bbc--2020-03-19--Q&A: What next for English football after suspension extended?

The pause on the 2019-20 English football season will remain in place until at least 30 April and the cut-off date for the campaign to be completed has been pushed back `` indefinitely '' .
Yet after a week of high-profile meetings at Fifa , Uefa , the Premier League and EFL , the brutal truth remains that no-one , not owners , chief executives , players or fans , has any idea when the game will be able to start again .
No-one can be sure when , or how , it will end .
Plans are being drawn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is no guarantee any of them will be activated .
BBC Sport 's Simon Stone tries to give clarity to some of the unanswered questions .
What do we know for certain ?
Some substantial decisions have been made this week .
Euro 2020 and next summer 's Copa America have been put back a year .
Fifa 's new Club World Cup has been put on hold .
The European Under-21 Championship will be delayed to 2022 as , almost certainly , will the 2021 Women 's European Championship , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professional football is on hold until 30 April at the earliest .
The season itself has been put back indefinitely .
There is unanimity amongst the 20 Premier League clubs - in private as well as in their statement - for the current campaign to reach a proper conclusion .
One source with knowledge of the situation has told the BBC work is now beginning to gain clarity over exactly how far the season could be pushed back in order for that to be achieved .
But there is already an end date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working towards .
Ideally , the campaign will end on 30 June .
This date is significant for a number of reasons .
Firstly , contracts tend to run to this point .
Players have been able to sign pre-contract terms with clubs in other countries since 1 January .
Even if `` normal '' transfers are done before then , most do not become active until 1 July .
Any extension to the season beyond the end of June would require a change to the rules .
World players ' union FIFPro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this , with a blanket extension of a couple of months being suggested .
This is possible .
But it would be far easier not to have to implement it .
It is not just player contracts though .
Changes in kit suppliers and sponsors also tend to come into force on 1 July .
It may seem fairly straightforward to conclude the sponsor of a kit should remain the same for an entire season .
But what if a promotional campaign had been set up around a new shirt at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the old shirt , made by a different company , with a different logo ?
In the advertising world , where huge amounts are being spent on `` maximising the brand '' , these things matter .
Another factor is that 30 June is viewed as the final date for seasons to conclude across Europe without having a significant impact on the following campaign .
With a short break , clubs could have a three-week pre-season and be ready to go again in August .
Under the circumstances , it is inconceivable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arranging the kind of extensive summer tours that have become the norm , so , more likely , they would have a couple of friendlies before starting again .
The Premier League 's opening weekend is due to be on 8 August .
Uefa feels if the season ends on 30 June , they could squeeze in all the qualifying rounds for their tournaments before the group stages begin in September .
When would season have to start again to be finished for 30 June ?
There are nine rounds of Premier League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postponed because of Manchester City and Aston Villa reaching the Carabao Cup final .
In addition , the FA Cup needs to be played to a finish from the quarter-final stage .
The Champions League and Europa League are both still at the last-16 stage .
Though these dates are not confirmed , discussions taking place off the back of the Uefa meeting on Tuesday are centring around the Champions League final being played on 27 June and the Europa League final on 24 June .
Of Premier League clubs , Manchester City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 .
Chelsea and Manchester United could both have 18 left .
This number could be cut by two if Uefa decide to play the quarter-finals and semi-finals of their competitions as one-off matches , as has been proposed .
And this is why calling matches off until 30 April , as announced by the English game on Thursday , is so significant .
Given Uefa has said its intention is to reschedule Euro 2020 play-offs for June , re-starting the season at the beginning of May `` just about '' allows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June , BBC Sport has been told .
It would mean using every available midweek slot and , for the busiest clubs , utilising their squads to play twice in a very short space of time .
It was by no means ideal but Liverpool played two games in two days in different continents this season , so it clearly can be done .
How realistic is football in May ?
BBC Sport has been told by a Premier League source that unless they are blocked from doing so by the government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as soon as practical from 30 April .
There is a good reason why the government might want that to happen given in the 2016-17 season alone , the Premier League generated £3.3bn in tax revenue .
There is an acceptance if a return happens , it is likely to be behind closed doors , as was the case with the new Aussie Rules season which started in Melbourne on Thursday .
The belief is that , after what would then be seven weeks without a top-flight game , the country would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and actually benefit from it .
There is certainly merit in this view .
However , there is also an alternative theory , which for those who are keen to see the game restart is not quite so optimistic .
Firstly , there are the practicalities .
On Wednesday , it was announced schools were being shut in England for the overwhelming majority of pupils from Monday .
The government 's medical advisors do not expect the coronavirus pandemic to reach its peak until June and are advising against all non-essential travel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed doors , they would require medical professionals to be present .
The chances are , some kind of policing would also be required should it become apparent fans were travelling to stadiums anyway , as happened at Paris St-Germain recently .
Then there are the players and the club staff .
It seems a long time ago now but it is only a week since the Premier League released a statement saying all last weekend 's games were going ahead .
That situation changed within hours when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told by one source that in a similar situation following the resumption , the idea would be for either a single match to be postponed or the competing club would use the players they had available .
This would seem to go against one of the major reasons for continuing with the season in the first place rather than declaring it null and void , which is to protect the integrity of the respective competitions .
The view of the players is also crucial .
The BBC has been told the Professional Footballers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relevant bodies and is committed to completing the season .
However , it is not prioritising this above the general health of the nation , which it regards as paramount .
Under those circumstances , it is difficult to see the PFA being happy at games being played while there is the slightest chance of anyone at them being infected .
Is it definite the season will be finished ?
West Ham managing director Karren Brady was derided for saying the season should be declared `` null and void '' in her newspaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blatant opportunism on behalf of a club perilously close to the relegation zone .
Yet someone who is part of the group tasked with trying to reconfigure the European season told the BBC that unless teams start training again by the beginning of May , it would be `` difficult '' to complete the season .
Given England went from hosting 3,000 Atletico Madrid fans in Liverpool to having its entire school system closed down within the space of a week and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned of `` further and faster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply no guarantee about professional football being played at any point in the near future .
Without that , there remains the possibility for Brady 's assessment to become reality , although so too is the possibility of the season being declared over on 30 June or the campaign being extended into July and beyond .
It is against this uncertainty that football 's senior figures are trying to plot a way forward for the game .
Everyone agrees , the task is really not very easy .

Premier League clubs are determined to complete the season
The pause on the 2019-20 English football season will remain in place until at least 30 April and the cut-off date for the campaign to be completed has been pushed back "indefinitely".
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions.
Yet after a week of high-profile meetings at Fifa, Uefa, the Premier League and EFL, the brutal truth remains that no-one, not owners, chief executives, players or fans, has any idea when the game will be able to start again. No-one can be sure when, or how, it will end.
Plans are being drawn up. Discussions will continue. But there is no guarantee any of them will be activated.
BBC Sport's Simon Stone tries to give clarity to some of the unanswered questions.
What do we know for certain?
Some substantial decisions have been made this week. Euro 2020 and next summer's Copa America have been put back a year. Fifa's new Club World Cup has been put on hold. The European Under-21 Championship will be delayed to 2022 as, almost certainly, will the 2021 Women's European Championship, which England will host.
In England, professional football is on hold until 30 April at the earliest. The season itself has been put back indefinitely.
There is unanimity amongst the 20 Premier League clubs - in private as well as in their statement - for the current campaign to reach a proper conclusion.
One source with knowledge of the situation has told the BBC work is now beginning to gain clarity over exactly how far the season could be pushed back in order for that to be achieved.
But there is already an end date that the entire European game is loosely working towards. Ideally, the campaign will end on 30 June.
'We've got to finish season' - Deeney
Why 30 June?
This date is significant for a number of reasons.
Firstly, contracts tend to run to this point. Players have been able to sign pre-contract terms with clubs in other countries since 1 January.
Even if "normal" transfers are done before then, most do not become active until 1 July.
Any extension to the season beyond the end of June would require a change to the rules. World players' union FIFPro has spoken to Fifa about the practicalities of this, with a blanket extension of a couple of months being suggested. This is possible. But it would be far easier not to have to implement it.
It is not just player contracts though. Changes in kit suppliers and sponsors also tend to come into force on 1 July.
It may seem fairly straightforward to conclude the sponsor of a kit should remain the same for an entire season. But what if a promotional campaign had been set up around a new shirt at the same time as a club was playing with the old shirt, made by a different company, with a different logo?
In the advertising world, where huge amounts are being spent on "maximising the brand", these things matter.
Another factor is that 30 June is viewed as the final date for seasons to conclude across Europe without having a significant impact on the following campaign.
With a short break, clubs could have a three-week pre-season and be ready to go again in August.
Under the circumstances, it is inconceivable any of the big clubs would be arranging the kind of extensive summer tours that have become the norm, so, more likely, they would have a couple of friendlies before starting again. The Premier League's opening weekend is due to be on 8 August.
Uefa feels if the season ends on 30 June, they could squeeze in all the qualifying rounds for their tournaments before the group stages begin in September.
When would season have to start again to be finished for 30 June?
There are nine rounds of Premier League fixtures remaining, plus the two matches postponed because of Manchester City and Aston Villa reaching the Carabao Cup final. In addition, the FA Cup needs to be played to a finish from the quarter-final stage. The Champions League and Europa League are both still at the last-16 stage.
Though these dates are not confirmed, discussions taking place off the back of the Uefa meeting on Tuesday are centring around the Champions League final being played on 27 June and the Europa League final on 24 June.
Of Premier League clubs, Manchester City face the maximum number of fixtures; 19. Chelsea and Manchester United could both have 18 left. This number could be cut by two if Uefa decide to play the quarter-finals and semi-finals of their competitions as one-off matches, as has been proposed.
And this is why calling matches off until 30 April, as announced by the English game on Thursday, is so significant.
Given Uefa has said its intention is to reschedule Euro 2020 play-offs for June, re-starting the season at the beginning of May "just about" allows the campaign to conclude by the end of June, BBC Sport has been told.
It would mean using every available midweek slot and, for the busiest clubs, utilising their squads to play twice in a very short space of time. It was by no means ideal but Liverpool played two games in two days in different continents this season, so it clearly can be done.
How realistic is football in May?
BBC Sport has been told by a Premier League source that unless they are blocked from doing so by the government, the intention is to restart the season as soon as practical from 30 April.
There is a good reason why the government might want that to happen given in the 2016-17 season alone, the Premier League generated £3.3bn in tax revenue.
There is an acceptance if a return happens, it is likely to be behind closed doors, as was the case with the new Aussie Rules season which started in Melbourne on Thursday.
The belief is that, after what would then be seven weeks without a top-flight game, the country would be ready to watch some high-level sport again and actually benefit from it.
There is certainly merit in this view.
However, there is also an alternative theory, which for those who are keen to see the game restart is not quite so optimistic.
Firstly, there are the practicalities.
On Wednesday, it was announced schools were being shut in England for the overwhelming majority of pupils from Monday. The government's medical advisors do not expect the coronavirus pandemic to reach its peak until June and are advising against all non-essential travel.
Even if matches were being played behind closed doors, they would require medical professionals to be present. The chances are, some kind of policing would also be required should it become apparent fans were travelling to stadiums anyway, as happened at Paris St-Germain recently.
Paris Saint-Germain fans gather outside closed stadium
Then there are the players and the club staff.
It seems a long time ago now but it is only a week since the Premier League released a statement saying all last weekend's games were going ahead. That situation changed within hours when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for coronavirus.
BBC Sport was told by one source that in a similar situation following the resumption, the idea would be for either a single match to be postponed or the competing club would use the players they had available.
This would seem to go against one of the major reasons for continuing with the season in the first place rather than declaring it null and void, which is to protect the integrity of the respective competitions.
The view of the players is also crucial.
The BBC has been told the Professional Footballers' Association is working with all the relevant bodies and is committed to completing the season. However, it is not prioritising this above the general health of the nation, which it regards as paramount.
Under those circumstances, it is difficult to see the PFA being happy at games being played while there is the slightest chance of anyone at them being infected.
Is it definite the season will be finished?
West Ham managing director Karren Brady was derided for saying the season should be declared "null and void" external-link in her newspaper column, with most believing it was blatant opportunism on behalf of a club perilously close to the relegation zone.
Yet someone who is part of the group tasked with trying to reconfigure the European season told the BBC that unless teams start training again by the beginning of May, it would be "difficult" to complete the season.
Given England went from hosting 3,000 Atletico Madrid fans in Liverpool to having its entire school system closed down within the space of a week and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned of "further and faster measures" being possible, there is simply no guarantee about professional football being played at any point in the near future.
Without that, there remains the possibility for Brady's assessment to become reality, although so too is the possibility of the season being declared over on 30 June or the campaign being extended into July and beyond.
It is against this uncertainty that football's senior figures are trying to plot a way forward for the game.
Everyone agrees, the task is really not very easy.


bbc--2020-03-19--F1 to help increase supply of ventilators to fight coronavirus

Formula 1 teams are working with government and health authorities to increase the supply of ventilators during the coronavirus crisis .
Ventilators are a device used to help supply more air to patients with breathing difficulties , one of the effects of severe coronavirus symptoms .
The majority of F1 teams are aiming to work out ways to use their engineering facilities to boost production .
F1 said the aim was to `` provide as much help and assistance as we can '' .
A spokesman said : `` The F1 community is engaged in discussions with all the relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide further details in due course . ''
A number of teams have applied-technologies divisions that could directly feed into the national production capacity of ventilators in the UK and Italy , particularly McLaren , Red Bull , Williams , Mercedes and Ferrari .
But all teams have advanced manufacturing capability that could potentially be used to make complex devices such as this , and as many will help as can .
The idea is to increase the supply of the existing design of ventilators rather than try to come up with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to need an extra 20,000 ventilators to deal with the crisis as it develops over the coming months .
It is hoped that an approach can be agreed within the next week that will help teams feed into capacity as quickly as possible , to boost the capability of health services to deal with increasing numbers of patients with breathing difficulties .
The move follows the Agnelli family which controls Ferrari and Fiat donating €10m ( £9.3m ) to the Italian government to help deal with the coronavirus emergency at a national level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilators and providing a fleet of cars to distribute food and medicine .

The Australian Grand Prix was cancelled after a McLaren team member tested positive for the virus
Formula 1 teams are working with government and health authorities to increase the supply of ventilators during the coronavirus crisis.
Ventilators are a device used to help supply more air to patients with breathing difficulties, one of the effects of severe coronavirus symptoms.
The majority of F1 teams are aiming to work out ways to use their engineering facilities to boost production.
F1 said the aim was to "provide as much help and assistance as we can".
A spokesman said: "The F1 community is engaged in discussions with all the relevant stakeholders regarding this issue and we will provide further details in due course."
A number of teams have applied-technologies divisions that could directly feed into the national production capacity of ventilators in the UK and Italy, particularly McLaren, Red Bull, Williams, Mercedes and Ferrari.
But all teams have advanced manufacturing capability that could potentially be used to make complex devices such as this, and as many will help as can.
The idea is to increase the supply of the existing design of ventilators rather than try to come up with a new approach.
The UK is estimated to need an extra 20,000 ventilators to deal with the crisis as it develops over the coming months.
It is hoped that an approach can be agreed within the next week that will help teams feed into capacity as quickly as possible, to boost the capability of health services to deal with increasing numbers of patients with breathing difficulties.
The move follows the Agnelli family which controls Ferrari and Fiat donating €10m (£9.3m) to the Italian government to help deal with the coronavirus emergency at a national level, as well as buying 150 extra ventilators and providing a fleet of cars to distribute food and medicine.


bbc--2020-03-19--'Fever, headache, my eyes burning' - one of Italy's first footballers with coronavirus

On 6 March , Alessandro Favalli 's life changed when he tested positive for coronavirus .
The Reggio Audace defender would become the second Italian-based footballer to be confirmed as having the illness , after King Udoh of Pianese , another third-tier club .
Italy , after China , has the second-highest number of cases of coronavirus in the world and second-most deaths related to the infectious disease .
Favalli , 27 , joined Reggio Audace in January and moved back to the north of the country , where he is from , where he could be closer to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
Speaking on the phone from his home , Favalli talks about enduring the illness , the struggle of being isolated , his frustration with football authorities and Italy 's community spirit in the face of hardship .
• Coronavirus : What are the symptoms ' I knew straight away what we all had' '' I had a fever , a headache and my eyes were burning .
I already had symptoms during the night , shivering for cold .
`` I got suspicious .
I already had flu in January .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the same symptoms .
We 'd had a family dinner together a few days before .
Since coronavirus was already big at that point in the media and people had already been infected in my area , I knew straight away what we all had . ''
Luckily enough , Favalli never felt as bad as some of the more worrying cases he has seen on TV and across the media .
`` The fever never went beyond 37.8°C , I had it for three days and by the time I got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already feeling well , '' he said .
`` I had a painful headache but that did n't last long either .
I was never really scared for myself , I never felt that bad .
I was more worried about some of my relatives , who were hit harder than me , maybe due to their different age and fitness level . ''
Immediately after speaking to his family , he went into self-isolation .
Living together with his wife , Miriam , Favalli locked himself into a room , leaving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She would cook meals and leave a plate in front of his door .
`` Miriam had no symptoms .
I did n't want to harm her .
I never had a problem with my appetite , I could always eat .
I could n't taste or smell anything , but I knew that from common flu too , '' he said .
`` I will have a swab taken in two days , two weeks after being tested positive : If I am negative , I have to repeat it again in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result . ''
Favalli 's regime before the illness was quiet , but pleasant .
Get up in the morning , drive some 40 minutes from his village Solarolo Rainerio to Reggio Emilia for training and back , meet friends , make family plans .
This has all been put on standby for now .
`` Isolation is mentally quite difficult .
I am used to a more social life .
I live with my wife , have my family and friends here in the area .
I train every day with team-mates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been able to spend time on his physical education and sports science studies for university .
`` The main thing is that everyone gets over this soon , the rest is not so important .
`` During the last weeks I felt a lot of affection from present and former team-mates , friends , managers , fans .
People call me every day , I have received thousands of messages .
`` All people were worried for me and my family ; it was nice to see how many people took care of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see some positives in this virus , it has taught me how important people around you are . ''
Italians across the country have been finding their own ways to fill time and raise a smile , even in difficult circumstances , including a breakout of applause for health workers from people on their balconies and impromptu musical performances across terraces .
`` Those flashmobs with people singing and playing music from their balconies have impressed me ; nothing happened here in my village though , it 's too small and my house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Favalli .
`` I saw them on TV and I could only smile : This is so typically Italian .
At the same time , it was very emotional to hear people singing our national anthem .
We are all in this together and we need to be close even though we can not do it physically . ''
' I was astonished clubs and leagues wanted to carry on' The concept of social distancing should have applied to Italian football earlier , he says .
Some matches were suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 3 March that Serie A games would be played behind closed doors .
But it was not until 10 March that Italian football was officially suspended .
`` I was involved personally and I was astonished to see professional clubs and leagues wanted to carry on playing , '' he said .
`` Even doing so behind closed doors was the wrong decision .
A player has a personal life too , he can get infected off the pitch and take it onto it .
`` I guess the issue was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if a Serie A player had been found positive at that time , they would have stopped immediately .
`` The only thing that counts is to fight this virus together , being responsible and staying at home .
`` Hopefully we can start playing again soon , but that is secondary and also quite difficult to imagine now . ''

Alessandro Favalli started his career at Cremonese and has played for a host of Italian clubs
On 6 March, Alessandro Favalli's life changed when he tested positive for coronavirus.
The Reggio Audace defender would become the second Italian-based footballer to be confirmed as having the illness, after King Udoh of Pianese, another third-tier club.
Italy, after China, has the second-highest number of cases of coronavirus in the world and second-most deaths related to the infectious disease.
Favalli, 27, joined Reggio Audace in January and moved back to the north of the country, where he is from, where he could be closer to his family, something he now values even more.
Speaking on the phone from his home, Favalli talks about enduring the illness, the struggle of being isolated, his frustration with football authorities and Italy's community spirit in the face of hardship.
'I knew straight away what we all had'
"I woke up on Monday, 2 March feeling uncomfortable," Favalli recalled.
"I had a fever, a headache and my eyes were burning. I already had symptoms during the night, shivering for cold.
"I got suspicious. I already had flu in January. I rang my family and they all had the same symptoms. We'd had a family dinner together a few days before. Since coronavirus was already big at that point in the media and people had already been infected in my area, I knew straight away what we all had."
Luckily enough, Favalli never felt as bad as some of the more worrying cases he has seen on TV and across the media.
"The fever never went beyond 37.8°C, I had it for three days and by the time I got a swab taken on Friday I was already feeling well," he said.
"I had a painful headache but that didn't last long either. I was never really scared for myself, I never felt that bad. I was more worried about some of my relatives, who were hit harder than me, maybe due to their different age and fitness level."
'Isolation is mentally difficult'
Immediately after speaking to his family, he went into self-isolation. Living together with his wife, Miriam, Favalli locked himself into a room, leaving the rest of the place to her. She would cook meals and leave a plate in front of his door.
"Miriam had no symptoms. I didn't want to harm her. I never had a problem with my appetite, I could always eat. I couldn't taste or smell anything, but I knew that from common flu too," he said.
"I will have a swab taken in two days, two weeks after being tested positive: If I am negative, I have to repeat it again in a few more days and confirm its result."
Favalli's regime before the illness was quiet, but pleasant. Get up in the morning, drive some 40 minutes from his village Solarolo Rainerio to Reggio Emilia for training and back, meet friends, make family plans.
This has all been put on standby for now.
"Isolation is mentally quite difficult. I am used to a more social life. I live with my wife, have my family and friends here in the area. I train every day with team-mates," said Favalli, who has been able to spend time on his physical education and sports science studies for university.
"The main thing is that everyone gets over this soon, the rest is not so important.
"During the last weeks I felt a lot of affection from present and former team-mates, friends, managers, fans. People call me every day, I have received thousands of messages.
"All people were worried for me and my family; it was nice to see how many people took care of us. If we really want to see some positives in this virus, it has taught me how important people around you are."
Flashmobs and songs - 'so typically Italian'
Coronavirus: Italians sing from their windows to boost morale
Italians across the country have been finding their own ways to fill time and raise a smile, even in difficult circumstances, including a breakout of applause for health workers from people on their balconies and impromptu musical performances across terraces.
"Those flashmobs with people singing and playing music from their balconies have impressed me; nothing happened here in my village though, it's too small and my house has fields and crops only around it," said Favalli.
"I saw them on TV and I could only smile: This is so typically Italian. At the same time, it was very emotional to hear people singing our national anthem. We are all in this together and we need to be close even though we cannot do it physically."
'I was astonished clubs and leagues wanted to carry on'
The concept of social distancing should have applied to Italian football earlier, he says.
Some matches were suspended in mid-February, followed by a ruling on 3 March that Serie A games would be played behind closed doors.
But it was not until 10 March that Italian football was officially suspended.
"I was involved personally and I was astonished to see professional clubs and leagues wanted to carry on playing," he said.
"Even doing so behind closed doors was the wrong decision. A player has a personal life too, he can get infected off the pitch and take it onto it.
"I guess the issue was not taken seriously enough. I am sure if a Serie A player had been found positive at that time, they would have stopped immediately.
"The only thing that counts is to fight this virus together, being responsible and staying at home.
"Hopefully we can start playing again soon, but that is secondary and also quite difficult to imagine now."


bbc--2020-03-18--Coronavirus: Six of President Trump's claims fact-checked

President Donald Trump has been defending his handling of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States and has now introduced travel restrictions on European countries .
We 've fact-checked some of the president 's recent claims .
`` The US has done a very good job on testing .
When people need a test they can get a test . ''
In early March , the White House conceded that the United States did not have enough testing kits .
Some health centres have also reported difficulties using them .
The government says more than one million have now been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the US has carried out far fewer tests than other countries - 26 per million people between 3 January and 11 March compared with South Korea 's 4,000 .
The UK has carried out 400 tests per million and Italy 1,000 as of 10 March .
Health experts fear the virus may have spread undetected in US communities because few tests were carried out .
`` We made a life-saving move with early action on China .
Now we must take the same action with Europe . ''
President Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of coronavirus cases is relatively low in the US and says many lives have been saved .
On 31 January , any foreign national who had been to China within the previous 14 days was barred from entering the US .
Three major US airlines operating flights to China had already stopped flying .
Later in February , restrictions were placed on foreign nationals who had been in Iran - which was already under a travel ban - in the previous 14 days .
Non-US citizens from 26 European countries were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Later , this was extended to include the UK and Ireland .
US citizens and their families are largely exempt from all these restrictions .
Experts believe the US action bought the government time to prepare and reduced the number of cases , but we do n't know whether it saved lives .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has said travel restrictions can be harmful `` by hindering info-sharing , medical supply chains and harming economies '' .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : What it means to self-isolate • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak When asked about WHO data on the virus 's death rate : `` I think the 3.4 % is really a false number ...
Personally , I think the number is way under 1 % . ''
In a telephone interview on Fox News , President Trump said a WHO figure of 3.4 % for the coronavirus death rate was `` false '' .
WHO reported this figure on 3 March and said it was based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in death .
Mr Trump said he thought the true death rate , based on `` my hunch '' , was `` way under 1 % '' .
He said the death rate appeared higher because many people who caught a mild form of the virus did not report it to the doctor and therefore did not end up as confirmed cases .
At the moment we do n't know how likely you are to die from coronavirus , mainly because of the lack of data on infections .
However , scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
On 9 March : `` Last year 37,000 Americans died from the common flu .
Nothing is shut down , life and the economy go on ...
Think about that . ''
This statement from the president requires context .
We do n't know exactly how many Americans ' deaths there have been linked to flu .
But estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) give a range between 26,339 and 52,664 flu deaths last winter ( between October 2019 and February 2020 ) , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of people die from flu each year , as Mr Trump points out .
However , unlike most strains of flu , the spread of new coronavirus has not yet been contained by vaccines or immunity from previous outbreaks , and scientists ( including those from the WHO ) believe it has a significantly higher death rate than that of seasonal flu ( which , on average , is about 0.1 % ) .
On 7 March : `` Very soon , we 're going to come up [ with a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine for this new coronavirus , although scientists in many countries are working hard to develop one .
Scientists say realistically , one wo n't be ready until at least the middle of next year .
Testing of vaccines on animals has already started .
There 's also been a test on human volunteers of a vaccine against coronavirus , but it will take many months before we know if this works .
• The fake advice you should ignore On 29 February : `` We 've taken the most aggressive actions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most aggressive taken by any country . ''
The US has now imposed sweeping restrictions and some quarantine measures .
It 's now closing the border with Canada to all non-essential travel .
But other countries have also taken aggressive measures to counter the virus - in some instances , more than the US .
China and Italy , for example , introduced widespread quarantining , affecting millions of people .
The EU has closed its external borders for at least 30 days , with some European states closing their borders to any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions on movement .
Update : This piece was first published on 12 March , it has been updated to reflect the start of the first human vaccine trial in the US .

Currently there is no vaccine for this new coronavirus, although scientists in many countries are working hard to develop one. Scientists say realistically, one won't be ready until at least the middle of next year. Testing of vaccines on animals has already started. There's also been a test on human volunteers of a vaccine against coronavirus, but it will take many months before we know if this works.


bbc--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Three grandmothers self-isolating together

Doreen Burns , Carol Spark and Dotty Robinson are all in their 70s and have known each other for over @ @ @ @ @ , who all live in Salford in Greater Manchester , have come up with a @ @ @ @ @ further restrictions are brought in .

Doreen Burns, Carol Spark and Dotty Robinson are all in their 70s and have known each other for over 40 years.
The women, who all live in Salford in Greater Manchester, have come up with a plan to live together when further restrictions are brought in.
They spoke to BBC Breakfast reporter Jayne McCubbin.


bbc--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Air pollution and CO2 fall rapidly as virus spreads

Levels of air pollutants and warming gases over some cities and regions are showing significant drops as coronavirus impacts work and travel .
Researchers in New York told the BBC their early results showed carbon monoxide mainly from cars had been reduced by nearly 50 % compared with last year .
Emissions of the planet-heating gas CO2 have also fallen sharply .
But there are warnings levels could rise rapidly after the pandemic .
With global economic activity ramping down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic , it is hardly surprising that emissions of a variety of gases related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Scientists say that by May , when CO2 emissions are at their peak thanks to the decomposition of leaves , the levels recorded might be the lowest since the financial crisis over a decade ago .
While it is early days , data collected in New York this week suggests that instructions to curb unnecessary travel are having a significant impact .
Traffic levels in the city were estimated to be down 35 % compared with a year ago .
Emissions of carbon monoxide , mainly due to cars and trucks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple of days this week according to researchers at Columbia University .
They have also found that there was a 5-10 % drop in CO2 over New York and a solid drop in methane as well .
`` New York has had exceptionally high carbon monoxide numbers for the last year and a half , '' said Prof Róisín Commane , from Columbia University , who carried out the New York air monitoring work .
`` And this is the cleanest I have ever seen it .
It 's is less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March . ''
• 'The rich are to blame for climate change' Although there are a number of caveats to these findings , they echo the environmental impacts connected to the virus outbreaks in China and in Italy .
An analysis carried out for the climate website Carbon Brief suggested there had been a 25 % drop in energy use and emissions in China over a two week period .
This is likely to lead to an overall fall of about 1 % in China 's carbon emissions this year , experts believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also recorded significant falls in nitrogen dioxide , which is related to reduced car journeys and industrial activity .
The gas is both a serious air pollutant and a powerful warming chemical .
With aviation grinding to a halt and millions of people working from home , a range of emissions across many countries are likely following the same downward path .
While people working from home will likely increase the use of home heating and electricity , the curbing of commuting and the general slowdown in economies will likely have an impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will have the smallest increase in May to May peak CO2 that we 've had in the northern hemisphere since 2009 , or even before , '' said Prof Commane .
This view is echoed by others in the field , who believe that the shutdown will impact CO2 levels for the whole of this year .
`` It will depend on how long the pandemic lasts , and how widespread the slowdown is in the economy particularly in the US .
But most likely I think we will see something in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Prof Corinne Le Quéré from the University of East Anglia .
`` If it lasts another three of four months , certainly we could see some reduction . ''
What 's likely to make a major difference to the scale of carbon emissions and air pollution is how governments decide to re-stimulate their economies once the pandemic eases .
Back in the 2008-09 , after the global financial crash , carbon emissions shot up by 5 % as a result of stimulus spending that boosted fossil fuel use .
• EASY STEPS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak In the coming months , governments will have a chance to alter that outcome .
They could insist , for instance , that any bailout of airlines would be tied to far more stringent reductions in aviation emissions .
`` Governments now have to be really cautious on how they re-stimulate their economies , mindful of not locking in fossil fuels again , '' said Prof Le Quéré .
`` They should focus those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would lower emissions , like renovating buildings , putting in heat pumps and electric chargers .
These are not complicated and can be done straight away , they are just waiting for financial incentives . ''
However , some argue that if the pandemic goes on a long time , any stimulus would more likely focus on promoting any economic growth regardless of the impact on the environment .
`` I certainly think climate could go on the back burner , and in this case , I do n't think there is much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Prof Glen Peters from the Centre for International Climate Research .
`` Any stimulus will help those with job losses such as tourism and services .
I think this is very different to the global financial crisis .
The only silver linings could be to learning new practices to work remotely , and buying a few years of lower growth allowing solar and wind to catch up a bit , though , these may be rather small silver linings . ''

"It will depend on how long the pandemic lasts, and how widespread the slowdown is in the economy particularly in the US. But most likely I think we will see something in the global emissions this year," said Prof Corinne Le Quéré from the University of East Anglia.


bbc--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: The detectives racing to contain the virus in Singapore

In Singapore , one of the first places hit by coronavirus , detectives are tracking down potential positive cases to try to stay one step ahead of the virus .
How did they do this and is it too late for the rest of the world ?
In mid-January , a group of 20 tourists from the Chinese city of Guangxi arrived in Singapore for Chinese New Year .
They visited some of its most glamorous sights .
Also on their itinerary was a non-descript traditional Chinese medicine shop , selling crocodile oil and herbal products .
The shop is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served by a dedicated saleswoman who showed them various products , even massaging medicated oil on their arms .
The Chinese group finished the tour and went home .
But they had left something behind .
At that point , the 18 coronavirus cases in Singapore had only been found in arrivals from mainland China .
But on 4 February , Singapore 's government reported that the virus had spread into the local community - and the Yong Thai Hang Chinese medicine shop was its first cluster , with a local tour guide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that one shopping trip , nine people became infected , including the saleswoman 's husband , her six-month-old baby and their Indonesian domestic helper .
Two other staff members also caught it .
They have now recovered , but it could have been much worse if Singapore did n't have a sophisticated and extensive contact tracing programme , which follows the chain of the virus from one person to the next , identifying and isolating those people - and all their close contacts - before they can spread the virus further .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' says Leong Hoe Nam , an infectious diseases specialist at the Mount Elizabeth Novena hospital and a Singapore government advisor .
`` The hospitals would be overwhelmed . ''
As of 16 March , Singapore had confirmed 243 cases and no deaths .
For about 40 % of those people , the first indication they had was the health ministry telling them they needed to be tested and isolated .
In total , 6,000 people have been contact traced to date , using a combination of CCTV footage , police investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - which often starts with a simple telephone call .
It was one of those calls on a sunny Saturday afternoon during a barbecue that led to Singapore-based British yoga teacher Melissa ( not her real name ) learning she was at risk of contracting the virus .
`` It was surreal , '' she says , describing the moment an unknown number flashed up on her phone .
`` They asked 'were you in a taxi at 18:47 on Wednesday ? '
It was very precise .
I guess I panicked a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Melissa eventually remembered that she was in that taxi - and later when she looked at her taxi app realised it was a trip that took just six minutes .
To date , she does n't know whether it was the driver or another passenger who was infected .
All she knows is that it was an officer at Singapore 's health ministry that made the phone call , and told her that she needed to stay at home and be quarantined .
The next day Melissa found out just how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned up at her door , wearing jackets and surgical masks .
`` It was a bit like out of a film , '' she says .
`` They gave me a contract - the quarantine order - it says you can not go outside your home otherwise it 's a fine and jail time .
It is a legal document .
`` They make it very clear that you can not leave the house .
And I knew I would n't break it .
I know that I live in a place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Two weeks later , Melissa had shown no symptoms of Covid-19 and could leave her house .
In Singapore , most people know somebody who has been contact traced and that is part of the point .
With almost 8,000 people per sq km it 's one of the most densely populated countries on Earth .
An unidentified infected cluster could spread the disease rapidly .
The potential strain on the economy and health service could be huge .
Singapore had little choice but to try to find and isolate everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of three contact tracers at Singapore General Hospital , one of the government hospitals responsible for treating coronavirus patients .
His team is the first to talk to patients when they come to hospital , to find out who they 've been in contact with and where they 've been .
`` Once we get the results from the labs [ of a positive case ] we have to drop everything and push through the night till about 3am .
The next day , you start again , '' he says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Ministry of Health who continue with the process .
`` Without this first piece , nothing can be connected .
It is like a puzzle , you have to piece it all together , '' he says .
Zubaidah Said leads one of the Ministry of Health teams tasked with that next job .
Often her teams face challenges gathering information - some patients are too sick to answer for instance - and that makes their job much harder .
`` As far as possible for such cases , we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again that has been difficult '' she says .
That is where the next team comes in , because Singapore also has the advantage of having police criminal investigation units on the case .
`` The police and the ministry hold daily teleconferences to exchange information , '' senior assistant commissioner ( SAC ) of police Lian Ghim Hua , of the Criminal Investigation Department told the BBC via email .
`` An average of 30 to 50 officers are working on contact tracing on any given day , and the number has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times . ''
The contact tracing is done on top of the police 's daily duties - something made possible by Singapore 's low crime rate .
On occasion officers have also roped in assistance from the criminal investigative department , the narcotics bureau , and the police intelligence services .
They use CCTV footage , data visualisation and investigations to help them trace contacts whose identities are n't known in the first instance , for example a taxi passengers who did not make an app booking , or paid by cash .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak The effectiveness is clear from the case of Julie , who went to hospital feeling dizzy and feverish in early February .
Less than an hour after doctors told her she had contracted the virus , the system kicked in .
`` I was on my hospital bed when I got the call , '' she said .
What followed was a meticulous questioning of everything Julie had done and everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
`` They wanted to know who I was with , what I was doing , what their names were and then their contact numbers .
Officials were looking for close contacts , typically someone who spent more than 30 minutes with the infected person , within a 2m space .
`` There was no interest in someone I had brushed shoulders with even if it was someone that I knew .
They were looking for people I had spent some amount of time with . ''
Julie spoke to the contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of that phone call , she had identified 50 people .
All were contacted by the Ministry of Health , and served 14-day quarantine orders .
Not one developed the virus .
Contact-tracing is n't new - it 's been used for decades to track patients who may have passed their illness to others during their stay .
But Singapore 's use of the system during this crisis was praised by Harvard epidemiologists in early February , who described it as a `` gold standard of near-perfect detection '' .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for being proactive even before the first case was detected .
Singapore , unlike the US and much of Europe , started contact tracing early to stay ahead of community spread .
`` If you leave it too late then everything becomes so much harder to do , because there are so many cases , '' says Dr Siousxie Wiles , associate professor at the University of Auckland in New Zealand .
But the level of precision and detection used in Singapore would not be possible in most countries .
There are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveillance Singapore has , which the WHO told the BBC in an email , `` has allowed for the rapid identification and management of cases '' .
That 's coupled with largely compliant behaviour from the general population - when the government calls and asks you questions , it is a near-certainty that everyone will co-operate .
Singapore 's Infectious Diseases Act also makes it illegal for anyone to refuse co-operation with the police in their attempts to gather information .
The penalty is a S $ 10,000 ( $ 6,900 ; £5,800 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - or both .
Two Chinese nationals have already been charged under the act for giving police false information about their whereabouts during contact tracing .
No wonder , Mr Conceicao notes , in almost all of cases people are extremely accommodating .
• How 'trace , test and treat ' may be saving lives in South Korea '' To use police for contact tracing in this manner of investigating is quite unique to Singapore , '' says Chong Ja Ian , an associate professor at the National University of Singapore .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are exposed to and are familiar with .
Singaporeans have grown up and lived with a highly surveilled society , so it 's become normalised for them .
The sort of reach that the state has is not questioned as much , it 's taken for granted .
People have learned to live with this . ''
Taiwan , Hong Kong , South Korea have all seen varying levels of success over the last week , using different strategies from big data , social distancing and mass testing to get numbers under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries with large populations , poor healthcare and detection systems like Indonesia , and that means trying to find those infected is like looking for a needle in a haystack .
They have no idea where the next case is coming from .
`` Societies which have strong technocratic elites able to conduct long-term planning and relatively high levels of trust in experts and governments are responding better to the virus outbreak '' says James Crabtree , associate professor of practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singapore , South Korea and Taiwan seem to be coping better than Italy and the US . ''
When should you give up ?
On 5 March , Singapore announced its latest - and what would become its biggest - cluster so far .
A late Chinese New Year dinner at a community club on 15 February hosted hundreds of people - that one party has yielded 47 infections so far .
They have gone on to infect others in the community , raising fears that contact tracing is fast becoming irrelevant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be enforced like school closures and lockdowns .
Singapore is also seeing an exponential rise in the number of new cases per day - most of them imported .
On 18 March , for example , it announced 47 new cases - 33 were imported , mostly Singaporeans who had returned home .
It has imposed restrictions on travellers entering the country as a result .
The government says there is still value in contact tracing , because the data it collects from contact tracing helps policy makers decide which strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the epidemic , says Dr Said .
`` Until we reach a stage where the numbers are so high it overwhelms our entire ability to bring sources in to try and contain outbreaks as they arise that may be a time when we have to think about changing our strategy , '' Kenneth Mak , Singapore 's deputy director of medical services says .
`` But we do n't see that as something that we need to consider very seriously at this point in time . ''
Almost two months into the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singapore .
Singapore has credited that to its healthcare services but also its contact tracing .
It has bought time , so doctors could treat the people in hospital who really needed treatment , without overwhelming healthcare services the way it happened in Wuhan .
The reality is that Singapore will have to give up contact tracing if numbers continue to rise .
It is expensive , labour intensive and at some point the virus will overtake the contact tracers .
But until then it is a race against an invisible offender .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ few more untraceable cases before the virus begins surging through the population .

"But in Singapore, this is something people are exposed to and are familiar with. Singaporeans have grown up and lived with a highly surveilled society, so it's become normalised for them. The sort of reach that the state has is not questioned as much, it's taken for granted. People have learned to live with this."


bbc--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Is drinking cow urine any help?

India has had relatively few confirmed cases of coronavirus - but there 's been plenty of misleading advice on how to tackle it .
BBC News has been fact-checking some of the most prominent examples .
There is a long tradition in India of promoting cow urine and dung as traditional remedies for various diseases .
And an MP from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) , Suman Haripriya , has suggested they could be used against the coronavirus .
There have been previous studies into the potential anti-bacterial properties of cow urine .
And a Hindu nationalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the capital , Delhi , to promote its use for tackling the virus .
But Dr Shailendra Saxena , of the Indian Virological Society , told BBC News : `` There is no medical evidence to show that cow urine has anti-viral characteristics .
`` Moreover , using cow-dung could prove counter-productive as bovine faecal matter could contain a coronavirus which might replicate in humans . ''
As well as cow-dung soap , Cowpathy has been selling alcohol-free hand sanitiser with `` distilled cow urine obtained from indigenous cows '' online since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the product page says : `` Due to high demand , we are currently limiting the purchase quantity per customer for this product to maximize access for our customers . ''
Meanwhile , Ramdev , a yoga guru on a popular Hindi news channel , has suggested making herbal hand sanitisers at home .
He also said consuming a concoction of ayurvedic herb giloy , turmeric and basil leaves could help prevent coronavirus .
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the outbreak But the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) say it is important to use alcohol-based hand sanitisers .
And Prof Sally Bloomfield , at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , says any homemade hand sanitiser will be ineffective as even vodka contains only 40 % alcohol .
Last week , Anil Vij , the Health Minister of Haryana state , in northern India , made an appeal for people not to eat meat .
`` Do not create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger to humanity , by having [ meat of ] different kinds of animals . ''
A Hindu nationalist group , meanwhile , claimed the coronavirus had come to punish meat-eaters .
But after the ministry that oversees livestock production said it had led to a fall in the sales of eggs and chicken , the Indian government 's fact-checking service posted a rebuttal of the claim .
And government minister Giriraj Singh said the Indian food regulator had found no evidence for it .
The coronavirus pandemic has also led some businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
A 15,000-rupee ( £165 ) `` anti-coronavirus '' mattress was as advertised virus-resistant , for example .
Arihant Mattresses managing director Amar Parekh told BBC News : `` It is anti-fungal , anti-allergic , dustproof and waterproof , so nothing can go inside it . ''
But the advertisement had now been removed '' I do not want to cause harm to anyone , '' he said .
`` We did not do it after there was a backlash . ''

The immune response is what the body does when it fights off a virus but there is no evidence that it can be boosted in this way, say medical experts.


bbc--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: California issues state-wide 'stay at home' order

California has issued a `` stay at home '' order to residents as it tries to stem the march of the coronavirus across the most populous US state .
Governor Gavin Newsom told Californians they should only leave their homes when necessary during the pandemic .
He earlier estimated more than half of the 40 million people in his state would contract Covid-19 in just the next two months .
The virus has claimed 205 lives in the US and infected more than 14,000 .
Globally nearly 250,000 patients have tested positive for the respiratory illness and more than 10,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US warns against international travel What does California 's order mean ?
Mr Newsom said on Thursday evening : `` This is a moment we need to make tough decisions .
We need to recognise reality . ''
California is among the first US states to bring in blanket restrictions .
Earlier this week Nevada said non-essential businesses should close for 30 days .
The governor 's order will allow residents to leave their homes to buy groceries or medicine , or walk a dog or take exercise , but seeks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses deemed non-essential to close , while allowing others including grocery stores , pharmacies , banks and petrol stations to stay open .
About half of the state 's population is already subject to similar stringent measures , including the city of San Francisco .
The Democratic governor said parts of the state were seeing infection rates double every four days .
Speaking at a press conference in Sacramento , Mr Newsom said the virus `` will impact about 56 % of us - you do the math in the state of California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
The governor did not clarify how his officials had calculated that figure , which would amount to nearly 22.5 million infected people .
But his spokesman acknowledged the estimate did not take into account the mitigation measures being implemented state-wide .
This is the most drastic measure that any US state governor has taken to try to tame the virus - going further even than New York , which has more coronavirus cases than California .
Speaking from the state 's emergency operations centre in Sacramento - a place that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildfires or earthquakes - Mr Newsom called on people here to only leave their homes if it was absolutely necessary - to get food , collect medicines , or care for a friend or relative .
He said said that based on projections nearly 20,000 more hospital beds would be needed to deal with the effects of the outbreak than the state could currently provide .
He is asking Congress for a billion dollars in federal funding to support California 's response to the crisis , and calling for a navy hospital ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles to help deal with the anticipated surge in patients .
So far , California has recorded fewer than 1,000 cases of the virus and 19 deaths , according to the Los Angeles Times .
On Wednesday Mr Newsom wrote to President Donald Trump appealing for urgent federal help .
On Thursday Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the Senate needed to pass a $ 1 trillion economic rescue plan by Monday .
The Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act would include hundreds of billions of dollars worth of loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large corporate tax cuts and $ 1,200 ( £1,000 ) cheques for taxpayers .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• YOUR THIRD HAND : How do you clean your smartphone ?
• BORED KIDS : Should you let your children play with others ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the US ?
Where are the other US coronavirus 'hot zones ' ?
Along with New York and Washington , California is among the US states worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic .
On Thursday alone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 more than doubled to 3,954 - greater than the confirmed number of coronavirus patients in the whole of the UK .
Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN the most populous city in the US would run out of medical supplies within three weeks if the `` explosion '' of infections continued at such a rate .
He implored the federal government to help New York obtain 15,000 ventilators , three million respirator masks , 50 million surgical masks and 45 million gowns , gloves and coveralls .
The mayor said the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 people in the city .
The US Department of State , meanwhile , on Thursday urged Americans to forgo all foreign travel .
What does the US travel warning say ?
In an effort to contain the global coronavirus pandemic , the nation 's foreign ministry issued a Level 4 travel advisory - its top-tier warning , usually reserved for nations at war - that said `` do not travel '' .
Only four days ago the department sent out a Level 3 notification recommending that Americans `` reconsider travel '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you choose to travel internationally , your travel plans may be severely disrupted , and you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite timeframe . ''
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his administration was working with the military to bring home hundreds of Americans who have been stranded overseas amid a global shutdown on international travel .
The US travel embargo follows similar measures issued by other countries , including Canada a week ago .
It comes as the White House cancelled this year 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The annual meeting of the world 's seven most powerful economic countries was due to be held in June at the Camp David presidential retreat in the US state of Maryland .
But the leaders of the US , Britain , Italy , Japan , Canada , France , Germany and the EU will instead speak via video conference .
White House spokesman Judd Deere said the decision was taken `` in order for each country to focus all of its resources on responding to the health and economic challenges of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events , from sports tournaments to music festivals , have been cancelled around the world this month because of the coronavirus pandemic .

Speaking from the state's emergency operations centre in Sacramento - a place that is normally used to coordinate the response to wildfires or earthquakes - Mr Newsom called on people here to only leave their homes if it was absolutely necessary - to get food, collect medicines, or care for a friend or relative.


bbc--2020-03-20--US students party on spring break despite coronavirus

Crowds of US university students flocked to Florida for their spring break , defying recommendations from the federal government and @ @ @ @ @ CDC ) over the coronavirus outbreak .
National health officials are advising against gatherings of @ @ @ @ @ Miami bars and restaurants are closing early , and some beaches have been shut to @ @ @ @ @ .

Crowds of US university students flocked to Florida for their spring break, defying recommendations from the federal government and Center for Disease Control (CDC) over the coronavirus outbreak.
National health officials are advising against gatherings of 10 or more people.
Miami bars and restaurants are closing early, and some beaches have been shut to the public to avoid infection.


bbc--2020-03-20--Nirbhaya case: Four Indian men executed for 2012 Delhi bus rape and murder

Four Indian men convicted of the gang rape and murder of a student in Delhi in 2012 have been hanged .
Akshay Thakur , Vinay Sharma , Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh were sentenced to death by a trial court in 2013 .
The four were hanged in the capital 's high-security Tihar prison in the first executions in India since 2015 .
The victim died from her injuries days after being raped by six men on a moving bus .
The incident caused outrage and led to new anti-rape laws in India .
The 23-year-old physiotherapy student was dubbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press as she could not be named under Indian law .
Six people were arrested for the attack .
One of them , Ram Singh , was found dead in jail in March 2013 , having apparently taken his own life .
Another , who was 17 at the time of the attack , was released in 2015 after serving three years in a reform facility - the maximum term possible for a juvenile in India .
• Who were the Delhi gang rape convicts ?
In the last few months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court in a bid to reduce their sentences to life imprisonment .
But the top court rejected their petitions , leaving the men with no other legal recourse .
A last-minute appeal to have the death penalties commuted was also rejected hours before the executions .
Minutes after the convicts were hanged on Friday morning , the victim 's mother said , `` I hugged my daughter 's photograph and told her we finally got justice . ''
Her father said that his `` faith in the judiciary had been restored '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a large number of police and paramilitary personnel deployed to maintain law and order .
A group of people carrying placards had gathered outside the prison gates and began celebrating after the executions were announced .
Some chanted `` death to rapists '' and waved posters thanking the judiciary .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Friday morning saying `` justice has prevailed '' .
He added that the country had to `` build a nation where the focus is on women 's empowerment '' .
Despite the fact that this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a focus , there has been no sign that crimes against women are abating .
Recently-released figures from the National Crime Records Bureau show police registered 33,977 cases of rape in 2018 - that 's an average of 93 cases a day .
The student boarded an off-duty bus at around 20:30 local time on 16 December 2012 with a male friend .
They were returning home after watching a film at an upscale mall .
The six men , who were already on board , attacked the couple , taking turns to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her with an iron rod .
Her friend was beaten .
They were then thrown out onto the roadside to die .
Some passers-by found them naked and bloodied and called the police .
Two weeks later - after widespread protests that demanded India to reckon with its treatment of women - the victim died in a hospital in Singapore , where she was taken for further treatment after her condition deteriorated in a Delhi hospital .
Has India become safer for women ?
A short answer to that question would be : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the increased scrutiny of crimes against women since December 2012 , similar violent incidents have continued to make headlines in India .
And statistics tell only a part of the story - campaigners say thousands of rapes and cases of sexual assault are not even reported to the police .
I personally know women who have never reported being assaulted because they are ashamed , or because of the stigma associated with sexual crimes , or because they are afraid that they will not be believed .
Some say strict punishment , swiftly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law in the public mind and deter rape , but experts say the only permanent solution to the problem is to dismantle the hold of patriarchal thinking , the mindset that regards women as being a man 's property .
Until that happens , how do women and girls in India ensure their safety ?
How did India react to the crime ?
`` Wake up India , she 's dead , '' screamed one newspaper headline , announcing her death .
The horrific crime triggered a firestorm of protests in India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been seen before .
The capital came to a standstill as protesters occupied the main streets .
Authorities even temporarily closed some Metro stations in a bid to stop people from gathering .
Thousands of furious protesters - mostly young women and men - still turned up at India Gate in the centre of the city , prompting police to use water cannons to disperse the crowds .
Protests continued in Delhi and several other cities for a fortnight , the number of days it took the victim to succumb to her injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising public anger by announcing a series of measures intended to make the city safer for women : more police night patrols , checks on bus drivers and their assistants , and the banning of buses with dark windows or curtains .
The attack became an inflection point , galvanising a national debate on the treatment of women .
Public outrage over the crime mounted again in 2015 when the BBC broadcast a documentary called India 's Daughter which included an interview with one of the convicts who blamed the victim for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the documentary caused a big enough stir that resulted in the film being banned .
Television news channels that were supposed to broadcast the film ran a blank screen instead .
What were the new anti-rape laws that followed the incident ?
Reacting to the massive protests , India announced new anti-rape laws in March 2013 .
They prescribed harsher punishments for rapists and addressed new crimes , including stalking , acid throwing as well as spying on a woman when naked or circulating her pictures without her consent .
They also expanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the absence of physical struggle did n't equal consent .
Also , under the new laws , a repeat offender of rape or rape that causes coma could be given the death penalty .

In the last few months, all four convicts filed petitions in the Supreme Court in a bid to reduce their sentences to life imprisonment. But the top court rejected their petitions, leaving the men with no other legal recourse. A last-minute appeal to have the death penalties commuted was also rejected hours before the executions.


bbc--2020-03-20--Is Iran covering up its outbreak?

Is Iran covering up its outbreak?

Iran is facing one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in the world .
Today , as families celebrate Persian New Year , Nowruz , there is concern the true scale of the virus is being downplayed by the government and could rapidly get much worse .
Mohammad has been working relentlessly since the coronavirus outbreak to save the lives of his patients .
The hospital doctor , who works in the northern province of Gilan , has not seen his family for 14 days .
He has lost colleagues .
He has lost friends - including his former mentor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell victim to coronavirus .
`` It 's not just our hospital .
The coronavirus outbreak has paralysed our whole health system , '' says Mohammad .
`` The morale of staff is very low .
Our families are so worried and we are under enormous pressure . ''
Mohammad 's name has been changed because speaking out against the government in Iran risks arrest .
But several doctors from across the country 's northern provinces have spoken to the BBC about the dire conditions they are facing , and how badly they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We do n't even have enough masks .
Our medical staff are dying on a daily basis , '' says Mohammad .
`` I do not know how many people died but the government is trying to cover up the true scale of the crisis .
They lied in the early days of the outbreak . ''
In just 16 days , Covid-19 spread throughout all 31 provinces in Iran .
On top of this , 16 countries claim they have cases of the virus that originated in Iran .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kuwait , Oman , Lebanon , the United Arab Emirates , Canada , Pakistan , Georgia , Estonia , New Zealand , Belarus , Azerbaijan , Qatar and Armenia .
However , critics of the authorities say the government of Iran has continued to downplay the outbreak .
In its first announcement on 19 February , the government told people not to worry about the virus .
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Iran 's `` enemies '' of exaggerating the threat .
A week later , as the number of cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Leader 's words and warned against the `` conspiracies and fear-mongering of our enemies '' .
He said these were designed to bring the country to a standstill and urged Iranians to continue their everyday lives and carry on going to work .
Most recently , state-controlled TV programmes announced the coronavirus could be a US-manufactured `` bioweapon '' , with the Supreme Leader tweeting about a `` biological attack '' .
As of 20 March , nearly 1,300 people have died and nearly 18,000 people have been infected , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the third worst-hit country behind China and Italy .
Doctors from three of the worst-hit provinces in Iran - Gilan , Golestan and Mazandarn - have told the BBC that there are very few coronavirus testing kits , and medical supplies are limited - including basic medicines , oxygen tanks , sterilised masks , and protective scrubs and gloves .
Doctors are now having to kit out temporary field hospitals .
One intensive care doctor described how her local football stadium was being equipped with beds to handle the overflow of patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that based on their experience , the official statistics must be much lower than the reality .
One doctor , an A & E medic from Golestan Province , says her hospital receives an average of 300 patients a day .
She estimates that 60 % -70 % of those are infected with coronavirus , but due to lack of resources , only those who are critically ill are admitted .
And only those who are admitted to hospital are counted in the official statistics .
The doctor describes having lost five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past two weeks .
She says that often by the time someone has arrived with a coronavirus testing kit , her patient has already died .
Also devastating for medical staff is the loss of their own .
Medical professionals said they had recently lost a number of colleagues .
One heartbreaking case was that of 25-year-old Narjes Khanalizadeh , a nurse from the northern city of Lahijan who died towards the end of February .
A photo of her went viral on social media .
But the government denied she had died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to portray an image of easy-going and fearless medical staff working on the front line , courageously battling the virus and saving their patients .
But shortly after her death , the Iranian Nursing Organisation confirmed Narjes had died of coronavirus .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• TRAVEL PLANS : What are your rights ?
How did the virus spread so fast ?
According to the government , there were two `` patient zeros '' , both of whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 February .
One , it said , was a businessman who contracted the disease in China .
Qom quickly became the epicentre of the outbreak .
The city is an important pilgrimage destination for Shia Muslims .
It is home to the country 's top Islamic clerics , and draws some 20 million domestic and around 2.5 million international tourists a year .
Each week , thousands of pilgrims navigate the city , paying their respects by kissing and touching the numerous shrines and landmarks .
The virus spread quickly and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But instead of quickly quarantining the city , representatives of the Supreme Leader - such as cleric Mohammad Saeedi - campaigned for pilgrims to keep on visiting .
`` We consider this holy shrine to be a place of healing .
That means people should come here to heal from both spiritual and physical diseases . ''
Richard Brennan , director of emergency operations for the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , who recently returned from Qom , said : `` Due to the special religious nature of Qom , with religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the virus spread rapidly across the country . ''
He said during his visit he had seen a `` genuine effort '' to increase operations in testing labs and hospitals in Qom and the capital Tehran .
The city 's shrines have now been closed .
Did the government downplay the outbreak ?
February saw two major events for the country - the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and the parliamentary elections .
`` The first days that my colleagues and I recorded an abnormal respiratory disease were days before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' recalls one senior doctor , who says he sent multiple reports from his hospital to senior health ministers in Tehran warning of the outbreak .
`` We believe that health officials decided to hide the fact that coronavirus had reached Iran to have their usual state-sponsored gatherings . ''
Both the anniversary event and the elections were seen as a test of the government 's popularity , after six months of chaos endured by Iranians .
These included violent protests in November following a fuel price hike , and rising tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a base in Iraq housing American troops in retaliation for the killing of the top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani .
The downing of a Ukrainian plane that led to the death of all 176 people on board dented public trust after officials initially denied the plane had been hit by a missile .
Shortly after the election , Iran 's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Iran 's `` enemies '' of exaggerating the threat of coronavirus to keep voters away from the polls .
`` Negative propaganda was launched several months ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their media has used every opportunity to discourage people from casting their vote on the pretext of an illness and virus , '' said Mr Khamenei .
More recently , Iran 's health minister Saeed Namaki , rejected all claims of delaying reports , with state TV announcing `` the issue was immediately announced [ 19 Feb ] despite the fact the election was was due to be held that Friday [ 21 Feb ] '' .
Five days after the election , the number of cases confirmed by the government had risen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same day , Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani , a hardline MP from Qom , stood up in parliament and said 50 people had died in his city over a two-week period .
Deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi denied Mr Farahani 's claim , and said he would resign if the death toll stood at even half that number .
Later that day , Harirchi was seen sweating profusely and coughing during a press conference on coronavirus .
He later announced he had tested positive , becoming the first of many high-profile Iranian politicians to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made a `` full recovery '' appearing live on television on 13 March .
Numerous experts and journalists have suggested the official figures are a dangerous and vast underestimate of the true scale of the crisis in Iran , including a BBC Persian investigation which established on a single day , the death toll to be six times higher than reported .
But as even the official figures continue to soar , the question now for Iranians is how to stop the virus .
`` Nobody in our family was there when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even get to see his body .
They just told us he 'd died and had been buried in a special zone in Tehran 's main cemetery . ''
For safety , Alireza 's name has been changed .
Alireza 's family were told by the authorities not to gather for a funeral but that they would be able to visit the grave once her father had been buried .
But upon arriving at the cemetery , she was told by staff it was n't safe to enter because they were still burying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk more about the burial of my father than his death , '' she says .
`` I 'm not a religious , or even spiritual person , but I still have this strange feeling inside , as if we disrespected my father . ''
The Iranian authorities have now banned all large funeral gatherings .
Several clerics , including the Supreme Leader , have also issued religious fatwas against the traditional washing of dead bodies , to protect those working as `` mordeshoors '' - or body-washers .
As the WHO calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , Iran 's response continues to fall short of the measures implemented in countries such as China or Italy .
Schools , universities and seminaries have been closed , football matches cancelled , and a large-scale disinfection campaign has begun in the capital city , Tehran .
All Iranians have been advised against travel and told to stay at home .
And for the first time since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979 , Friday prayers have been cancelled .
In an attempt to prevent the spread of the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also temporarily released .
This includes political prisoners , many of whom are believed to be in poor health , among them British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe .
However , most government buildings , offices and banks remain open .
Even for middle-class Iranians such as retired teachers Fatemeh and her husband - not their real names - say the problem is most people are still reliant on cash for buying everything from groceries to fuel .
'We have to go to the bank to collect our monthly pension .
We are expecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ] special allowance in the coming days . ''
Many medical experts inside and outside Iran say unless the government establishes transparent incident figures and moves to quarantine whole cities such as Qom , the virus will continue to cripple the entire country .
President Rouhani has repeatedly said the government will not place cities under lockdown and for `` all shops to remain open and everyone to continue doing business '' , a decision many believe is simply because Iran can not afford to do otherwise .
The US sanctions have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the country 's biggest annual festival .
Ayatollah Khamenei used the event to praise the country 's `` dazzling '' sacrifices in responding to the outbreak .
For Fatemeh , it has never seemed less of a moment to celebrate .
`` In all my life , I do n't ever remember staying home alone for Nowruz .
Even during the war , when Saddam started attacking cities with missiles , we would visit each other during Nowruz . ''

Schools, universities and seminaries have been closed, football matches cancelled, and a large-scale disinfection campaign has begun in the capital city, Tehran. All Iranians have been advised against travel and told to stay at home. And for the first time since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, Friday prayers have been cancelled.


bbc--2020-03-19--Netflix to cut streaming quality in Europe for 30 days

Netflix will reduce the video quality on its service in Europe for the next 30 days , to reduce the strain on internet service providers .
Demand for streaming has increased because large parts of Europe are self-isolating at home due to the coronavirus outbreak .
The video-streaming provider said lowering the picture quality would reduce Netflix data consumption by 25 % .
But it said viewers would still find the picture quality good .
The change appears to include the UK but Netflix has not responded to the BBC 's request for confirmation on this .
Several factors influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a movie online .
One of them is video resolution , including whether a video is high-definition ( HD ) or ultra-high definition 4K .
Another is bitrate , which influences how clear and smooth videos look when streamed online Videos with a higher bitrate tend to look less `` blocky '' or pixelated , but use more data .
Out of these two , Netflix says it will cut its streaming bitrates .
The announcement came after a phone call with European officials .
Thierry Breton , the European Commissioner for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should `` switch to standard definition when HD [ high-definition ] is not necessary '' .
An hour of standard definition video uses about 1GB of data , while HD can use up to 3GB an hour .
Netflix also offers ultra-high definition 4K video for some of its programmes .
Netflix 's decision to reduce video bitrate by a quarter appears to be a compromise .
`` Following the discussions between Commissioner Thierry Breton and [ Netflix chief executive ] Reed Hastings , and given the extraordinary challenges raised by the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bitrates across all our streams in Europe for 30 days , '' the company said .
Commissioner Breton praised the `` very prompt action '' Netflix took just hours after the phone call , saying it would `` preserve the smooth functioning of the internet during the Covid-19 crisis '' .
Netflix has not yet said whether the bitrate reduction will be applied to other areas such as North America .
Internet usage has been heightened in the last few weeks as more people work from home and avoid going out .
Telecoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in internet use in Europe earlier this week .
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Wednesday that the platform was seeing `` big surges '' as users tried to stay connected with friends .
The social media boss said the company typically saw its largest surge in use on New Year 's Eve , but that recent demand had outpaced that .

"Following the discussions between Commissioner Thierry Breton and [Netflix chief executive] Reed Hastings, and given the extraordinary challenges raised by the coronavirus, Netflix has decided to begin reducing bitrates across all our streams in Europe for 30 days," the company said.


bbc--2020-03-20--UK asks retired medics to return and fight virus

Letters are being sent to more than 65,000 retired doctors and nurses in England and Wales asking them to return to the NHS to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak .
Senior officials say the ex-employees are needed to boost frontline services .
It comes after the government pledged to ensure that all hospitals have enough protective gear and ventilators .
It also published a list of key workers whose children will still be able to go to school after they shut later .
In Scotland , anyone who left the medical profession during the past three years has also been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , the chancellor is set to announce a wage subsidy package to protect jobs .
Many firms are warning of collapse , wiping out thousands of jobs , as life in the UK is largely put on hold .
One proposal under discussion is for the UK to follow the lead of countries such as Denmark , where the government has promised to cover 75 % of salaries at private companies for three months , if they promise not to let staff go .
In the UK , 144 people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have tested positive for Covid-19 .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
Schools in the UK will close from Friday except for those looking after the children of key workers and vulnerable children .
Among those workers listed in government guidance as critical to the virus response are health workers , teaching staff , police and people working in the production and delivery of vital goods such as food and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one parent working in the listed sectors can continue to attend school but the government is asking parents to keep their children at home wherever possible .
• Frontline health workers such as doctors and nurses • Workers in key public services including those essential to the justice system , religious staff , and public service journalists • Utilities , communication and financial services staff , including postal workers , and waste disposal workers It comes as England 's top nurse and top doctor urged medics who have left the NHS in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory bodies to help in the battle against the `` greatest global health threat in history '' .
Final-year medical students and student nurses could also be given temporary work to boost the ranks .
Those who return will be assessed to see how they can best help the NHS fight the pandemic .
Ruth May , chief nursing officer for England , said : `` I am urging all recent former nurses to lend us your expertise and experience during this pandemic , because I have no doubt that you can help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powis , national medical director for the NHS , said returners `` will make more of a difference than ever before - not just to patients , but to colleagues and the wider community '' .
The Nursing and Midwifery Council will write to 50,000 nurses whose registration has lapsed in the last three years ; and the General Medical Council will contact another 15,500 doctors who have left since 2017 .
Earlier , Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he hoped `` many , many thousands will respond '' to the letters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurse , has said she will swap Westminster for the hospital ward - tweeting that it is `` important we all help where we can '' .
Asked when the former medics would be able to start , Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast those who left most recently could return `` straight away '' , while others will be given refresher training `` over the next couple of weeks '' .
He also pledged to get protective personal equipment ( PPE ) to frontline NHS staff and social care providers `` at pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put at risk by shortages .
Mr Hancock said 150 lorries had been dispatched overnight to get the equipment to about half the UK 's hospitals , and pledged a lorry load would be sent to each before next week .
He said more equipment had been sent to GPs and to pharmacists , and a roll out to care homes had also begun .
Speaking directly to NHS staff , he said : `` I totally understand that you need protective equipment ... because you 're literally on the frontline in what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It comes after the government pledged to reach 25,000 tests a day in hospitals within four weeks , and said it had shipped 2.6 million masks and 10,000 bottles of hand sanitiser since Wednesday .
• When will the coronavirus outbreak end ?
• How long could schools be closed ?
Meanwhile , Mr Hancock said the government appeal for manufacturers to make ventilators had received `` thousands '' of responses , including from Formula One .
Asked how many were needed , he said `` no number is too big '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making them had now been published online and urged firms to `` get on and start making them '' .
The government has bought a test that can detect whether someone has had coronavirus - and their immunity to it , he confirmed .
He also repeated appeals for people to stop panic-buying after many supermarkets began limiting the number of items that can be brought and reserved certain opening hours for the elderly and vulnerable .
It comes as an exhausted critical care nurse made an emotional appeal for people to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay healthy to carry to support the country .
Responding to Dawn Bilbrough 's video , Mr Hancock suggested supermarkets could consider dedicating a specific hour to key workers .
Elsewhere , in a message to the nation on Thursday the Queen urged people to come together for the common good .
The 93-year-old praised the work of scientists , medics and emergency staff , but added that everyone has a `` vitally important part to play '' .
The monarch 's comments came shortly before the PM led the government 's daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` turn the tide '' on the coronavirus crisis within 12 weeks .
But pressed on what he meant by the three-month timescale , he said he did not know how long it would go on for .
Mr Johnson went on to rule out closing down public transport in London but pointed out people in some parts of the capital were not following government guidance on social distancing and would be `` enforced '' to do so if necessary .
In other key developments in the UK : • Trials of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , Public Health England has said • Military leaders have been told by the head of the armed forces to be ready by the middle of next month to help respond to the pandemic , in guidance seen by the BBC • Ministers are asking phone operators if they can use mobile data to help monitor whether people are following social distancing advice • Train operators across Britain will gradually reduce services from Monday • Jaguar Land Rover , is to join Nissan and Vauxhall in suspending production at its UK plants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest rates from 0.25 % to 0.1 % - the lowest level in its history .
• The Catholic Church in Britain will suspend public masses from Friday evening until further notice In other key developments around the world : • Argentina has become the first country in South America to ban all citizens from leaving their homes except to buy food and medicines • An estimated 400 British nationals are among those stranded in Peru , after the country closed its borders and flights were suspended • California , the most populous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay at home '' order to residents • Globally , the number of confirmed cases has passed 220,000 , with more than 9,000 deaths Do you work in healthcare ?
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One proposal under discussion is for the UK to follow the lead of countries such as Denmark, where the government has promised to cover 75% of salaries at private companies for three months, if they promise not to let staff go.


bbc--2020-03-20--Japan cherry blossom season wilted by the coronavirus pandemic

The people of Japan and millions of tourists should now be enjoying the start of the cherry blossom viewing , or hanami , season .
It 's an extremely important time of year for the country , both economically and culturally .
Traditionally friends and family get together , and for a new generation it 's a perfect Instagram opportunity .
But this year the coronavirus pandemic means events have been cancelled and foreign visitors are staying away .
Katsuhiro Miyamoto from Kansai University highlighted the financial importance of hanami : `` Japan 's cherry blossom season has very big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated that almost 8.5m tourists visited the country during the cherry blossom season between March and May last year , bringing in some 650 billion yen ( $ 6bn ; £5.2bn ) .
Seijiro Takeshita from the University of Shizuoka underscored why the gatherings , at which people eat and drink and make merry , are so important to the Japanese economy .
`` We use an expression 'the wallet becomes loose ' , meaning people tend to a have a very high propensity to spend . ''
`` We have so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewing season ...
It has a lot of cultural factors , a lot of historical factors behind it , '' Professor Takeshita added as he explained the wider significance of the cherry blossom season .
• Are refunds being offered for cancelled events ?
This year though hanami events are being cancelled across the country as authorities attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Last week the governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike urged people to not hold their traditional parties .
At the same time Ms Koike made reference to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it was like `` taking hugs away from Italians . ''
Professor Miyamoto expects such measures to tackle the pandemic will hit tourism numbers hard this season , with revenue falling by more than a third to less than 400 billion yen .
It 's not all gloom and doom though .
`` Once the coronavirus outbreak is over , I believe that the cherry blossom season in Japan will come to life again , '' he concluded .

Last week the governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike urged people to not hold their traditional parties. At the same time Ms Koike made reference to the cultural importance of hanami as she said that it was like "taking hugs away from Italians."