld . I am not sure there is a hierarchy of concern here. We are having to respond in different ways to different people. There is not a hierarchy. We know for children with profound needs that some schools have already had to close because they cant meet all of those needs because of self isolation and things like that. School leaders will have to retain the ability to make a very difficult decision if it is simply not safe to open a school. I think the conversations over the next few daysis the conversations over the next few days is how can schools collaborate together to deliver as much of a service as they can . It wont be education as we know it but it will be providing a safe space for those who need it most. Paulwhiteman, general secretary of the National Association of head teachers, thank you for your time with us this morning. One of the things we are trying to do on bbc breakfast is a nswer trying to do on bbc breakfast is answer the many questions you have every day. Fergus walsh, our medical correspondent. Everyday there is a new set of questions people have relating to certain areas. If we start this morning with quite a lot of questions people have about the changes next week, with children being at home essentially are not school. This one, keith is a grandparent who lives with his 11 year old granddaughter, he wants to know what he should be doing in terms of isolation now that she will be at home with him full time . I know specific situations are quite ha rd to know specific situations are quite hard to address but people will be thinking, children are deemed to be, and you can tell me more, possibly carriers of the coronavirus but they are going to be home a lot more. What preparations should people make . In this situation, keith lives with his granddaughter anyway. She wont be mixing with her friends at school. So if they are living together anyway, the chances of his granddaughter passing on team will be reduced because there will be less chance of her getting it. If you are living with your granddaughter anyway you have to carry on because the advice for all of us to cut down all social contact thatis of us to cut down all social contact that is not absolutely necessary. So it is about social distancing. But can you imagine being a child and being used to getting a cuddle from your grandparents or your mum and dad and all of a sudden you are being told to socially distance. How does that work in the home . How do you explain to a two year old orra a four year old . You explain to a two year old orra a fouryearold . Of course it doesnt well, if a two year old runs up to and wanta well, if a two year old runs up to and want a hug of course you cant say, sorry, covid 19. But it is about common sense. It will be very difficult because we dont know how long these restrictions will go on for. You do the best you can. On that issue of how people will deal with children being at home. A lot of people with straightaway tend to grandparents, like keith, who might step into that childcare situation. But the government has said that grandparents, i guess this is age related, should not be brought into the equation for reasons that have already been stated. Yes, that is right. Of course, the age limit where there is extra advice for the over 70s. There will be some people in their mid or late 70s who say, i am fitter than a 60 year old but the advice is there for the over 70s, they are strongly advised, strongly advised, not to socially interact with others. To try to stay separate. Although not to completely isolate. I think its very important people know that were not telling people that they cant go out. They can go evenif that they cant go out. They can go even if you are self isolating at home, you are allowed to go out, you are allowed to go out and take your dog for a walk you are allowed to go out for a run. You are allowed to get out into some fresh air and get some exercise but we should be getting up close and personal with other people. That kind of answers the next question, joe wants to know if she can take her children outside once schools are closed or do they all have to go into self isolation at home . She is allowed to take them outside but you cant take them to the swings where there. In the park where there will be lots of other kids because it would defeat the object. It is about us needing much more solitary lives. Fergus, if we have to accept living more solitary lives, and we have touched on this already, when you think about children and it is natural for them to socially interact and the Mental Health and the Emotional Health of these children, what is being offered now . These will be the questions that government will have to answer. I think our Mental Health of our society is something that we really have to look out for. It is going to become apparent in the coming weeksjust going to become apparent in the coming weeks just what a toll these measures are taking on people. So people do have to try to stay strong here. But we have to try to follow these restrictions. If you look at what has happened in italy, they had 475 deaths yesterday. Today, or tomorrow, they could overtake the number of deaths in the whole of china. Talking of numbers, roy got in touch and said the numbers that are being reported are tiny. Are they accurate, how much can we rely on these numbers . For the uk . I think you can easily multiply them bya think you can easily multiply them by a factor of ten. That we are not having any testing or almost no testing in the community now, it just gives you a snapshot. What it does tell you is well the curve is going. We are doing around 5000 tests a day. The ambition is to increase that to 10,000, 25,000. We really should and do need far more testing. Because people are being asked on households to isolate for 14 days where one person is affected. If, like in south korea, you could drive to somewhere and get the swabs and find out within 24 hours if you actually had covid 19, then everybody could go back to work if you didnt. That is what we need. That is what is urgently. The plans are to try to introduce a but it hasnt happened yet. It needs to happen. Can you clarify another thing, there are two different tests being talked about at the moment. One is if you have coronavirus and the other is if you have had it. The second version seems to be letter a much more doable and may be very close on the horizon and seen as very important. We really need a blood test to tell us if we have antibodies. Its amazing we dont have that already. If you could take a blood sample and say, well, you have had it, you havent, ive had it and you may not know you have even had it. Their significance as you can then go back into more regular life . Yes, and also it would tell us about what we call the iceberg here of asymptomatic cases, where there has been. People have had the disease but didnt even realise it. Can we be clear, just because you have the antibodies it doesnt mean you are immune. You dont know, this is incredible, it has only been around since the end of december. If you have antibodies to it, you should have some immunity. We dont know if you can then get it again but if you build up then get it again but if you build up antibodies, your immune system should be able to recognise it if you get reinfected and kill it. That would be the hope. If it doesnt do that, we are in real trouble. Would be the hope. If it doesnt do that, we are in realtrouble. One last thought, wendy, what can you do to treat the virus if you get it . There is a lot of talk about paracetamol or ib pro fan. They had advice at the moment because there are some questions, no more than that, unless you cannot take it, ta ke that, unless you cannot take it, take paracetamol, it will reduce your temperature but unless you have a medical reason why you are taking ibuprofen, take paracetamol. Thank you. 8 27. Lots going on this morning, find out what it is and we will see when a few minutes. Big Service Changes have been set out by transport for london because of the coronavirus outbreak. From today, up to 40 underground stations are to close. The night tube has been cut on weekends and the frequency of tubes and buses will drop significantly. Tfl says the reduced services will enable critical workers to make essential journeys. Lets take a look at the tube board now. The reduced service is in action already, particularly on the circle line which is running every ten minutes and the hammermith and city line thats every 15 minutes. You can see the waterloo and city line is running today but will completely close from tomorrow. And you can find out more details on the changes, as well as which stations are closed, on the tfl website. A Union Representing couriers who work for deliveroo says the companys Hardship Fund which requires an offical sick note for those with coronarvirus to make a claim is unworkable. The independent Workers Union of Great Britain says its proving impossible for riders who are genuinely sick or self isolating to get sick notes. Deliveroo says its committed millions of pounds to make sure riders who are diagnosed are supported and is exploring other ways riders can be helped. A brief look at some of the other travel. London bridge is closed to general traffic in both directions. There are diversions in place. Finally, in east ham barking road is closed in both directions between denmark arms and east ham library due to a police investigation. West end at princes circus lane restrictions for roadworks at the junction with high holborn and shaftesbury avnue now, the weather with Elizabeth Rizzini. Good morning. Rather grey and chilly across the capital for the next couple of days but something much better to look forward to at the weekend with plenty of sunshine. Today outbreaks of drizzle on and off through the day so some wet weather around. Our weather front we saw yesterday is ever so slowly pushing its way northwards. It is misty, murky with drizzle is on and off but turning dry through the south in the afternoon. 7 9 the peak of the temperatures. A chilly but light easterly breeze. Overnight, very little change. Layers of cloud. A bit of drizzle into tomorrow morning. Overnight lows between four and six celsius. The easterly wind tomorrow will strengthen and it will feel rather cold. Top temperatures of only nine celsius but quite a lot of added wind chill. Staying mostly dry but plenty of cloud. More sunshine over the weekend. Pleasantly warm in the sunshine. We still have an easterly wind and High Pressure dominates into the start of next week. High pressure dominates the start of next week. During this difficult time, a bit of positive news can go a long way. Our bbc local radio stations have launched the make a difference campaign, telling good news stories of people and organisations who are keeping the most vulnerable and isolated in our communities going. Theyll be doing this every day at a quarter past and a quarter to the hour. Im back with the latest from bbc london at 1. 30. Now, though, its back to naga and charlie. Hello, this is breakfast with Charlie Stayt and naga munchetty. Let us bring you up to date. The education secretary, Gavin Williamson, has told breakfast that the list of key workers allowed to send their children to school when most classrooms in the uk close from tomorrow, will be released this afternoon. Schools and universities are calling for the government to urgently explain what will happen to thousands of students who will not be able to sit their gcses and a levels this year. The exams have been scrapped as part of the measures. Mr williamson said more details of how pupils will be assessed willl be outlined tomorrow. Decisions are due to be made about exams in scotland and Northern Ireland soon. Meanwhile, ministers will outline details of new Emergency Powers which could be used to tackle the threat of the virus. The emergency coronavirus bill will include measures to strengthen the nhs, shut down the uks ports and airports and bolster Police Powers to detain people suspected of having the virus. 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. It is time to talk to kat, we were talking about what songs to sing. am looking forward to singing. have a suggestion. Do you have another one . Singing over social media later, talking to Gareth Malone in a minute. What is your speciality . He wanted a bit of lizzo. Check your nails. Are you familiar with that one . What is your choice for an uplifting number. That is it. We are going to duet on lizzo. Charlie webster hair toss. Any sport to talk about . Charlie with the hard task. More grassroots in professional sport been postponed and big concerns about the olympics coming up injuly, more pressure growing on organisers to say it isnt going ahead, we have had from Matthew Pinsent yesterday, on Radio Four Today Programme this morning we are taking calls to say, it is out of touch of the ioc to say, nothing has changed, it is going ahead, unfairto has changed, it is going ahead, unfair to expect athletes to aim for the olympics in the summer one who knows what is going on with the pandemic at that time, qualifying events as well. The bbc has been speaking to one of the organising committee, who is a former ice hockey olympic champion, she said it is responsible for the ic to plough ahead with the plans as they stand. Imc. Ahead with the plans as they stand. Imc. Sporting events are massive gatherings of people, we have to encourage people to stay home, stay put to contain the virus so if we could have an olympics injuly, that could have an olympics injuly, that could be possible. But right now, the messaging same, we are going ahead, it is really not compassionate to what a lot of people in the world are going through. Pressure really growing on the ioc to re examine their plans. Athletes as well increasingly coming out to say, what is going on . How will we hold those games . Postponement seems the most popular option and also according to the times today the plan to push ahead regardless with the olympics goes against Public Opinion injapan is well worth the pandemic is still on the rise. There is an option, a possibility, that things may have come down come august and japan will be in come down come august and japan will beina come down come august and japan will be in a position to hold it, but what about other countries, will they be in a position to send athletes . According to a poll in japan, 70 of the japanese public believe that games cannot and should not go ahead as planned and postponement is inevitable. Keeping an eye on what the ioc have to say about the olympics over the coming weeks i should think. Thank you very much. There were really heart warming pictures of quarantined italian singing from the rooftops in an attempt to lift spirits. Well, it seems to have caught on. Online choirs have been formed around the world and even the stars have been getting involved by Live Streaming impromptu gigs for self isolating fans. This has inspired choirmaster Gareth Malone to launch a new project to bring the nation together. He can tell us all about it from his home in london. How are you . I am ok. I am not actually at home. I have not been home. I have been isolated. I am going home today and i cannot wait. Most peculiar feeling, as going home today and i cannot wait. Most peculiarfeeling, as i going home today and i cannot wait. Most peculiar feeling, as i am sure you all feel. What are the circumstances . What was going on . was filming in germany and i think they are a week ahead of where we are in ourthinking they are a week ahead of where we are in our thinking and everything going on in britain now was happening a week ago when germany. I had to get on a plane and get back. It has been a very odd week but i am trying to do something positive. We are all incredibly worried, worried about my parents, worried for myself and my friends. Most of my friends who are musicians have nothing to do, we are all unemployed. It is one of those sectors where nothing can happen. Hearing about sport, sport is the same. We would like to try and do something positive to lift spirits. It is very difficult to run a choir over the internet because of the time delay, you get a latency, between. 2 point, which makes doing any kind of music over the internet very difficult unless it is in one direction, but i have a plan to give people the tools to record their parts and join people the tools to record their parts andjoin in people the tools to record their parts and join in with Great British home chorus and i would like that to involve instruments as well. If you have been thinking, i must go back to the violin, trumpet, piano, whatever it is, for years, great opportunity to do some practice and record your part, uploaded, and we can stitch it together. Fantastic record producer who hasjust worked on the bond theme with billy alice, very keen to get involved, we will try to do something positive. What will be the piece of music . That is a good question. I dont like to go into these things knowing what the andes. But we are going to start in a few days time, there will be some songs, d and is. Speaking to people at the moment look for positive uplifting pieces that reflect how we feel at the moment and we will start sending those out next week. After that, it is really up next week. After that, it is really up to the public what they want to do. We cannot get together, we cannot get the human contact you normally have from choirs, i have had 15,000 people had signed up already, when i checked yesterday. Clearly great demand for this. A lot of people keen to be making music in these dark times. From the military wives, the invictus choir, i have seen so often that actually even at times like this, it is really important to make music and stay positive. It is hard to keep mind and soul together. I think we face a Mental Health crisis and i think music has a role to play. Youre absolutely right. I think you sound absolutely right. I think you sound a little bit down, if i may say so. Maybe you have been doing it in your own self isolation, what is your go to song you think, whenever i sing that to myself, and self isolation, having a down moment, is there a Gareth Malone happy song . having a down moment, is there a Gareth Malone happy song . I would have said upbeat songs but yesterday i found myself singing. No i found myself singing. No more talk of darkness. From phantom of the opera. Beautiful lyrics. I sat in my hotel room on my own singing to myself thinking, you are properly miserable, but working it through. We are all going to face this, im definitely not feeling as chipper this morning, but that is what we have to get through together. Have you seen the clip of the hollywood stars all singing imagine, doing the rounds a little bit today . I have not seen that yet but i saw the italians last week. So much of this going on. My friend has started a choir, a guy has started a sofa choir, happening over the world, and artists are well placed to help in this situation and we cannot cure it, but we can at least make people feel like there is a human connection. That goodness for the internet. 100 years ago with a pandemic, we did not have this. Im grateful im still able to see my friends, my parents, have some connection and we can still make music. I think we can play you a little bit of the imagine song. Do you want to have a listen . little bit of the imagine song. Do you want to have a listen . I do. Imagine no heaven. Imagine no heaven. Its even see if you try. Imagine no heaven. Its even see if you try. No hell below us above us only sky. Above us only sky. Imagine all the people imagine all the People Living for today lovely to see. Hollywood stars joining living for today lovely to see. Hollywood starsjoining in. A couple of things, what did you make of it, pretty good . People who know better than me, they appear to be singing in the same key, impressive . than me, they appear to be singing in the same key, impressive . I am afraid to say they were not singing in the same key. One of the things we will try and work out how we can do, we want to send out material so that people can sing along, earphones in, so we can get something that sounds. That is lovely, impromptu, heartfelt, and i think it is a great place to start. As the weeks go on, we can aim for something that really rouses the spirits. Would you like to join in a line of your own from imagine . To add to the compilation. You may say im a dreamer you may say im a dreamer but im not the only one. To talk to you this morning. So lovely. I wish you well and i am glad your time and self isolation is coming to an end. Really hit hard by the isolation, gives you a hint of what people are going through, it is tough. Not easy. Still got a lovely singing voice, a way of trying to get people to come together which is lovely. Parents might be very concerned about how you are going to keep your children occupied in the coming days at home. Schools are closing, one man has been sharing drawing the long videos on social media, proving a hit. Rob biddulph has been doing that. See what he has been up to. The first thing i want you to do is a very simple u shaped like that at the bottom of your piece of paper. And once youve done that, i want you to put your pen at the top left side, we are going to go along a bit, come around, and head upwards, like that. Then, full stegosaurus is, they have these big plates across their back and across the top of their head, so, we are going to draw some plates on our stegosaurus. So, coming out of the middle of the top of his head, i want you to draw a big diamond shape, like that. Im going to do mine green, with orange plates, i think, but you use whatever you like, rainbow coloured, pink with yellow spots, whatever you want. There we go. So, one finished gregosaurus author and illustrator rob biddulph joins us now from his home in north london. Thank you very much for talking to us this morning. What gave you the idea . It is something i have been doing at my live events for years, ever since i have been doing live events and i put a video up three, four years ago with this kind of thing, i thought it would be a good idea, but i had not done it for a long time. On sunday i was sitting at home contemplating the fact all of these payments will have kids around the house, i have three daughters, i know how hard it can be in the summer holidays, so i thought, this is something i can do for these parents and kids. It is something i am used to doing, i can do it relatively quickly, so i thought, i will give it a go, see what happens. We were just talking to Gareth Malone, the choirmaster, talking about how important it is to still have some form of creative interaction, he is giving that through music and an online choir, you are doing it through illustration, how important is it to be creative, especially for younger people as well . It is really, really important. These days when there are screens in every room, very important. These days when there are screens in every room, very easy to set your child in front of the tv, give them an ipad, but it is really important to be doing something with our hands, something physical. Drawing is something that has been around since time immemorial, one of the nicest and easiest things we can do. What is really lovely about what i have done and the reaction i have had is. I challenge anyone to search the hash tag draw with rob on twitter, all of these pictures come up twitter, all of these pictures come up with children holding the pictures proudly, but what is really lovely as there are often. Pan generational thing, grandma, mum, son, daughter, holding the pictures, they say, some of the older people who have taken part, i havent worn for years, i have really we did it a tiny bit at a time, something that is very attainable drawn four yea rs. Is very attainable drawn four years. People are surprised with the results. Must make clear, the idea is just to results. Must make clear, the idea isjust to share, results. Must make clear, the idea is just to share, not a competition, no one is being judged. It is not a competition at all. People share their pictures with me andi people share their pictures with me and i can honestly say every single picture, i have seen thousands, every picture is different and charming in its own way, and some are absolutely astonishing. I had a drawing yesterday from a three year old, and i said to my wife, iam three year old, and i said to my wife, i am out of a job soon it is just wife, i am out of a job soon it isjust a wife, i am out of a job soon it is just a nice thing to do. Wife, i am out of a job soon it isjust a nice thing to do. What is the next character . The next character, i am going to draw somebody from this book here, a little sausage dog, that will go up at 10am today. And i will give you a comparison here, all about a bear, we will be drawing that theyre in a couple of days. Lots of fun to be had. Let us go through this again, if you want to draw and be part of this, what you do, how long does it take . What you do, you can look me up on social media. Or search for the hashtag, all you need is a piece of paper and hashtag, all you need is a piece of paperand a hashtag, all you need is a piece of paper and a pencil, maybe colouring pencils but you dont really need them. Each video is roughly ten minutes. I will be putting them on my website. It is not a live thing, they will be up there for you to watch whenever you like. A great idea, good luck with it. I did the search and i have seen some really brilliant pictures by some of the children, you are definitely getting them involved, lovely to speak to you. Heres carol with a look at this mornings weather. Carol is desperate to sing Karen Carrick gareth is looking for people to get involved. It is good for you the last time this happened i ended up on the roof of the colosseum in london. I wonder who got you there you are nothing but trouble, but the kind of trouble i like good morning. A cracking start to the day in the northern half of the country, scotland, north wales, Northern Ireland, some blue skies and like we have here. In the south of the country, this is more like it, cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle. Courtesy of a weather front across the south. Not really moving very fast today. The rain in it light and patchy. Otherwise, some drizzle. Northwards, clearer skies with sunshine and a few showers. Temperatures up to 12. Birmingham and cardiff in particular, temperatures way below average in march. In the latter part of the afternoon, still a lot of dry weather, the days are getting longer. Showers across scotland, wintry over the hills. The odd shower in Northern Ireland and Northern England. Hazy sunshine in the north midlands. We still have this cloud and patchy rain across southern areas. Mild tonight, the wind picking up, with showers. North of that, cold with a widespread frost. Thank you very much. Another time for listening talking of singing the last time the Boomtown Rats made a new album, bob geldof was still known solely as a singer. That was back in 1994 before his exploits with live aid put him on a path as a global activist. Now, hes returned to his punk rocker roots with the irish bands first album in 36 years. Hell tell us all about it in a moment but, first, lets take a look. We can talk to bob geldof now from his home in kent where hes self isolating. We spoke to Gareth Malone, he was self isolating after coming back from germany, and so are you, what has happened . Yes, iam has happened . Yes, i am self isolating but only because everybody else is. It is the right thing to do, we are in lockdown in the republic of kent are you well . Hello. Are you well . Im not alone. Ive got my mrs who is desperate to throw me out of the kitchen so she can get on with making the brea kfast. Can get on with making the breakfast. And one of my daughters and husband is here. I expect the others to come down from london. So, yes, everybody is being serious about this because it is serious. I go around town, if i go out with my flue mask, with isolates written on it in lipstick it is interesting. It certainly is, it has affected the Music Industry with lots of cancelled tours and cancelled gigs, how has it affected you . Ican you . I can barely hear you. Did you talk about the concert being cancelled . Our album came out on friday the 13th, two years of preparation for a new record, and a new single. A new video, a book, a film which will go out on the bbc in april. Add two hours after it is released, everything stops dead. And quite rightly, we had to postpone until october, november. But like everybody else who is working, it is seriously frustrating. You build up to something that, for you, is important and special. And then within hours, it collapses. Nobody could predict this, absolutely nobody. You are suddenly correct. Tell us about the documentary. It is a reflection on the bads history, how did it feel going over old times. I mist that. The documentary, tell us about how that made you feel . Say it again . The documentary. The documentary was weird because we had the World Premiere in dublin two weeks ago, the president of ireland came, sinead oconnor, shane mcgowan, youtube, all the gang showed up. I had already screened it in new york, toronto, berlin. Paris was cancelled last week, i went over there. It is a great film. It has nothing to do with us making it because we were the subjects of it. But it is interesting in that you didnt quite realise what pulls a band together and what propels them forward , band together and what propels them forward, and what ultimately makes them want to make that music again. And i think that, it is very weird, maybe because we are here in the house, we are in lockdown or self imposed isolation. You are sort of thinking about it, in the video single, for example, we made it four months ago, i had this idea that this girl needed her gusts mask. And in part of the film she is driving through a deserted city, like boom town, a few like. Gary the guitar ca re town, a few like. Gary the guitar care is the taxi driver says do you have your mask, and he holds up a gusts mask. He said, that is boom town, kid. Friday 13th, it comes out, and youre looking about at the documentary about your lives. We came up of a period of great chaos, inflation in the uk was 27 . You have the sex pistols, the clash, new york was bankrupt. And in ireland, we had a civil war with 3600 people murdered, we had a corrupt government, a phil healy corrupt state church, zero economy. I had to state church, zero economy. Ihad tojump state church, zero economy. I had tojump in, time is against us. What i get is from troubled times then come at similar times now, it is interesting with your new album. Sir bobs album citizens of boomtown is out now, and a documentary will be coming to bbc two in april. Lots of messages from people facing long periods of self isolation but they want to stay fit and healthy at home. Yesterday, we were joined by the Green Goddess herself, fitness guru diana moran. This morning, shes back to give us some more top tips. First, lets take a look at her in action on breakfast tv in the eighties. Down. Up. Stretch. Taking fresh air into our lungs. Come on britain, wake up, shake up, and stretch out. Lets get britain fit. Here we go, a little bit ofjogging. Just gently. Come on, sir, at the back, youd better be faster than that. One, two. And a bit higher. I think youve done very well for a start. Youre blowing with good health. Thats a lovely way to come alive this morning. Stretch. The Green Goddess joins us from her home in shepperton. Morning, diana good morning, iwish good morning, i wish i could see the bits you are playing. Here i am, and i havent got a picture ican i havent got a picture i can tell you what we were seeing, you come in yourfabulous green outfit, giving encouragement to people, it looked like some where in the pub, some were in a gym. We wont be doing that now. The point you want to get across is just because you cant get out, a few are self isolating, there are things you can do. Most suddenly. I have been self isolating for nearly a week. We have got two keep our body is going. I think i had some stretches, lets start this morning. I am sitting down but you could be standing up. Its because i have got two talk into here. Lean forward, take your arms way down, come back up, deep breath, and stretch out. Lets do that once more. A big swing down either from your that once more. A big swing down eitherfrom your chair or that once more. A big swing down either from your chair or from standing up, and breathe nice and deeply. Its very important to get some good breath going. Lets work those shoulders. If like me, you have been on the computer, you have been fighting with some other bits and pieces, let us get rid of a lot of the tension in your shoulders. That is it common good. And then, i called this tech neck because we are always looking at the computer. Drop your chin to your chest and literally sit there, and count chest and literally sit there, and cou nt slowly. Chest and literally sit there, and count slowly. And stretch out the back of your neck. Many of us have problems around the shoulders. So, lets now concentrate, i call this exercise, chicken neck. You stick your chin out and pull it back as far as you can. You will feel the muscles and the top of your spain. Very good for avoiding osteoporosis. Here we go. Stick your chin out, chin parallel to the floor, and pull it back in. You cant see me but i am trying to join in, as you do them. You are right, sitting down for a long time. Only a little bit of time left. It is good for your Mental Health just to do something. It is absolutely splendid. When it is all over and come and sit there, look at my at my fingers, my middle finger tomorrow hands are likely on my knees, here, and i am closing my eyes. If i could, i would have my Favourite Music on, and i am sitting there, breathing deeply, through my mouth, sorry, goodness, through my nose and through my mouth. Diana, we have to leave you on that calm moment. Thank you for your time. We will get the routine recorded properly and put on twitter a few wa nt to properly and put on twitter a few want to follow it. Breakfast will be back tomorrow from six. Until then, enjoy your day. Goodbye. Hi, good morning, its 9am, this thursday morning and youre with bbc news. Im victoria derbyshire, here with the latest developments on the Coronavirus Crisis for you and here telling your stories. The headlines today. Schools and universities call for urgent clarity about the cancellation of gcses and a levels in england and wales. We are going to be issuing details of this tomorrow. Weve already sat down with head teachers unions, universities uk, working very closely with off quual, in terms of making sure that every child gets their gcse, a level and other qualifications as and when theyd be expecting them, in the summer. The government is doubling the number of military personnel who are on standby in response to the crisis to 20,000
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