All the sport with gavin. With news Anthony Joshua 7 with news anthonyjoshua . That is right, he is back in the ring in june but it is not the match the British Public might have hoped for. Looking rather lovely there. It is indeed, a touch of spring in the airfor it is indeed, a touch of spring in the air for the first week of march after we have seen a record breaking wet february. That will come as good news, i will be discussing how wet this february has been. We will be answering your questions on coronavirus with two leading academics so do get in touch with your questions. Hello everyone this is afternoon live im ben brown the Prime Minister says the uk should be prepared for the coronavirus to spread. He said its a problem thats likely to become more significant in the days and weeks ahead. Boris johnson was speaking after he chaired an emergency meeting of ministers this morning. A plan of action for the uk to deal with the new virus will be announced tomorrow. The number of confirmed cases in this country rose to 36 over the weekend with 13 announced yesterday thats the biggest jump in a single day. Our Health CorrespondentSophie Hutchinson reports. Have you got a grip on this . Morning. Are you worried . Morning. Officials arriving this morning for the emergency cobra meeting on the growing threat of the coronavirus. It was chaired by the Prime Minister. Its aim was to produce a plan to tackle what is now highly likely to become a widespread transmission of the virus in the uk. Wash your hands people need a plan so that as and when, if and when, it starts to spread, as im afraid it looks likely that it will, we are in a position to take the steps that will be necessary, that will be reasonable and possible, to contain the spread of the disease. And as far as we can. And also to protect the most vulnerable. The uk has seen a surge in the number of cases of coronavirus with at least 36 people now infected. One of them is being treated here at the Princess Alexandra hospital in harlow in essex. Its not clear how they became infected. They hadnt travelled to a hotspot abroad. Another infected person is a teacher from this school, Wimbledon College in london, which was closed today for a week. And this pub in haslemere in surrey was being deep cleaned today after one of their customers tested positive for the virus. Of course the increase in numbers of people we have seen affected, both in this country and other countries in europe and in southeast asia, do i think make it likely now that we will see in due course widespread transmission in the uk. What we dont know is exactly how widespread that will be. This morning the European Commission raise the official risk level for coronavirus after the latest figures showed 38 eu citizens have now died from the virus. The risk level has risen from moderate to high for people in the European Union. In other words, the virus continues to spread. Around 86,000 people have now been infected, and as the virus continues to spread from its epicentre in china, there is a growing acknowledgement of the potential impact on the uk. Scotlands first minister, who attended this mornings cobra meeting, explained why it is so important to do Everything Possible to curb the virus. It is particularly potent with coronavirus because there is no treatment or vaccine yet for this infection, so it is particularly important that we take all of the steps we can to contain the infection and to do everything we can to prevent it taking hold. And as the uk prepares for a wider outbreak, dozens of britons who have been stuck in tenerife are now finally on their way home. But they face a further 1a days in self isolation once they get back. Sophie hutchinson, bbc news. We are hearing a number of confirmed cases in the uk have risen to 40, it has gone up by four from 36 to 40. That is the latest from the department of health in the last minute or so. The number of confirmed cases rising to 40. Lets get the latest from our chief Political Correspondent. That steady rise just Political Correspondent. That steady risejust underlining Political Correspondent. That steady rise just underlining the message from the Prime Minister that we should be prepared for all eventualities. It is clear listening to him today, they are expecting those numbers to rise, the number of cases of people falling ill but the disruption that goes with it. We know they are planning emergency legislation that will allow the government to take emergency measures if they felt they needed to. Why do stand that would go through parliament by the end of the month but they said they will not need to be powers until next month. They dont know where this is going to go, they feel they can still contain it but beyond that they are trying to delay it because they know the virus doesnt thrive in the hotter weather as if they can delay it to the summer months, that can help. It is split between net balance of keeping as many people safe as they can and try not to disrupt things too much. We know that case of a teacher at a Senior School in wimbledon which means the peoples are off for another week, some of the teachers will have to go into quarantine. Parents will have to look after children. You can see the knock on effect. The question for the government is hell fire they go with the measures, for example large gatherings. Just how far they will go. Decisions will need to be made in the coming weeks. The government has to make sure they have the power is ready to go if they need them. Just a word on the optics from Boris Johnsons they need them. Just a word on the optics from borisjohnsons point of view. There was criticism on him not being high profile enough in dealing with the coronavirus and flooding, but today he has been cheering that meeting of the emergency committee. The response of downing street as you do not have to be chairing a meeting to know what is going on, he is trying to do what he thinks is most helpful but it is getting to the point where the date they thought it is best he does speak to the media. He went to a visit yesterday to a Public Health office to see what is going on there. They wa nted to see what is going on there. They wanted to reassure people but not to panic them. The main message from the Prime Minister is the best thing people can do is wash their hands regularly. They do know a moment where you can see what is happening in other countries around the world, they are preparing for it to happen here, they know the Prime Minister needs to be visible to make sure people think the government has a grip on all of this. Thank you very much indeed. 0ur correspondence is here in the studio. You have more details on what the department of health are saying in terms of the latest statistics on the coronavirus in the uk. Every afternoon the department of health is releasing the latest information on the number of cases. As of this morning 13,525 people have been tested for coronavirus in the uk and 40 have been confirmed as positive. Up from 36 yesterday. Yesterday there was a large rise of around 13 14 cases, 15 on thursday. This is growing at quite a quicker rate in the uk than we have seen in recent weeks which matches with what the Prime Minister said earlier, we will see more significant increases in cases. The Public Health medical director said it is highly likely more cases will be diagnosed in the uk in the coming days and weeks, it could be quite challenging but the Prime Minister insists the nhs is to cope with it and all of us have our own parts to cope with containing it. What is the latest advice on preventative measures . This is not really changed, it is about maintaining good hygiene, making sure we have washed our hands properly. The message is to sing the song happy birthday to yourself twice when you wash your hands. The Prime Minister wash your hands. The Prime Minister was saying that today. A bit surreal, to be honest but do that. Make sure if you sneeze your sneezing into a tissue, you are throwing it into a ben, you are not spreading germs around, try to keep a couple of metres away from people visibly coughing or sneezing. The Health Secretary said yesterday there will be a battle plan, that is what they have been discussing in downing street which will have four stages, the containment stage, around isolating and tracing anybody who has come into contact with anyone who has coronavirus, that is what they are doing at the moment. Then the delay phase which is about slowing down the spread. To a certain extent that is what the government is doing pre emptively 110w government is doing pre emptively now with hand washing measures and throwing tissues away. Then it is mitigation and damage limitation to stop it spreading further, which could include measures such as potentially closing schools, we are still quite a way of that at this stage. And while all of this is going on another phase of the plan is the Research Phase and tackling this virus and how far away we are from the vaccine. Thank you very much for that update. The latest number of confirmed cases in the uk 110w number of confirmed cases in the uk now stands at 40, up from 36. Well as weve been hearing more british holiday makers quarantined at a hotel in tenerife are preparing to return home after testing negative for the virus. 0ur correspondent fiona trott is there. What is the very latest . |j what is the very latest . I can tell you three coaches carrying british passengers have now left the hotel here, the guests on board were smiling and waving as they left because of course are the anxiety they have had over the past week with being confined in this hotel, sea and quarantine rules not invoiced and confusion over when they could leave, that is behind them. They are on their way to the uk and we are told that flight should take off in 30 minutes time but there has been challenges. The airline said we could write you back if you take the test, it is negative, when you get to the effort and dont show any symptoms but it had to be within a 24 hour window because that is when it may be detected but not passed on. What they were explaining as they had to secure a flight home with a travel company, back time it to make sure they could have that test within the 24 hour window, but then they were saying they did not get the certificate, proof they were fit to fly, certificate, proof they were fit to fly, in time, they wouldnt get that u nless fly, in time, they wouldnt get that unless they checked out of the hotel. So they were trying to get verbal confirmation. It has been quite complicated. Because of that complicated process, the travel company told us they had seats for 19 hotel guests yesterday but they missed the flight because there were delays here at the hotel. Three coaches have left here, one of the guests on board told us she thought there were around hundred passengers making their way to that plane that has been organised byjet too, they have not confirmed the numbers to us. That guest described how it felt a bit like being on a film set when he left the hotel here, leaving, disposing of their masks, they will be glad to see the back of those, and going through police checks, passport checks and getting on the coach to the airport. It is due to arrive in the north west around seven oclock this evening. Dont forget when they get back to the uk they will have to be in self isolation until march the 9th. 0k, thank you very much indeed. And later this afternoon well be trying to answer your questions on coronavirus with two leading academics. Do send them into us by tweeting to the hashtag. Or email yourquestions bbc. Co. Uk. Thats coming up at 2. 30 here on bbc news. And a reminder were bringing you continuing coverage on the virus here on the news channel and on bbc 0nline. Also you can watch a bbc news special on tonight on bbc one. Rachel burden and fergus walsh will be answering all of your questions in coronavirus everything you need to know. Thats tonight at 7. 30 on bbc one. Negotiations between the uk and the eu are getting underway in brussels this lunchtime, as part of attempts to agree a post brexit trade deal. Ahead of the talks, the British Government has also published its objectives for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Adam fleming is in brussels with the latest this is going to be really detailed stuff, hundred or so British Trade negotiations. Yes, although it is starting off quite small right now because there is going to be a meeting happening between david frost, and Michel Barnier, and a bit later this afternoon the heads of the various negotiating groups will have what they are calling a opening plenary. The real detailed work will start tomorrow morning where there was 100 british negotiators will meet their counterparts in the eu and split into 11 different working groups, covering the trade in goods, services, energy, fishing policies, the structure of the agreement. There will be two days of detailed discussions then the chief negotiators will come back together on thursday and we will get the first sense of how this first round has gone on thursday lunch time. Michel barnier is planning a News Conference. What is going on, we have heard tough rhetoric from both sides . It depends what is happening on the news that day. On tuesday Michel Barnier was doing a News Conference to mark the fact the 27 eu countries had approved his mandate for the negotiations, he was really angry, banging the lectern because he felt the uk have been going back on pledges it made in the political declaration about the future relationship which sat alongside the divorce deal. He was concerned about some of the rumours coming from london whether they would stick to the spirit of what had been agreed about the irish border. You speak to british officials and they were much more nuanced and consolatory in some of the headlines coming from the uk, and then on wednesday Michel Barnier was much more nuanced. You can start to see areas where there might be a compromise. Look at the two mandates, they looked quite far apart on some big areas, especially the extent to which the deal should follow european standards and whether there should be a governance mechanism to oversee the relationship, which involves the European Court of justice. Relationship, which involves the European Court ofjustice. You read between the lines of those mandates and he relies both sides have been may be exaggerating their opening positions a little bit. These negotiations will all be about trying to find a common ground. I might warrant you that might not be found until the summer, because that is the next big moment when the sides will come together to take stock and decide whether the talks will continue. A couple of people in brussels say it might not be until 0ctober until it happens so hold your horses for the first round of negotiations. I know you will be following every twist and turn, thank you so much. Youre watching afternoon live, these are our headlines. In the last few minutes it has been confirmed the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the uk has risen to 40 as the Prime Minister warns it is likely to spread further across the country. The haggling begins, post brexit trade talks are getting under way in brussels. Security stepped up on the greek border as turkeys president agrees to meet Vladimir Putin over the war in syria. In sport Anthony Joshua returns to the ring injune. The fight is set to take place in the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in london, it is his first match since regaining the heavyweight titles and his first fight in the uk since 2017. Carlo ancelotti waits to find out his punishment after becoming the First Premier League manager to be sent off with a red card. And former england player chris ashton leads sales charts with immediate effect. Sales sharks. He was last capped by england a year ago. I will be back with more and the stories in round 15 minutes time. The turkish president is told talks with Vladimir Putin on thursday. A retaliation was spiked against russian backed syrian forces. Turkey also said it could no longer cope with the amount of refugees streaming out of syria and opened its borders to those moments wishing to reach europe. 0ur correspondent reports from the greek side of the turkish border. The route overland to europe has been given new life by turkeys president. This road runs very close to the border between greece and turkey. There are a couple of official crossing points which are now closed and heavily protected, but there are, weve been told, plenty of other places along this stretch where people can get through. As the icy rain falls, we come across a family group from afghanistan. Pawns in a geopolitical crisis, and now shivering and alone. They tell us theyve been bussed up to the border by the turkish authorities, and then crossed into greece by cutting the barbed wire on the borderfence. Further down the road, we find a group of west africans. They say they walked along a dirt track to get here, evading tear gas and border guards. We want to go over to germany. We dont want to stay here in greece, you understand . Yeah. We want a better life for us, ourfamilies, thats why we cross, you know . Then, as the clock approached midnight, we came across four young migrants