Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC World News 20200407

His recovery. Hes been a really good friend. Hes been really good friend. Hes been really something very special. Strong, resolute, doesnt quit, doesnt give up. A special report inside one of the uks biggest intensive care centres as staff deal with rising numbers of patients suffering the effects of coronavirus. The staff here are dealing with the biggest challenge ever faced by the nhs. They can save many of the patients but sadly, not all of them. The coronavirus has killed more than ten thousand people in america as officials warn this could be the saddest, ha rd est week yet in the outbreak. Hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. Were covering all the latest coronavirus developments here in britain and globally. Firstly, borisjohnson has been moved to intensive care after his coronavirus symptoms worsened over the course of the afternoon. The british Prime Minister was admitted to st thomass hospital in london on sunday evening. Earlier on, borisjohnson said on social media that hed gone into hospitalfor some routine tests and that he was in good spirits. The foreign secretary, dominic raab, has been asked to deputise for mrjohnson. Buckingham palace said the queen had been informed about the situation. Leaders around the world have been sending their best wishes to the Prime Minister. President Trump sent americas well wishes to Boris Johnson for a speedy recovery. The french president , emmanuel macron, said he hoped mrjohnson would overcome this ordeal quickly. The latest official figures showed almost 5,400 patients have now died in the uk an increase of a39 on the previous day. N the united states, a senior new York City Council member has now reversed his earlier warning that a massive increase in virus related deaths could see people being buried in parks, saying they would be buried on hart island, near the bronx. France has reported 833 deaths in the past 2a hours its highest since the outbreak began. The figure includes people who died in hospitals and nursing homes. Well have more on those developments across the world but first, our Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg reports from westminster with the latest on borisjohnson. Less than a mile from downing street, borisjohnson is in intensive care tonight, in a personal fight against the virus that the government and the country is trying to beat. Who would have known on thursday night that the Health Workers he applauded would be caring for him like this . Brief glimpses of borisjohnson on social media made it clear he was struggling to shake the virus off. Ive done my seven days of isolation. Alas, i still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom, i still have a temperature. Now, after being admitted to hospital last night for tests, he is conscious, but, as a precaution, downing street says he has been moved to intensive care. And the foreign secretary has been asked to step up for now. During the course of this afternoon, the Prime Ministers condition worsened and on the advice of the medical team, he was moved into a Critical Care unit. With the Prime Minister now in intensive care, this is now an extremely serious situation. How worried should should people be about his health and who is in charge of the government . The governments business will continue. The Prime Minister is in safe hands with a Brilliant Team at st thomass hospital, and the focus of the government will continue to be on making sure that the Prime Ministers direction, all the plans for making sure that we can defeat coronavirus and pull the country through this challenge will be taken forward. Are you confident, though, that the government is under control tonight . There is an incredibly Strong Team Spirit behind this is the Prime Minister and making sure that we get all of the plans that the Prime Minister has instructed us to deliver, to getm the implemented as soon as possible and that is the way we will bring the country through the coronavirus challenge that we face right now. Just after 8 oclock, the official statement came from downing street, saying good wishes from friends and rivals of borisjohnson flooded online within minutes. From the first minister of scotland, and the brand new labour leader, and from someone who knows him and the unique job very well. The Prime Minister is now suffering seriously from a disease that does not pick and choose. Downing street itself, a place where the virus spread. Power, no protection from harm. Laura kuenssberg, bbc news. The bbcs chris mason has the latest details from westminster. Its a shocking turn of events, isnt it, when the person charged with co ordinating the countrys response to a National Emergency is stricken by the very virus he spent much of the last month trying to ensure impacts the uk in the most minimal way possible while being well aware that the impact was always going to be very grave, both in health terms and in economic terms, and in terms of our liberty. We are now a fortnight on from his address to the country, beginning the lot down in the social distancing measures that we been slowly adjusting to over the last couple of weeks. Over and over again, this Coronavirus Crisis which has swept the world and swept the country has had the capacity to surprise us, to do the very thing that 2a hours earlier would have seemed impossible and here we are again with the Prime Minister in intensive care, with downing street having to point out, as of eight oclock this evening, that Boris Johnson eight oclock this evening, that borisjohnson was conscious but that he had been moved to intensive care, having been given oxygen around about six oclock this evening, i understand, in order to ensure that if he required a ventilator to help with his breathing, he was in the right place for that equipped and to be made available to him. And we understand that the Prime Minister had asked dominic raab, the first secretary of state to deputise. Tell us a bit about dominic raab, does he have the confidence of his colleagues . Dominic raab is the mpfor colleagues . Dominic raab is the mp for esher in surrey, appointed foreign secretary by borisjohnson when he became Prime Minister. He is a prominent campaigner for brexit during the Referendum Campaign and in the months and years that followed the referendum leading up to the general election just before christmas, has been a minister in different departments around whitehall prior to his elevation to one of the great offices, appointed by Boris Johnson as first secretary of state which in many ways, is often an honorifics title which means very little and occasionally deputising for the Prime Minister at by mrs question time when the Prime Minister was at the european summit or event overseas that prevents him from being at westminster on wednesday lunchtime. I dont think dominic raab when he accepted thejob he would be dominic raab when he accepted the job he would be asked to be effectively a potential stand in Prime Ministerfor effectively a potential stand in Prime Minister for an unknown period of time amount of time if borisjohnson was not able to fulfil the range of obligations and duties that normally fall his way. I thought it was quite striking, james, this evening, and the downing street statement, that mrjohnson had asked mr raab to deputise where necessary, so it wasnt a wholesale exporting of his duties to mr raab and the british constitutional system doesnt set out a clear path down which power is handed, if the Prime Ministerfinds themselves incapacitated. Its a cabinet system of government where cabinet investors to a greater or lesser extent i equal to the prime first among equals amongst them and a big pa rt equals amongst them and a big part of a general Election Campaign in the autumn was built around Doris Johnson campaign in the autumn was built around dorisjohnson and his personality, known in the uk pretty much by his first name, such as recognition value and fora name, such as recognition value and for a lot of people, frankly, they wont know a great deal about this man, dominic raab, who could quite conceivably be taking significant decisions on behalf of us all. Messages of support are coming in for Boris Johnson from around the world. This was the President Trump a short time ago. I also want to send best wishes to very good friend of mine, and a friend to our nation, my minister borisjohnson. And a friend to our nation, my minister Boris Johnson. We and a friend to our nation, my minister borisjohnson. We are very saddened to hear that he was taken into intensive care this afternoon, a little while ago and americans are all praying for his recovery. He has been a really good friend, he has really been something special. Strong, resolute, doesnt quit, doesnt give up. Our chief Political Correspondent vicky young has been at St Thomas Hospital, in lambeth where borisjohnson is being treated. She sent this update. Well, after nine days and self isolation here under the care of doctor is here last night, and was admitted to hospital. We know that he has been suffering from this persistent cough and temperature, something he couldnt shake off which is why he was brought into hospital on the first place. Its worth saying st thomass hospital is one of the top hospitals in the country, its just across the bridge from the houses of parliament. We were told by downing street earlier the Prime Minister was working from his hospital bed here, we understand he was given oxygen before that decision was made to move him to intensive care. We are told that has been done as a precaution, its been done in case he needed ventilation to aid his recovery. Now like thousands of other families have been affected by the coronavirus, this is extremely worrying time to him and his family, especially of course his fiancee was pregnant and has been suffering with symptoms of the coronavirus herself. Our Political Editor Laura Kuennsberg has more on how the uk government has planned for situations like this. The foreign secretary now is technically in charge, as he is the Prime Ministers official understudy and hes been requested by downing street to deputise for him as and when and government insiders are pretty confident, they say, the way the cabinet committees have been designed to try to deal with coronavirus into four different groups, looking into all the important elements. It will continue to take over. One cabinet minister said to me Decision Making was pretty crisp, pretty efficient and this had been happening, whoever was in charge. The Prime Minister of course is much more than a political mascot. They are of course also the most just mascot. They are of course also the mostjust senior Decision Maker in any government and at a time when there are so many dilemmas about the health and wealth of the country, this is obviously a very serious moment for the government and the whitehall machine. Even for the Prime Minister, who was popping up every now and again, trying to say he was fine and Getting Better throughout this, it has created a sense already of not that much stability, with him being ill and even when he was in the downing street flat, but now with him in intensive care tonight, even though we should emphasise its said to be as a precaution, this is obviously a grave moment, one that is very unsettling for the government and ata unsettling for the government and at a time like this which isa and at a time like this which is a genuine National Emergency, irrespective of your politics of course, this is clearly a terrible time for the government to be without its figurehead. Stay with us on bbc news. Still to come, well have the latest reaction to Boris Johnsons admission to intensive care. 25 years of hatred and rage, as theyjump up on the statue. This funeral became a massive demonstration of black power. The power to influence. Today is about the promise of a bright future. A day when we hope a line can be drawn under the bloody past. I think that picassos works were beautiful. They were intelligent and its a sad loss to everybody who loves art. This is bbc news. The latest headlines britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has coronavirus, has been moved to an intensive care unit in a Central London hospital after his symptoms worsened. Political leaders in the uk and around the world have sent their best wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, an anti malaria drugs that President Donald Trump has persistently promoted asa trump has persistently promoted as a potential weapon against covid i9 has in a matter of weeks become standard of care in areas of the us hit hard by the pandemic. But the doctors prescribing it have no idea whether or not it works. Joining me now from seattle to discuss this further is angela rasmussen, a biologist at columbia university. Doctor rasmussen, what are your thoughts on this . Currently we have no data but supports the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat covid or prevent covid. There have been some Clinical Trial data done on a limited number of patients in china and france, but it suggested that it may be affected. At this time, however, we do not have any data showing that is conclusively the case. Right now, all over the world, there is huge. I wouldnt necessarily say desperation, but huge desire to have a treatment that works. How do scientists balance this with wanting to say to people, lets slow down and work out what works and what doesnt . So, that desire is completely understandable, and biologists like myself are among those people who would like to have an antiviral therapy that is a safe and as effective as quickly as possible. Virologists like myself. So in this case many of the normal regulatory hurdles that would slow down the process of approving a drug such as hydroxychloroquine or some of the other drugs that are under investigation have actually been skipped. So we are already on an accelerated path to evaluating these drugs in Clinical Trials, which are ongoing in multiple countries around the world. They are being organised by the World Health Organization and hopefully we should have data within several weeks to months about the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine and some of these other investigational medications. Is it safe to skip those steps . It is not safe to skip those steps. Hydroxychloroquine is a great example of that. There are significant side effects in a number of patients who take that drug. Additionally, if people are taking it off label or without the supervision of a physician, they could take the drug in the wrong doses. A couple in arizona took chloroquine phosphate, which they had as an ingredient in a fishpond cleaner, and one of the individuals who did but ended up dying from an overdose. So these drugs are not without side effects. Their safety profiles are not com pletely safety profiles are not completely safe. And that is potentially harm in taking these medications if they do not work. Briefly, what is the current state of research towards effective treatments . Briefly, there are several trials for hydroxychloroquine, as well as a drug called remdesevir, and experimental antiviral drugs, as well as a combination of hiv previous inhibitors. There have also been anecdotal reports that a drug which targets a specific goal inflammatory cytokine called il 6 may be effective as well. So all of those drugs are undergoing Clinical Trials and most are further along than most. They had been undergoing trials for several months in china, i believe. Doctor angela rasmussen, thank you so much for joining rasmussen, thank you so much forjoining us. Thank you for having me. I would like to give you having me. I would like to give you some new having me. I would like to give you some new switches coming to us you some new switches coming to us from australia, to Cardinal George pell, who was at one stage i of the most senior figures in the vatican. Is as follows. Australias high court has upheld Cardinal Pells appealed against a decision by the court of appeal in victoria over his conviction for sexually assaulting two choirboys in the 1990s. In other words, australias highest court has agreed with Cardinal Pell, whom you can see there. He was jailed for six yea rs there. He was jailed for six years with a non parole period of three years. His decision that this decision, the appeal, was unanimous among the high courts sevenjudges. Was unanimous among the high courts seven judges. The ca rdinals courts seven judges. The cardinals lawyers had argued swathes of evidence made it difficult for the crown to prove that pell defended as alleged, and clearly the court has agreed with that. They said it was not open to the jury to be satisfied there was no reasonable possibility of Cardinal Pells innocence. We will bring your mind a story as it develops. The latest official figures on those affected by coronavirus across the uk were released a little earlier. They show that in total, 5,373 people have died in hospitalfrom the effects of covid i9. Thats a rise of a39 on sundays figure. Although they do not account for people who have died in the community, or in a care home. As intensive care units in hospitals across the uk come under increasing pressure, including st thomass where borisjohnson is being treated, we have a rare insight into conditions at one of the biggest facilities in the Uk University College Hospital in Central London. This special report is by our medical correspondent fergus walsh and, cameraman adam walker. This used to be a Recovery Area for patients after surgery. Now it is in intensive care unit for covid i9 patients. A huge pa rt for covid i9 patients. A huge part of the hospital has been transformed in order to deal with coronavirus. I have been in intensive care nursing for about 23 years now and i have never seen anything like this. Even the london bombings. I have never seen it in such a short, condensed period of time. Many of the patients here are elderly or have Underlying Health problems, but not all. |j think health problems, but not all. think perhaps i was a bit naive when we started. I assumed that it would be the old and the sicko. And here we have got a mixture from people in their 40s to people in their 70s. A lot of them have got high Blood Pressure and diabetes are a bit of respiratory disease. But some of them are coming through who are young and fit. The patients here have severe pneumonia, inflammation of the lungs. They must be heavily sedated while on a ventilator, a machine which takes over their breathing. Patients can spend two weeks like this. Many drugs are being tested, but there is as yet no proven treatment for coronavirus. So it is oxygen and. . Treatment for coronavirus. So it is oxygen and. . And organ support and amazing nursing care, support and amazing nursing ca re, really. Support and amazing nursing care, really. One thing that does help is turning the patients onto the front. It increases the oxygen getting into their lungs. What seems like a into their lungs. What seems likea simple into their lungs. What seems like a simple procedure takes time and lots of pairs of hands. Everyone all right . Yep. With ventilated patients, extreme care is needed. All of this while staff wear full personal protective equipment. 0k, personal protective equipment. Ok, can wejust personal protective equipment. Ok, can we just check on the ventilator. Their only barrier against coronavirus. Every time a doctor or nurse goes on to the unit, they must don full safety gear. You cant wear this and work for more than a couple of hours, because you have got a crushing headaches, you know, you have got a headaches, you know, you have gota dry headaches, you know, you have got a dry mouth. You have to get out. Staff write their names on their aprons so they can be quickly identified. So there is an emergency on the itu, the head of Critical Care was seen via walkie talkie whether he would give a second opinion. Saying. But he needs to be there. So the full kit has to be put on. They use walkie talkies because their advisers mean they cant communicate on phones. It is draining, physically and mentally. It is really hard and some of our staff really cant cope with it. You know, we have got huge numbers of nurses, doctors and physios, and not all of them can deal with it, so they can only spend a short time, or notjust any time. It is not uncommon for some of our staff to have had panic attacks, and just finding so, so stressful. So we have got to really support people. Some people just cant do it. Despite the possible risk to themselves, the medical staff carry on. 12 hour shifts, 60 hours a week is the norm. They worry about the patients, about each other, and about those they love. I think it is very ha rd they love. I think it is very hard on our families. They love. I think it is very hard on ourfamilies. My kids are at home, my wife is homeschooling. It is easy in a way, for me, im doing myjob, im busy all day. They dont really know what it is like here, whether we are bringing home the virus. And they have just been amazing. Just let me do what i need to do, and im just incredibly grateful for them. What is striking here is them. What is striking here is the sense of calm. In the face of adversity, doctors and nurses simply get on with the job. These staff you are dealing with the biggest challenge ever faced by the nhs. They can save many of the patients, but sadly not all of them. And still more patients keep coming every day. That report was by fergus walsh and cameraman adam walker. Lets go back to the situation facing the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, now in intensive care in hospital in london. Lets go over the timeline of events. On march 26th, it was announced that the Prime Minister had tested positive for coronavirus. On sunday, he was admitted to St Thomas Hospital in london after his symptoms had persisted for ten days. And a few hours ago it was announced that hed been moved to intensive care afer his symptoms worsened. Our News Reporter rich preston is here with me. You have been monitoring reactions. This reaction coming in from around the world, President Trump is Coronavirus Press co nfe re nce President Trump is Coronavirus Press conference earlier onset of the American People are praying for borisjohnson, he isa praying for borisjohnson, he is a good friend personally to him and to america, and reiterated he is a man who doesnt quit and doesnt give up. On twitter, rishi sunak, the british chancellor of the exchequer . And very briefly, the task facing dominic raab, who now has to deputise when necessary . It is huge. He said there is good spirit in the government, and that people are going to Work Together and they are working together to carry out Boris Johnsons plans working together to carry out borisjohnsons plans to tackle coronavirus. Richard preston, no doubt you will be giving us more reaction as it comes throughout the night. Thank you so much forjoining us. There is of course more on our website. You can find analysis on the coronavirus and in depth pieces, including a link to focus wass piece from the hospital. To send a message if you are awake and on twitter. I would love to hear from you. Hello. The warmth of the weekend was replaced by something a little bit fresher through the day on monday, but many of us were able to enjoy a bit of blue sky and a bit of sunshine from our windows and our gardens too. A bit more of the same on tuesday, things are looking mostly dry after a chilly and a misty start. But High Pressure very much dominating our weather through the day on tuesday, and into wednesday too. Things are going to turn a little bit warmer over the next few days. Because, as you can see, the blue colours, the colder air thats been with us gets pushed away, and these yellow colours, the warmer air, starts to move in from the south. But for the here and now, tuesday dawns on quite a chilly note, touch of frost, and some mist and fog patches, particularly across england and wales. Lots of dry weather with some long spells of sunshine. Cloudier towards the far northwest, but the odd shower perhaps for the western isles, perhaps Northern Ireland by the end of the day too. Also quite breezy, particularly for the northwest of scotland, but, elsewhere, lighter winds and the sunshine lasting through the day, but there will be more cloud just pushing into southern counties of england as we head on into the afternoon. But temperatures likely to reach about 20 degrees in london. Elsewhere, typically the mid to high teens. So, were looking at a largely dry night tuesday night into wednesday, particularly across england and wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland will have more cloud, and a few outbreaks of patchy rain moving in here. If youve been during some gardening recently, we are not expecting a frost overnight tuesday into wednesday, so it wont be as cold as it will be first thing tuesday morning. Through the day on wednesday, again, most places, largely dry. Plenty of sunshine across england and wales, a little bit of cloud drifting around too. Thicker cloud for scotland and for Northern Ireland, with the odd light shower. Across scotland and Northern Ireland, temperatures here around 13 14 degrees, whereas further south, i 2 spots could get up to 23 24 degrees. Wednesday probably being the warmest day of the week. Into thursday, High Pressure Still Holding on. So, again, quite a bit of dry weather, if youre able to open the window, get out in the garden, perhaps go for a walk if you can on thursday. Temperatures in the warmest spots up to about 21 celsius, always a little bit cooler and fresher though further north. Into good friday, and its all change, as we start to see this weather front moving its way in from the west. So some patchy outbreaks of rain heading west to east, and things are turning cooler into the easter weekend. So a bit more unsettled, a drop in temperature, but whatever the weathers doing, remember the rules on self isolation, social distancing, wherever you can, stay home and stay safe. Bye bye. This is bbc news, the headlines here the prime minster Boris Johnson has been moved to intensive care after his coronavirus symptoms worsened. He was admitted to St Thomas Hospital in london for some tests after doctors said his symptoms were persisting. On social media the Prime Minister said said that he was in good spirits. President trump has joined political leaders in the uk and around the world in wishing borisjohnson a speedy recovery. Mr trump said the Prime Minister was strong, resolute, doesnt quit and doesnt give up. He added that americans are all praying for his recovery. Australias high court has upheld Cardinal Pells appeal over his conviction for sexually assaulting two choirboys in the 1990s. In march last year Cardinal Pell was jailed for six years with a non parole period of three years and eight months. He will be freed from prison later today