Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC Newsroom Live 20200317

To avoid social contact for around 12 weeks. Government ministers are meeting along with their chief medical advisers. Theyll give an update on the latest information for us later today. The government is also set to announce new measures to support the economy, after warnings that the latest restrictions could put firms out of business. The eu looks set to close borders to most foreign travellers for at least the next month. In a further development, germany has closed non essential shops, most Leisure Facilities, and suspends religious services. France is in lockdown for the next 15 days, with people allowed to leave their homes only to shop for food, go to work, or seek medical help. Good morning. Welcome to bbc newsroom live. People around the uk are today facing tougher measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus after the Prime Minister urged everyone to avoid unnecessary social contacts, to work from home where possible, and to stay away from pubs and restaurants. Today, the government is set to announce further financial plans to help the economy during the coronavirus outbreak, as many firms warned that the latest restrictions could put them out of business. And this morning, theres been a warning from the office for budget responsibility that this could be like a wartime situation for public finances, and its not a time to be squeamish about public debt when it comes to support for the economy. Lets begin by looking again at the key points along with all of you around the country, here in the newsroom, we are concerned about you all, our families, friends, and colleagues. And throughout all of this, we are going to try our very best to bring you the facts, most importantly command to give you the best and latest advice to help us find a way through all of this. Lets begin by looking again at the key points from Boris Johnsons first Daily Press Conference on the outbreak yesterday, where he announced a string of new measures the government hope will prevent the virus from spreading. Hes urging people to avoid any unnecessary social gatherings, to work from home where its possible, and that places such as pubs, clubs, resturants, theatres and music venues should also now be avoided. From today, if one person in a house has symptoms, including a continuous cough or fever, the whole family should stay at home for m days. The prime ministrer also said that those within at risk groups, such as the elderly, those with Underlying Health conditions, or pregnant women, should stay at home for 12 weeks, as of this weekend. The virus is continuing to spread, with 1,500 confirmed cases in the uk though experts suggest that figure could be as high as 50,000. And there have now been 55 coronavirus related deaths in the uk. This was the scene over a very quiet Central London this morning. Firstly, heres paddington station, a usually very busy rail and underground station. And then around Central London, there are far fewer cars on the road than there usually would be, given these pictures were taken at about 8. 00am. Clearly people already getting to grips with changes to their daily lives, which is likely to last for months. Well be taking a look at the impact on business and the developing situation around the world, but our first report is from charlotte gallagher. Everyones way of life in the uk is now having to change because of coronavirus. Things we take for granted, like meeting friends, going out for a meal and to the theatre, we are now being told to avoid. People being aware of the symptoms of the virus, a high temperature, cough, and breathing difficulties is key. If you or anyone in your household has one of those symptoms, then you should stay at home for 14 days. That means that, if possible, you should not go out even to buy food or essentials other than for exercise and in that case, at a safe distance from others. This is now the advice. Avoid gatherings in crowded places. If you can, work from home. Stop unnecessary visits to friends and family and care homes. Only use the nhs when you need to. If possible, avoid leaving your home. If you go out to exercise, keep distance from others. People over the age of 70 and those with Certain Health conditions and pregnant women are being told that the advice is particularly important to them. Infections and pregnancy is not a good combination in general which is why we are taking this precautionary measure while we find out more, we should be including pregnant women in this group. In retrospect we may find it was overkill but we would rather be cautionary rather than the other way. Londons west end deserted, major theatres closing their doors. The attempts to slow the spread of coronavirus is affecting notjust Peoples Health and social life, but peoples incomes too. Many people are angry that borisjohnson told people to stay away from venues, while not forcing them to close, which could have given them financial protection. This Central London restaurant was open last night, but many people stayed away. We want to support the staff, small community, with 18 people working here, making a living out of the restaurant, so we want to be here for our staff and for the local community as much as we can. Panic buying is happening at shops across the country. These people in wales do not agree with it. Coming here and finding no bread, no eggs, no toilet paper and things like that missing, it does give me a lot of concern. A lot of people elderly people use this supermarket and if we are greedy and take from them i dont think that would be showing community spirit. For now, schools remain open, but this could well change. The government says by next weekend, people with the most serious Health Conditions must be largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks. More guidance may well follow. Drastic measures to tackle a growing threat here. Charlotte gallagher, bbc news. Professor Jonathan Van Tam is the deputy chief medical 0fficerfor england. Hes been giving us more detail on the governments latest advice. The advice we have given about social distancing is four key things. Cut down on nonessential contact with other people. Travel, work from home where possible, and do not go to pubs, bars, restaurants, cinemas and theatres. We nevertheless accept that life must go on, and the advice is very real for everybody. It is strong advice for the over 70s, and there will be in the next week or so an announcement for people who are extremely vulnerable irrespective of age, where the advice is Even Stronger about staying in the house. What i want people to do is take away that this advice is very strong and, to the extent possible, you should ask a neighbour to do food shopping for you, or a friend, you should use Online Shopping as much as you are able to do so, and keep these visits to places where you can come into contact with other people as low as you can reasonably get them. There are two rules that will run together. We already announced it was important for individuals with symptoms of coronavirus to isolate, for seven days. That rule, if you like, kind of holds, but in addition now, the first case in a household will trigger the entire household isolating for 1h days. And it is perfectly possible. It is entirely plausible, that somebody else will develop the coronavirus during that 1a day period. And if it is on day two of the fortnight, then they, too, are likely to have recovered by the end of the fortnight. If it is on day 12 of the fortnight with two days left to run, then, of course, the chances that they will be fully recovered on day 1a are low, and that person should stay in for seven days. Everybody else who is well leaves the house at 1a days. That was professorJonathan Van Tam, one of englands deputy chief medical officers. Some are breaking news from transport correspondent tom burridge, who says that major uk airports have written it to be Prime Minister, asking for emergency Financial Support. The letter has been signed by bosses at gatwick, heathrow, and the manchester airports group. They re heathrow, and the manchester airports group. Theyre asking for more flexibility over protocol for border staff, and that air Passenger Duty is deferred or suspended. Meanwhile, tom says that the organisation which represents uk airports has warned that airports might have to shut down within weeks u nless might have to shut down within weeks unless urgent action is taken by the government to support the industry. That news just breaking. 0ur assistant Political Editor norman smith is at westminster. Businesses concerns, large and small, want clear information from the government today about how they are to be able to weather this crisis. What are they going to get for it . We are going find out around about 4. 00 this afternoon when the chancellor will front the now daily news conference. I chancellor will front the now daily news conference. I think it is pretty clear he cannot come forward with a limited set of measures given the gravity of the crisis and the clear warnings we are now getting, not just from the clear warnings we are now getting, notjust from the travel sector but also the leisure and hospitality industry, who are facing, frankly, a catastrophic fall in demand, because people are not going to travel, cannot travel, travel bans are in place all over the world, and are being advised not to go out to pubs, restau ra nts, clu bs, being advised not to go out to pubs, restaurants, clubs, cinemas. This is not a restaurants, clubs, cinemas. This is nota minor restaurants, clubs, cinemas. This is not a minor setback, this is a fundamental challenge to whether these companies can even continue, and when you look at what the french president has unveiled, he is saying he is putting 300 billion euros on the table to tide companies through this crisis to ensure that none close. I suspect the chancellor is going to have to look at something pretty similar. He will have to go way beyond what he unveiled in the budget, the extra 12 billion of relief grants, loans, business rates, holidays, it is going to have to go way beyond that. Because clearly anything less is not meant to be sufficient to keep these companies going. And, norman, tell us companies going. And, norman, tell us about changes to commons procedures, commons votes, what is being done in parliament to lead the way on this idea of social distancing . There are now going to have to be further restrictions, guidance for mps coming to parliament, because quite clearly as pa rt parliament, because quite clearly as part of the social distancing measures, you do not want large numbers of mps confined closely together. Many of them actually of a certain age, Jeremy Corbyn is over 70, so some sort of procedures have to be put in place to minimise that. What the commons authorities are looking at that as delaying a lot of nonessential business so that mps do not actually have to be here, but when there are votes, doing it by simply expressing an aye or no, in other words not forcing mps to crowd together cheek by jowl other words not forcing mps to crowd together cheek byjowl through the division lobby, so normal voting procedures would be put aside. If they are also looking at not having all mps they are also looking at not having allmps in the they are also looking at not having all mps in the chamber, you could reduce situation where a much Smaller Group of mps representing the numerical numbers could be present. So you could end up with, 30 tory mps, 20 labour mps, and so on, to reflect the sort of ratio of the parties. What is meant to be addressing is whether they managed to put this in place ahead of Prime Ministers questions tomorrow, because that is when the chamber is absolutely round and exactly the sort of situation you want to avoid, or the more so given that we no alarm bells are ringing more loudly about the situation in london, with particular advice for people to stay home. What will not happen, i think, is any move to close parliament, because the widespread view, i think on all sides, as that would send a terrible symbol, easily met a really terrible message at a time of national crisis. Thank you, norman. More from westminster throughout the day which we will bring to you on bbc news. The new guidelines represent a change of strategy for the government, which came as a warning from Imperial College showed that without more stringent restrictions, more than 250,000 people could die from the virus. Dr Conor Bamford is a virologist at Queens University belfast, and joins me now. Good to have you with us. Tell us more about the change of strategy and the Science Behind that change. What we know about any of these outbreaks, we do not know how to stop them. We are in uncharted territory, because we have not seen a virus like the School Pandemic in recorded history. If virus like this go pandemic. So we are learning as we go along. What we have seen in china and other countries, what the who is recommending it, is brute force measures. If you notice what we saw last week from the uk government, seems to be a relaxed version of these, and it wasnt quite recommending just what the who is the same. That caused a lot of this may, certainly in the last couple of days, it might have shifted to look more like what the who is saying that what we do know at least works in the short term. Lets talk a bit about the symptoms to look out for, and about social distancing. We are hearing to look out for these key symptoms of eight new persistent cough, or a fever. Worst of all, what do we mean by a persistent cough . A new persistent cough . A new persistent cough. First of all. M is really important that these viruses can spread quite quickly, evenin viruses can spread quite quickly, even in the absence of symptoms in the case of this virus. You usually get a cough and a fever. I read online that it is quite a confusing term, this persistent cough, and i imagine. Im not sure exactly what they mean by that, but i imagine it is something that is notjust you have got something it caught in your throat, it really reflects something happening in your lungs. But it is important to say that not every case will be some somatic, or symptomatic in the same kind of way. If you have got a runny nose or a fever, and just decide to stay home or distance yourself a bit. And of course if yourself a bit. And of course if your temperature is not normal, look out for that as well. How effective is this self isolation and social distancing and stopping these viruses in their tracks . We know this virus can clearly spread very easily. You can see that in cruise ships and the outbreaks in china and evenin ships and the outbreaks in china and even in the uk. But it does not appear to be as easily spread as other viruses, and it does need relatively close contact. It is mostly indoors and within two metres. Theoretically it should be easy to limit the transmission between one person and the other through these simple social distancing and personal hygiene measures. Theoretically, this can make a massive impact of everybody follows the advice. Finally and briefly, how long do you think its going to take to come up with a solution to this, a vaccine for this . The ideal solution would be a vaccine that is protective, and that is actually safe and that we can give to billions of people, and we have never done this on this scale before, usually vaccines take many yea rs, before, usually vaccines take many years, decades perhaps as well, and we have never made a human coronavirus vaccine. Again, we do not really know the possibilities of this, but it is helpful. We have lots of candidates, lots of ideas about how to make a vaccine. I believe the first person got the first experimental dose of a vaccine in the last week. But we will have to ta ke in the last week. But we will have to take time to look at this and see whether they are safe and whether they are effective, and whether we can actually scale it up to global scale to hopefully stop this virus. 0k, scale to hopefully stop this virus. Ok, doctor Conor Bamford, thank you very much for your time today. The headlines on bbc news there are tougher new measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the uk the government and medical advisors urge everyone to avoid unnecessary social contacts, to work from home where possible and to stay away from pubs and restaurants. The government is to announce new measures to support the economy during the coronavirus outbreak, after warnings that the latest restrictions could put firms out of business. The eu looks set to close borders to most foreign travellers for at least the next month, and plans to ban all non essential travel throughout Europes Schengen free travel zone. In sport, we expect to hear from you today as representatives of its 55 Member Associations meet to create a strategy to deal with the fallout from the current crisis. Euro 2020 is expected to be postponed for a year. The ioc is also meeting today to discuss the olympics and in particular qualifying events that have been hit. Japans olympic minister has said the Tokyo Olympics will be held on time, with spectators in attendance. Meanwhile the first three meetings of Athletics Diamond League season have been called off because of the coronavirus outbreak. Ill be back with more on those stories later. Eu leaders meeting today are expected to announce the closure of the blocs external borders. Its governments have already been introducing extra restrictions to fight coronavirus. The french president , emmanuel macron, has ordered people to stay at home or face fines. Germany is closing non essential shops, most Leisure Facilities and suspending religious services. Eight European Union countries have now re introduced some form of border controls within the eu itself. Rich preston reports. France was the first european country to confirm a case of coronavirus, in late january. Since then, the number of cases and the ta rta rs has then, the number of cases and the tartars has claimed quicker than many would have expected. The country has intensified its response to the virus. Measures introduced earlier, causing cavities in restau ra nts, earlier, causing cavities in restaurants, have been deemed inefficient. Now all movement is restricted unless absolutely necessary. The president says the country is in a health war. Translation for at least 15 days, our movements will be highly reduced. Gatherings and meeting family orfriends reduced. Gatherings and meeting family or friends will not be allowed any more. This is about limiting as much as possible any contact outside of home. Across france, people will be able to go out, only for essential activities. We are at war, a health war. We are not fighting an army, nor another nation. But the enemy is here, invisible and making progress. Thousands of Police Officers are being deployed to make sure people abide by the lockdown measures. Frances borders will be closed. So too will the entire external European Union border. No travel into the eu from outside. European football officials from uefa are meeting today. It is expected they will agree to postpone this years european football championships, due to be held across 12 countries. In spain, an intense lockdown. Day one ofa spain, an intense lockdown. Day one of a state of emergency. The military on the streets to fight the virus. Telling people to go home. Spins hospitals are struggling to cope with a rise in cases. Germanys chancellor Angela Merkel has added to her countrys existing measures, banning religious services, and telling people to cancel any travel plans both within germany and abroad. These extreme measures highly restricted personal movement and shutting down businesses could scarcely have been imagined just seven weeks ago when europe had only a handful of confirmed cases. Now with the infection spreading and fertility is rising, many are wondering what more can be done. Fatalities rising. Its exactly a week since stringent measures were put in place across italy to tackle the spread of coronavirus. More than 2,000 people there have now died. Thats more than in any other country after china. Sima kotecha sent this update from rome every evening at around 6. 00pm, it feels like this country stands still as the government announces the new death toll of the coronavirus figures. More than 2000 people have now died, there are almost 28,000 cases, and primarily, they are in the north of the country. There are concerns that that outbreak could move from the north to the south, because people have been travelling a lot from that part of the country. The hospitals are not as well equipped down there, and these are strict measurements have been put in place for a week now. And people who are still adjusting. Applause a display of resilience and solidarity. Locals in rome feeling optimistic about what lies ahead as the country tackles the worst Health Crisis in a generation. How do you feel the government is doing . Sorry . The Prime Minister, do you agree with what is happening . Yes, i do. Why . Because its the right thing to do, i think. Ive never seen rome in this situation. Popular streets, empty. No tourists, nothing open. Orlando is a taxi driver. He tells us the soul has been ripped out of italy. Im not busy because there are no people. Only to the hospital, some tourists, but very, very dull. The country has enforced rules preventing people from moving around. Stay indoors, especially if youre older, theyre told. But some are choosing to rebel. We try not to meet people, not the family, not friends, nothing. And the advice for people who are older is to stay indoors . Yes, yes, we know. You are not staying indoors . No, because we think we have to walk a little bit. Every two days we take a walk. The contrast is stark. We are in the centre of rome, and usually these steps are packed with tourists. Men are selling roses, but today. This. Bell rings completely deserted. A week on from when the measures were first announced, and churches are providing a place of solace for worshippers. The pope recently said he wanted clergymen to give those infected comfort. Its a place to have contact with some to get socialisation not to be alone, not to stay alone in a place, in a room. The government has put 25 billion euros into the economy to give it a cash boost, as many businesses remain closed. But everyone has to eat. And on some corners in rome, takeaway places remain open. Translation its a special emergency situation. Everyone has a responsibility to do our bit. You mustnt approach each other, everyone must stand at least a metre apart. The world is watching italy closely to see whether what its doing succeeds in killing this virus. Sima kotecha, bbc news, rome. The oldest people who have died from this virus was 95 years old, the youngest 39. 70 of those who have died have been men, and as ive said previously, most of those fatalities have been in the north of the country. But the Prime Minister has said the worst is yet to come. Italy has not even reached its peak yet, and hospitals, especially in the north, are running out of essential kit such as face and ventilators. So asi kit such as face and ventilators. So as i said, the situation is going to get worse, and again a sense of trepidation around those figures that will be released this evening again. Facemasks and ventilators. Adam fleming joins us from brussels. You have just found some copy about changes to eu state aid to help companies in the coronavirus crisis. Tell us more. We learnt about this during the brexit process, it is the eu rules about what the government can do to subsidise companies or sections of the economy that are in trouble. In the last couple of days, they have been working up a new temporary regime so that governments could channel as much support as possible to Companies Hit by the coronavirus, now we have learned some more details about what is made up some more details about what is made up of. Four elements, quite technical, but the first one is really pretty obvious. The eu would allow governments to give grants to companies, individual companies, of up companies, individual companies, of up to 500,000 euros each. That could either be a direct cash hand out or tax breaks that add up to that. So that would be direct help that could just be given to the companies straightaway. Then some other twea ks, straightaway. Then some other tweaks, things like the governments being able to offer a reduced subsidised guarantees for bank loa ns. Subsidised guarantees for bank loans. Also offering subsidised Interest Rates for bank loans, which would be the base rate plus a little bit extra depending on how risky the loa n bit extra depending on how risky the loan was. And also they will classify support given to banks not us classify support given to banks not us at support for the banks as companies, but as support for the individual customers of the banks. So all of this opens up a big door to governments across europe spending a lot of money to help struggling firms. And let me just clarify, as the uk is still following eu rules, this would also apply to the uk . Yes, during the post brexit transition period, even though the uk is no longer a member state of the eu, it has the same rights and obligations as a member state, which means these changes will apply to the uk as well. These are proposals from the commission at the moment, they have to be approved by the member states, but the commission thinks that will be done in the next couple of days, then this will be the new regime, at least for and just briefly, where are we with the plans to introduce wider travel border controls . There will be a Video Conference between the 27 heads of state of the eu this afternoon, coordinated by the president of the european council. They will be asked to sign up to this idea of a travel ban on non eu citizens coming into the eu for nonessential business. That is a slight competition in that it is not actually an eu wide thing, it is up to the individual governments to sign up to and then opponent themselves, which is why you saw emmanuel macron, the french president , last night saying that, as far as france is concerned, that will kick in any minute now. It actually kicked in half an hour ago. It is just that Different Countries will apply it at different times. It is worth reminding ourselves the political objective to all of this, by putting a ban on the eus external borders, the eu authorities hope that the individual eu countries will lift the bans they have put on each other so that Free Movement and the schengen passport free zone can be re established. Adam, thank you for that update. Now its time for a look at the weather with simon. Good morning everyone. Some sunny spells across the north east of scotla nd spells across the north east of scotland this afternoon. Generally speaking today is quite cloudy compared to yesterday for most of us but this is one weather watcher photo from aberdeenshire. Look at the blue skies they are. It will be sunny in aberdeen in the afternoon and some brightness in the south east as well but elsewhere, cloudy and rain moving its way through Northern Ireland and into scotland. The rain turning heavy later in the day and its going to turn cool across scotland with temperatures down to 7 8. For england and wales, another mild day, 1315. England and wales, another mild day, 13 15. Tonight, this area of rain will spread to the south east, heavy bursts of rain linked in with this cold front, which, as it moves very quickly south and east woods, it sta rts quickly south and east woods, it starts to introduce some colder air, so during wednesday, there will be a chilly field offerings across scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England, but rather dry with some sunny spells. Central air is quite cloudy and in the far south east, cloudy but largely dry and still mild. Hello. This is bbc newsroom live with annita mcveigh. The headlines. There are tougher new measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the uk. The government and medical advisors urge everyone to avoid unnecessary social contacts, to work from home where possible and to stay away from pubs and restaurants. The advice is very real for everybody. It is strong advice for the over 70s and there will be in the next week or so an announcement over people who are extremely vulnerable irrespective of their age. New advice includes if one person in any household has a persistent cough or fever, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days and its expected in the coming days that those with the most serious Health Conditions will be advised to avoid social contact for around 12 weeks. Government ministers are meeting along with their chief medical advisers. Theyll give an update on the latest information for us later today. Major uk airports have written to the Prime Minister asking for emergency Financial Support requesting air Passenger Duty be deferred or suspended. The government is to announce new measures to support the economy during the coronavirus outbreak, after warnings that the latest restrictions could put firms out of business. As with every other area of life can own impacting sport in a big way. Sport now and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, heres holly. Good afternoon. Uefa are holding a crunch talks with representatives of its 55 associations, leagues and Players Union to discuss footballs response to coronavirus. Its expected that euro 2020 will be postponed for a year. Our reporter laura scott is at wembley. It scott is at wembley. Would be a really big decision for it would be a really big decision for uefa to take and it definitely isnt easy. But that does seem the most likely announcement to be made today following this meeting and the reason being because the euro are due to be held across 12 cities this summer due to be held across 12 cities this summer including seven games at wembley, and with so much of europe shut down, i think the feeling is that its looking less and less feasible that that could continue but also uefa have other competitions they are concerned about. They want to try to finish the Champions League and the Europa League and also with so many members involved, they are aware that lots of domestic leagues are affected. We heard last week about the premier league being off until the beginning of april at the earliest, so there isa of april at the earliest, so there is a feeling that they need to cooperate and do something to try to do european football as a whole body moving to next summer, the euros, wont solve everything, certainly not, and the womens matches are due to be in england next summer, and whether or not that would have to be rescheduled, we dont yet know. But clearly there is just a huge amount of disruption across european football and todays meeting will try to find some form of a solution. And with the Players Union warning ofjob and with the Players Union warning of job losses, if and with the Players Union warning ofjob losses, if there isnt that level of cooperation, thats clearly the priority of todays meeting, to try to establish some form of next step. Laura scott reporting there. Olympic games organisers will also be holding talks today with International Sports federations. The main focus of the meeting is to discuss disruption to qualifying events for the games. Thats increased with the european boxing qualifying event in london now suspended. It had been held behind closed doors since sunday and was due to run until the 24th march. Two british boxers have managed to secure their places at the Tokyo Olympics if they happen. I think what we all need to just do this just settled down a bit and understand better what decisions the international federations, understand better what decisions the internationalfederations, the controls, how they are planning things for the athletes and it may well be some time before we know the outcome of that. There is a meeting this week, but throughout all of the continent, for continental qualification, we just need to see how that plays out for the athletes. Its how that plays out for the athletes. Its a very, very difficult time and its a very worrying time, notjust for our athletes but a worrying time in general. England, wales and scotland athletics has suspended all planned organised activity until at least the end of april meanwhile the first three Diamond League athletics meetings in doha on april 17th and then china on the ninth and 16th of may wont take pace as scheduled but efforts will be made to hold them later in the season. Thats all the sport for now. You can find more on all those stories on the bbc sport website. Thats all for now. Holly, thank you very much. Lets return to coronavirus and have a look at the latest advice from the government. Everyone should now avoid social contact with others and unnecessary travel. That means you should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other social venues. You should also start working from home where you possibly can. Anyone who lives with someone who has a cough or a temperature should stay at home for 14 days. And you should only use the nhs if you really need to. From tomorrow, the government will no longer be supporting Mass Gatherings using emergency workers. And on schools, the chief scientific adviser said that it may be necessary to think about School Closures but only at the right stage of the outbreak. We arejust going we are just going to go to the commons now, the house of commons, dominic raab is Answering Foreign Office questions. We are addressing all of those issues, the Foreign Office is working with partners for health and also with the mod and talking to all of our partners right around the world. The truth is, donald trump is lack of International Leadership has been quite extraordinary, he started by calling the outbreak a hoax, comparing it to winter flu, and dismissing health advice, but now hes calling at the foreign virus, blaming europe for its spread, and today blaming china, and saying he ta kes today blaming china, and saying he takes no responsibility at all. Does the secretary of state agree that it is shameful that this kind of behaviour is one that we have come to expect from the current american president , even at this time of Global Crisis . I just president , even at this time of Global Crisis . Ijust had to say to her, i think we have done quite a good job in this house in order to have a bipartisan approach, and whether its domestic windsor international, it doesnt help finger pointing in any shape or form. What we are going to do is work with all of our partners, the usa, european, south americans, in asia, to try to forge the most effective response, thats what all of our constituents expect and deserve. Two of my constituencies are trapped in peru and say they cannot get through to the embassy in that country, so how is the government ensuring that the british people trapped elsewhere have embassies which are resourced to a nswer embassies which are resourced to answer queries and get them home as soon as answer queries and get them home as soon as possible . We understand the concern of any constituent that finds himself in a vulnerable position. And also of course, mps trying to do their best. We have beefed up the support we are providing, there is a parliamentary hotline for mps and i will make sure ministers give you all the details to provide the most support and the most up to date lines to his constituents. I very much welcome the response today, but does he rememberfrom the the response today, but does he remember from the ebola the response today, but does he rememberfrom the ebola crisis a the response today, but does he remember from the ebola crisis a few yea rs remember from the ebola crisis a few years ago the woeful and very slow approach the who had. Does the fee will are seeing a similar response from the World Health Organization today . Is the working to make sure a proper coordinated response, despite the who, and it will be the foundation for building a new International Cooperative response Going Forward . Can i thank my honourable friend, the chairman of the select committee . I can tell him we are doing our level best, as the uk, to forge the strongest consensus possible. We have got a total aid envelope of £241 million of funding, we are providing up to £150 million up we are providing up to £150 million up to the imf, £10 million to the hr and 5 million to the red cross and 5 million to unicef. Its important we work as collaboratively as possible with international partners, the who, but also working on a voluntary sector, those who often have particularly good expertise and access particularly good expertise and a ccess o n particularly good expertise and access on the ground where its needed the most. Question number two. We welcome the ceasefire in ed lib agreed by turkey and russia on the 5th of march and we call on all parties to make a permanent agreement. Can i first of all wish you and honourable members a happy st patricks day for everyone in Northern Ireland . St patricks day for everyone in Northern Ireland . The crisis in syria means lebanon is currently in the middle of an economic crisis and the middle of an economic crisis and the infrastructure was already struggling to support 1 the infrastructure was already struggling to support1 million refugees who now make up 20 of the population in the country. These refugees also facing the coronavirus. What stabs is he doing to ensure Syrian Refugees are supported particularly in the more vulnerable groups . Can i thank my honourable friend and say the outset, i totally agree with him on the need to stem the flow of refugees, he mentions the lab and on, orso of refugees, he mentions the lab and on, or so of course refugees, he mentions the lab and on, or so of course turkey has taken 4 million refugees. The first thing to say is we must hold the Syrian Regime and the russian government to account for the brutality of the fighting which is causing the refugees and do everything in our power to firm up the ceasefire and make it nationwide and then also of course. Studio the foreign secretary taking questions on the response to coronavirus, including questions around britons who are currently abroad trying to get back to the uk. We mention a few moments ago the chief scientific adviser is saying that it may be necessary to think about School Closures, but only at the right stage of the outbreak here in the uk. Lets discuss this now. With me is Andrew Webster who is the headteacher of Park View School in tottenham. Also im joined by richard burke, head teacher of st Richard Reynolds catholic college, a comprehensive primary and secondary school in twickenham. Are very good morning to both of you and thank you forjoining us at this really challenging time. Richard, i will begin with you, straightforward question, maybe not so straightforward actually, do you think schools should be open right now . We have contradictory advice, we are not supposed to gather in groups, avoid pubs and theatres, but come to school, so to answer your question, i think we do need to close schools. Andrew, the same question to you . Its questions but we have to bear in mind sent the communities we live in and think about parents who are workers, but we will reach a critical point with schools, where it wont be safe to maintain them open. Id like to get a sense from both view of how coronavirus is already having an impact on staff numbers and pupil numbers. Is anyone in the School Community self isolating at the moment . No, not from the School Community. South i sitting, yes, a number of staff, undoubtedly a number of students, below 80 attendance in Primary School and a secondary school, and a similar proportion of staff. What sort of impact is that having on the day running of the school . The lessons, activities you would normally provide . A Significant Impact, a number of things are being cancelled. Performances, sports events, clubs are cancelled, assemblies, but we are very, very conscious of our responsibility to our community and conscious of our responsibility to ourcommunity and in conscious of our responsibility to our community and in particular the vulnerable so we are looking at ways to mitigate against closure with regard to being available for key workers because thats undoubtedly an important issue. Back to answer your question, its a massive impact, its about childminding there teaching and learning at the problem, we can put together classes, but to give them a quality education is under strain. The quality education is the key thing. Andrew, the same question to you, and all so are you under much pressure from parents . Are parents getting in touch saying whats happening . You want to be closing . Im not sure about sending my child to school. Our response has been one which is calm and measured, and we have been sharing all of the information supplied to us by Public Health england when we receive it. We dont want to create panic but, yes, we have children and families now who are self isolating for the 14 day period. That puts incredible pressure on my teachers to provide a very high quality curriculum in what could be a substantial length of time of School Closures, so we are dealing on a day by day basis but its incredibly challenging and schools will reach a Tipping Point where its not safe to have the numbers on site and then we will have to make tough decisions about people going home. On that point of questions from parents, pressure from parents perhaps even . Ive been very impressed by the parental response so very impressed by the parental response so far. Yes, we do have concerned parents, as it is right, but parents are listening to our advice and taking our advice, and when we have had to ask children to go home into self isolation, which is the whole family unit, we had a positive response from parents with that so im grateful for that. In terms of preparing for the point as is expected, schools will have to close, how far along are you with your planning for teaching in that eventuality . Very far along, great staff here, and im sure the same for my colleague. Teachers are great people and are conscious of their responsibilities, so we are maximising the use of technology, online learning, most schools will have facilities that can encourage that certainly staff will be preparing for that. Will you be able to do some sort of online register . How will you know pupils are actively participating in this online lessons . Much of these programmes uses software and a facility to observe whats going on in terms of logging on and things like that but obviously a lot of this is down to trust and support from parents. Great relationships you hope you can build up with the pa rents you hope you can build up with the parents and students. They appreciate the fact we are in unprecedented times, navigating uncertainty but hopefully we are doing it together. Andrew, for those pupils taking very important exams, obviously a huge amount of concern for those particular years . Yes, if they are approaching their summer exam season, a levels and gcses, they are incredibly nervous, as our way, about the impact that may have on both themselves in terms of post 16 options, will they get into sixth form, college, if the exam season is impacted . Theres the other side to that in terms of Performance Measures in school, as well, these are unprecedented times and my strong feeling schools cannot be judged in the same way if this has a Significant Impact on the exam have you had communication from exam boards about what might happen . Currently not come off kuala are saying business as usual but of course its quite a dynamic situation. We are listening carefully to their advice but i think there will need to be made to some very difficult decisions at a much higher level very soon. Some very difficult decisions at a much higher levelvery soon. Clearly that much be a huge concern at your school, as indeed in every school around the uk. Do you fundamentally feel that the School Sector is getting the leadership it once right now from government on this . No, i dont. I think we need it. You know, theres an argument to say decisions to advise are appropriate. I disagree. I would like to see more decisive leadership. The autonomy to close the school are still down to the head teacher. But presumably, having consulted the community. As my colleague has just mentioned, there are Big Decisions to be made, and certainly the notion of the way schools are made accountable, certainly needs to be under review in these difficult times. Ok, we appreciate you both joining in these difficult times. Ok, we appreciate you bothjoining us in these difficult times. Ok, we appreciate you both joining us today to talk us through the issues you are facing and its a topic a lot of people are talking about right now. Thank you both are very much. With me now is ben todd, executive director at the arcola theatre in hackney. I hope ive pronounced the name of the theatre correctly, first of all . Yes, thats correct. The theatre correctly, first of all . Yes, thats correct. Tell us about the challenges you are facing there right now, tell us about the theatre, how many people are employed there, and how this might be impacting productions. Yes, as a theatre we are in the crossfire of organisations whose purpose is to bring large groups of people together, so theatres, pubs, bars, restau ra nts a nd together, so theatres, pubs, bars, restaurants and the like, and essentially weve just lost 80 of our income for quite a prolonged period, which puts us in a difficult position. We welcome the government advised to say that people should not go to pubs and restaurants and bars and theatres because it makes us much easier to stand by the position we have decided to take over the weekend, to close and delay our 20th anniversary season. We now have hundreds of people at risk if we think about our core staff, our own in house staff, but also those freelancers, many people work in the arts, on freelance contracts, they already have a fairly perilous income and we are not able to engage them and the rest of the sector cant engage them and there is a real challenge here. 80 of your income gone for the foreseeable future. You are a charity, as you say, youraim is future. You are a charity, as you say, your aim is to support artists, so say, your aim is to support artists, so how will you be able to do that without income . Thats the killer, so without income . Thats the killer, so this is an awful thing for everybody. We have this contradiction almost of the imperative to save the organisation, which if you think you got no income means essentially cutting as hard as you can, and this other imperative which is to support artists, and i would add into that mix, our objective is to support the community at the moment supporting the communities not to bring people together. What we are hoping is a cash injection from government, lots of talk about government injection into airlines, and we are expecting injections into other parts of business. We would hope to have that come to us so we business. We would hope to have that come to us so we can business. We would hope to have that come to us so we can protect the Creative Industries. The other important thing for us is what can we do with the Creative Industries to re purpose, to go from being part of the problem to a solution. We have a massive social upheaval ahead of us which in some senses, from a spiritual and emotional well being senseis spiritual and emotional well being sense is only going to get hard as we have more and more people isolated. How do we deploy artists and the Creative Sector to come up with creative ways of engaging people . Theres only so many netflix box that people can watch before they start to go stir crazy. This is a challenge for us to find ways to engage staff to keep employing them, but also to justify that support we hope we will gain. A really interesting thought. Ive just been reading the choreographer Matthew Bourneis reading the choreographer Matthew Bourne is among leading figures in the Creative Industries appealing to the Creative Industries appealing to the Prime Minister to close performing arts venues by law. In order to safeguard jobs. I dont know how you are affected by that particular appeal, because you are a charity, i dont know what sort of insurance you havent where he would be able to reclaim any of those fundsif be able to reclaim any of those funds if was declared by law that venues like yours had to close . That was one of the things weve been looking out the last couple of months as we have been potentially making this decision ahead of government mandates, and in our particular case, like many small charities, we carry fairly limited insurance. It doesnt affect our ability to claim because we dont have Business Interruption cover. What it does affect is the triggering the force mature force in contracts, and it goes back to us, having the right to use that contract will allow us to essentially terminate contracts with artists, yet we dont want to. I guess, in our space, whether the government mandates or not is less important but for other organisations its really important, and the key for us is one way or another, we need to not make a large swathes of the population unemployed. Its a difficult thing getting money to people and it would also make the recovery incredibly difficult if essentially these organisations collapse when the time comes to bring people back together. Its comes to bring people back together. Its much easier if we have the teams together still and artists we re teams together still and artists were working with each other and essentially like youve been talking about uefa, essentially move our activity seasons backwards with eve ryo ne activity seasons backwards with everyone having not fallen into abject poverty in the meantime. Thank you very much for talking to us. We wish you and your colleagues well. Let me briefly tell you what a statement which is coming from the trade body uk cinema on twitter saying mindful of the advice on the government, the coming days will see the closure of most uk cinema sites. The priority now was to ensure thousands working in the sector are helped during an exceptionally challenging period for them. All the latest detailed government advice can be found at the government website and when you get to the website and when you get to the website follow the coronavirus link. And you can find out more about the symptoms of coronavirus and how to protect yourself on the bbc news app and on our website bbc. Co. Uk news now its time for a look at the weather. Yes, we got some sunny spells the moment across the south east of england up into the north east of scotla nd england up into the north east of scotland at the moment as well, some lovely blossom in suffolk this morning with those blue skies. Elsewhere, quite cloudy. Weve got some rain in the forecast. A bit of rain across wales at the moment with this weather front here. It snakes behind into the atlantic and this area of rain is moving its way across Northern Ireland continuing to spread up into scotland through this afternoon. The north east of scotla nd this afternoon. The north east of scotland however, staying dry with some sunshine into the afternoon. Still sunshine in the south east of england but elsewhere its quite cloudy but mild for england and wales. Temperatures, 13 15. Also quite breezy, especially across North Western areas. Here we could see some pretty high gusts of wind and it will feel chilly across scotla nd and it will feel chilly across scotland and Northern Ireland as temperatures drop down throughout the afternoon. Tonight, this rain will move further south and east but it will be heavy in places. Flashes of green here, heavier rain, will move gradually south east but associated with that weather front, it will push into the midlands and wales, Eastern England by wednesday morning. Behind us, we have got colder air, moving its way, and ahead of it, still, milder air, so temperatures overnight in the south east staying up at 7 8. It will be quite cloudy across southern areas during wednesday. Still this areas during wednesday. Still this area of rain across wales, the midlands and it could be heavy at times as it slowly moves southwards. Further north, scotland and Northern Ireland, brighter weather, one further north, scotland and Northern Ireland, brighterweather, one or two shallots which could be wintry and temperatures falling down to 89, but and temperatures falling down to 8 9, but mild in the south east. On thursday, this weather front will clear just about the south east of england are taking rain with us. There a dry day. There could be some rain across the far south. Some uncertainties but in the north, certainly for scotland and Northern Ireland, the best value brighter weather and temperature is about 910. It will weather and temperature is about 9 10. It will be chillier across southern parts. Temperatures coming down to 10 11, and as for friday, still this weather front in southern areas and there will be some uncertainty as to how far north this goes back much further north, High Pressure is establishing itself, so for northern parts of the uk, drier and brighter. Thats all from me. Goodbye. Youre watching bbc newsroom live. Its midday, and these are the main stories this morning tougher new measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the uk the government and medical advisors tougher new measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the uk the government and medical advisors urge everyone to avoid unnecessary social contacts, to work from home where possible, and to stay away from pubs and restaurants. The from pubs and restaurants. Advice is very realfor everybody, the advice is very real for everybody, strong advice for the over 70s, and there will be in the next week or so an announcement of the people who are extremely vulnerable irrespective of their age. New advice includes, if one person in any household has a persistent cough or fever, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days, and its expected in the coming days that those with the most serious Health Conditions will be advised to avoid social contact for around 12 weeks. Government ministers have met along with their chief medical advisers. Theyll give an update on the latest information for us later today, and well be live in the house of commons for a statement at 12. 30. Major uk airports have written to the Prime Minister asking for emergency Financial Support, requesting air Passenger Duty be deferred or suspended. The government is also set to announce new measures to support the economy, after warnings that the latest restrictions could put firms out of business. The eu looks set to close borders to most foreign travellers for at least the next month. In a further development, germany has closed nonessential shops, most Leisure Facilities and suspends religious services. France is in lockdown for the next 15 days, with people allowed to leave their homes only to shop for food, go to work, or seek medical help. Good afternoon. Welcome to bbc newsroom live. Im annita mcveigh. People around the uk are today facing tougher measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus after the Prime Minister urged everyone to avoid unnecessary social contacts, to work from home where possible, and to stay away from pubs and restaurants. Today the government is set to announce further financial plans to help the economy during the coronavirus outbreak, as many firms warned that the latest restrictions could put them out of business. And this morning, theres been a warning from the office for budget responsibility that this could be like a wartime situation for public finances, and its not a time to be squeamish about public debt when it comes to support for the economy. Here at bbc news, we will be doing our very best to always keep you right up to date with the facts, to bring you the key advice as we go through this situation. We are all in this together, and very much concerned about everyone out there as well as our families, friends and colleagues. But we will try to do our very best for you right throughout our coverage. And lets begin by looking again at the key points from a borisjohnsons begin by looking again at the key points from a Boris Johnsons first Daily Press Conference on the outbreak yesterday, where he announced a string of new measures the government hopes will prevent the government hopes will prevent the virus from spreading. Hes urging people to avoid any unnecessary social gatherings, to work from home where its possible, and that places such as pubs, clubs, restura nts, theatres and music venues should also now be avoided. From today, if one person in a house has symptoms, including a continuous cough or fever, the whole family should stay at home for 14 days. The Prime Minister also said that those within at risk groups such as the elderly, those with Underlying Health conditions or pregnant women should stay at home for 12 weeks, as of this weekend. The virus is continuing to spread, with 1,500 confirmed cases in the uk, though experts suggest that figure could be as high as 50,000. And there have now been 55 coronavirus related deaths in the uk. This was the scene over a very quiet Central London this morning firstly heres paddington station, a usually very busy rail and underground station. And then around Central London, there are far fewer cars on the road than there usually would be, given these pictures were taken at about 8. 00am. Clearly people already getting to grips with changes to their daily lives, which are likely to last for months. Well be taking a look at the impact on business and the developing situation around the world, but our first report is from charlotte gallagher. Everyones way of life in the uk is now having to change because of coronavirus. Things we take for granted, like meeting friends, going out for a meal, and to the theatre, we are now being told to avoid. People being aware of the symptoms of the virus, a high temperature, cough, and breathing difficulties is key. If you or anyone in your household has one of those symptoms, then you should stay at home for 14 days. That means that, if possible, you should not go out even to buy food or essentials other than for exercise and in that case, at a safe distance from others. This is now the advice. Avoid gatherings and crowded places. If you can, work from home. Stop unnecessary visits to friends and family in care homes. Only use the nhs when you need to. If possible, avoid leaving your home. If you go out to exercise, keep distance from others. People over the age of 70 and those with Certain Health conditions and pregnant women are being told that the advice is particularly important to them. Infections and pregnancy is not a good combination in general which is why we are taking this precautionary measure while we find out more, we should be including pregnant women in this group. In retrospect, we may find it was overkill, but we would rather be cautionary rather than the other way. Londons west end deserted, major theatres closing their doors. The attempts to slow the spread of coronavirus is affecting notjust Peoples Health and social life, but peoples incomes too. Many people are angry that borisjohnson told people to stay away from venues, while not forcing them to close, which could have given them financial protection. This Central London restaurant was open last night, but many people stayed away. We want to support the staff, small community, with 18 people working here, making a living out of the restaurant, so we want to be here for our staff and for the local community as much as we can. Panic buying is happening at shops across the country. These people in wales do not agree with it. Coming here and finding no bread, no eggs, no toilet paper and things like that missing, it does give me a lot of concern. A lot of people elderly people use this supermarket and if we are greedy and take from them i dont think that would be showing community spirit. For now, schools remain open, but this could well change. The government says by next weekend, people with the most serious Health Conditions must be largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks. More guidance may well follow. Drastic measures to tackle a growing threat here. Charlotte gallagher, bbc news. Professor Jonathan Van Tam is the deputy chief medical 0fficerfor england. Hes been giving us more detail on the governments latest advice. The advice we have given about social distancing is four key things. Cut down on nonessential contact with other people. Travel, work from home where possible, and do not go to pubs, bars, restaurants, cinemas and theatres. We nevertheless accept that life must go on, and the advice is very real for everybody. It is strong advice for the over 70s, and there will be in the next week or so an announcement for people who are extremely vulnerable irrespective of age, where the advice is Even Stronger about staying in the house. What i want people to do is take away that this advice is very strong and, to the extent possible, you should ask a neighbour to do food shopping for you, or a friend, you should use Online Shopping as much as you are able to do so, and keep these visits to places where you can come into contact with other people as low as you can reasonably get them. Our assistant Political Editor norman smith is at westminster. Lets begin with news of another minister self isolating. Yes, the culture secretary is now self isolating after a member of his family demonstrated symptoms of coronavirus. Nadine dorries the first minister was first, and she has now come through it. She wrote an article explain what she has been through, but she has now come through, but she has now come through it. But it does reflect wire at westminster they are now looking at westminster they are now looking ata at westminster they are now looking at a series of measures to curb some of the normal procedures at westminster which run counter to the governments social distance on s. It governments social distance on s. It does reflect why. So they are looking at, for example, trying to reduce the number of mps at the chamber by saying you have groups of mps proportionate to the relative strength of the different parties. So you might have 30 mps for the labour party for the tory party, 20 mp5 labour party for the tory party, 20 mps for the labour party. They are also looking at the the traditional voting procedure, so they do not have to walk through packed voting lobbies any more, with mps packed voting lobbies any more, with m ps i nstea d packed voting lobbies any more, with mps instead remaining seated in the chamber and simply saying aye or no toa chamber and simply saying aye or no to a particular measure. What is interesting is that we have Prime Ministers questions coming up tomorrow, and as we know, that is a moment when the chamber is absolutely rammed full of mps. I am told there are no specific plans at the moment to mitigate against that, just to hope that may be many mps may decide to stay at home in their constituencies rather than, until london. But we shall see. More broadly, norman, doctors about what to see from the government later. There are many more advice today. Todayit there are many more advice today. Today it is also about what the government is going to do for business, at least that is what business, at least that is what business hops. There has been a clamour of calls from a business organisations large and small, predominantly the travel sector and leisure and hospitality, who of course are most directly affected by the new restrictions, travel restrictions, advice not to go to pubs, clubs, cinema, that sort of thing, asking for immediate Financial Support, or some of them, they say, risk going under. In the meantime, there are going to be widespread job losses, gatwick, heathrow and other big airports writing to the government saying we need help now or we are going to have to shut down. Worryingly for businesses, the Insurance Industry association has said, you are properly not going to be able to claim insurance even if the government were to close you down. So the bad news for them, it looks like, they are not eligible for insurance anyway. While that altogether, i think what it means is what we will hear from the government later today, and i am being told it may not be until quite late today, perhaps when the chancellor gets up in the house of commons around 6. 00, in other words not in the press conference that he is fronting at 4. 00, the measures will have to be big. There is no point coming back with some piecemeal, he will have to come forward with an almighty rescue package with british businesses for a british businesses, because quite clearly, anything less than that will not do it. It is worth noting that in france, president macron yesterday announced a 300 billion euros package to save business. I suspect the chancellor will have to look at something similar. The outgoing head of the office for budget responsibility was suggesting that actually, the deficit may have to go back to wartime levels of 20 of gdp. Norman, for the moment, thank you very much. We are appealing that the uks very much. We are appealing that the uks mobile networks are experiencing problems with their services. Ee told the bbc it is something affecting all operators and they are working to fix it. It is interconnect issues stemming from one operator, but ee saying they do not believe it is connected to the rise in home working. We are hearing. More on todays main stories coming up on newsroom live here on the bbc news channel, but now we say goodbye to viewers on bbc two. Youve been sending in your questions about coronavirus and the tougher measures the Prime Minister announced yesterday to prevent its spread. Lets speak now to dr chris smith, hes a virologist at Cambridge University and host of the naked scientist podcast. Great to have you with us, we will hopefully get to allay some of sheila says, what does continuous cough mean, a cough that you cannot stop and a cough that lasts for. How long is a piece of string i guess is what she means by that. Cough is a very common symptom. I have had one for about three weeks. The government is trying to get across that this should be a new cough, when that does notjust come and go, something you have to do and then there is a bit better tomorrow, it isa then there is a bit better tomorrow, it is a cough that is sustained. The symptoms are there, it does notjust come and go. So a cough that is abrupt in onset, and then you have that for the period of time one would expect, which probably means five days to a week or more. And by sustained, we do not necessarily mean huge coughing fits, but that you are coughing over a period of time. Yes, people often credited as they say that it wakes them up at night. Because you continually experience this incessant desire to keep cropping. But it is also a dry cough, not one where you. Sorry if anyone is having their lunch, when will you cough up handfuls of phlegm. This is a dry cough, it is not productive, but nothing comes up. Ok, i prefer the term not productive, definitely. Violet asks, does coronavirus live on fruit and vegetables . How should we be cleaning them before wed them . Vegetables . How should we be cleaning them before wed them . The a nswer cleaning them before wed them . The answer is that viruses are not alive anyway, they are just an infectious bag of genes. To be copied and make new viruses, you need a living entity like you and me to do that. So they were a virus would have got onto a piece of fruit, for example, someone onto a piece of fruit, for example, someone would have had to cough it out, and then coughed onto their hand and touch the piece of fruit. You should wash down fruit that you buy from the supermarket anyway, because when farmers package up for it, sometimes they are packaged up without washing it, and often various chemicals and pesticides are applied to fruit and vegetables to assist suppress the growth of things like greenfly and other things that would eat them. So if you wash them, you will wash off any threat to viruses and the threat to you is very minimal. Paul asks, has your employer got the right duty of care to send you home if you have Underlying Health problems even if it is against your wishes . My employer has used language that is relatively loosely worded. They use words like rishi sunak to work from home where possible using some kind of agreed plan with your line manager. At the moment, it is fairly gentle language. I do not work in hr, soi gentle language. I do not work in hr, so i cannot tell you what the actual policy would be. But it is very ha rd to actual policy would be. But it is very hard to make people do things if they do not have a reason to do it. At the moment, it is more carrot than stick, but that may change. There are some subtleties there, and the advice to people if they have Underlying Health issues is to take particular care. Yes, that is the bottom line. The press conference at downing street yesterday actually contain quite an interesting message, which was flagging up people who would normally seek the annualflu people who would normally seek the annual flu vaccine because they are regarded as at risk, those people should also be regarded as at risk with this new condition. So if you fall into that category, you would normally be availing yourself of the flu jab, then you should take more ca re flu jab, then you should take more care because there is a chance that you could become a more ill if you contracted to this. So those of the sorts of people we need to do our best to protect. Obviously people have concerns about their employment and income. This one is from nico, who says i am a paramedic, i return from italy on the 10th of march, i was told to self isolate for 14 days. Yesterday i was told to return to work, is this ok . The answer is that we regard this as a threat when a person is obviously infected and infectious. So if we know some has got the infection, they could be shedding the virus, and the infectious dose for the viruses quite well, it is about 20 virus particles. When you think this is only one of a millimetre across, it is pretty easy to pick it up. So if you have symptoms, you should not be anywhere near other people, you should be in isolation, and that may extend to close family and household contacts extend to close family and household co nta cts as extend to close family and household contacts as well. If you are welcome any you have done your 14 days in quarantine having come from an area where we know the virus was circulated, but you have got no symptoms now, there should be no further threat other than if you pick it up here. So no, you are absolutely fine at the moment. He returned seven days ago, a week ago. Yes, so the incubation period being what it is, around five days on average, and a maximum incubation period of 11 days, the best thing to do is to wait until we have done outside the incubation period, which isa outside the incubation period, which is a few wait 14 days from the last point at which you could possibly have come into contact with it, then you will be fine. But bear in mind there is a lot of spread of the virus inside this country now, if you have had other contact with other people in the meantime, then you could well have picked it up from here. So it is a much more difficult question to answer in that respect. Are we absolutely clear in terms of the advice we are giving to nico about whether he should be back at work, given he is a paramedic . The answer is, if you have been to an area where the virus was circulating, you had contact with someone circulating, you had contact with someone in that area who had it, then that is a bit different from you passing through that geography. In the absence of any symptoms, if you have waited for more than the commission period, which at this stage, you havent yet, but if you have waited 14 days, there is absolutely no question. But ivy is absolutely no question. But ivy is absolutely no question. But i raise the point again, you we know that this is circulating in the uk now, and you could have picked it up at any point in the meantime. If you have symptoms or if you have been in contact with someone you know, if not, you would have the same risk of someone not, you would have the same risk of someone in this country now, so i would say that is probably the interpretation they are making. Ok, doctor chris smith, virologist at Cambridge University, great to have you with us to answer those questions from our viewers today. Thank you as well to those of you sending in questions. Coming up on bbc news well be following live coverage of the Health Select committee, which will be speaking to the governments chief scientific and medical officers. Thats from 14. 00 and also be speaking to a panel of guests from the nhs, including sir simon stevens, the chief executive. We also expect to be in the house of commons in about ten minutes time for a statement, we believe. As people are being asked to self isolate, focus has also turned to those with Mental Illnesses such as anxiety. Stephen buckley is from the charity mind, and joins me now. Good to have you with us. We are all coping with an unprecedented situation, arent we . And as we think about the comet is a very what is to protect their Mental Health situation . People will have questions, particularly people with mental Health Problems such as anxiety might have more questions than others. Mind would suggest that there are some practical steps people can think about taking over the next few weeks. To help keep their mental well being on the right tracks, you have there been asked to stay at home, there are some tactical steps we can all take over the next few weeks. Can you talk us through those, please . The first tip is to plan ahead, plan for the day, plan for the next couple weeks, but have a routine that youre going to stick to. So if you normally get up for work at a particular time, get up for work at a particular time, get up at that time even if youre not going in to work. Have a shower, have breakfast, get ready to face the day. I think it is really important as well physical activity. If you are able to get out of the house, a walk around the park would be brilliant. If you are not, maybe dance to some music or perhaps some chair exercises if you are less mobile. Some physical activity is very important, but also keep your brain active. I have a pile of books i have been meaning to read for i dont know how long. There might be Jigsaw Puzzles or other things people are interested in, boxsets, some free online courses, perhaps, but ways of keeping your brain active during a time when you might be unoccupied. So that kind of a team, looking after mind and body, very important. But the key one from minds point of view is trying to keep connected with your friends and family. We know this will be difficult over the next few weeks, harder to find opportunities to get together and take part in social activities, but it is a great opportunity to make sure you have got your e mail addresses and phone number is up to date, take part in group chats, schedule some time with groups of friends when you are an a saturday night, schedule a time for a group video call, maybe. But stay in touch with friends and family, we think that is very important. With people who already have Mental Illnesses, such as anxiety, and of course many people suffer from anxiety at some point in their lives, will this be particularly challenging, stephen . lives, will this be particularly challenging, stephen . Ithink people who experience Health Anxiety might find it more difficult than others at the minute. The other thing to bearin at the minute. The other thing to bear in mind as well, of course, is that if you are receiving regular Health Support and treatment for a Mental Health problem, find ways you can continue to get that. If you go to yourgpforan can continue to get that. If you go to your gp for an appointment on a regular basis, be in touch with them now, see if you can make arrangements for perhaps chickens or checkins arrangements for perhaps chickens or check ins or it online consultations. But i had it so important if you have an existing Mental Health problem and you get regular treatment and regular support, you do whatever you can to try to keep it moving. Similarly, people on medicines, plan ahead a little bit, talk to your doctor and your pharmacist, make sure you can make arrangements to get your prescription is fulfilled in a way that works for you. And stephen, i know people can access the information you have on the mind website and twitter account. Thank you very much, Stephen Buckley from mind, the Mental Health charity. Just to return to our breaking news about mobile networks here in the uk, they are experiencing problems with their services. Ee has told the bbc it is something that is affecting all operators, and so we are working closely to fix it. The problem has been blamed on something called interconnect issues stemming a p pa re ntly called interconnect issues stemming apparently from one operator, o2. Called interconnect issues stemming apparently from one operator, 02. Ee are and we do not believe it is connected with the rise and working due to coronavirus. O2 connected with the rise and working due to coronavirus. 02 have posted on their website that some customers are having issues with their voice service. We will keep you up to date with any developers with that any development with that, but if you have had problems with your mobile in the last few minutes, that might explain why. Well, with the new government advice, we are being urged to avoid unnecessary social contact, to only travel if necessary, and to stay away from pubs, clu bs a nd restau ra nts. Peter austen is the landlord of the bell at sapperton and he put out a video appeal urging people to continue support of their local pubs and small business. Hejoins me now. Peter, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Tells about the video message you have put out. Does it contradict the advice that has been given by the government . contradict the advice that has been given by the government . I think thatis given by the government . I think that is an interesting one. Personally, i dont think so, i think that the situation with so many pubs across the country, especially rural pubs with great teams, great staff, great facilities, is that our view is that if people cannot come out to the pub, lets take the pub people, especially people who need fresh food and fresh drink and so on. And we can do that quite easily. I am thinking of the most isolated people in the communities. And a lot of pubs are very Community Focused now, and we are itching to do something. We do not want to lay off our staff, we have got the freshest food possible, and my fear, especially having gone to a large supermarket yesterday, but there was no hygiene practice in place whatsoever, i think we are the most hygienic option at the moment to get food to people in their homes where they need it, especially in the rural areas. So you, like a lot of other people in so many sectors, are thinking imaginatively about how you can cope with few weeks, potentially months, head. So how would that work . Somebody can phone in an order or sending work . Somebody can phone in an order orsending an work . Somebody can phone in an order or sending an order online, and you would deliver this to their doorstep, but had a safe distance, is that we plan . Yeah, absolutely, we can do that. I think most of the pubs around the country, Everybody Knows our phone numbers or e mail addresses, we can be contacted on social media. I think every pub across the country will have to adapt to that, we are very adaptable industry, as we have had to be. We have just come out from overly wet winter. Or the pubs are ready to go, and certainly from point of view, we have got to do that. We just have to. We are no longer going to have so to. We are no longer going to have so many people visiting us, even if we can get out to a few hundred people a week, getting meals out there, we can do it very easily. That is the frustrating thing, we have just got to be seen as a safe option. You are clearly a community pub, but without the sort of support that you are asking able to give you and other businesses like you, without thinking imaginatively as you are about ways to keep business flowing, what would this mean for your business . Personally, ithink it is the nail in the coffin for the uks it is the nail in the coffin for the uks pubs. Pubs really are the backbone of this country. It does make mea backbone of this country. It does make me a bit emotional, actually, because we need this desperately, desperately. I had to ask this question, but is there any question of in your case, your pub going out of in your case, your pub going out of business over this period if you do not get that sort of sport, if you dont find a way to keep the income flowing . Yeah, you know, we depend upon, in order tojust cover our overheads, we depend upon a good 500 or 600 people coming here a week for meals, and 300 and 400 coming in for meals, and 300 and 400 coming in for drinks. And certainly for us, coming out of the winter, as with most pubs in the uk, it fully means right now, we are not being used for the sort of services, then yes, i do think it is going to be in real trouble. Obviously a lot of people and hospitality are asking for help, whether that be a freeze on the roots, i think that is absolutely essential, but we can take a lot of the strain of the supermarkets and off the emergency services, i really think so. And just briefly, peter, you absolutely want that support from government . You mentioned what was going to be my final question, what more can the government do at this point to support businesses like yours . We are looking for any help. I think the rates in any case, the rates system is actually against pubs. Peter, so to interrupt you, we wish you well, but we are going to the house of commons for a statement from the foreign secretary. We need united effort to tackle this challenge effectively and im confident we can and will. Following on from and consistent with a domestic measures announced by the Prime Minister yesterday, based on the fast changing international circumstances, but today im announcing changes to travel advice. Uk travellers abroad now face Widespread International border restrictions and lock downs in various countries. The fco will consider the security and safety of british nationals, so with immediate effect ive taken the decision to advise british nationals against nonessential travel globally. For an initial period of 30 days and of course, subject to ongoing review. I should emphasise this decision has been taken based on the domestic measures introduced in the uk, alongside the changes to border and alongside the changes to border and a range of other restrictions now being taken by countries right around the world. The speed and range of those measures across other countries is unprecedented. Some of those decisions have been made without notice, in some countries evenin without notice, in some countries even in countries or particular areas where they havent yet been any reported cases of covid 19, local authorities are nonetheless imposing restrictions on movement and again doing so with little or sometimes no notice whatsoever. In light of those circumstances, we wa nt to light of those circumstances, we want to reduce the risk of leaving vulnerable british tourists or travellers stranded overseas. We will of course keep this advice under review and amend it as soon as the situation responsibly allows us to. The government of course is keenly aware that International Freight services such as shipping and haulage are vital for ensuring the continuity of the supply of essential food goods and the continuity of the supply of essentialfood goods and material to the uk, so we do regard this kind of travel as essential and we will work with industry to issue detailed advice which maintains the flow of goods whilst protecting the well being of staff working on those routes. The department for transport will be leading this work with a freight sector, with the objective of minimising disruption to those roots as far as is possible. At the same time, mr speaker, fco consulate teams are working around the clock to provide the best and the most up to date information we can possibly provide to uk nationals. Just by way of context, in the last week alone, we have made over 430 changes to travel advice and we will obviously keep continuing it under co nsta nt obviously keep continuing it under constant review. We are providing support to british nationals who have been impacted by coronavirus whilst travelling, during the initial outbreak or containment phase, we arrange the repatriation of more than 200 vulnerable british nationals from china between the 3ist nationals from china between the 31st of january and the 9th of february. And we took that particular action, to support british nationals and control the return of those possibly exposed to covid19 at the return of those possibly exposed to covid 19 at the earliest point in the crisis, when it appeared that the crisis, when it appeared that the virus might be contained in china. In other cases, like the british nationals affected by covid19 in british nationals affected by covid 19 in hotels in tenerife, we worked with travel companies and airlines to ensure that those concerns were safely brought home. Mr speaker, we also changed our travel advice to advise people over 70 or with Underlying Health conditions against travelling on cruises to protect the most at risk from coronavirus. And we have arranged repatriation from cruise ships including most recently 131 uk nationals returning from the grand princess docked in california and they arrived home last wednesday. On they arrived home last wednesday. On theissue they arrived home last wednesday. On the issue of cruisers, we have been working intensively with the cuban authorities and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines to ensure all of the british nationals are able to return quickly and safely to the uk. In relation to that of course, the braemar cruise liner. We will do all we can to ensure their return to the uk on flights from the Havana International airport within the next 48 hours. I spoke to the Cuban Foreign minister twice over the weekend and we are very grateful to the cu ban weekend and we are very grateful to the cuban government for swiftly enabling this operation and for their close cooperation to make sure it could be successful. As one of those repatriations, uk consumer teams are working with those affected by difficult quarantine conditions, the closure of tourist resorts, for example in europe and north africa, or indeed just when there are new regulations introduced in countries where british nationals are visiting. We will do everything in our power to get those british nationals affected the care, support and practical advice that they need. We also need to be clear about our capacity to repatriate people from abroad given the scale of the numbers. We have taken action when necessary but no one should be under any illusions, it is costly, complicated to coordinate, so Government Supported repatriations of only be undertaken in exceptional circumstances. Ultimately, the primary responsibility for managing outbreaks of covid 19 and quarantine measures must rest with a country in which the outbreak has occurred. Sco teams around the world are working urgently teams around the world are working urge ntly to teams around the world are working urgently to ensure that governments have sensible plans to enable the return of british and other travellers and crucially the keyboard is open for sufficient periods to enable returns to take place on commercial flights wherever thats possible. Following todays change in travel advice, british nationals who decide that they still need to travel abroad should do so fully aware of the increased risks of doing so and that obviously includes the risk they may not be able to get home and if travel restrictions are subsequently put in place they hadnt anticipated. So we urge anyone still considering travel to be realistic about the level of disruption they are willing and able to endure and to make decisions in light of the unprecedented conditions that we face. Mr speaker, todays travel guidance follows the domestic measures announced yesterday, forms part of our National Effort to meet the International Challenge presented by coronavirus, challenge we will rise to asa coronavirus, challenge we will rise to as a government, as a country, andi to as a government, as a country, and i commend this statement of the house. Id like to thank the secretary of state for advance sight of his statement, we hear what he says on freight, but could you give us any guidance on what is essential travel when it comes to people . Does it include people coming home . This isa time it include people coming home . This is a time of immense concern for tens of thousands of british nationals stranded abroad, notjust the stress of getting accurate information, and make their way home, but doing so facing the ever present fear of infection. I was contacted yesterday by tom, one of the 65 british nationals in peru, which has announced 15 day state of emergency, with borders closed, and the army enforcing a quarantine. His flight the army enforcing a quarantine. His flight to britain today has been cancelled and his calls to our embassy in lima have not been answered. Why is that . Because the embassy itself has decided to close down for 15 days, just when its services were needed most. The secretary of state said in a statement, our teams are working around the clock, to provide the best Information Available to uk nationals, well, im afraid that simply is not the case in thoms experience. We have received no advice or assistance, he says, and we are extremely concerned at being stranded here. Across the world, there are tens of thousands of british nationals in the same position as thomas. And all the same message for the british government. Help bring us home. As far as we are concerned, our travel is essential. It is no use telling them to on advice from the british governments in the country they are travelling m, in the country they are travelling in, when tourists are inevitably the least of their concerns. Nor is it any use telling them to rely on the instructions of their travel operators, which of all too often in re ce nt operators, which of all too often in recent weeks been at odds with the official fco travel advice. And driven by the fear of insurance claims and bankruptcy, not by the needs of citizens. The government cannot keep passing the buck to others, especially when it comes to repatriation. Yes, its difficult, yes, its expensive, but that is the nature of the crisis we face. I ask the secretary of state in his response directly to address, his compatriots in peru and all other british nationals around the world currently in the same position and tell them what he is doing to help bring them home. Can i ask him to reassure us today that the Foreign Office will learn the lessons from this fiasco by asking itself some very basic questions, first, why we re very basic questions, first, why were there no clear protocols already in place on the plans for evacuation and repatriation in the event of an outbreak such as this . And if those protocols were in place, why were they not followed . Secondly, why have official travel advice from the fco been so slow to match what is happening on the ground . To the extent that this weekend we had tour operators going door to door in french ski resort telling british families to leave immediately whilst the Foreign Office website said there were no restrictions on travel . And third, most basically, as tom is a case in peru illustrates, when the foreign secretary determine why the levels of consular support have been so out of consular support have been so out of step with the levels of Global Demand . Mrspeaker, of step with the levels of Global Demand . Mr speaker, when the dust settles on this crisis, as we all hope it eventually well, we will reflect on what has been a chronic failure of Global Leadership and coordination in which our own government has sadly been one of the parties. Instead of every country working together to agree best practice and apply common standards, on testing, tracking, travel restrictions, quarantine, self isolation and social distancing, we have instead seen a global free for all, and every country has been going it alone. Instead of the International Community coming together, to pull its experience, and Work Together to develop a vaccine and a cure, we have seen individual companies and countries working in silos, and the shameful attempt by donald trump to buy the German Company when it comes to discovering a vaccine, not just to steal the glory of a vaccine for himself, but to hoard it for the americans alone, mr speaker, the challenges posed by coronavirus are fearful enough for the World Without our leaders compounding them through the incompetence or we have seen exactly that when it comes to this government approach to repatriation, but its part of a pattern which goes far beyond that one issue went far beyond our one country, so, in closing, will the secretary of state undertake today that, as well as fixing the immediate issues we face, with the coronavirus, not least around re patriations, with the coronavirus, not least around repatriations, but that britain will also lead the way in ensuring that these outbreaks are better managed in future . Can i thank the honourable lady for her response, at least in relation to recognising the scale of a challenge . She asked a number of questions and i will try to give her as much of a substantive response as ican. As much of a substantive response as i can. She asked about essential and nonessential travel and what it means. The decision on whether to travel is a nonetheless remaining an individual decision but travellers may have urgent exceptional business, family or commercial or otherwise circumstances could differ, but what we are doing is strongly advising against travel globally and thats partly a reflection of the measures domestically announced yesterday around social distancing, but also because we want to limit the number of people particularly Vulnerable People who find themselves in the plight of not being able to get home because of some of the issues she has raised. She mentioned the team in the philippines. In peru, and the team is working as best it can under very difficult conditions and im happy to take away and look at the case she has referred to. We have a whole range of practical advice for mps in this house to give advice for mps in this house to give advice to their constituents, our fco travel advice is also available online, honourable members and constituents can sign up to receive e mail updates so they get it in real time, and my officials also run a hotline for honourable members to contact. Ive also share details with honourable members which will go out shortly today, so we are doing everything we can to give honourable members on all sides the practical information that they need in what is obviously a fast moving and fluid situation. The honourable lady asked what we are doing more generally in relation to helping people get home. The first thing to say is to avoid travel where you mightfind say is to avoid travel where you might find yourself in a situation, either because of current measures or future measures, unable either because of current measures orfuture measures, unable to either because of current measures or future measures, unable to get home. It also liaising with the tour operators and airlines to make sure even when restrictions are in place, that there is a window of opportunity for commercial flights, given the volume we dont have precise numbers, but the volume of people, british nationals, who are abroad, not permanently, not living abroad, not permanently, not living abroad necessarily, but travelling abroad, to expect that the government can repatriate them all, i think it would be unrealistic. What we do do is make sure we are in a position to protect the most vulnerable and she asked why other consulate teams are stretched. I have to say to the honourable lady, she ought to have a look at the scale of the International Challenge this country and everyone is facing with covid19. The this country and everyone is facing with covid 19. The teams across government, including the Foreign Office are doing an exceptionaljob in difficult circumstances. The honourable lady is right to point to different measures that have been taken around different measures that have been ta ken around the different measures that have been taken around the world, the uk approach is to follow the best scientific advice we have got and also to deal with and take measures both domestically and internationally, in line with trying to reduce the peak of the coronavirus in the uk and the number of infections and maximise the capacity of the nhs to deal with it. She did her usual routine finally of sniping at the us president. I have to say, that is no substitute for a serious question, let alone a serious question, let alone a serious policy answer. As the honorary president of trade association, i thank the foreign secretary for his words about the freight formulas keeping goods moving in and out of the country. Cani moving in and out of the country. Can i raise Something Else with him . Can i raise Something Else with him . Can you encourage the tour operators and airlines to have easily accessible websites so that tourists who may be stuck in the Dominican Republic are elsewhere actually get information on whats likely to happen to them and lastly can i say to him, there are some countries where you have to apply for a Business Visa to go to a business meeting, at six under pounds in india, can he encourage the height commissioning government to make that possible to be transferred to a future arrangement rather than just ta ke future arrangement rather than just take the money and forget about it . Cani take the money and forget about it . Can i thank my right honourable friend, he raises a number of very important points. We are liaising with tour operators, Insurance Companies and of course airlines and we will convey the message he raises about making sure that their advice is transparent as possible, and that needs to be done in real time and also selling the fax ability in relation to this. Flexibility. And i was a time to Work Together andindeed and i was a time to Work Together and indeed Work Together and i thank the secretary of state for the statement. Now with a time for us also to issue Party Political point scoring. We support these changes and support the statement. Also id like to record our appreciation and solidarity with the hard working staff worldwide in the fco doing a toughjob in staff worldwide in the fco doing a tough job in tough times and they themselves have families and indeed respiratory conditions themselves sometimes. We put our support behind them, sol sometimes. We put our support behind them, so i would urge the foreign secretary and perhaps its a discussion needed for the chancellor as well, about that, but to go further, and his Statement Today didnt deal with a point about insurance at all. Now, for scots and brits abroad who are stuck and want to get back and are looking to find a way back, the biggest practical help right now is to speak to the Insurance Companies because their Insurance Companies because their insurance is uppermost in their mind. You will be aware of the statement tomorrow from sir charles beam in the office for budget responsibility, you need the state to be there as the insurer of last resort against what is effectively an act of god. The state surely has an act of god. The state surely has a role, big early action is better than half hearted action a role, big early action is better than half hearted action late. We couldnt agree more. The chancellor is making a statement later on but for nationals overseas who want to get back, insurance is the biggest priority, and i urge the secretary of state to have a full discussion with the chancellor on that point and the state needs to step in to get people home. Can i thank the honourable gentleman and particularly welcome the bipartisan tone he took and thank you for welcoming the statement and can i particular thank you for recognising and paying tribute to the consular staff in the wider fco teams who in difficult circumstances, given the advice government has given, are doing a tremendousjob. He advice government has given, are doing a tremendous job. He asked a number of questions about Insurance Companies, they take their lead to some degree from the travel advice changes, so one of the important things i think for the fco to do is to bea things i think for the fco to do is to be a very clear travel advice, which is one of the reasons we have made a Statement Today. I certainly ta ke made a Statement Today. I certainly take on board his comments about working with the secretary of state for transport and the chancellor to make sure we provide support to the Airline Sector because of course, not only is it important in terms of jobs but also we need them to help get the uk nationals home because we wa nt to get the uk nationals home because we want to for the very reasons i made ina want to for the very reasons i made in a statement, allow them to do that through normal commercial means. This crisis is causing us to tear apart many aspects of the global system we have grown used to over the last 30 years. The threat it could pose to future scientific cooperation, future defence against notjust cooperation, future defence against not just pandemics like cooperation, future defence against notjust pandemics like this, but poverty blighted so much of the world over recent generations, its enormous. Can he assure me that as he is planning with his Foreign Office staff to rescue and save so many people around the world, he is also looking to cooperate with others to make sure the International Community works together to build a proper future based on a shared and prosperous globe . Can i thank my right honourable friend the chair of the select committee, is absolutely right in terms of the measures we are taking to support uk nationals who feel vulnerable and stranded overseas and i also agree with what hes saying about the need for an international approach to pandemics like this. We havent seen anything like this. We havent seen anything like this. We havent seen anything like this before and thats why we are providing support to build up the capacity in some of those most vulnerable countries. We doing that with a total envelope of up to £241 million of aid funding. Working for the who. The red cross, unicef, and other organisations. More generally, the Prime Minister spoke to cou nterpa rts the Prime Minister spoke to counterparts in the g7 recently, yesterday in fact, and they agreed on the importance of a stronger coordinated international approach and that will include everything from economic measures that we take through to the research and development to make sure that we have the collaboration to prevent further pandemics happening in the future. Our consular staff are doing an amazing job future. Our consular staff are doing an amazingjob and future. Our consular staff are doing an amazing job and many of them around the world are actually volunteers, not paid for their work either, so i hope the foreign secretary will pass on our gratitude on behalf of all of our constituents, but can ijust tease out this issue about people returning home, because as i understand, the foreign secretary malcolm what advice is if someone is thinking of travelling abroad now, they should bear in mind they may not be able to get back but at the same time, he is saying people shouldnt necessarily come back now. That seems to be inconsistent. Can i first thank him for what he said in relation to consular staff and we will pass it on and its mattering we get cross Party Support for essential work for public services. He asked about travel advice and obviously, we are advising against consensual travel globally, its up to individuals who find themselves to individuals who find themselves to make the individualjudgment calls, it will depend on their personal circumstances, it will depend on the availability of commercialflights, depend on the availability of commercial flights, and in depend on the availability of commercialflights, and in the last resort, we have been able to provide a repatriation of flights and thats getting more difficult. We will continue to provide support and advice but ultimately some of those judgment calls will remain an individual decision. Studio the foreign secretary dominic raab announcing that the government is advising against all nonessential travel abroad for a period of 30 days initially with immediate effect. He said people should be realistic about the level of disruption they may have to endure in light of the unprecedented situation with coronavirus. He said the government wanted to do a number of things, including reducing the risk of people stranded overseas, minimising disruption to the freight sector and he also talked about the capacity to repatriate people from abroad and said, while it was costly, complicated to coordinate, so Government Support of repatriation would only be done in exceptional circumstances. Thats from the foreign secretary. Speaking of britons abroad, britons in morocco, excuse me, airlines say they will run enough flights to get people home from there. They say they will run rescue fight to ensure british holiday makers in morocco can get home after all scheduled flight can get home after all scheduled flight between morocco and the uk we re flight between morocco and the uk were suspended. Easyjet is running four rescue flights today. British airways also working out how many flights are needed to ensure that eve ryo ne flights are needed to ensure that everyone can get home. In other breaking news, related to coronavirus, about sport, we are getting a number of reports, including from the norwegian football federation, but these are not confirmed, that uefa has decided to postpone the European Championship until next year, until 2021, due to the coronavirus. European football stakeholders meeting today to discuss the impact. That is not confirmed, by uefa yet, but a number of sources, including the norwegian football federation, saying that it will postpone the euros until next year. One other piece of sporting news to bring you, also hearing that uk horse racing has been suspended until the end of april over coronavirus. Thats coming to us from the british horseracing authority. We will keep you right up to date with all the developments of coronavirus, so many of them every day, right throughout the day here on bbc news. Reeta chakrabarti the day here on bbc news. Reeta chakra barti will have the day here on bbc news. Reeta chakrabarti will have the news and in the next few minutes but first the weather. Not as much sunshine around today, especially for those areas who had a lot of blue sky yesterday. Rain coming into those areas that had the rain yesterday. Just limited appearances, a bit of blue in the sky, in leicestershire earlier, this waterfront is still around, wobbling up waterfront is still around, wobbling up and down across the north and south and will continue to do so for a bit longer but the lions share of the rain today coming into Northern Ireland, wet afternoon. Then push on across the south and west of scotland, leaving the far north east with hazy brightness. A lot of cloud across england and wales, some sunny spells towards the far south east, patchy light rain especially in the best welsh hills, a breezy day, in scotland, could be near 50 miles an hour or so. A mild day for many of us and any brightness towards Eastern England, we could see 16 celsius. The rain moves away from scotla nd celsius. The rain moves away from scotland and Northern Ireland overnight, keeping heavier bursts, particularly towards the north west of england and into wales, with gusty winds, plenty of cloud in the south, a mild night to come. Northern ireland and scotland, clear spells and blustery showers. Wintry in nature. Scotland, a few more of these to come tomorrow. Stronger winds, gusting in, 60 miles an hour for the north west of scotland. Brightening up in Northern England and north wales after a wet start. Patchy rain sinking further south, across england and wales, ending up around east anglia toward south west england. South of that, brightness. 16 celsius. Many of us will be turning colder, and cold air across the south of the uk is held up across southern the south of the uk is held up across southern areas the south of the uk is held up across southern areas by this weather front still there on thursday. Outbreaks of rain, more so towards south west england, south wales, may be the West Midlands later on, as well. North of that, though, its looking dry, the best of the sunshine will be in scotland but more of those temperatures taking a dip. Chili with a strengthening easterly wind in the southern part of the uk. High pressure for the weekend, a weather front in western parts of the uk, the isobars tightening together for a chilly easterly breeze and the chance of seeing some rain the further west you are, initially that weekend but for many of us its looking like a dry rather chilly weekend. Frosty nights. The uk prepares for a new reality, as the country adapts to sweeping plans to tackle coronavirus, with no clear end date in sight. A suspension of normal life usually congested streets deserted as people are urged to avoid all travel and all non essential contact. I have the rock and a hard place of remaining open so i do not invalidate my insurance. All closing and not having anything to pay my staff. Stay away from restaurants, pubs and clubs thats the official advice. Its left some businesses in despair. We cannot make money to pay the rate and rents. The staff, i have had to send two of