This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Plans to impose localised lockdowns in england will be unveiled later. The government will explain how its test, track and trace strategy will deal with regional outbreaks of covid 19. If there is a flare up in one particular community, and that could be on quite a small scale like a particular workplace or school, then measures can be introduced, local lockdowns may be introduced which hopefully the public will get to tackle regional outbreaks behind, enable us to control of coronavirus in the future. The virus in that locality. The Prime Minister, borisjohnson, will be questioned by senior mps theres no timeframe yet, later amid continued calls for his top adviser but the government says itll Dominic Cummings to resign. Be part of the test, track and trace system. Some Health Officials are concerned elsewhere riot police in hong kong fire pepper pellets to break up about getting the public on board. Protests over a law that would criminalise insulting what we must have, if there chinas National Anthem. Was a local lockdown, is adherence of the local President Trump accuses twitter
of stifling free speech after one population, and they would have of his tweets about postal voting to have the respect and the trust of the people who are actually was given a fact check label. Giving that information. And nasa astronauts prepare well find out more about how to launch into space from the us the system will work. For the first time in nearly also this lunchtime a decade we count down to the launch. The Prime Minister will face questions from senior mps this afternoon, amid continuing calls for his senior adviser, Dominic Cummings, to resign. Donald trump has his wings clipped by twitter, after the social Media Company labels two posts by the president as hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. Future coronavirus outbreaks in england could be controlled by introducing local lockdowns according to the government. The Health Secretary matt hancock
said some restrictions, including the temporary closure of shops and schools, could be reintroduced in specific areas if there is a spike in the number of cases. There are already arrangements similar to local lockdowns in countries like france and germany. Also today the uk Prime Minister borisjohnson will be questioned by senior mps about the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Hes also likely to be asked about his chief adviser Dominic Cummings controversial trip to the north of england during lockdown. South korea, which avoided a nationwide lockdown, has seen its biggest spike in new coronavirus cases in two months, just as many schools are reopening. The head of the Pan American Health organisation has warned that latin america has become the centre of the global pandemic. And, back in the uk, Research Suggests women are more likely than men to have lost theirjobs since the start of the lockdown. Theyre also more likely to be doing most of the housework and childcare. Do let us know your experiences you can get in touch on twitter or via email, victoria bbc. Co. Uk. Letters bring you this first report from andi mohr. More on that later but first this report from andy moore. A testing, tracking and tracing system is regarded as vital if the virus is to be kept in check while lockdown restrictions are eased. The fear is that, without it, there could be a second wave of infections. Transmission rates are generally coming down across the country, but there are big regional variations. In somerset, the hospital in western super mare has been temporarily closed due to a high number of coronavirus cases. Theres said to be an emerging picture of large numbers of staff testing positive, though theyre showing no symptoms. The hospital says it hopes to reopen its a e department and accept new patients as soon as possible. If theres a high level of infection in a particular area, the government has indicated that local schools, businesses or workplaces could be closed down. At the daily downing street press conference, matt hancock said
the nhs test and Trace Programme would be incredibly important. It will give us the information to have local lockdowns and focus on areas where there may be flare ups, and it is very important that people follow those rules and they should do it dont not do it for, um, the government, people need to do this for themselves, for their loved ones, for their communities. Its incredibly important and it will stop those local flare ups from happening. A similar system will be launched in scotland tomorrow. Its called test and protect. Anyone with symptoms will be urged to get a swab. If it comes back positive, 700 trackers will be ready to trace any contacts, with that number rising to 2,000 in due course. Andy moore, bbc news. Lets talk to our assistant Political Editor norman smith. Mrjohnson will be questioned by senior mps later this afternoon. What kind of question is will they be putting to him . They will be a 90
minute grilling for borisjohnson where the questions will only be on coronavirus, the first 20 minutes specifically on the row over his chief aide Dominic Cummings, but a lot of questions also about the test, track and trace scheme which we have been hearing about and which is crucial in terms of easing the lockdown and is meant to kick in from monday. As part of that, we have been hearing that if there is an upsurge in the virus as a result in easing the restrictions, then the hope is that test, track and trace will enable officials to identify where there is an upsurge in the virus. What the government is now talking about is localised lockdown is so you can actually impose really dramatic restrictions on individual schools, on villages, on to give housing estates, at least that is what will set out this morning by the communities secretary robert jenrick. The trade off here is that
for a relatively small number of people abiding by the rules, being inconvenienced in some cases, staying at home and self isolating, the rest of society gets to enjoy far more freedom than we all do today because of the great restrictions we are living under. So the potential is huge to help us get back to all the things we care about in life. The row over Dominic Cummings, however, rumbles on with two nude of elements this morning. The first, mr jenrick confirming the government will not now carry out a review of the finds of people who have travelled during the lockdown like mrcummings. Travelled during the lockdown like mr cummings. Robertjenrick saying no, they are just not going to do that. Secondly, we had an admission from mrjenrick that if other people find themselves in the same situation as Dominic Cummings, in other words, they too have to travel for child care, well, they should be able to do it. If there are no other options and if you dont have ready access to childcare, then you can do
as Dominic Cummings chose to do. Evenif as Dominic Cummings chose to do. Even if you are in household with symptoms of coronavirus . But the guidelines say that you must do your best mud but they appreciate that family life poses particular challenges, and in order to protect children you are able to exercise a degree of personal judgment. Children you are able to exercise a degree of personaljudgment. And i think thats a reasonable way forwards. So it is clear borisjohnson wants to cling on to Dominic Cummings, despite the fact that around a0 or so tory mps from different wings of the party are demanding he goes. The big unknown is how do the public respond . We big unknown is how do the public respond . We know big unknown is how do the public respond . We know there is widespread public anger, but is it so intense that it threatens the Governments Public Health message . In other words, do people simply decide they are going to do a Dominic Cummings and ignore further restrictions or lockdowns . Thank you very much, norman. Norman smith reporting. Riot police in hong kong have fired pepper pellets at demonstrators, as mps gather to debate a bill that would criminalise insulting chinas
National Anthem. More than 2a0 people are reported to have been arrested by riot police as protesters gather in the central commercial district and in shopping areas. There were the scenes in hong kongs commercial district a little earlier when police attempted to disperse the crowds. Pro democracy activists have also voiced their opposition to separate legislation which would impose a sweeping National Security law on the semi autonomous territory. 0ur correspondent martin yip in hong kong explains the background to the controversy surrounding the Chinese National anthem. Its pretty much about people thinking that this whole piece of law would bar them from expressing their discontent with governors in some ways, such as making parodies of the National Anthem orjust booing at the National Anthem. Because back in 2017 when beijing made the National Anthem law, and put it into what we call annex
iii of the basic law of hong kong, which then forced hong kong to make this local legislation, was at a time when there was a series of incidents that hong kong football fans booed at the Chinese National anthem at international games. Because hong kong, under the one country, two systems rule, hong kong sends its own teams into games like world cup. Things like that. But you have to play the Chinese National anthem. And beijing treat this kind of behaviour, not just as unpatriotic, but almost as like a betrayal of the country. But to the hong kongers it is one of the many ways they can do legally, at least until this moment, to express discontent to chinese rule. Professor arthur li is a member of the executive council which is the top policy making body of the hong kong government. Hes considered pro beijing
in his political outlook and he explained why he supports the National Anthem law. Well, basically, manners maketh man. I dont think anyone anywhere should insult anybody, any countrys National Anthem, and it is wrong. But we have seen in hong kong when the National Anthem is being played at public events, people, some people, started booing it. This is very upsetting for a lot of hong kong people who feel that, first of all, its bad manners. Secondly, it is a National Anthem. And thirdly, something needs to be done about it. As coronavirus restrictions ease in some areas across the world, schools have begun to resume face to face classes. But what should classroom look like now . And how are different nations dealing with the challenges of teaching during a pandemic . In china, schools began gradually
reopening earlier this month including in wuhan where the outbreak started. Students lined up to give swab samples and have their Temperature Checked. In france masks are required for students aged 11 years or older but its not yet compulsory for parents to send their children back. Schools in sweden have remained open. They have relied on social distancing and lots of washing of hands to reduce the spread of infection instead. And south korea just as over two Million School children return to school. But strict measures have been put in place. As laura bicker has been finding out. Well, this is pe class, as you can probably tell behind me. 2. 5 Million Students are going back. This is part of a phased return. So a series of students go back every week. But teachers are on edge because there are clusters of infection popping up across the country. This is all related to an outbreak in nightclubs in seouls Party District a couple of weeks ago. Health officials have traced 86,000 people. And tested them for the virus. But still these Little Pockets of infection keep cropping up. And that is why every single student must wear a mask. At the gates they are having their Temperature Checked. Thats the first Temperature Check of the day. There are many Temperature Checks throughout the day. Each of the classes have dividers in them to keep students apart. Daily, teachers are telling their students to keep that social distance, but it is extremely difficult. As you can imagine, this is the first time that theyve seen each other in months. This is the start of the school term which was supposed to happen in march so they are very, very excited. I saw one studentjump up and down desperate to hug herfriend but she was told no, no, no, no by a teacher. But still they are allowing students to go back to school. Some schools have decided to say no today but this one has. As you can see they are enjoying their pe class, they dont speak much english but they have one word which they can say which is hello they go, hello from them. And hello from us. We heard about schools in south korea there and headteachers in england have told the bbc that preparing schools to welcome more children back from next week, has been the toughest challenge of their careers. Staff rotas, School Systems and physical changes to classrooms, have all been considered to ensure pupils can return safely under social distancing guidelines. John maguire has this. 0k, theo, can you tuck your chair and come and stand on the white line. The children returning to school here at the whitehook academies in North Somerset next week, everything will be different. Each and every aspect of school life has been reassessed. We have a 109 point check list to go through to make sure everything is risk assessed to be safe. We have a a5 page Risk Assessment that has also gone
through a whole checking process, including staff, governors and trustees. But behind that, we have the practicalities of the day to day. So, we have timetables for break time, for lunch time, for outdoor space. We have timetables for different classrooms and different bubbles within those classes. The school has stayed open for key workers or vulnerable children. Social distancing rules mean their desk partners are their siblings. Theres a new theme each week. The latest is japan. They applaud on a normal day, there would be a50 pupils here, and after half term, around 150 will return. Class sizes are different. The requirements for childrens mixing and interaction is different. The hygiene requirements are a far higher level than weve ever seen before. Also, the Risk Assessment process behind that, ensuring that our site is as safe as it possibly can be for everyone in our community, is vital. Making the physical changes has
been very challenging but staff are also preparing to support children emotionally. The decision to reintroduce more pupils hasnt been an easy one. Not for parents or for staff. For me, being in the classroom is where i belong. I want to be with the children, i dont want to be sat at home on my laptop doing things for them. I want to have that interaction and to be there for them, as their Journey Continues with their learning. A school is so much more than just a classroom. Its part of a community. In the office, fiona hague has been on hand to reassure anxious families. Parents are still very worried, so its pointing them in the direction of all the guidance thats coming out. Were ensuring were getting as much information out to parents as we can via the website, school app, e mails. And making sure theyre as up to date as they can be and know as much as we know. When the school gates next open, the canteens shutters
will remain closed. Mixed feelings. Im fine with it. I think im fine with it. Weve been. Me and sue have been on our own for a while now, so its fine. Its a nice big kitchen to social distance in, so, we are lucky, really. Were going to do a sandwich selection for them and theyre going to be eating in their classroom, so well prepare it here and it will be going over in boxes into their little bubbles in their classrooms. Over the past two weeks, primary schools have had to reinvent the wheel. And as these corridors fill in the coming days, therell be much more to learn. So notjust for children, but for parents, teachers, and support staff, every day will be a school day. John maguire, bbc news, nailsea in North Somerset. The headlines on bbc news plans to impose localised lockdowns in england will be
unveiled later today. The government will explain how its test, track and trace strategy will deal with regional outbreaks of covid i9. The uk Prime Minister, borisjohnson, will be questioned by senior mps later amid continued calls for his top adviser Dominic Cummings to resign. Riot police in hong kong fire pepper pellets to break up protests over a law that would criminalise insulting chinas National Anthem. Donald trump has accused twitter of interfering in the 2020 us election after it labelled two posts by the president as potentially misleading. Mr trump had claimed that the use of postal votes would lead to widespread voter fraud. Twitter responded by directing readers to a page with news articles and information from Fact Checkers debunking the claim. 0ur north america correspondent peter bowes reports. A twitter war about twitter. It started when mr trump,
who has more than 80 million followers on the social media platform, tweeted that postal ballot papers would result in a rigged election. Mailboxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged and even illegally printed out and fraudulently signed. Mr trump also claimed that the governor of california will be sending ballots to millions of people, anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there, will get one. Twitter responded with a blue exclamation mark underneath the tweets, suggesting readers get the facts about mail in ballots through stories contradicting mr trump. The president later repeated his claims at a white house News Conference. People that arent citizens, illegals, anyone that walks in california is going to get a ballot. Were not going to destroy this country by allowing things like that to happen. Were not destroying our country. This has more to do with fairness and honesty, and really our country itself. Twitter introduced a policy earlier this month to combat misleading information. But this is the first time the platform has applied a Fact Checking label to tweets by the president who was quick to respond with another tweet. Twitter is now interfering in the 2020 president ial election. Twitter is completely stifling free speech, and i, as president , will not allow it to happen thank you. A potentially rocky road ahead for the president and his social media platform of choice. Peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. We are going to stay on that subject because a bbc team has been tracking online conspiracy theories. It has linked to some of the misinformation to racist attacks, arsons and even deaths around the world and now senior doctors in the uk including the Royal College of gps are warning that the potential for harm could be much, much bigger. The bbcs specialist disinformation reporter Marianna Spring joins us. What are some of the examples of harm you have been investigating . Bad information, bit my coronavirus, has spread everywhere and we have seen cases of harm and even deaths across the world. There have been poisonings in nigeria, the us, vietnam and iran linked to hydroxychloroquine, the drug that President Donald Trump said he was using to treat himself, or prevent coronavirus. To ward it off. Yes, it has been trialled, although the World Health Organization says those trials have been paused at the moment. And then there have been cases of racist attacks, as you say, in india against muslims because of misleading information suggesting muslim communities have been spreading coronavirus. Here in the uk and other places telephone masts have been set on fire because people believe falsely that 5g technology is linked to coronavirus and we have spoken to engineers who have been
attacked and abused by people. And then there is the stuff that is less direct but equally harmful in my opinion. So, misinformation that courage to people not to seek help, not to good hospital, to misdiagnosed themselves, to try treatments at home, and i spoke to one man who was an extreme case in florida who believed conspiracy theories, including that 5g was falsely linked to coronavirus, or that coronavirus was like the flu and asa that coronavirus was like the flu and as a consequence he didnt follow social distancing guidance and didnt seek help soon and has been critically ill in hospital with coronavirus. His wife is sedated on a ventilator and he deeply regrets believing this misinformation. It is incredibly harmful across the spectrum fell. What are people most concerned about when it comes to disinformation . Medics are concerned about brians case, although that is extreme, cases that mean people dont seek help. I spoke to professor Martin Marshall the chair of the Royal College of gps and he
explained to me the kind of things he has been seeing patients saying about misleading stuff online. As Health Professionals we have a responsibility to raise awareness around the risks around this. Government, of course, has responsibility, particularly through its Information Sources that it provides. Possibly, most importantly, the social Media Companies themselves have a responsibility to police the content that goes up on theirwebsite. Explains responsibility this is, as doctors they feel a great responsibility to get the right information out to people and us journalists we also do, but then there is the responsibility of social Media Companies and companies and governments and what they are doing to properly police their platforms, bit like what we saw about donald trump. You have spoken to governments, social Media Companies, what have they said to you . They say they aim to tackle disinformation that endangers the life and threatens it. But the problem is that, as we just highlighted, actually a lot of misinformation doesnt necessarily cause direct imminent harm, but can
actually lead to people not seeking medical help and people miss diagnosing themselves, and particularly with the prospect of a vaccine on the horizon, conspiracies about vaccinations which have really been growing on social media are a serious concern to doctors and arent necessarily tackled properly by social Media Companies. Thank you very much, Marianna Spring. Mums appear to being doing most of the housework and childcare during lockdown. Research from the institute for fiscal studies suggests that in homes where there is a working mum and dad, women are doing more of the jobs and spending more time with the children. And mums were only able to do one hour of uninterrupted work, for every three hours done by dads. Lets speak now to Paula Sheridan a coach whose firm unwrapping potential works with professional women, helping those who pause their career to have a family. Hello, paula. Hello. Does this
surprise you, or not at all . Not at all, unfortunately. So many of the women that i speak to have been talking in terms of its just highlighting, lockdown is just highlighting, lockdown is just highlighting what they are experiencing the rest of the time in terms of a lot of their Mental Energy is going on planning everything, making sure everything is organised in advance, we know what the children are doing, what time they are going to do it, do we have the right materials for them to do it . All of that sort of thing. It really is just a sort of an extension of what ordinary life is before lockdown, unfortunately. Yes. Why is it not different during lockdown, when often both parents who wouldnt normally work, are in the home at the moment . My belief is that it goes all the way back to Maternity Leave when the birth pa rent Maternity Leave when the birth pa re nt ta kes Maternity Leave when the birth parent takes extended time off, at home with the child early on, they
are learning how to do it, they are learning how to parent and how to runa learning how to parent and how to run a household. It is a bit of trial and error and you get there in the end and we all make mistakes and then we learn not to do them again. And it tends to be only women that get the opportunity to have that space, learn how to do planning and the running and organising and every thing else. And their partners dont usually get that opportunity. So when the woman goes back to work she just carries on doing all the stuff that shes been doing. Just carries on doing all the stuff that shes been doing. So its our fault . Well, its not about fault. No, im being slightly facetious yes, women carry on doing it and the only way to break the cycle is to find a way to stop doing it. That involves letting go a bit of control. Ive been in that scenario myself, and guess what, my husband can change nappies just as well as i could but he just did
can change nappies just as well as i could but hejust did it can change nappies just as well as i could but he just did it slightly differently and i just could but he just did it slightly differently and ijust had to accept that and it was fine. Exactly. Exactly. And when i went back to work after Maternity Leave and i had to go ona work after Maternity Leave and i had to go on a work trip all the people i was travelling with said to me, will he be all right with your daughter at home . And i was like, of course he will be all right, he is her father, of course course he will be all right, he is herfather, of course he course he will be all right, he is her father, of course he will be all right. But there seems to be this expected norm that men cant cope with this stuff, and of course they can. Of course they can but we as women need to get out of the way sometimes. James says it isnt the case in my house, my dad is a teacher working from home. My mum is a nurse not working from home. It doesnt surprise me, though, that on average it is what is happening. My question would be, as the gap closed since lockdown . Matt says, my wife is working full time and looking after three kids at the same time. We are in two different countries, japan and the uk, due to corona. I should be doing my bit but there is only so much i can to help them it
is so exhausting, lift the travel ban soon so i can travel to my family. Loads on twitter. Graham says i do both. Leanne says my partner does just as says i do both. Leanne says my partner doesjust as much says i do both. Leanne says my partner does just as much as i says i do both. Leanne says my partner doesjust as much as i do. We work as a team to get everything done. Eva says my partner and i share chores, generally, and chris says my wife works and i am furloughed, so i look after my seven year old son and one year old daughter, i cook all the meals and i do all the cleaning. There is also some research from the ifs today which suggests that more women are losing theirjobs during this period of time than men. What do you think of time than men. What do you think of that, paula . I cant necessarily comment on that. Because i havent read the research, that bit of the research, in detail. I think its u nfortu nate research, in detail. I think its unfortunate and i think it may well represent the mix ofjobs that there are in society and the gender distribution of roles. I dont think
im the right person to really comment on that. I think its a shame if its the truth. Comment on that. I think its a shame if its the truth. Thank you for your contribution, paula, thank you for talking to us. Really appreciate it. And thank you for your messages on the subject as well. The first commercial craft to take people into space is due to blast off from Cape Canaveral in florida this evening. The spacex rocket and capsule, will be the first to take off from american soil since 2011. Two nasa astronauts will be on board the mission to the International Space station. Heres our science correspondent rebecca morelle. Getting ready for launch. A commercial spacecraft facing its ultimate test carrying astronauts into space. Nasas bob behnken and doug hurley will be at the controls. Theyve been training for this moment for years. At any time you have the first flight of a brand new vehicle, its exciting. Its a bit more risky, which is why were using people like bob and doug, who are very experienced test pilots, they can handle anything that maybe happens that we didnt expect. But its what test pilots live for, you know, the chance to be the first one to fly a new, shiny vehicle is a test pilots dream. Lift off, we have a lift off. The United States has a long history of space flight. From the apollo missions, which took astronauts to the moon, to the Space Shuttle programme, which ferried men and women to low earth orbit and back. The shuttle has cleared the tower. But its last flight touched down nearly a decade ago. Since then, nasas astronauts have had to buy seats on russian rockets instead. This new spacecraft will restore americas ability for human space flight. The fact its owned by spacex, a commercial company, also marks a big change for the us space agency. Nasa has said, basically, well give you the money and you give us the space flight
and that releases nasa to use its resources to do other things. And thats where we can start really thinking big. And instead of spending allthe time, effort, resources on something weve done now for many years, going into low earth orbit, doing experiments, lets look bigger, lets go further and the ultimate destination has to be mars. Last year, a crash test dummy took a test ride in the spacex capsule. Now, though, its time for the real thing. A new era in space flight is set to begin. Rebecca morelle, bbc news. Hello this is bbc news with victoria derbyshire. The headlines plans to impose localised lockdowns in england will be unveiled later today the government will explain how its test, track and trace strategy will deal with regional outbreaks of covid 19. If there is a flare up in one particular community, and that could be on quite a small scale like a particular
workplace or school, then measures can be introduced, which hopefully the public will get behind, enable us to control the virus in that locality. The uk Prime Minister, borisjohnson, will be questioned by senior mps later amid continued calls for his top adviser Dominic Cummings to resign. Elsewhere, riot police in hong kong fire pepper pellets to break up protests over a law that would criminalise insulting chinas National Anthem. President trump accuses twitter of stifling free speech, after one of his tweets about postal voting was given a fact check label. And nasa astronauts prepare to launch into space from the us for the first time in nearly a decade we count down to the launch. Police officers in the us city of minneapolis have fired tear gas at demonstrators protesting the death of an unarmed black man in police custody. Soon after george floyd died on monday a video emerged showing a white policeman kneeling on his neck forfive minutes despite the man complaining that he couldnt breathe. These are some of the protests you can see now. Protestors filled the citys streets on tuesday evening hours after it was that four Police Officers had been sacked. This report starts with images of the dead man being detained. A disturbing scene caught on camera by witnesses incensed over the polices actions. Bro . The ten minute video shows george floyd pleading with officers who have him restrained on the ground. One of them using his knee to pin the man down by his neck. Clearly in distress, he tells the white officer he cant breathe and is in pain. The crowd tries to help, and grows increasingly concerned and frustrated. When george floyd appears motionless, bystanders question why
he isnt being given Urgent Medical attention. Seven minutes into the video, an ambulance arrives. Hes put on a stretcher, still handcuffed, and taken to hospital. At a press conference, the Minneapolis Police department offered their version of events. They said they were responding to a crime and that the man appeared to be under the influence. He physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and officers noticed that the male was going into medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County medical center, where he died a short time later. Mayorjacob frey said that four of the officers involved have now been fired, after initially being put on paid leave. The fbi is also investigating the incident. Being black in america should not
be a death sentence. For five minutes, we watched as a white officer pressed his knee into the neck of a black man. For five minutes. When you hear someone calling for help, you are supposed to help. This officer failed in the most basic human sense. The viral video quickly sparked outrage. Yesterday, what we saw was a black man who was lynched. Right . They didnt use rope, he used his knee. And that black man, mr floyd, said, i cannot breathe. Minnesota prides itself on being progressive and being the north. But this is the jim crow north, and we demand justice. Police officer put your hands behind your back george floyd i cant breathe for many, this is a case of history repeating itself. Millions protested in 201a after eric garner, an unarmed black man in new york, died after being restrained by police. His repeated plea of i cant breathe, also captured in cellphone footage, became a rallying cry at demonstrations against Police Brutality against african america ns. There are sometimes investigations, but many feel there is rarely any accountability. Nada tawfik, bbc news. The husband of the jailed biritsh iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari ratcliffe, says there is some hope his wife could soon be allowed to come home from iran. To the uk. Irans leader is expected to pardon 3,000 people as part of the counttys eid celerations, and Richard Ratcliffe has told the bbc he expects to hear around lunchtime whether or not his wife
is among those to be released. She was arrested in 2016 and sentenced to five years in prison, accused of plotting to overthrow the iranian government, something she denies. The charity which runs the uks National Domestic abuse helpline has had a ten fold increase in visits to its website in the past two weeks. Refuge said numbers have spiked again significantly since it started recording rises during lockdown. But figures revealed to the bbc request show that more uk Police Forces recorded a fall in calls about Domestic Violence at the start of lockdown, than recorded a rise. Why the disparity . Abby newbery reports. For some, lockdown has meant feeling trapped in an abusive situation at home. Itjust got me down more and more. I thought i cant go on like this. This is one womans experience, recreated and voiced by actors, to protect her identity. He got more and more aggressive, saying hed like me to go now. He got a stick and he came back with it and he stood there with the stick in his hand and he said, i want you out now or im going to hurt you and you know i can kill you, waving this stick at me. And he really, really did frighten me. This woman has now escaped her situation. But thats not the case for many. The bbc asked all a5 of the uks Police Forces how many Domestic Abuse calls theyd had. A1 responded. More than half had fewer calls at the start of lockdown than at the same time last year. But thats not the case for refuge, a Domestic Abuse charity that has seen 66 more calls and almost 1,000 increase to its website in lockdown. As director of communications, lisa king explains. Refuge is concerned to see such demand on its services and what we really want all women to know is that they are not alone. That Domestic Abuse is a crime and that refuge is here to support them every hour of every day. It shows that Domestic Abuse is perhaps a bigger issue than we have even anticipated in this country. But why is there not a similar recorded increase in police calls . There needs to be an understanding of what Domestic Abuse is. Claire walker is a Domestic Abuse consultant and she thinks more training is needed to spot the signs. 100 of victims will experience coercive control. Not so much what he does, its about what he. Disables her from being able to do. Their systems and their policies and practices need to change. I am tired of Police Officers not understanding what coercive control is. The countrys leading Domestic Abuse police officer, louisa rolfe, says that all front line officers across the uk receive training to spot the signs of coercive or controlling behaviour. She adds they are working
with Domestic Abuse charities to understand the nature of their demand. Drones are being used to deliver Medical Equipment to a scottish island, as part of a trial to prove the efficiency of the technology. The test flights can carry protective equipment and packages between the hospital in oban and the isle of mull, in 15 minutes. That must be good, i assume. Its hoped that test kits and samples could, in time, be transported in this way. Iain macinnes reports. Did the preflight check . Preflight check completed. Ready for take off. This is a drone flight with a difference. Medical supplies carried on board will head 12 miles across the water to the isle of mull injust 15 minutes. I think anything that improves Island Medical health has to be tried. I think its extra resilience for our island, as well. Because of covid 19, we were looking at ferry sailings and trying to cut down the risk of transmitting infection. So even if it saves one life, it will give great confidence to the island. The heavily regulated process has been accelerated by coronavirus but the drone and its carrying abilities can be the latest tool in fighting the virus. I think particularly we are moving into the phase now where were looking at testing and isolation, the speed of getting a test kit out to some of our more remote communities, or getting that result back will allow us to make those decisions and support the communities in protecting them and keeping them safe and well in their community. And obviously supporting the Health Service so that we can cope with any peak in demand. The health board say other crossings like this could be made to island surgeries and hospitals, and theres no suggestion the west Coast Weather will cause any issues. Within a couple of years, we hope to have multiple drones over multiple routes, serving lots and lots of different purposes. Of course, when you get to that stage, the economics start to get better for the nhs and other users, because you can fly packages out, you can fly samples back, you can integrate with the mail, any goods that need to go over. Then it really becomes an efficient form of transportation. Another test flight has successfully made its way back here to oban. The hope is, though, that if this technology could be proved, that we may see drones like this more widespread across the country. Ever since the pandemic began countries around the world have been desperately trying to get hold of Personal Protective Equipment or ppe. Thats the gloves, face masks and gowns needed for doctors, nurses and carers. But what happens when these items mostly made of plastic get thrown away . The bbcs tim allman reports on the potential hazards of discarded ppe. In the waters off the coast of southern france, a perhaps unexpected consequence of covid 19. This video, shot by an environmentalist called laurent lombard, appears to show disposable gloves on the sea bed, near the resort of antibes. And its notjust gloves. There are face masks, too, in amongst the usual plastic pollution of the mediterranean. Laurent lombard is part of a group called operation clean sea, which describes the oceans as our heritage that must be respected. This is what he found during just two hours of snorkelling, dozens of plastic bottles and, lying in a row at the front, face masks and latex gloves. The demand for Personal Protective Equipment has been, understandably, huge, country after country scrambling to get hold of as much of this stuff as they can. France alone is reported to have ordered somewhere in the region of 2
billion face masks. Much of it cannot be reused and some of it seems to be ending up discarded in the ocean. This has been described as a new form of pollution and there has been a warning that if nothing is done, we may end up with more face masks than jellyfish in the mediterranean. One consequence of so many shops, bars and restaurants being closed around the world is that it can be harder for people who are out and about to find a toilet. And the problem is even worse because many public toilets are closed, too. But for vulnerable people, its more thanjust an inconvenience its feared the lack of facilities is stopping some of them from leaving their homes. Tim muffett has more. Inconvenience. With lockdown easing, more people are out and about and needing the loo. And thats been a problem in many places, such as skegness. So, how are you coping, then . Theres no toilets down by the beach. Yeah, its a killer and i got a water infection. We knew about the toilets. And how have you coped . Just wont have to have too many of them. She laughs. Theyre basically not keeping two metres distance, theyre going into the sand dunes and, excuse my language, peeing in there. Its notjust trips to the beach that have been affected. Jonathans a lorry driver from hampshire. Its making it really difficult for us lorry drivers. Were out on the road, doing ten, 12, 13 hours a day and were not able to use toilets anywhere. Its just getting worse. Places i used to go to the toilet, different businesses, theyve stopped letting people go there. Thereve been instances where ive had to stop somewhere and maybe have a wee in a bush, or do Something Like that. But theres people where i work, you know, that have. Had to have a number two in the back of a lorry, which is not good and its not dignified. Some public loos have reopened, but the British Toilet Association says the majority are still shut, as, of course, are cafes a nd restau ra nts. And whilst the site of a closed toilet can be a nuisance for many, for those with a bowel condition such as crohns or colitis, it can be much worse. What we want is for local authorities in thinking about opening back up again, its really important to prioritise those local conveniences for people with crohns or colitis or other disabilities who need them. Its not a luxury, its actually a necessity. The way we live our lives might have changed, but basic human needs will always remain. And finding a loo when out and about has become much harder. Tim muffet, bbc news. The headlines on bbc news plans to impose localised lockdowns in england will be unveiled later. The government will explain how its test, track and trace strategy will deal with regional outbreaks of covid 19. The Prime Minister, borisjohnson, will be questioned by senior mps later amid continued calls for his top adviser Dominic Cummings to resign. Riot police in hong kong fire pepper pellets to break up protests over a law that would criminalise insulting chinas National Anthem. Lets get more now on plans for some coronavirus restrictions, including the temporary closure of shops and schools, to be reintroduced in specific areas in england if there is a spike in the number of cases. So called local lockdowns will be used to suppress flare ups of the virus once the nationwide lockdown restrictions have been lifted. Dr george rae is north east chair of the British Medical Association and joins me now. What do you think of this idea of local lockdowns . Well, the very first thing weve got to be thinking about, victoria, is the continued protection of Public Health. And we have got to make sure that we are
maintaining the suppression of covid 19. Now, what weve noticed in the north east of england about four weeks ago was that we had a higher rate of patients testing positive for covid 19. Also, very sadly and tragically, we had more deaths pro rata 100,000 tragically, we had more deaths pro rata100,000 patients as opposed to any other area in england. At the time, but four weeks ago, we had 55 deaths per 100,000 population as opposed to further south in the more affluent areas about 25 deaths. We raised concern about that. There was no doubt in our mind it would be more than likely multifactorial in explanation. For example, more people are being tested in the north east. However, Health Inequalities have a huge implication in this. What do i mean by that . Thejobs huge implication in this. What do i mean by that . The jobs that people have, the employment or unemployment
ata have, the employment or unemployment at a look all those factors have an effect on health and the sort of factors, they have caused more chronic bronchitis, more emphysema and heart disease. Therefore, the ability of the people to actually contend with that virus like covid 19, it is reduced. At that time, when we were debating it, we felt it is not inconceivable that in the future, when, eventually, the lockdown measures come off, that they might find in some areas there will be further restrictions. That was a massive concern for us. Right. Are you saying that if there are more restrictions in your particular area of the country, for example, because of flare ups, then. What are you saying . Because of flare ups, then. What 7im because of flare ups, then. What . Im sorry. Because of flare ups, then. What are you saying . Im sorry. What im saying is that it is not inconceivable that in certain parts
of the country, and im talking about in england, but it can happen within the united kingdom, that particularly when there are areas where there is deprivation and higher rates of infection and higher death rates that you could find that when we are coming out of the lockdown that there is an actual rise in the r number in certain areas in the country and that would bea areas in the country and that would be a concern for us. It is something we would do something about. Ok, forgive me, i absolutely understand, something would have to be done and that would be where presumably this local lockdowns would come in . Would that be enough . Very unfortunately, we would have to bring in a local lockdown. This is all predicated on the testing, tracing and isolating and making sure we have got all the reliable information. What i would think. I was speaking to doctors last evening during a virtual
conference, we would want the local Public Health to be involved in that. But also working with Public Health england with the test, track, trace and isolate. If there was a local lockdown, we would have to have adherents of the local population. They would have to have the respect and trust of the people who are actually giving that information. Lets be honest, victoria, a lot of people would think, well, this is unfair, the rest of the country is coming back out and we are being told to go back to the square before, we are having further restrictions, this could have an effect on their health, their Mental Health and the local economy. But nevertheless, if there are spikes in certain parts of the country, if there are clusters, they have actually got to be brought under control. Because if not, if it
was ina under control. Because if not, if it was in a part of the north east, it was in a part of the north east, it was a part of the midlands, in the south west, that cluster could spread. That can spread to further areas in the region and of course, you know, people would realise it could further spread within the country. That is the very last thing we want. That is why i feel there has got to be, with the population, if there is a local re occurrence, there has got to be trust. There has got to be respect. They have got to be saying, look, the Public Health, the doctors say it is in the north east, say it is in the south west, they are saying to us that there is a problem here and they would adhere to the guidance, which is being given. Because, in many respects, they will be feeling, well, this is unfair because ive done my bit over the last ten or 12 weeks, i have abided by what is actually happening at now i am being asked to further go back into restrictions, so we are going to
have to look at how that actually is carried forward in the future. Ok. Thank you very much for talking to us, thank you. The north east chair of the British Medical Association in england. Around the world, thousands of music concerts and festivals have been cancelled because of the coronavirus. The organisers of the high profile afro nation Music Festival in portugal have told the bbc they received Death Threats and racial abuse, after they refused to offer Ticket Holders refunds. Shamaan Freeman Powell has this report. And just to say it does feature images of racially abusive messages. It was meant to be one of the highlights of the summer. After selling out in its debut last year, fans of the afro nation portugal festival had big plans for summer 2020. So well organised, so nicely put together. It was such a vibe. I bought a vip ticket this year because i thought, yeah, let me just go bigger and better. But those plans were scuppered by the covid 19 outbreak
and while other festivals offered refunds, afro nation only offered a ticket to next years event, causing outrage amongst some customers. At the moment, a lot of people are financially stressed and people are losing jobs or working less. And then on top of it, i found that i cant get a refund. So it was just a lot to take in. Many Ticket Holders were even more shocked to see one of the men behind the festival, adesegun adeosun, better known as smade, posted a controversial message on twitter, threatening to block people who complained. If you try to ask a question, or could you please reply me, i have messaged you in the dms, they would block you. Afro nation say, like all festivals, they remove abusive, anti social or bullying comments from social media feeds and havent blocked anyone since announcing the event was postponed. As for smade, he says he reacted after receiving threatening and racially abusive messages online. Some suggested that he should
go and live in a zoo, whilst others wished terminal cancer on his mum. I regret tweeting what i tweeted, but i dont think anyone deserves any of those. Um, messages. But on may the 11th, organisers announced that they will be using a new portuguese law, which was passed in march. The law was introduced to protect the Tourism Industry in portugal and it allows events to be rescheduled within a year with the same line up. Because the main promoter of afro nation is based in portugal, this law applies and means customers get a ticket to next years event but no refund. Ijust want my refund back, thats really it. And if i want to go next year, because i dont know the plan for next year, then ill go on my own terms. Some of the people that i have spoken to have said that theyve lost some faith in the festival. What would you say
to them about that . I would say to them to continue to believe in afro nation. A lot of people are disappointed. A lot of people are sad, at the moment. You know, 2021 is going to be a bigger opportunity. The festival organisers say cancelling the event would have damaged local businesses and the portuguese economy. And say theyve done Everything Possible to ensure 2021 is better than before, adding extra names to the line up. This leaves Ticket Holders with only two options try and resell their tickets using the platform provided by afro nation or hope that the pandemic is over by 2021. Shamaan Freeman Powell, bbc news. Many couples across the uk have been forced to cancel their wedding plans, but one doctor and nurse from south london were able to tie the knot this week, in the hospital chapel where they both work. After calling off their august wedding because of fears their family would be unable to attend, jann and annalan decided to hold their nuptials early in the grade 2 listed chapel, at st thomas hospital. They described the day
as intimate and lovely, but said it felt surreal getting married at work. Look at those pictures. Absolutely brilliant, stunning, amazing, joyous. Thank you for your messages today, always appreciate them. Try today, always appreciate them. Try to read most of them. On the split of housework in the house, heidi says it is the opposite in my house, iam says it is the opposite in my house, i am working from home, my husband is furloughed, he is doing all the cooking, housework and lots of diy at my teenage children are doing their bit. My daughter willingly and she is also working part time. My son under sufferance. Thank you very much, heidi. Now its time for a look at the weather with carol. Hello again. If youre looking for rain, there really isnt much in the forecast for the next few days. And that that we do have isnt going to be particularly heavy where it falls. Most of us are going to remain dry, sunny and warm and for some by the weekend very warm. What we have today is High Pressure still in charge of our weather, it has been with us this week and it will see us through this week as well. But across the north of the country, we have a couple of fronts which are introducing thicker cloud and also some rain. As we go through the afternoon, there will be a lot of dry weather, a lot of sunshine, some low cloud just lapping on shore across parts of Eastern England. And the fronts coming in from the west producing some rain but its not going to be heavy at this stage. We might see the odd drop across Northern Ireland and western scotland. Temperatures ranging from 12 in the north to 25 in the south. Now, if we pick up this rain through the evening and overnight as it crosses northernmost scotland, it will turn that bit heavier. Move away from there, we are looking at a lot of dry weather, some clear skies, with some of this low cloud lapping a bit further inland. As a result of all of this, its not going to be a cold night for most of the uk. So tomorrow, we say goodbye to that rain. You could even see a few spots across south east scotland and north east england before it eventually moves away. And once again its going to be a dry day, variable amounts of cloud
and a fair bit of sunshine. Temperatures responding, 22 in edinburgh, 25 in liverpool, 26 in cardiff. By the time we get to friday, we still are looking at a lot of dry weather, the High Pressure through thursday and into friday drifts in towards scandinavia. We start to pull in some breezier conditions, but also some warmer air from the near continent. So a largely dry day for us all during the course of friday, a lot of sunshine, a little bit of fair weather cloud here and there. Not really that much of a breeze on friday, but temperatures, well, they are going to get up into the low to mid 20s quite widely and 27 in cardiff is likely to be the highest temperature and with High Pressure in charge it is effectively keeping these weather fronts at bay. We dont think they are going to make any progress. If they do, then we are likely to see the odd spot of rain in Northern Ireland, possibly in western scotland but they are more likely to stay in the atlantic. On saturday, a breezier day, a dry day with a lot of sunshine and highs up to 26. This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Plans to impose localised lockdowns in england will be unveiled later today. The government will explain how its test, track and trace strategy will deal with regional outbreaks of covid 19. If there is a flare up in one particular community, and that could be on quite a small scale, like a particular workplace or school, then measures can be introduced, which hopefully the public will get behind, enable us to control the virus in that locality. The Prime Minister, borisjohnson, will be questioned by senior mps later amid continued calls for his top adviser Dominic Cummings to resign. Elsewhere, riot police in hong kong fire pepper pellets to break up protests over a law that
would criminalise insulting chinas National Anthem. President trump accuses twitter of stifling free speech after one of his tweets about postal voting was given a fact check label. And nasa astronauts prepare to launch into space from the us for the first time in nearly a decade. We speak to british astronauts tim peake and helen sharman. Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. Future coronavirus outbreaks in england could be controlled by introducing local lockdowns, according to the government. The Health Secretary matt hancock said some restrictions, including the temporary closure of shops and schools,
could be reintroduced in specific areas if there is a spike in the number of cases. There are already arrangements similar to local lockdowns in countries like france and germany. Also today, the uk Prime Minister borisjohnson will be questioned by senior mps about the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Hes also likely to be asked about his chief adviser Dominic Cummings controversial trip to the north of england during lockdown. South korea, which avoided a nationwide lockdown, has seen its biggest spike in new coronavirus cases in two months, just as many schools are reopening. The head of the Pan American Health organisation has warned that latin america has become the centre of the global pandemic. And, back in the uk, Research Suggests women are more likely than men to have lost theirjobs since the start of the lockdown. Theyre also more likely to be doing most of the housework and childcare. More on that later but first, this report from andy moore. A testing, tracking and tracing system is regarded as vital if the virus is to be kept in check while lockdown restrictions are eased. The fear is that, without it, there could be a second wave of infections. Transmission rates are generally coming down across the country, but there are big regional variations. In somerset, the hospital in western super mare has been temporarily closed due to a high number of coronavirus cases. Theres said to be an emerging picture of large numbers of staff testing positive, though theyre showing no symptoms. The hospital says it hopes to reopen its a e department and accept new patients as soon as possible. If theres a high level of infection in a particular area, the government has indicated that local schools, businesses or workplaces could be closed down. At the daily downing street press conference, matt hancock said the nhs test and Trace Programme would be incredibly important. It will give us the information
to have local lockdowns and focus on areas where there may be flare ups, and it is very important that people follow those rules and they should do it dont not do it for, um, the government, people need to do this for themselves, for their loved ones, for their communities. Its incredibly important and it will stop those local flare ups from happening. A similar system will be launched in scotland tomorrow. Its called test and protect. Anyone with symptoms will be urged to get a swab. If it comes back positive, 700 trackers will be ready to trace any contacts, with that number rising to 2,000 in due course. Andy moore, bbc news. Lets talk to our assistant Political Editor, norman smith. The government wanting to talk about what is going to be happening Going Forward , what is going to be happening Going Forward, but so much of the figure still on Dominic Cummings. Huge still on Dominic Cummings. Huge
still on Dominic Cummings. Huge still on Dominic Cummings. A0 or so tory mps all saying in effect he must go. That said, there is absolutely no sign of borisjohnson backing down there. Media, angry tory mps, hoping they will move on. Hoping based on that is a really crucial coronavirus issues coming down the track very, very quickly. We know the government wants schools back by next monday. They also want to have reached 300,000 tests a day and, crucially, they want to roll out test, track and trace which is absolutely central to easing the lockdown. 200,000 tests a day. What we have learned today is the possibility of renewed localised lockdown is, if there is a flare up in the virus in some particular areas. This could be in individual villages, housing estates, hospitals or schools, where a lockdown would be reimposed and people basically we
go back to square one and have to self isolate for 1a days. Have a listen to how the communities secretary robertjenrick set out the plans. The trade off here is that for a relatively small number of people abiding by the rules, being inconvenienced in some cases, staying at home and self isolating, the rest of society gets to enjoy far more freedom than we all do today because of the great restrictions we are living under. So the potential is huge to help us get back to all the things we care about in life. A couple of other things we learned from robertjenrick is the promised review of the fines imposed on people for breaching the lockdown by travelling, not going to happen, even though the Health Secretary matt hancock in response to the question in the News Conference yesterday seemed to say there would bea yesterday seemed to say there would be a review. According to robert jenrick, that is not going to be such a review. Secondly, he conceded
that if people found that the childcare reasons they had to travel, to their parents to ensure adequate childcare, then they could do the same with Dominic Cummings. They could do the same as Dominic Cummings. If there are no other options, if you dont have ready access to childcare, then you can do as Dominic Cummings chose to do. Even if youre in a household with symptoms of coronavirus. But the guidelines say that she must do your best, but they appreciate that family life poses particular challenges and in order to protect children, you are able to exercise a degree of personaljudgement and i think that is a reasonable way forwards. We know that many tory mps are angry at the conduct of Dominic Cummings, we know the polls, if they are to be believed, the public are unhappy. We dont know how people respond when the government comes asking them for
further restrictions, whether it is through a localised lockdown or quarantining if they come back from abroad, whether they will think, i am going to do a Dominic Cummings and just use my own instinct. I am going to use my own judgment. And just use my own instinct. I am going to use my ownjudgment. We dont know whether people will choose in effect to flout rules because they take the view that Dominic Cummings has say they are going to do the same. I cant really recall many if any incidents in politics where there has then such demands for somebody to stand down or be sacked. And that they have survived, even if it is gone on first a long period of time, normally the inevitable happens. Does this seem like a different one to you this time . It does, if you look to comparable situations, Alastair Campbell and tony blair would be an obvious one. Mr blair hugely dependent on Alistair Campbell but at the end of the day he had today. Borisjohnson seems to ta ke he had today. Borisjohnson seems to take the view that Dominic Cummings
is pretty much indispensable, that he is absolutely critical if he is to deliver on brexit but also it seems in terms of managing coronavirus and he has taken the view that he is going to take a hit, and a mighty hit it would seem, in order to keep mr cummings, regardless of what the media say, what tory mps say will indeed what Public Opinion thinks. Thank you, norman. Riot police in hong kong have fired pepper pellets at demonstrators as mps gather to debate a bill that would criminalise insulting chinas National Anthem. More than 200 people have been arrested by riot police as demonstrators gather in the central commercial district and in shopping areas. This was the scene in hong kongs commercial district a little earlier when police attempted to disperse demonstrators. Pro democracy activists have also voiced their opposition to separate legislation which would impose a sweeping National Security law on the semi autonomous territory. Our correspondent martin yip in hong kong explained the background to the controversy surrounding the Chinese National anthem. Its pretty much about people thinking that this whole piece of law would bar them from expressing their discontent with governors in some ways, such as making parodies of the National Anthem orjust booing at the National Anthem. Because back in 2017 when beijing made the National Anthem law, and put it into what we call annex iii of the basic law of hong kong, which then forced hong kong to make this local legislation, was at a time when there was a series of incidents that hong kong football fans booed at the Chinese National anthem at international games. Because hong kong, under the one country, two systems rule, hong kong can send its own teams into games like world cup. Things like that. But you have to play
the Chinese National anthem. And beijing treat this kind of behaviour, not just as unpatriotic, but almost as like a betrayal of the country. But to the hong kongers it is one of the many ways they can do legally, at least until this moment, to express discontent to chinese rule. Professor arthur li is a member of the executive council which is the top policy making body of the hong kong government. Hes considered pro beijing in his political outlook and he told us why he supports the National Anthem law. Well, basically, manners maketh man. I dont think anyone anywhere should insult anybody, any countrys National Anthem, and it is wrong. But we have seen in hong kong when the National Anthem is being played at public events, people, some people, started booing it. This is very upsetting for a lot of hong kong people who feel that, first of all, its bad manners. Secondly, it is a National Anthem. And thirdly, something needs to be done about it. And well be getting the latest from Hong Kong Live later in this half hour. As coronavirus restrictions ease in some areas across the globe, schools have begun to resume face to face classes. But what should classroom look like now . And how are different nations dealing with the challenges of teaching during a pandemic . In china, schools began gradually reopening earlier this month, including in wuhan where the outbreak started. Students lined up to give swab samples and have their Temperature Checked. In france masks are required for students aged 11 years or older, but its not yet compulsory for parents to send their child back. Schools in sweden have remained open. They have relied on social distancing and hygiene measures to reduce the spread
of infection instead. South korea, just as over two Million School children return to school but strict measures have been put in place. As laura bicker has been finding out more. Well, this is pe class, as you can probably tell behind me. 2. 5 Million Students are going back. This is part of a phased return. So a series of students go back every week. But teachers are on edge because there are clusters of infection popping up across the country. This is all related to an outbreak in nightclubs in seouls Party District a couple of weeks ago. Health officials have traced 86,000 people. And tested them for the virus. But still these Little Pockets of infection keep cropping up. And that is why every single student must wear a mask. At the gates they are having their Temperature Checked. Thats the first Temperature Check of the day. There are many Temperature Checks throughout the day. Each of the classes have dividers in them to keep students apart. Daily, teachers are telling
their students to keep that social distance, but it is extremely difficult. As you can imagine, this is the first time that theyve seen each other in months. This is the start of the school term which was supposed to happen in march so they are very, very excited. I saw one studentjump up and down desperate to hug herfriend but she was told no, no, no, no by a teacher. But still they are allowing students to go back to school. Some schools have decided to say no today but this one has. As you can see they are enjoying their pe class, they dont speak much english but they have one word which they can say which is hello there you go, hello from them. Meanwhile, headteachers in england have told the bbc that preparing schools to welcome more children back from next week, has been the toughest challenge of their careers. Staff rotas, School Systems and physical changes to classrooms,
have all been considered to ensure pupils can return safely under social distancing guidelines. John maguire reports. Ok, theo, can you tuck your chair and come and stand on the white line . Well done. The children returning to school here at the whitehook academies in North Somerset next week, everything will be different. Each and every aspect of school life has been reassessed. We have a 109 point check list to go through to make sure everything is risk assessed to be safe. We have a as page Risk Assessment that has also gone through a whole checking process, including staff, governors and trustees. But behind that, we have the practicalities of the day to day. So, we have timetables for break time, for lunch time, for outdoor space. We have timetables for different classrooms and different bubbles within those classes. The school has stayed open for key workers or vulnerable children. Social distancing rules mean their desk partners are their siblings. Theres a new theme each week. The latest is japan. They applaud on a normal day, there would be a50 pupils here, and after half term, around 150 will return. Class sizes are different. The requirements for childrens mixing for interaction is different. The hygiene requirements are a far higher level than weve ever seen before. But also the Risk Assessment process behind that, ensuring that our site is as safe as it possibly can be for everyone in our community, is vital. Making the physical changes has been very challenging but staff are also preparing to support children emotionally. The decision to reintroduce more pupils hasnt been an easy one. Not for parents or for staff. For me, being in the classroom is where i belong. I want to be with the children, i dont want to be sat at home on my laptop doing things for them. I want to have that interaction and to be there for them, as their Journey Continues with their learning. A school is so much more
than just a classroom. Its part of a community. In the office, fiona hague has been on hand to reassure anxious families. Parents are still very worried, so its pointing them in the direction of all the guidance thats coming out. Were ensuring were getting as much information out to parents as we can via the website, school app, e mails. And making sure theyre as up to date as they can be and know as much as we know. When the school gates next open, the canteens shutters will remain closed. Mixed feelings. Im fine with it. I think im fine with it. Weve been. Me and sue have been on our own for a while now, so its fine. Its a nice big kitchen to social distance in, so, we are lucky, really. Were going to do a sandwich selection for them and theyre going to be eating in their classroom, so well prepare it here and it will be going over in boxes into their little bubbles in their classrooms. Over the past two weeks, primary schools have had
to reinvent the wheel. And as these corridors fill in the coming days, therell be much more to learn. So notjust for children, but for parents, teachers, and support staff, every day will be a school day. John maguire, bbc news, nailsea in North Somerset. In wales, the test, trace, protect scheme is due to be in place by the beginning ofjune, but there are fears among some Council Leaders that it will be delayed by at least a week. Our correspondent, tomos morgan, joins us from cardiff. What are the reason that it may be delayed . I thinkjust because what they have been saying for a while that this is a huge, a mammoth task, according to the welsh local government association. The track, trace and protect scheme is to be in place, as you say, at the beginning ofjune and what that involves is tracing anyone that has come into close contact with someone who has
tested positive for covid 19 and advising them to self isolate, to stop further spread. The welshman says ttp, the acumen for the scheme, is further to easing any further lockdown restrictions on wells the Welsh Government. We deployed Council Staff across wales will be redeployed to run this programme. It will increase Testing Capacity across hospital care homes and key workers to about 10,000 by the end of this month. Currently in the middle of may, the capacity and wells were just about 5000 each day in wales. It means almost double that when they start this new scheme. What will happen is they will be a central data system for all the local authorities in wales so they can track their information, eve ryo ne so they can track their information, everyone can check that to make sure thatis everyone can check that to make sure that is across coordination of the information so everyone is on the same page. There have been trials
the last couple of weeks, most important of those over the Bank Holiday Weekend and whatever comes out of those will be key into one this first starts next week or the following week. Some of the issues that have arisen in wales is to do with concerns that some people in wales are still not able to book dry coronavirus test. Im just on the website here, the uk government website. Wales is still not available as an option to book drive through test in wales, so that will hamper the effectiveness of this new scheme if people cannot pick those tests. The other issue is there have been concerned home testing kits arent as readily available as they have been in other areas of the uk, but that is not just an issue in well specifically. The plan is for this to start next week but there are concerns that it may take another couple of weeks or another week to get the system working at full capacity. How does the information get
disseminated . Is how does the information get disseminated . Is it how does the information get disseminated . Is it a voluntary application like the system that was trolled on the isle of wight . Application like the system that was trolled on the isle of wight7m will be a central data system, according to the local government. Local authorities, they will all import the information than anyone that gets tested well notify whoever needs to be tested and they will pass on the information from there. I think one of the concerns has been, where do the additional staffing members in the testing kits come from and how will that were with mag i think there has been a huge effort made by the Welsh Government and local authorities to make sure that everything is in place so when this new testing scheme starts, everything can run as smoothly as possible, everyone has the information they need and they can track entries and make sure there is not any more spread of the virus that needs to be. Testing is a really vital part of this because otherwise there will be a situation where people are told to self isolate when they are not showing symptoms and perhaps it is just on the basis of someone else
having showed symptoms but not had a test. Well rigorous testing be firmly behind and underpinning all of this . Yes, i think the rigorous testing is the biggest issues for all the home nations of the uk, really. I think in wales, just like other areas of the uk, there have been certain issues and there have been delays in certain aspects of testing, the goal and the number of Testing Capacity will change at some part during the lockdown for various reasons. The Welsh Government say they are doing as much as they can to make sure that all the Testing Facilities are available to everyone. As i mentioned, there is still an issue on the uk government website that it is not possible to book drive through test at the moment in wales, where as it is possible in other areas of the uk. The other home nations. That is something that still needs to be addressed, but the Welsh Government are clear and adamant that they will make sure
that they will be an increase Testing Capacity and they are working around the clock, every time i speak to them, to make sure there will be more Testing Capacity available because that is, as you say, a key part in making this new scheme work and they say they need it to work because otherwise, well, they need it to work so they can ease the restrictions further down the line. Thank you. Meanwhile, in scotland a test, trace and isolate programme will begin tomorrow, to try to limit the spread of the virus. People with symptoms will be asked to have a swab test immediately, and if the result is positive, anyone they have come into close face to face contact with, will be traced and told to isolate for 1a days. Earlier, National Clinical director of the Scottish Government, jason leitch explained how it will work. U nfortu nately we unfortunately we cannot bring that tea, we will try to bring it to you a little bit later. Mark u nfortu nately we a little bit later. Mark unfortunately we cannot bring that to you. Lets return to the
situation in hong kong. We can speak to mary hui, a reporter for the news website quartz. Welcome. This centring on concerns around the new National Anthem bill and concerns it could make protest difficult. Tell us a bit more about the background to this, why is it being introduced and why now . This bill was part of beijing and the hong kongs efforts to essentially legislate respectful pictures, something that has long been a priority of beijing to instill the sense of love for the motherland. That is not something that many hong kong people feel very strongly and the fact that this bill is being pushed through is, for many protesters, reminded that it is yet another encroachment on loss of theory domes and liberties that they hold so dear to their heart hurt loss of freedoms. We see the pictures of platers,
these are coming in covid 19 times when there is social distancing, how many people are going up to protest and how are they being handled . It is hard to tell exactly how many are out because the police today have used vastly different tactics compared to what we saw last year. They have blanketed much of downtown hong kong with a huge show of force, right Police Deployed and what feels like every other street corner, every other street. Essentially it means there are no crowds of any sizeable, of any kind of size able to congregate. Protesters are taking to congregate. Protesters are taking to singing and chanting on streets and in shopping malls, but already by about 6pm here, hong kong time, just about half an hour ago, over 300 people have already been arrested and many of them just passers by, young schoolchildren. When you talk about last year, that is the extradition law protest that
obviously went on for a long time and did result in some changes from the national executive. What lessons can be learned, what will protesters ta ke can be learned, what will protesters take from what happened and in terms of how far they can push it, and how the executive might respond . The larger battle now is for National Security bill that beijing announced last week, it would be enacted in hong kong. Ithink announced last week, it would be enacted in hong kong. I think that essentially changes the game, one pro democracy politician today said that a lot of things now are out of the hands of a hung kongers and urge processes to privatise returning him safely tonight rather than risk arrest on the street. I think it tends to a change in mindset and Energy Levels amongst protesters. In the sense that beijing is really cracking down very hard and that the wiggle room that was present last
year may not be here now. Mary, thank you very much. The husband of the jailed biritsh iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari ratcliffe, says there is some hope his wife could soon be allowed to come home from iran. Irans leader is expected to pardon 3,000 people as part of the counttys eid celerations, and Richard Ratcliffe has told the bbc he expects to hear around lunchtime weather or not his wife is among those to be released. She was arrested in 2016 and sentenced to five years in prison, accused of plotting to overthrow the iranian government, something she denies. President trump has accused twitter of interfering in the 2020 us election after it labelled two posts by the president as potentially misleading. President trump had claimed that the use of postal votes would lead to widespread voter fraud. Twitter responded by directing readers to a page with news articles and information from Fact Checkers debunking the claim. Our north america correspondent peter bowes reports. A twitter war about twitter. It started when mr trump, who has more than 80 million followers on the social media platform, tweeted that postal ballot papers would result in a rigged election. Mailboxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged and even illegally printed out and fraudulently signed. Mr trump also claimed that the governor of california will be sending ballots to millions of people, anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there, will get one. Twitter responded with a blue exclamation mark underneath the tweets, suggesting readers get the facts about mail in ballots through stories contradicting mr trump. The president later repeated his claims at a white house News Conference. People that arent citizens, illegals, anyone that walks in california is going to get a ballot. Were not going to destroy this country by allowing things like that to happen. Were not destroying our country. This has more to do with fairness and honesty, and really our country itself. Twitter introduced a policy earlier this month to combat misleading information. But this is the first time the platform has applied a Fact Checking label to tweets by the president who was quick to respond with another tweet. Twitter is now interfering in the 2020 president ial election. Twitter is completely stifling free speech, and i, as president , will not allow it to happen thank you. A potentially rocky road ahead for the president and his social media platform of choice. Peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. Hello this is bbc news. The headlines plans to impose localised lockdowns in england will be unveiled later today the government will explain how its test, track and trace strategy will deal with regional outbreaks of covid 19. If there is a flare up in one particular community, and that could be on quite a small scale like a particular workplace or school, then measures can be introduced which hopefully public will get behind, enabling us to control the virus in that locality. The Prime Minister, borisjohnson, will be questioned by senior mps later amid continued calls for his top adviser Dominic Cummings to resign. Elsewhere riot police in hong kong fire pepper pellets to break up protests over a law that would criminalise insulting chinas National Anthem. President trump accuses twitter of stifling free speech after one of his tweets about postal voting was given a fact check label. The first commercial craft to take people into space is due
to blast off from Cape Canaveral in florida this evening. The spacex rocket and capsule, will be the first to take off from american soil since 2011. Two nasa astronauts will be onboard the mission to the International Space station. Heres our science correspondent rebecca morelle. Getting ready for launch. A commercial spacecraft facing its ultimate test carrying astronauts into space. Nasas bob behnken and doug hurley will be at the controls. Theyve been training for this moment for years. At any time you have the first flight of a brand new vehicle, its exciting. Its a bit more risky, which is why were using people like bob and doug, who are very experienced test pilots, they can handle anything that maybe happens that we didnt expect. But its what test pilots live for, you know, the chance to be the first one to fly a new, shiny vehicle is a test pilots dream. Lift off, we have a lift off. The United States has a long history of space flight. From the apollo missions, which took astronauts to the moon, to the Space Shuttle programme, which ferried men and women to low earth orbit and back. The shuttle has cleared the tower. But its last flight touched down nearly a decade ago. Since then, nasas astronauts have had to buy seats on russian rockets instead. This new spacecraft will restore americas ability for human space flight. The fact its owned by spacex, a commercial company, also marks a big change for the us space agency. Nasa has said, basically, well give you the money and you give us the space flight and that releases nasa to use its resources to do other things. And thats where we can start really thinking big. And instead of spending allthe time, effort, resources on something weve done now for many years, going into low earth orbit, doing experiments, lets look bigger, lets go further and the ultimate destination has to be mars. Last year, a crash test dummy took a test ride in the spacex capsule. Now, though, its time for the real thing. A new era in space flight is set to begin. Rebecca morelle, bbc news. Were delighted to be joined by helen sharman, the first british astronaut to go into orbit, who spent six days on the mir space station in 1991. And imjoined by tim peake, the first british astronaut to visit the International Space station. Thrilled to be able to talk to you, thank you forjoining us. Tim, how much of a game changer de think this is . This is huge, it is notjust the element of the commercial launch, which is obviously for america returning lunches to the usa, but europeans will fly in this vehicle as well. My classmate is next in line to fly and that could be this
one or the other commercial vehicle. So this is a game changer. How different is it going to look . The spacecraft itself is going back to the capsule, rather than the larger shuttle, so we are going back to a capsule style vehicle. What is unique about it is, glass cockpit, lots of new technology, a booster will come back and land on a ship out in the atlantic in the capital itself can be reused and that is what is driving down the cost of access to space. Helen, you mentioned that once nasa resources can be released from other things, thatis can be released from other things, that is when it is to get exciting and you mentioned the prospect of going to mars, what are your thoughts on where things will go from here . I think it is notjust the cost, but also the access to space for everybody. So this space driver can seat seven people. Nasa is likely to bite four seats so
people around the world will fly because their space agencies are painted it but that does release probably other receipts that will be positioned underneath the four that the other astronauts will fly in, saw three extra seats. They will buy those three extra seats . It could be a space agency, it could be a research institute, it could be tourists, so i think the whole access to space issue changes as well, so that also increases this game changer idea. Well, so that also increases this game changer ideal well, so that also increases this game changer idea. I love the story of how you ended up going to space which is, you heard something on the radio, you applied to be put in the mix for somebody who would get to go into space. 13,000 applied and you we re into space. 13,000 applied and you were whittled down to one of two and you did it and were whittled down to one of two and you did itand it is were whittled down to one of two and you did it and it is amazing. Were whittled down to one of two and you did itand it is amazing. In terms of just anybody you did itand it is amazing. In terms ofjust anybody being able to get on the slides and go up, what are the rigours of training and preparing for that process of going to space . Well, unfortunately this
still uses quite a hefty lunch and in particular, this will have a splashdown so it is the re entry thatis splashdown so it is the re entry that is going to be interesting prospect. We have not done a splashdown since apollo time and in particular, rescuing people from the water. What will be interesting is, how do we do that with astronauts who may have spent many months in space and how they will feel on the splash down like that rather than land on dry land . It is actually less risky rescuing people from dry land. Tim and i both were rescued from dry land. In the sea, that is a different thing. People will public have to be moderately healthy. In the end, like flying in airlines, it is going to become more commonplace as long as nothing else wrong. You dont have to be hugely physically fit to fly into space, i dont
think. I dont know what you think about that, tim . I completely agree, i think we are opening up space lighting more and more people. They will have to be an element of medical selection but i think you will find, as helen says, this will become more and more normal in next ten to 15 years. You both will obviously hold a special place because you are in a very small elite at the moment. What do you think about that commercialisation and opening up, tim . |j think about that commercialisation and opening up, tim . I think it is very exciting. International space station has been brilliant over the last 20 years in being our human outpost in space and be done and up a lot of valuable science and we have learned a lot about new technology as well, but we do want to go further, we want to go back to the moon and as helen said, we ultimately want to get to mars and in order to do we need the health might help from commercial companies to provide things like launch vehicles, supply craft. So, this is
a great era of space flight we are about to embark on. In terms of what these missions achieve at each stage, what would you see as your legacy . Obviously, the first british astronaut in space. In terms of what that mission delivered, do you have something you would point to . |j think my specific mission was exactly what you said, putting the first person from britain and getting bitten on the map of International Human space flight. I did some experiments. I cannot really claim specific science was done because of my space flight but i think it is all part of this International Collaboration and trying out new ways to cooperate with different countries. Tim flew as part of the European Space agency and of course, it is those agencies that need notjust the resources but also the money to pay other people
like the Russian Space agency to fly a possibly nasa or crew dragon. It isjust this whole a possibly nasa or crew dragon. It is just this whole opening up a possibly nasa or crew dragon. It isjust this whole opening up now. It isa isjust this whole opening up now. It is a completely new way of thinking about human space flight and if we can get this nice and reliable, what next . Really, we can win it now started think very big. Tim, how would you see your legacy . It is cooperation with the International Space Station Partnership that has been so successful and will continue to do so. What is exciting is that same partnership that is looking to go back to the men to build a gateway to go and do lunar surface operations so the uk being part of that partnership and continuing to do so, the European Space agency is not part of the eu so our membership is not affected by brexit. This is very much our space agency and we
are part of this future exploration and that is very exciting and i think people in the uk should be excited about it. Is a dog and bob continuing to launch hopefully later today, how will they be feeling . What is it like, that moment when you are about to be propelled into space . They are going to be feeling more excitement than anything else. Of course there is some apprehension and anxiety, especially with a new test vehicle, but they are professional test pilots. They will have a her thirst might rehearse this many times and frankly, they will be willing and delighted to get a mission into space and so they will be excited about the mission to come. Helen, does it take you back . You were in your 20s when you went 7 you were in your 20s when you went up . I think every ulster not members lunch. It is the beginning of that next phase. As tim says, we have
trained for so long to do this but it is the launch bear actually, there is nothing new to do. You know what you need today, he had trained for it, you trust all the teams that are working and have worked so hard to make that mission a success and now isjust the to make that mission a success and now is just the day that they got to get on and do it, so good luck to them. Indeed, it is a privilege to talk to you both, thank you. Police officers in the us city of minneapolis have fired tear gas at demonstrators protesting the death of an unarmed black man in police custody. Shortly after george floyd died on monday a video emerged showing a white policeman kneeling on his neck forfive minutes despite the man complaining that he couldnt breathe. Protestors filled the citys streets on tuesday evening hours after it was that four Police Officers had been sacked. A warning, this report starts with images of the man being detained. A disturbing scene caught on camera by witnesses incensed over the polices actions. Bro . The ten minute video shows george floyd pleading with officers who have him restrained on the ground. One of them using his knee to pin the man down by his neck. Clearly in distress, he tells the white officer he cant breathe and is in pain. The crowd tries to help, and grows increasingly concerned and frustrated. When george floyd appears motionless, bystanders question why he isnt being given Urgent Medical attention. Seven minutes into the video, an ambulance arrives. Hes put on a stretcher, still handcuffed, and taken to hospital. At a press conference, the Minneapolis Police department offered their version of events. They said they were responding to a crime and that the man appeared to be under the influence. He physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and officers noticed that the male was going into medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County medical center, where he died a short time later. Mayorjacob frey said that four of the officers involved have now been fired, after initially being put on paid leave. The fbi is also investigating the incident. Being black in america should not be a death sentence. For five minutes, we watched as a white officer pressed his knee into the neck of a black man. For five minutes. When you hear someone calling for help, you are supposed to help. This officer failed in the most basic human sense. The viral video quickly sparked outrage. Yesterday, what we saw was a black
man who was lynched. Right . They didnt use rope, he used his knee. And that black man, mr floyd, said, i cannot breathe. Minnesota prides itself on being progressive and being the north. But this is the jim crow north, and we demand justice. Police officer put your hands behind your back george floyd i cant breathe for many, this is a case of history repeating itself. Millions protested in 201a after eric garner, an unarmed black man in new york, died after being restrained by police. His repeated plea of i cant breathe, also captured in cellphone footage, became a rallying cry at demonstrations against Police Brutality against african america ns. There are sometimes investigations, but many feel there is rarely any accountability. Nada tawfik, bbc news. The headlines on bbc news. Plans to impose localised lockdowns in england will be unveiled later today the government will explain how its test, track and trace strategy will deal with regional outbreaks of covid 19. The Prime Minister, borisjohnson, will be questioned by senior mps later amid continued calls for his top adviser Dominic Cummings to resign. Riot police in hong kong fire pepper pellets to break up protests over a law that would criminalise insulting chinas National Anthem. The charity which runs the uks National Domestic abuse helpline has had a ten fold increase in visits to its website in the past two weeks. Refuge said numbers have spiked again significantly since it started recording rises during lockdown. But figures revealed to the bbc request show that more uk Police Forces recorded a fall in calls about Domestic Violence
at the start of lockdown, than recorded a rise. Why the disparity . Abby newbery reports. For some, lockdown has meant feeling trapped in an abusive situation at home. Itjust got me down more and more. I thought i cant go on like this. This is one womans experience, recreated and voiced by actors, to protect her identity. He got more and more aggressive, saying hed like me to go now. He got a stick and he came back with it and he stood there with the stick in his hand and he said, i want you out now or im going to hurt you and you know i can kill you, waving this stick at me. And he really, really did frighten me. This woman has now escaped her situation. But thats not the case for many. The bbc asked all a5 of the uks Police Forces how many Domestic Abuse calls theyd had. A1 responded. More than half had fewer calls at the start of lockdown
than at the same time last year. But thats not the case for refuge, a Domestic Abuse charity that has seen 66 more calls and almost 1,000 increase to its website in lockdown. As director of communications, lisa king explains. For some, lockdown has meant feeling trapped refuge is concerned to see such demand on its services and what we really want all women to know is that they are not alone. That Domestic Abuse is a crime and that refuge is here to support them every hour of every day. It shows that Domestic Abuse is perhaps a bigger issue than we have even anticipated in this country. But why is there not a similar recorded increase in police calls . There needs to be an understanding of what Domestic Abuse is. Claire walker is a Domestic Abuse consultant and she thinks more training is needed to spot the signs. 100 of victims will experience coercive control. Not so much what he does, its about what he. Disables her from being able to do. Their systems and their policies and practices need to change. I am tired of Police Officers not understanding what coercive control is. The countrys leading Domestic Abuse police officer, louisa rolfe, says that all front line officers across the uk receive training to spot the signs of coercive or controlling behaviour. She adds they are working with Domestic Abuse charities to understand the nature of their demand. Women appear to being doing most of the housework and childcare during lockdown. Research from the institute for fiscal studies suggests that in homes where there is a working mother and father, women are doing more of thejobs and spending more time with the children. And mums were only able to do one hour of uninterrupted work, for every three hours done by dads. Amidst the chaos and confusion left in coronaviruss wake has been a wave of bad information, spread online sometimes even by World Leaders. A bbc team tracking online
conspiracy theories have linked some of them to racist attacks, arsons, and even deaths around the world. And now senior doctors in the uk including the Royal College of gps are warning that the potential for them to cause harm could be much, much bigger. The bbcs specialist disinformation reporter Marianna Spring joins us. Give us some of the examples you have been looking at. As you said, but information has spread everywhere during this pandemic and it has spread across the world causing harm to people in a variety of different countries. We have seen poisonings in nigeria, iran, the us and vietnam and some of those poisonings have been elected to this drug and rumours about it that have been circulating online. It was promoted by donald trump as a way to prevent coronavirus but in a misleading way that encourages people to use it at home without consulting a doctor outside drug
trials which the World Health Organization have been opposed. There are other information is about harm, there have been racist attacks in india against muslims and members on whatsapp, and here in the uk, there have been sown mass being set alight as a consequence of misleading claims suggesting 5g is linked to coronavirus and telecom negations workers have been assaulted. But it is not a case of these direct cases, there are also more indirect instances of misinformation causing harm and those can be just as dangerous. I spoke to brian who lives in florida and he believed conspiracies such as sg and he believed conspiracies such as 5g being linked to coronavirus what that coronavirus was a hoax orjust like the flu and as a consequence, he and his wife didnt follow social distancing guidance and didnt seek help when he has been ill. He has beeniuin help when he has been ill. He has
been ill in hospital and his wife is incredibly unwell on a ventilator and he deeply regrets believing these claims because they led him to not seek the help he needed. There is direct harm caused by dodgy cures and treatments, people using disinfectant to treat themselves and then as other kind of harm that is a consequence of medical myths, underlining health messages. What are doctors on the front line saying about all of this . Doctors are worried about people like brian, although his case is very similar across the world, they have been seeing instances of patients either not seeking help because they are trying to diagnose themselves using dodgy tests and various other things. I spoke to the chair of the royal of gps who explained to me his response it is to deal with this. We, as Health Professionals, have a responsibility to raise awareness of the risks around this. Government of course has responsibility, particularly through its Information Sources that it provides. Possibly, you know, most importantly, the social Media Companies themselves have a responsibility to police the content that goes up on theirwebsite. What are government and social Media Companies doing about this . What are government and social Media Companies doing about this7m what are government and social Media Companies doing about this . It has been a big problem and today i am sure lots of people heard how twitter have sacked checked for the first time one of President Trumps tweets. But to do with coronavirus but postal voting, but a step in the right direction. However, those claims about the drug, they have not been fact checked and i think has been fact checked and i think has been a real issue social Media Companies in distinguishing harm and misinformation that poses an immediate threat or harm as opposed to the kind of misinformation we are talking about that could undermine Public Health messages. As we look towards a possible vaccine and there
has been an increase in support that is what doctors want social medias to tackle because if this affects a solution to this pandemic, it could be incredible difficult to resolve. That fact check thing on President Trumps tweet, very high profile, is that going to be the start of a whole new wave of that happening on twitter and other social media cosmic we will see, there has been a relu cta nce cosmic we will see, there has been a reluctance to tackle misinformation thatis reluctance to tackle misinformation that is spread by the president. Other World Leaders have had misinformation taken down on platforms like facebook. Trump has not on this the first instance we have seen this happening. The problem is, donald trump came back amid italy and said, this is a question of freedom of speech and you are trying to suppress what i say. Thats one of the big issues and trying to tackle this information because there is a fine line between tackling that misinformation, sending people in the right direction, which is what
twitter prides today, but to make sure people are allowed to express their opinion freely and that is the conundrum of a social Media Companies. This is a drone flight with a difference. I think anything that im proves difference. I think anything that improves Island Medical health has to be tried. It is extra resilience for our island as well. Because of covid 19, we were looking at ferry sailings, trying to cut down the
risk of infection even if it saves one life, it will be a big confidence to the island. The heavily regular process has been accelerated by coronavirus but the drone and its carrying abilities could be the latest chill in fighting the virus. I think particularly when moving into the phase where we are looking at testing and isolation, the speed of getting a test kit out to somewhere more remote or getting that result back, will allow us to make those decisions and support the communities in protecting them and keeping them safe and well in their community and supporting the Health Service so that we can cope with peak in demand. The health board says other crossings like this could be made to island surgeries and hospitals and is no suggestion the west Coast Weather will cause any issues. Within a couple of years we hope to have multiple drones over multiple routes serving out and lots of different purposes. When you get to that stage, the economics start to that stage, the economics start to get better for the nhs and how we use it because you can fly packages
out, samples back, any goods that need to go over, then italy becomes a very efficient form of transportation. Another test flight has successfully made its way back here. The hope is that if this technology could be proved, we may see drones like this more widespread across the country. Now its time for a look at the weather. Hello, again. If youre looking for rain, there really isnt much in the forecast for the next few days. And that that we do have isnt going to be particularly heavy where it falls. Most of us are going to remain dry, sunny and warm and for some by the weekend very warm. What we have today is High Pressure still in charge of our weather, it has been with us this week and it will see us through this week as well. But across the north of the country, we have a couple of fronts which are introducing thicker cloud and also some rain. As we go through the afternoon, there will be a lot of dry weather, a lot of sunshine, some low cloud just lapping on shore across parts of Eastern England. And the fronts coming in from the west producing some rain but its not going to be heavy at this stage. We might see the odd drop across Northern Ireland and western scotland. Temperatures ranging from 12 in the north to 25 in the south. Now, if we pick up this rain through the evening and overnight as it crosses northernmost scotland, it will turn that bit heavier. Move away from there, we are looking at a lot of dry weather, some clear skies, with some of this low cloud lapping a bit further inland. As a result of all of this, its not going to be a cold night for most of the uk. So tomorrow, we say goodbye to that rain. You could even see a few spots across south east scotland and north east england before it eventually moves away. And once again its going to be a dry day, variable amounts of cloud and a fair bit of sunshine. Temperatures responding, 22 in edinburgh, 25 in liverpool, 26 in cardiff. By the time we get to friday, we still are looking at a lot of dry weather, the High Pressure through thursday and into friday drifts in towards scandinavia. We start to pull in some breezier conditions, but also some warmer air from the near continent. So a largely dry day for us all during the course of friday, a lot of sunshine, a little bit of fair weather cloud here and there. Not really that much of a breeze on friday, but temperatures, well, they are going to get up into the low to mid 20s quite widely and 27 in cardiff is likely to be the highest temperature and with High Pressure in charge it is effectively keeping these weather fronts at bay. We dont think they are going to make any progress. If they do, then we are likely to see the odd spot of rain in Northern Ireland, possibly in western scotland but they are more likely to stay in the atlantic. On saturday, a breezier day, a dry day with a lot of sunshine and highs up to 26. This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Plans to impose localised lockdowns in england will be unveiled later today. The government will explain how its test, track and trace strategy will deal with regional outbreaks of covid 19. If there is a flare up in one particular community, and that could be on quite a small scale, like a particular workplace or school, then measures can be introduced, which hopefully the public will get behind, enable us to control the virus in that locality. The Prime Minister, borisjohnson, will be questioned by senior mps later amid continued calls for his top adviser Dominic Cummings to resign. Elsewhere, riot police in hong kong fire pepper pellets to break up protests over a law that would criminalise insulting chinas National Anthem. President trump accuses twitter of stifling free speech after one of his tweets about postal voting was given a fact check label. And nasa astronauts prepare to launch into space from the us for the first time in nearly a decade. We countdown to the launch. Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world, stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. Future coronavirus outbreaks in england could be controlled by introducing local lockdowns according to the government. The Health Secretary matt hancock said some restrictions, including the temporary closure of shops and schools, could be reintroduced in specific
areas if there is a spike in the number of cases. There are already arrangements similar to local lockdowns in countries like france and germany. Also today, the uk Prime Minister borisjohnson will be questioned by senior mps about the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic. He will also be asked about his chief adviser Dominic Cummings controversial trip to the north of england during lockdown. South korea, which avoided a nationwide lockdown, has seen its biggest spike in new coronavirus cases in two months, just as many schools are reopening. The head of the Pan American Health organisation has warned that latin america has become the centre of the global pandemic. And, back in the uk, Research Suggests women are more likely than men to have lost theirjobs since the start of the lockdown. Theyre also more likely to be doing most of the housework and childcare. More on that later, but first this report from andy moore. A testing, tracking and tracing system is regarded as vital
if the virus is to be kept in check while lockdown restrictions are eased. The fear is that, without it, there could be a second wave of infections. Transmission rates are generally coming down across the country, but there are big regional variations. In somerset, the hospital in western super mare has been temporarily closed due to a high number of coronavirus cases. Theres said to be an emerging picture of large numbers of staff testing positive, though theyre showing no symptoms. The hospital says it hopes to reopen its a e department and accept new patients as soon as possible. If theres a high level of infection in a particular area, the government has indicated that local schools, businesses or workplaces could be closed down. At the daily downing street press conference, matt hancock said the nhs test and Trace Programme would be incredibly important. It will give us the information to have local lockdowns and focus on areas where there may be
flare ups, and it is very important that people follow those rules and they should do it dont not do it for, um, the government, people need to do this for themselves, for their loved ones, for their communities. Its incredibly important and it will stop those local flare ups from happening. A similar system will be launched in scotland tomorrow. Its called test and protect. Anyone with symptoms will be urged to get a swab. If it comes back positive, 700 trackers will be ready to trace any contacts, with that number rising to 2,000 in due course. Andy moore, bbc news. Lets talk to our assistant Political Editor, norman smith. The government wanting to talk about what happens Going Forward, but obviously the question still come in, the pressure still there over Dominic Cummings. Each pressure still over Dominic Cummings, around a0 or so tory mps from different wings of the party all demanding he
walk the plank. The hope of team johnson seems to be that well get fed up with this and we move on. The medium of song, tory mps move on and attention shifts to some of those coronavirus issues trundling down the track towards us at high speed. Top of which is this test, track and trace scheme, due to be unveiled on monday. What we learn now is that as pa rt monday. What we learn now is that as part of that, the government is looking at it very, very localised lockdown for where there is any upsurge in the fine is because once restrictions are eased, it seems pretty likely that the virus will begin to pick up again. What ministers are looking at is targeting individual schools, hospitals, workplaces, parts of towns, rather than much larger geographical areas all larger communities, in otherwise trying to identify the virus very quickly,
lockdown those individual offices and say to people in them you have to self isolate for a0 days. Have a listen to the communities secretary, robertjenrick. The trade off here is that for a relatively small number of people abiding by the rules, being inconvenienced in some cases, staying at home and self isolating, the rest of society gets to enjoy far more freedom than we all do today because of the great restrictions we are living under. So the potential is huge to help us get back to all the things we care about in life. What it means is that for many of us, yes, the restrictions will gradually fall away, but in those little tight communities where there is this sudden uptake, they face going back to square one pretty much when it comes to restrictions. They will face lockdown is of up to 1a days self isolation. A couple of other things we learnt this morning from robertjenrick, there is not
going to be a review of fines, which matt hancock seem to mix yesterday. Mrjenrick said if people are in a similar situation to Dominic Cummings and they cannot get adequate childcare, it is ok for them to try and travel to secure that childcare. This is what he said about that. If there are no other options, if you dont have ready access to childcare, then you can do as Dominic Cummings chose to do. Even if youre in a household with symptoms of coronavirus . But the guidelines say that she must do your best, but they appreciate that family life poses particular challenges and in order to protect children, you are able to exercise a degree of personaljudgement and i think that is a reasonable way forwards. This afternoon, we make it a bit more detail about all of that when the Prime Minister will be facing the Prime Minister will be facing the Liaison Committee made up of some of parliaments may senior mps who are to quiz him for 90 minutes
about coronavirus, including 20 minutes over the Dominic Cummings saga. These and arc when someone in the public eye is under pressure to go is normally that it does not matter how long it takes, the pressure will build on a belt and eventually the inevitable happened, they will jump they are pushed eventually the inevitable happened, they willjump they are pushed and we forget about it. Does it feel differently this time . It is certainly different to what has happened in previous incidents. If you look at, i suppose the most comparable example is Alistair Campbell, who tony blair did a banner, even though he were central to his administration. A rough rule of thumb if you are a8 hours and the headlines, then you begin to wobble and in all likelihood you go. Dominic cummings has been in the headline since friday and are still very much there. I think the simple truth is, borisjohnson has nailed him to his badge and said, you are not going anywhere, even if he had volunteered to quit, which he has
not. Because it seems mrjohnson ta kes not. Because it seems mrjohnson takes the view that he is absolutely critical to his government, notjust in terms of delivering brexit policy but a broader agenda and i suspect in terms of managing coronavirus. He absolutely believes he cannot do without Dominic Cummings. Norman, thank you. Riot police in hong kong have fired pepper pellets at demonstrators as mps gather to debate a bill that would criminalise insulting chinas National Anthem. More than 200 people have been arrested by riot police as demonstrators gather in the central commercial district and in shopping areas. This was the scene in hong kongs commercial district a little earlier when police attempted to disperse demonstrators. Pro democracy activists have also voiced their opposition to separate legislation which would impose a sweeping National Security law on the semi autonomous territory. Our correspondent martin yip in hong kong explained the background to the controversy surrounding the Chinese National anthem. Its pretty much about people
thinking that this whole piece of law would bar them from expressing their discontent with governors in some ways, such as making parodies of the National Anthem orjust booing at the National Anthem. Because back in 2017 when beijing made the National Anthem law, and put it into what we call annex iii of the basic law of hong kong, which then forced hong kong to make this local legislation, was at a time when there was a series of incidents that hong kong football fans booed at the Chinese National anthem at international games. Because hong kong, under the one country, two systems rule, hong kong can send its own teams into games like world cup, things like that. But you have to play the Chinese National anthem. And beijing treat this kind of behaviour, not just as unpatriotic, but almost as like a betrayal of the country. But to the hong kongers it is one of the many ways they can do legally, at least until this moment, to express discontent to chinese rule. The number of coronavirus deaths in scotla nd the number of coronavirus deaths in scotland has just been released, the number of coronavirus deaths in scotland hasjust been released, the latest number, there is some good news, the number has fallen for the fourth week in a row. Last week, children 30 people confirmed or suspected to have the virus died, that compares to 3a5 the week the fourth. Hundred and 25 people died in care homes last week and that is just over half of the total of 5a . In all, 3779 people have died with confirmed or suspected coronavirus in scotland since the pandemic began. As coronavirus restrictions ease in some areas across the globe
schools have begun to resume face to face classes. But what should classroom look like now . And how are different nations dealing with the challenges of teaching during a pandemic . In china schools began gradually reopening earlier this month, including in wuhan where the outbreak started. Students lined up to give swab samples and have their Temperature Checked. In france masks are required for students aged 11 years or older, but its not yet compulsory for parents to send their child back. Schools in sweden have remained open. They have relied on social distancing and hygiene measures to reduce the spread of infection instead. And south korea just as over two Million School children return to school. But strict measures have been put in place. As laura bicker has been finding out more. Well, this is pe class, as you can probably tell behind me. 2. 5 Million Students are going back. This is part of a phased return. So a series of students go back every week. But teachers are on edge because there are clusters of infection popping up across the country. This is all related to an outbreak in nightclubs in seouls Party District a couple of weeks ago. Health officials have traced 86,000 people. And tested them for the virus. But still these Little Pockets of infection keep cropping up. And that is why every single student must wear a mask. At the gates they are having their Temperature Checked. Thats the first Temperature Check of the day. There are many Temperature Checks throughout the day. Each of the classes have dividers in them to keep students apart. Daily, teachers are telling their students to keep that social distance, but it is extremely difficult. As you can imagine, this is the first time that theyve seen each other in months. This is the start of the school term which was supposed to happen in march so they are very, very excited. I saw one studentjump up and down desperate to hug herfriend but she was told no,
no, no, no by a teacher. But still they are allowing students to go back to school. Some schools have decided to say no today but this one has. As you can see they are enjoying their pe class, they dont speak much english but they have one word which they can say which is hello there you go, hello from them. Laura bicker and a lot of schoolchildren. Meanwhile, headteachers in england have told the bbc that preparing schools to welcome more children back from next week, has been the toughest challenge of their careers. Staff rotas, School Systems and physical changes to classrooms, have all been considered to ensure pupils can return safely under social distancing guidelines. John maguire reports. Ok, theo, can you tuck your chair and come and stand on the white line . Well done. The children returning to school here at the whiteoak academies
in North Somerset next week, everything will be different. Each and every aspect of school life has been reassessed. We have a 109 point check list to go through to make sure everything is risk assessed to be safe. We have a as page Risk Assessment that has also gone through a whole checking process, including staff, governors and trustees. But behind that, we have the practicalities of the day to day. So, we have timetables for break time, for lunch time, for outdoor space. We have timetables for different classrooms and different bubbles within those classes. The school has stayed open for key workers or vulnerable children. Social distancing rules mean their desk partners are their siblings. Theres a new theme each week. The latest is japan. They applaud on a normal day, there would be a50 pupils here, and after half term, around 150 will return. Class sizes are different. The requirements for childrens mixing for interaction is different. The hygiene requirements
are a far higher level than weve ever seen before. But also the Risk Assessment process behind that, ensuring that our site is as safe as it possibly can be for everyone in our community, is vital. Making the physical changes has been very challenging but staff are also preparing to support children emotionally. The decision to reintroduce more pupils hasnt been an easy one. Not for parents or for staff. For me, being in the classroom is where i belong. I want to be with the children, i dont want to be sat at home on my laptop doing things for them. I want to have that interaction and to be there for them, as their Journey Continues with their learning. A school is so much more than just a classroom. Its part of a community. In the office, fiona hague has been on hand to reassure anxious families. Parents are still very worried, so its pointing them in the direction of all the guidance thats coming out. Were ensuring were getting as much information out to parents as we can via the website,
school app, e mails. And making sure theyre as up to date as they can be and know as much as we know. When the school gates next open, the canteens shutters will remain closed. Mixed feelings. Im fine with it. I think im fine with it. Weve been. Me and sue have been on our own for a while now, so its fine. Its a nice big kitchen to social distance in, so, we are lucky, really. Were going to do a sandwich selection for them and theyre going to be eating in their classroom, so well prepare it here and it will be going over in boxes into their little bubbles in their classrooms. Over the past two weeks, primary schools have had to reinvent the wheel. And as these corridors fill in the coming days, therell be much more to learn. So notjust for children, but for parents, teachers, and support staff, every day will be a school day. John maguire, bbc news, nailsea in North Somerset. Mcdonalds has announced that every restau ra nt mcdonalds has announced that every restaurant in the uk and ireland with a drive through option will be open between tuesday and thursday next week. They plan to expand the availability of its delivery service. They say theyve been working on implementing procedures to ensure safe working in pilot restau ra nts a nd to ensure safe working in pilot restaurants and some dry through lines had to be closed where it impacted on the safety of customers, or the local community. Donald trump has accused twitter of interfering in the 2020 us election after the site labelled two of the president s posts as potentially misleading. Mr trump had claimed that the use of postal votes would lead to widespread voter fraud. Twitter responded by directing readers to a page with news articles and information from Fact Checkers debunking the claim. Lets speak to dr paul reilly, a senior lecturer in social media and Digital Society at sheffield university. Thank you forjoining us. What do you think of this intervention on twitter, why now . I think it is a good question, i think on the back at the coronavirus, that information academic, there has been a push for twitter and facebook to please content that could be harmful. I think that is part of that but interestingly will this be something that they will continue to do 3d out the campaign. What are the rules around it. There is previous stuff that President Trump is put out previously that could have wanted a response by twitter and it has not happened. What can they do . One of the things that they introduced in march around the pandemic was this labelling system and i think that is the first time we have seen this used in an election context and a context of political leader making false statements about something thatis false statements about something that is not Public Health related. The labels system is interesting, i
think also thinking about what to extent they will retrospectively fa ct extent they will retrospectively fact check what he says. I think thatis fact check what he says. I think that is proper not going to happen. It will be interesting to see whether his claims over coronavirus key is in march, will they get the same labelling . I am not so sure they will. Do they have the resources to actually apply this, not just to President Trump, but to everybody on twitter . I think that is a great question. One of the things that is difficult here is that certainly twitter have said they are using machine learning, automated techniques because they could not employ enough people to fact check every statement made by a politician or a member of public, it is very hard for them to do that because they publish and then filter. They rely on us to report information that may be misleading or harmful. It is very difficult to do given the amount of information out there. President trump has hit back, saying this is an infringement of free speech. Showing how he is going to handle
this, he is not going to take this lying down. I think can this, he is not going to take this lying down. I think i can this makes to trumps base, and i think trump will benefit from this, he will say that without the social Media Companies are against him. A perhaps benefits him to say that twitter are 20 clamp down on what he sees as free speech, even if it is not about freedom of speech at all. Thank you forjoining us, paul riley. Lets go live to holyrood and listen in to first ministers questions with the first minister nicola sturgeon. An increase of a7 yesterday, the number of confirmed cases has decreased by 23. Last night, 38 people were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected covid 19, an increase of three since yesterday. Yesterdays figure of 36 has been revised to 35. I never ate in the 2a hour is, 13 deaths have been registered as patients who have been
confirmed as having the virus, taking the total number of deaths to scotla nd taking the total number of deaths to scotland to 230a. National records of scotla nd scotland to 230a. National records of scotland has just published its more detailed weekly report, unlike the daily figures, its figures do not just include the daily figures, its figures do notjust include a a confirmed diagnosis, every person cases where no formal test was carried out but when the virus was depicted on the death certificate. At that point, three days ago, according to our daily figures, 2273 deaths have been wretched with people who had tested positive for the virus, todays report says by sunday, the total numbers of registered deaths related to covid 19 confirm tampers with 3779. 230 of those deaths were registered in the seven days up to sunday, that isa in the seven days up to sunday, that is a decrease of 105 from the week before and indeed this is the fourth
week ina before and indeed this is the fourth week in a row in which deaths have fallen. Deaths in care homes made up 5a of all deaths linked to the virus last week, that is down from 56 in the previous week and the number of covid 19 deaths in care homes also reduced again from 186 loss to one to four in the most recent week. That figure remains too high. Two 12a. The number of access gas for the same time of year five year average decreased from 1572158. I think it remains she that these statistical trends will never consult people who have lost loved ones to this file is in my thoughts and sympathies are with each and every one of them. These trends have been suspended for overfour these trends have been suspended for over four weeks they definitely give us grounds for encouragement. The weekly number of verse five deaths have fallen by more than 60 at its peak, excess does have reduced by more than three quarters and deaths in care homes are also falling. Tomorrow we will take a formal decision on whether to begin cautiously to emerge from lockdown, and the early steps are likely to focus on Outdoor Activities and we will provide full information of what individuals and businesses should and should not be doing. I stress that if restrictions are relaxed later this week, it will be essential to follow guidance, stay two metres apart from people from other households and self isolate if you have symptoms. At the moment the message in scotland remains the same, stay at home, except for essential purposes. When you leave the house, stay two metres apart and do not meet up with those from other households. Please use a Face Covering in a shop on Public Transport and remember to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. Let me remind people if you or someone in your household has covid 19 symptoms, you must stay at home and isolate completely. What we have all done so far has made a difference and todays figures show that, everyone has played a part in slowing the spread of the virus, protecting the nhs and
saving lives. I want to and by thanking everyone across scotland are doing that but to stress as we start to emerge from lockdown, that cooperation will become more important than others. We will now move to questions. We will now move to questions. We now know that more than 900 patients were discharged from hospital to care homes are much before compulsory testing was announced on april 21, far more than become the previously suggested. Does the vestments are now know the number of patients who were discharged from hospital to care homes without being tested . Did the government do everything it could to protect care home staff and residents. We have published the figures for fa bry we have published the figures for fabry and march. The figure for april will be published on the 2nd ofjune in a few days time. On the issues about care home, to think suggested about care homes,
both of them very serious and legitimate. One is that we should not have discharge order. You are watching bbc news, he is nicola sturgeon. People will look at those things and ask why that was done. I invite people to look at the situation at the time. Old people, delayed discharges of course, do not need to be in hospital, even in normal times it is not in the interest to be there. At the time we are talking about, we were waiting for a tsunami of coronavirus cases to enter our hospitals and remember the scenes we we re hospitals and remember the scenes we were seeing from italy at that time, it would have been unthinkable to leave older people that in the face of that, that would have put a huge risk and many i am sure would have died in the circumstances. I think i will be getting asked different questions right now. Secondly on
testing, at that time the advice was people who did not have symptoms we re people who did not have symptoms were not likely to spread the virus and they testing people without symptoms was unavailable and indeed that latter point is still a concern to some extent. If we apply what we know now to that situation then, of course we may ta ke situation then, of course we may take different decisions. But when we face these decisions, we have to act on the basis of the information we had and based on the information, yes, we did Everything Possible to protect older people, Risk Assessments of people leaving hospital and the guidance to care homes about isolation. But on this, as on everything, we continue to attach our response is the knowledge we have continued to develop. The numbers we are talking about here are so considerable that we do sometimes forget we are talking about individuals. Let me mention just one. This week we were contacted just one. This week we were co nta cted by just one. This week we were contacted by a lady in glasgow called sandra oneill, her mother marie sadly died from covid 19 on april eight at the care home in
drumchapel. She has nothing to say but good things during the front line staff who looked after her mother. She has a series of questions about how her mother caught the disease. She said and much, as in other care homes, there are examples of people who were in hospital he will return home despite clearly being ill. She said those are the home that home that believe that at least one case, residents have symptoms can deliver consistent with covid 19 when returned. We know the first mentor has confirmed elderly people we re mentor has confirmed elderly people were taken out of hospitals and put back into hospitals without being tested, but can you confirm that people who were ill anderson displaying symptoms of the disease we re displaying symptoms of the disease were removed from hospital and taken back to care homes . I never forget that when we save these statistics, we are talking about real people and real individuals, it is something i take at the time and always will do to remember each day when i read out
the grim statistics that i required to read up, behind each and every one of these statistics is a human being who is being grieved by their loved ones. On the issue at hand, it is not possible for me to comment on individual cases when i do not know the full circumstances. Anybody who has lost a loved one to this file is, understandably will have questions in the fullness of time i think we want to try and answer all of these questions as far as we possibly can. I would point to the guidance that was issued at the time, which made clear that clinical Risk Assessments should be done of patients who were being discharged from hospital. Nobody who had symptoms of coronavirus and certainly nobody within the clinical assessment with they should continue to be in hospital wedderburn discharge in this way. These are Risk Assessments required to be done by clinicians and professionals but the guidance in place was clear and should have been followed as all guidance, whether due hospitals or
to ca re guidance, whether due hospitals or to care homes, should be followed very carefully. Jackson. I thank the first minister for that. It is not clear whether people with symptoms may well have been discharged into the hospital, even though was a clinical assessment made. If they had symptoms discharge into the care homes. Sandras view is that unwell elderly people should not have been sent back to care homes. We have had read press reports that five residents have died in this particular car home, even though mrs oneill said she believes it is now more than that. There was little or no attempt to isolate residents who would then return from hospital. As she maintains, she says the front line care staff at the home did everything they could for her mother, they were not to blame for what happened. There is a growing feeling that residents like sandras mother were treated like second class citizens. Can the fed might givea second class citizens. Can the fed might give a clear commitment that the situation at the care home will be examined in full and other residents in my family who remain
worried about their own relatives will be better treated . In the karen specter has a duty to make sure concerns around any care home public considered and standards are. On the two specific issues that he raises, i think i was clear, the guidance in place is very clear. The patient should have been clinically risk assessed so patients with symptoms should not have been discharged to care homes. Clearly i did not see every patient, i cannot stand here and give a categorical assurance that no patient with symptoms was discharged. It would be wrong of me to do that but the guidance in place was very, very clear. With isolation, the guidance that was issued to care homes in march made clear that there should not be communal dining, communal activities that people coming to
ca re activities that people coming to care homes should be isolated in a way that has been hard for others but particularly hard for older People Living in care homes. While all parts of the system have to Work Together and are working together, the primary responsibility is for ca re the primary responsibility is for care home providers to make sure that guidance is being followed and i would continue to expect that that is the case. It is not the case, this is the issue i do take exception to, we have learned about this virus all along, we have had to adapt our approaches but at no point older people treated like second class citizens, at no point was anything other than the greatest ca re was anything other than the greatest care and attention and thought given to the decisions that were being taken in the guidance being put in place and that will continue to be the case every single step of the way. With or without hindsight, it is now clear that what happened in our care homes in march and april was a national scandal. On monday the first minister said undoubtedly there would be an inquiry into all
aspects of this pandemic and i think thatis aspects of this pandemic and i think that is right and proper. Care homes will be part of that review. The scale of what had happened and what we know to have been so far 17a9 deaths in the tragic stories of people like sandra and her mother underlined the need notjust for a review but for a Public Inquiry into what has happened in our care homes specifically. When the first minister agreed to confirm that she will in due Course Instructor that formal Public Inquiry into the care home sector. Of course there will be a Public Inquiry into this hill crisis and every aspect of that crisis and that will undoubtedly include what happened in care homes. Decisions we re happened in care homes. Decisions were taken for the best of reasons based on the best evidence. They we re based on the best evidence. They were similar decisions taken in scotland, wales and star as i am aware, in Northern Ireland. The decisions were committed very clearly to this parliament by the
Health Secretary. This is not something that was done without proper transparency and notification in the normal way. We will look back on all of this and learn a lot. Few people want to make sure we all learn appropriate lessons than i do but throughout this crisis i had taken the best decisions i can every step of the weight based on the best information and evidence i had at the time. All of these decisions have been tough, some have been really tough but i have not shied away from taking them, nor will i ever shy away from being candid about mistakes or instances where had i known then what i know now, i may have come to different conclusions but that is what leadership means, you have to make the tough calls you cannot hide away with your head down, hoping it will all go away, and i hope Jackson Carlo and others will reflect on that. Applause. Back on the 5th of march, i asked the first minister about the challenge of delayed discharge in light of covid 19. We now know the government rushed to discharge almost 1,000 vulnerable patients from hospital in the month of march alone. And we have now seen the devastating consequences in a scotla nd devastating consequences in a scotland boss mike care homes. The first minister told me at the time there would be, and i could, and intensive focus on ensuring that we can discharge people appropriately. But right up until the 22nd of april, Scottish Government guidance on the discharge of patients from hospital into care home stated that, andi hospital into care home stated that, and i could, individuals being discharged from hospital do not routinely need confirmation of a negative covid 19 test. Just yesterday, a nurse working at a care home in lanarkshire told me, we had
several residents that came from hospital, none of them knew they we re hospital, none of them knew they were going to a nursing home, so when they arrived, we contacted their next of kin, who didnt know they were going to a nursing home either. It was all one big mess. Does the first minister accept now that her intention of discharging people appropriately was not met, and can she explain why she allowed it to remain in place for so long . We have adapted our approach as the evidence and information that we have had has developed. The previous guidance around tests, yes, we now had different advice around testing presymptomatic people but at that time, there were two things that we re time, there were two things that were different. Firstly, there was a view that it was not likely that
people without symptoms which spread the virus and secondly, there was a concern about the lack of reliability of testing people without symptoms. That latter point still exists to some extent so we have developed our approach to testing and other things as the evidence and the advice has changed. I cannot, and Richard Leonard says he was talking about discharge in early march, the fact he was not raising those specific questions then, that he is now, shows that we cannot apply hindsight and change what we knew at the time. We can only operate on the basis of what we knew and operate with absolutely the best of intentions. I would challenge Richard Leonard when he says we rushed to discharge patients from hospital. I need to points to him that i have made before. Firstly, in normal times, him that i have made before. Firstly, in normaltimes, remember, Richard Leonard and others are usually standing up here criticising the Scottish Government for not
reducing delayed discharge because these are older people that have no medical need to be in hospital and being in hospital is not an interest. Secondly, yes, i regret more than Richard Leonard might ever be able to know, every Single Person who has lost their life in a care home as a result of this virus but again this is where the hindsight point comes in. Had we not tried to get older people out of hospital, they would have potentially exposed to the virus in hospitals and many of them would have died. In those circumstances, Richard Leonard would undoubtedly be standing here saying to me, but the benefit of hindsight, why didnt we try to get older people out of hospital . The point i am making is that there are no easy choices when you face these decisions. What you have to do is make the decisions based on the best evidence and information you have. That is what we did, putting in place the guidance i have spoken about and we have continued to adapt
our approach as our knowledge is developed and that is what we will continue today every single step of the way. We will continue to be, as we have been all along, open and transparent with this parliament about the decisions we are taking on the reasons why we are taking them. Well, i have said, and we have said repeatedly, you should listen to the World Health Organization which said, test, test, test. It has been saying that since march so sadly, the result is the consequences we see in our Residential Care homes. The crisis in our care homes may be linked to the release of those hospital patients who have not been screened but this crisis has not stopped there. Every day the Government Data shows that there are more new covid 19 infections in even more new covid 19 infections in even more care homes. It now stands at over 5,500. That is as many as one in six residents, with over 60 of
all care homes in scotland reporting at least one case. So let us be absolutely clear, this crisis is not yet under control. Last week, the Scottish Government announced regular testing for care home staff, but the Royal Nursing is warning today that scotland is lagging behind. So, can i, once again, as the first minister, help many care home staff and residents have now been tested, and when will all those staff finally have access to regular testing . Testing of care home staff will be an ongoing process because it is not enough to do it once, we have to do it regularly and we will publish data as we have published data on testing as we go along. And we are certain that that data is robust and able to be published. I would caution against making comparisons
between scotlands testing and figures that are being published uk wide, is not for me to go into detail about those statistics but i am certain in the validity and robustness of the data that is being published in scotland and of course, this is not political in any way, shape orform. This is not political in any way, shape or form. I this is not political in any way, shape orform. I took this is not political in any way, shape or form. I took about these issues regularly with Richard Leonards colleague, the first minister of wales, where we are all grappling with these issues and basing our decisions on the best evidence that is available. On the issue of the Current Situation in ca re issue of the Current Situation in care homes, i would never describe this crisis generally or specifically in relation to care homes as being under control. We have a long way to go abut in point of fa ct, have a long way to go abut in point of fact, both in terms of the number of fact, both in terms of the number of care homes with an active case, the percentage of care homes with an active case and new cases being reported everyday, as well as the number of deaths, we are seeing all of these decline so in todays figures which will be published at tpm, the increase in committed cases
in care homes increased by 60 which is much lower than what we have seen previously. We will continue for as long as this virus is a threat, to ta ke long as this virus is a threat, to take the right decisions based on the evidence and the knowledge that we have got. These are all horrendously difficult decisions because all of us understand and i absolutely understand the consequences of all of these decisions which is why they have to be taken with such care, thought and attention. As far as im concerned, the absolutely always will be, with com plete the absolutely always will be, with complete focus on doing the right thing as best we can at every stage. The situation is urgent, so it is not a matter of whether it is politics or not, it is the urgency of it, and as we start to see an easing of the lockdown, the human right and the dignity of care home residents must be paramount. There
isa residents must be paramount. There is a basic duty of care which government has too its most vulnerable citizens, so those residents will need continued protection. That means widespread and regular testing of staff. That means adequate ppe, and it means true transparency. We know that flawed government guidance led to the discharge of untested patients into ca re the discharge of untested patients into care homes. We know that flawed government guidance meant that care home residents were not transferred into hospitals when they were ill. We cannot make the same mistakes again. This time, the guidance must be right. So, when the first minister today commit to an urgent review of her governments approach to ca re review of her governments approach to care homes so that lessons can be learned and action can be taken quickly as we begin to ease the lockdown . Asi lockdown . As i said previously, not only do i expect, i absolutely want there to bea expect, i absolutely want there to be a review, an inquiry into every aspect of this crisis, that is vitally important for accountability but also for learning lessons for the future. That will undoubtedly include the situation was in care homes. If Richard Leonard will forgive me, right now, my focus is on continuing to do everything we need today for the remainder of this crisis. We are not through this crisis. We are not through this crisis yet, we are not even through this phase of the crisis yet and therefore my responsibility as first minister and the responsibility of eve ryo ne minister and the responsibility of everyone of my ministers is to make sure we focus on the decisions that still need to be taken, learning the lessons and applying the knowledge that we have at the time. Richard leonard because the guidance of lord, what he has doing, and he is entitled to do this, but it is reasonable for me to point out that what he is doing is taking knowledge we have now that we did not have at
the time and applying that retrospectively. I wish i had the benefit when i took these decisions of the foresight that changing circumstances so i could apply it then but we had to take decisions based on what we knew then. Richard says these things are urgent and trust me, whatever else you want to criticise, i dont think you have to tell me about the urgency of this. Literally every waking moment of mine and the Health Secretary and the cool government right now, there are plenty of waking moments right now, they are spent on trying to do the best thing to do with this crisis and that will continue to be the case for as long as we are facing it. From tomorrow, test and protectable finally be ruled out, though idp regret Contact Tracing was abandoned in the first place. Going into isolation for two weeks,
particularly when there are no symptoms is necessary but it is a big ask. This weeks news has been dominated by the failure of a wealthy and powerful individual to self isolate, but imagine the difficulties faced by those who are not privileged. For the self employed, isolation may be unaffordable, for those who share their homes with families or others, isolation may be impossible. For the sole carer of a loved one, isolation may be heartbreaking, so can the first minister outline what support will be made available to those who need to isolate, for example, will accommodation like hotel rooms be offered free to those who need thank you. The short answer is yes, we issued guidance yesterday to employers around expectations to employers. We are in discussions with the uk government around changes that may be needed to benefit statutory sick pay to make sure people do not lose
income of and we also should guidance to individuals about what they could do to prepare in advance for potential periods of isolation but also on the support that will be available to them. That support will be provided largely easing the kind of infrastructure we have put in place to give support to those in the shielded grip and that could be support accessing third and medicine if there are no family members that are able to do that, or it could be supported with alternative accommodation. It is absolutely the case that we will require to make sure anybody who has been asked to enter a period of isolation for 1a days gets the support they need to dh. Cani days gets the support they need to dh. Can i make an important point here, i feel this will be lost as a major and protect, which is busy very important. My biggest fear is we all feel we can stop doing the other things we have been doing because testing and protecting is a system there that will keep us safe from this virus regardless of what
we do. If you do not want to face a period of self isolation, the best way to minimise that risk is not to be in close contact with somebody outside your own household so if you ta ke outside your own household so if you take care not to be within two metres of somebody outside your household, then you are minimising your risk of ever being in the position of getting that phone call from a contact racer and being advised to self isolate. If all of us continue to follow that advice to stay two metres apart, then collectively, we keep this virus suppressed so test and protect is very important but fundamentally, how we stop this virus is spreading is down to us and our behaviour and reducing the number of pages we give it tojump reducing the number of pages we give it to jump over reducing the number of pages we give it tojump overand reducing the number of pages we give it to jump over and that means physical distance and continues to be many important and as we start to ease some of the lockdown measures, becomes more important than ever. I think the first minister for that
response. Test and protect will have an impact on front line staff and theirfamilies. A an impact on front line staff and their families. A report an impact on front line staff and theirfamilies. A report yesterday linked 2a members of medical staff the western General Hospital contracting the virus but the admission ofjust one patient. We need to do more to suppress the spread of the virus in hospitals to protect patients, staff and the families. It has been over a month since i started calling for regular, routine testing for nhs workers on the front line but we have had a little movement, even though two of our Capacity Remains unused muscle can the first minister tell us whether regular testing and hospitals will be introduced alongside test and protect . That is something we continue to ta ke that is something we continue to take clinical advice on and we will make decisions on that in due course. On the issue of hospital transmission, there is a huge amount of work, not just transmission, there is a huge amount of work, notjust in scotland but across the uk and globally, to better understand that. When
somebody tests positive was confirmed as having the virus in a hospital, it cannot automatically be assumed that they got it in the hospital because of the often lengthy and commissioned. We established an Advisory Group some weeks ago to identify additional interventions to reduce in hospital transmission, Health Protection scotla nd transmission, Health Protection scotland is working with uk cou nterpa rts scotland is working with uk counterparts on these issues as well. Testing will undoubtedly be a pa rt well. Testing will undoubtedly be a part of that but there is a whole range of things around Infection Prevention and control including courting of patience where appropriate but also it continues to be important as well. We need to speak with one voice. What Dominic Cummings did was wrong. The Prime Minister was wrong to defend him. They are treating people like mugs. This is wrong and we should condemn it, everyone should condemn it. Can i ask the first
minister about the legal tourist industry. The precautionary approach will mean a longer lockdown for the sector. The industry is anxious that this could up h its Summer Season and that many businesses will colla pse and that many businesses will collapse without additional support. This will result in thousands of jobs lost. The uk government has extended the furlough scheme stop will this Scottish Government extend its grant scheme as well to avoid that business collapse . Firstly ca n that business collapse . Firstly can i say on Dominic Cummings, i have made my views clear. I think it was wrong, the Prime Minister is wrong to defend it because it has involved a retrospective rewriting of the reels which undermines confidence in the rules and guidance that remain so important. I dont want to be standing here talking about that, my job is to make sure that i get a
message across to scottish people that the what we are asking you todayis that the what we are asking you today is important, notjust because you are being told to do it, it is important for your own protection for you and your loved ones and that is the one voice that we all must speak with in the weeks to come. On the tourist sector, he is right. All of the sectors and there is not a sector that has not been hit by this virus but there are some that have been hit harder than others and tourism is one that has been hit ha rd est tourism is one that has been hit hardest and potentially have the longest Lasting Impact. These are issues that the Scottish Government issues that the Scottish Government is actively considering both in terms of grant support and what happens to that in future and we will take decisions on that engine course but we are also looking carefully at the ways in which the tourist industry may be able tourism activities and a safe way. Fergus ewing has been needing work there andi ewing has been needing work there and i chaira ewing has been needing work there and i chair a Sub Committee every week looking at the Economic Issues and this is one we are due to look
at in detail shortly, so these are issues absolutely at the top of our minds and we will take careful decisions trying to make sure that at all stages, as much support as possible is in place for businesses that have been affected. I think that is right because of the support mechanisms, the Financial Support mechanisms, the Financial Support mechanisms, the Financial Support mechanisms need to match the lockdown as well. Many working in the Tourism Sector in the summer months but if it does not reopen, stu d e nts months but if it does not reopen, students will be without an income. Normally support is only provided in term time basis so students are leading campaign to extend grant payments over the summer months. The campaign has the support of sensible msps from across the parliament, so well the first minister get behind
it, too, and provide Financial Support for students of the summer . We will look very carefully at that as we are looking very carefully at all suggestions that are made about how we mitigate the impact of this on businesses and individuals. I hope he will appreciate that i will not stand here and get categoric assurances on things while youre still going through the process of consideration because there are many suggestions being made and i would love to be able to agree to all of them but we have to make careful decisions bearing in mind that there isa limit decisions bearing in mind that there is a limit on the Financial Resources that we are able to bring to bear but we will do as much we possibly can. I recognise in a whole range of ways that students will be affected by this, given the nature of some of the industries, that will have the longest Lasting Impact but i dont want to lose sight of the five that we want to try to get businesses and all sectors operational to a greater or lesser extent as soon as possible. It got to be done safely and that is a big focus of the work that fiona heslop
is leading overall right now but we do want to see as much Economic Activity risen as quickly as possible, consistent with continuing to suppress the virus because if we ta ke to suppress the virus because if we take our eye off that, then the damage to the economy will be even deeper and longer lasting and what it is currently estimated to be. Has the Scottish Government had discussions with the treasury about project burch cosmic we are in discussion with the uk government about a whole range of matters right now as members would expect. I welcome the indication that they are prepared to provide support for Large Companies and failure would harm the uk economy. Today the Scottish Government has not been involved in specific discussions
with the treasury regarding that particular initiative although we will seek to be over the days to come and we would expect the uk government to share more details of this project with us particularly where the businesses they are looking at as possible recipients for this kind of support i critical to the scottish economy. There is an scotland can continue watching first ministers questions on bbc scotland and on bbc parliament. The bbc news at one is next but first a look at first the weather. The sunshine has been beating down. This was the weather watcher picture taken earlier on. Not a cloud in the sky. Some areas have been seeing some cloudy, here in cambridgeshire we had some cloud, limiting the timber to rise for a while but that has been offending and breaking. We have High Pressure still in charge of our weather. This weather front
is approaching into the north west and that will probably steer to the north of Northern Ireland but will bring more cloud this evening and overnight into scotland and some rainfora overnight into scotland and some rain for a while across the northern half of the country. We will see semester and low cloud coming into eastern parts of england but the earlier fog has now eastern parts of england but the earlierfog has now appeared eastern parts of england but the earlier fog has now appeared away from the south west and it should be clear here overnight. For most places, it really will be a mild one again. As we head into tomorrow, what is left of the rain, this time in the north east of scotland, by Early Morning will move away into the north sea. The cloud will then and we will get sunshine developing more widely. While some time to come for Northern Ireland and across england and wales once that low cloud england and wales once that low clou d m oves england and wales once that low cloud moves away. More other breeze properly and its an easterly breeze septemberjust properly and its an easterly breeze september just wont be properly and its an easterly breeze septemberjust wont be as high in the south east of england. That warmth is getting pushed further towards the west. Any low cloud again across Eastern England on friday will not last long and it is sunshine petty much all the way. Appraisal continue to pick up and
turning more to a southerly as you head northwards towards the uk so it will push the heat further north. Probably warmer in glasgow than in london. Over the weekend, still High Pressure in charge. These weather fronts will be patchy and we will draw ourair in fronts will be patchy and we will draw our air in from continental europe. Temperatures arent appointed to change a huge amount, looking at highs of the mid 20s but they will be a lot of sunshine this weekend and strong sunshine. Maybe a bit of cloud at times in scotland and Northern Ireland but hopefully not a great deal. Temperatures into the mid 20s. Highs of 26 or 27 in the mid 20s. Highs of 26 or 27 in the sunshine. And no rain, it has been a joy month for most of the country and it could be a possible record breaking may, especially in 02 58 53,765 4294966103 13 29,430 the south east
vimarsana.com © 2020. All Rights Reserved.