bbc--2020-05-05--'There is no easy solution' - inside UK sport's £700m 'hole'

The coronavirus pandemic could cost three major sports almost £700m in the UK .
With more than 29,400 coronavirus-related deaths in the UK , live sport understandably remains on hold .
Leading figures from cricket , football and rugby union spoke of the potential impact of that as they appeared in front of the government 's Digital , Culture , Media and Sport committee on Tuesday .
What did we learn ?
And what does it mean for sport in this country ?
BBC Sport 's Simon Stone , Chris Jones and Stephan Shemilt take a look .
The Premier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June .
No date has been given for the EFL , but chairman Rick Parry said on Tuesday the season must be concluded by July 31 .
He said clubs face a `` £200m hole '' by September .
When might the EFL return ?
In theory it would be looking to start at the same time as the Premier League .
But there are major hurdles to overcome .
In addressing the issue of top-flight clubs potentially playing matches on neutral grounds , Parry told the DCMS hearing the same rules do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the threat of supporters turning up to stadiums .
At lower levels , this might be true .
But amid the debate about Liverpool fans wanting to be at Anfield on the day the club end their 30-year wait for the title , few have mentioned another of the country 's best-supported teams , Leeds United , are on the brink of returning to the Premier League after a 17-year wait .
Would West Yorkshire Police be happy to sanction a game at Elland Road under such circumstances ?
And if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all Championship matches need to be moved ?
How feasible is it for the season to finish by 31 July ?
It could happen .
But , as Parry says , the EFL needs to work backwards on this .
It has previously said it would take 56 days to complete the season , including play-offs .
At those timescales , it would mean starting on 6 June at the latest .
That would seem highly unlikely given the government is not going to announce its next steps until Sunday .
Parry 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One and Two will end with no further matches but the Championship continuing until there is greater clarity over whether the Premier League 's attempts to restart the season are successful .
What happens if the season does n't finish by the end of July ?
Even by finishing the season in July , there is a minefield to be worked through around contracts that expire at the end of June .
Parry estimates there are 1,400 EFL players out of contract this summer and 'the train is coming down the tunnel very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional severance payment in July if they have not found a new club .
The clubs think that payment means their players are committed to another month .
The Professional Footballers ' Association has indicated an alternative view and that players need an additional contract if they are to play beyond 30 June .
What is the realistic outlook for EFL clubs ?
The initial outlook is grim .
As Parry said , there is little point in clubs at lower levels playing matches behind closed doors as that is where most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an idea clubs in League One and Two could be mothballed .
But that overlooks the fact stadiums still need to be maintained and utility bills need to be paid .
No-one can say for certain , given the precarious nature of finances in those leagues , that there will not be casualties .
However , the hope is a greater willingness will exist among member clubs to live within their means .
That will not address the enormous gulf that exists between the money generated by the Premier League and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone looking in the right direction .
• Hard to see fans returning to football soon - FA chairman The Rugby Football Union will be hit with revenue losses of £107m if the 2020 autumn internationals are cancelled because of coronavirus , chief executive Bill Sweeney said on Tuesday .
When can/will rugby restart ?
The Six Nations was one of the first big events to be postponed - will the remaining matches be played this year ?
When it can restart , it will .
While the fate of Premiership clubs was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , their futures are of more immediate concern than that of the RFU , which has until the autumn before any major matches are scheduled .
The Premiership season has nine rounds remaining , and the clubs - like their football counterparts - are committed to completing the campaign if possible .
This would have to be behind closed doors initially , because that would at least result in some cash flow from TV and sponsorship .
Whether that is going to be possible is another matter entirely .
What is the knock-on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether fans can return to watch live rugby ?
If this season ca n't be completed until , say , September , would it be more sensible to call it now and instead focus on having a 2020-2021 campaign which starts on time ?
If the current season bleeds into the next one , we are faced with two seasons compromised .
As well as the financial element , clubs may say there is sporting integrity at stake ; I would argue there is no disgrace calling a season off because of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long ago by the Saracens scandal .
What about the safety aspect ?
Such a close contact sport will have to have even tougher restrictions than other sports .
This is a dilemma facing rugby , especially at the elite end ; that balance between returning to play as soon as possible , and the physical and contact essence of the sport .
Social distancing in training would barely work - and unlike in football the ball is constantly handled .
Mass testing on a regular basis is one solution , but this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to take resources away from the NHS .
There is no easy solution .
What is the long-term damage to the sport - from grassroots up ?
The extent of the damage will depend on the progression of the virus , and if and when rugby union gets the governmental approval needed to restart .
Games in the summer , albeit without crowds , could keep Premiership and Pro 14 clubs afloat ; but no cash flow for another few months would be likely to send some to the wall .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , only have money in reserve to last until the end of 2020 .
As for the RFU and other home unions , a lot will depend on whether the November internationals can go ahead .
The RFU 's biggest strength - owning its stadium and regularly selling 82,000 tickets - has now become its biggest weakness as it relies on Twickenham matches for 85 % of its revenue .
That in turn is pumped back into the community game , so clubs at the grassroots are reliant on internationals taking place .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ so have been able to survive so far , but clubs that pay their players without receiving much central revenue - for example those in the Championship - have already had to make major changes to their operation and will need to go semi-pro or fully amateur .
The impact of coronavirus could cost the England and Wales Cricket Board £380m , its chief executive Tom Harrison said on Tuesday .
When might we see live cricket again ?
There will be no cricket in England and Wales until at least 1 July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of England 's Test series again West Indies , originally scheduled for June .
At the weekend , the ECB said it had held `` positive discussions '' with Cricket West Indies over rescheduling the series , with a proposed date for the first Test thought to be 8 July .
However , that depends on government guidance not only for the safe staging of a match , but also West Indies actually being allowed to travel .
In his evidence to the DCMS select committee , Harrison said some `` significant lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to stage international cricket .
He also said a fast bowler might need `` six or seven weeks '' from being in lockdown to being fit enough to play in a Test .
For an 8 July start , that would require being allowed to train in two weeks ' time .
What would any cricket that is played look like ?
Almost certainly without fans .
Indeed , Harrison has previously stated the ECB is becoming comfortable with the idea that crowds will not be in attendance this summer .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities might have to go to ensure the safety of the players , officials and anyone else who may need to be at a match .
There has been talk of 'bio-secure ' environments , which would essentially mean anyone involved would be isolated for a period around a match , perhaps at a ground that has a hotel on site .
Discussions with Cricket West Indies have even included the possibility of the tourists being kept in isolation for 14 days on arrival in the UK .
Although it seems far-fetched , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions for an international series - men or women - where only two teams are involved .
However , if it would also have to extend to the domestic game , there is a real possibility that we would see no county cricket at all this summer , simply because of the logistical difficulty .
Could cricket cope with the losses mentioned and what impact would they have ?
In the ECB 's own words , cricket is in danger .
The numbers Harrison detailed on Tuesday - a £100m loss regardless and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - are massive .
It is why the ECB will go to great lengths to ensure there is some cricket provided to broadcasters this summer , with Harrison explaining three-quarters of the game 's revenue comes from Sky .
When asked if all 18 counties will survive the coronavirus crisis , Harrison conceded it will be `` a difficult one '' .
`` We will have to a good look at our cost base , '' he said .
`` It is one that cricket has needed to address for some time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable and viable businesses once we have cut our cloth accordingly ? ''
The ECB has already pledged £61m to counties and recreational clubs , with the game 's grassroots facing up to the financial challenge of a potentially lost summer .
The last line of a statement released on Tuesday evening - when the ECB said it hoped to receive government `` guidance and support '' - hinted at one way the game can survive .
How might the cricket calendar look later this year/next year ?
For example , the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be played in England early next summer .
England have already had a series against Sri Lanka postponed and they are battling to keep the matches against West Indies and Pakistan .
If the latter two fall , it is hard to see how the Test Championship is completed on time .
If they manage to play the Windies and Pakistan , then the Sri Lanka series could be rescheduled , with some reports suggesting it has been added to a forthcoming winter that already includes a Test series in India .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Cup scheduled for Australia in the autumn , with the International Cricket Council looking at all options for holding it on time , or postponing .
If it is pushed back into 2021 , it crashes into a year that has another T20 World Cup and a women 's 50-over World Cup in the calendar .
Not only that , but 2021 will see the delayed launch of The Hundred , a high-profile visit of India to England , and men 's and women 's Ashes series in Australia .

Ben Stokes tells 5 Live Breakfast he would be happy to play cricket behind closed doors
The coronavirus pandemic could cost three major sports almost £700m in the UK.
With more than 29,400 coronavirus-related deaths in the UK, live sport understandably remains on hold.
Leading figures from cricket, football and rugby union spoke of the potential impact of that as they appeared in front of the government's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee on Tuesday.
What did we learn? And what does it mean for sport in this country?
BBC Sport's Simon Stone, Chris Jones and Stephan Shemilt take a look.
Simon Stone, BBC Sport football reporter
The Premier League is hopeful of restarting on 8 June. No date has been given for the EFL, but chairman Rick Parry said on Tuesday the season must be concluded by July 31. He said clubs face a "£200m hole" by September.
When might the EFL return?
In theory it would be looking to start at the same time as the Premier League. But there are major hurdles to overcome.
In addressing the issue of top-flight clubs potentially playing matches on neutral grounds, Parry told the DCMS hearing the same rules do not apply for his clubs in terms of the threat of supporters turning up to stadiums.
At lower levels, this might be true. But amid the debate about Liverpool fans wanting to be at Anfield on the day the club end their 30-year wait for the title, few have mentioned another of the country's best-supported teams, Leeds United, are on the brink of returning to the Premier League after a 17-year wait.
Would West Yorkshire Police be happy to sanction a game at Elland Road under such circumstances? And if the answer is no, does that mean all Championship matches need to be moved?
How feasible is it for the season to finish by 31 July?
It could happen. But, as Parry says, the EFL needs to work backwards on this.
It has previously said it would take 56 days to complete the season, including play-offs. At those timescales, it would mean starting on 6 June at the latest.
That would seem highly unlikely given the government is not going to announce its next steps until Sunday.
Parry's comments made it appear increasingly likely Leagues One and Two will end with no further matches but the Championship continuing until there is greater clarity over whether the Premier League's attempts to restart the season are successful.
What happens if the season doesn't finish by the end of July?
Even by finishing the season in July, there is a minefield to be worked through around contracts that expire at the end of June.
Parry estimates there are 1,400 EFL players out of contract this summer and 'the train is coming down the tunnel very quickly'.
Players traditionally receive an additional severance payment in July if they have not found a new club.
The clubs think that payment means their players are committed to another month. The Professional Footballers' Association has indicated an alternative view and that players need an additional contract if they are to play beyond 30 June.
What is the realistic outlook for EFL clubs?
We've got bills to pay like everybody else - Accrington captain Conneely on life as a furloughed League One player
The initial outlook is grim. As Parry said, there is little point in clubs at lower levels playing matches behind closed doors as that is where most of their income is derived from.
There is an idea clubs in League One and Two could be mothballed. But that overlooks the fact stadiums still need to be maintained and utility bills need to be paid.
No-one can say for certain, given the precarious nature of finances in those leagues, that there will not be casualties.
However, the hope is a greater willingness will exist among member clubs to live within their means.
That will not address the enormous gulf that exists between the money generated by the Premier League and the Championship but at least it would get everyone looking in the right direction.
Workers prepare a drive-through coronavirus testing centre for NHS staff at England's Twickenham stadium
Chris Jones, BBC rugby union correspondent
The Rugby Football Union will be hit with revenue losses of £107m if the 2020 autumn internationals are cancelled because of coronavirus, chief executive Bill Sweeney said on Tuesday.
When can/will rugby restart? The Six Nations was one of the first big events to be postponed - will the remaining matches be played this year?
When it can restart, it will.
While the fate of Premiership clubs was strangely not covered in the DCMS hearing, their futures are of more immediate concern than that of the RFU, which has until the autumn before any major matches are scheduled.
The Premiership season has nine rounds remaining, and the clubs - like their football counterparts - are committed to completing the campaign if possible. This would have to be behind closed doors initially, because that would at least result in some cash flow from TV and sponsorship.
Whether that is going to be possible is another matter entirely.
What is the knock-on effect for next year's calendar and whether fans can return to watch live rugby?
This is a key question.
If this season can't be completed until, say, September, would it be more sensible to call it now and instead focus on having a 2020-2021 campaign which starts on time?
If the current season bleeds into the next one, we are faced with two seasons compromised.
As well as the financial element, clubs may say there is sporting integrity at stake; I would argue there is no disgrace calling a season off because of a pandemic, while this season was compromised long ago by the Saracens scandal.
What about the safety aspect? Such a close contact sport will have to have even tougher restrictions than other sports.
This is a dilemma facing rugby, especially at the elite end; that balance between returning to play as soon as possible, and the physical and contact essence of the sport.
Social distancing in training would barely work - and unlike in football the ball is constantly handled.
Mass testing on a regular basis is one solution, but this would be costly given clubs don't want to take resources away from the NHS.
There is no easy solution.
What is the long-term damage to the sport - from grassroots up?
The extent of the damage will depend on the progression of the virus, and if and when rugby union gets the governmental approval needed to restart.
Games in the summer, albeit without crowds, could keep Premiership and Pro 14 clubs afloat; but no cash flow for another few months would be likely to send some to the wall.
Even the better-run clubs, I'm told, only have money in reserve to last until the end of 2020.
As for the RFU and other home unions, a lot will depend on whether the November internationals can go ahead.
The RFU's biggest strength - owning its stadium and regularly selling 82,000 tickets - has now become its biggest weakness as it relies on Twickenham matches for 85% of its revenue. That in turn is pumped back into the community game, so clubs at the grassroots are reliant on internationals taking place.
Many grassroots clubs have relatively low overheads so have been able to survive so far, but clubs that pay their players without receiving much central revenue - for example those in the Championship - have already had to make major changes to their operation and will need to go semi-pro or fully amateur.
A host of England players including Joe Root, Heather Knight, Ben Stokes and Anya Shrubsole were set to play in the inaugural season of The Hundred, which was postponed last week
Stephan Shemilt, BBC Sport cricket reporter
The impact of coronavirus could cost the England and Wales Cricket Board £380m, its chief executive Tom Harrison said on Tuesday.
When might we see live cricket again?
There will be no cricket in England and Wales until at least 1 July. The shutdown has meant the postponement of England's Test series again West Indies, originally scheduled for June.
At the weekend, the ECB said it had held "positive discussions" with Cricket West Indies over rescheduling the series, with a proposed date for the first Test thought to be 8 July.
However, that depends on government guidance not only for the safe staging of a match, but also West Indies actually being allowed to travel.
In his evidence to the DCMS select committee, Harrison said some "significant lead times" would be required to be ready to stage international cricket.
He also said a fast bowler might need "six or seven weeks" from being in lockdown to being fit enough to play in a Test. For an 8 July start, that would require being allowed to train in two weeks' time.
What would any cricket that is played look like?
Almost certainly without fans. Indeed, Harrison has previously stated the ECB is becoming comfortable with the idea that crowds will not be in attendance this summer.
The bigger question is quite how far the authorities might have to go to ensure the safety of the players, officials and anyone else who may need to be at a match.
There has been talk of 'bio-secure' environments, which would essentially mean anyone involved would be isolated for a period around a match, perhaps at a ground that has a hotel on site.
Discussions with Cricket West Indies have even included the possibility of the tourists being kept in isolation for 14 days on arrival in the UK.
Although it seems far-fetched, it does seem possible to implement these conditions for an international series - men or women - where only two teams are involved.
However, if it would also have to extend to the domestic game, there is a real possibility that we would see no county cricket at all this summer, simply because of the logistical difficulty.
Could cricket cope with the losses mentioned and what impact would they have?
In the ECB's own words, cricket is in danger.
The numbers Harrison detailed on Tuesday - a £100m loss regardless and £380m if the entire season is cancelled - are massive.
It is why the ECB will go to great lengths to ensure there is some cricket provided to broadcasters this summer, with Harrison explaining three-quarters of the game's revenue comes from Sky.
When asked if all 18 counties will survive the coronavirus crisis, Harrison conceded it will be "a difficult one".
"We will have to a good look at our cost base," he said. "It is one that cricket has needed to address for some time. How can we do we create 18 sustainable and viable businesses once we have cut our cloth accordingly?"
The ECB has already pledged £61m to counties and recreational clubs, with the game's grassroots facing up to the financial challenge of a potentially lost summer.
The last line of a statement released on Tuesday evening - when the ECB said it hoped to receive government "guidance and support" - hinted at one way the game can survive.
How might the cricket calendar look later this year/next year?
Congested.
For example, the final of the World Test Championship is due to be played in England early next summer.
England have already had a series against Sri Lanka postponed and they are battling to keep the matches against West Indies and Pakistan. If the latter two fall, it is hard to see how the Test Championship is completed on time.
If they manage to play the Windies and Pakistan, then the Sri Lanka series could be rescheduled, with some reports suggesting it has been added to a forthcoming winter that already includes a Test series in India.
There is also a men's T20 World Cup scheduled for Australia in the autumn, with the International Cricket Council looking at all options for holding it on time, or postponing. If it is pushed back into 2021, it crashes into a year that has another T20 World Cup and a women's 50-over World Cup in the calendar.
Not only that, but 2021 will see the delayed launch of The Hundred, a high-profile visit of India to England, and men's and women's Ashes series in Australia.


bbc--2020-05-05--England and Scotland players make 'significant' donation to UK's National Health Service

The England men 's team have made a `` significant donation '' to the NHS , using match fees dating back to September 2018 .
The move comes in conjunction with the # PlayersTogether movement involving Premier League players .
Last month England women announced they would donate to the fund .
The Scotland men 's and women 's teams have also made a `` substantial donation '' , joining England 's men in giving to NHS Charities Together .
The donations come with the NHS on the frontline in Britain during the global coronavirus pandemic .
`` We stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during this crisis , '' the players said in a statement .
`` Our collective prayers and thoughts remain with all those affected . ''
Andy Robertson , Scotland men 's captain , said : `` We have all been at home , taking the advice of medical advisers and watching the news that highlights the heroic efforts of our NHS .
`` We have all been inspired by the selflessness of nurses , doctors and all healthcare workers on the frontline - it only reinforces how vital the NHS is to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect this institution . ''
The players ' fund that already exists in England is used to support a selection of good causes , and a portion of that money is now steered directly towards the under-pressure health service during the coronavirus pandemic .
The England Footballers Foundation was set up in 2007 and was reported to have generated over £5m in the subsequent decade .
The current batch of funds covers all senior men 's internationals since the 2018 World Cup , a total of 16 matches .

Last updated on .From the section England
England and Scotland faced each other in World Cup 2018 qualifying
The England men's team have made a "significant donation" to the NHS, using match fees dating back to September 2018.
The move comes in conjunction with the #PlayersTogether movement involving Premier League players.
Last month England women announced they would donate to the fund.
The Scotland men's and women's teams have also made a "substantial donation", joining England's men in giving to NHS Charities Together.
The donations come with the NHS on the frontline in Britain during the global coronavirus pandemic.
"We stand united as England players behind the nation during this crisis," the players said in a statement.
"Our collective prayers and thoughts remain with all those affected."
Andy Robertson, Scotland men's captain, said: "We have all been at home, taking the advice of medical advisers and watching the news that highlights the heroic efforts of our NHS.
"We have all been inspired by the selflessness of nurses, doctors and all healthcare workers on the frontline - it only reinforces how vital the NHS is to our country and how we must cherish and protect this institution."
The players' fund that already exists in England is used to support a selection of good causes, and a portion of that money is now steered directly towards the under-pressure health service during the coronavirus pandemic.
The England Footballers Foundation was set up in 2007 and was reported to have generated over £5m in the subsequent decade.
The current batch of funds covers all senior men's internationals since the 2018 World Cup, a total of 16 matches.


bbc--2020-05-05--Formula 1 bosses make final budget offer to teams

Formula 1 bosses have made a final offer to teams of a sliding scale budget cap reducing from $ 145m to $ 130m over the next three years .
The proposal is part of changes aimed at addressing the financial impact of the coronavirus in a letter to teams from F1 managing director Ross Brawn .
F1 has proposed a cap of $ 145m ( £116m ) in 2021 , reducing to $ 140m in 2022 and $ 135m for the period 2023-25 .
Teams will spend the coming days assessing the ideas before a vote .
The proposals - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowance for aerodynamic research according to a team 's success , and compensation for the manufacturer teams recognising the value of research and development of parts sold to customers - are billed as a final submission after weeks of negotiations ended in impasse last month .
• Vandoorne crashes off pole position twice in eventful esports weekend A final decision on whether there will need to be a meeting of team bosses with FIA president Jean Todt , F1 chairman Chase Carey and Brawn , or simply a vote on the proposals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feedback from the teams .
What are the details ?
The letter to team bosses lists a series of means by which F1 will cut costs in as fair a way as possible in the coming seasons .
A budget cap of $ 175m is already in the rules for 2021 but the coronavirus crisis will lead to a significant drop in income for F1 , so bosses feel further changes need to be made .
In addition to reducing the level of the budget cap , two key proposals are those governing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' of customer parts .
One is aimed at levelling the field and the other at reflecting the value of the research and development resources invested by the big teams in parts they sell to others .
On aerodynamic research , there will be a defined benchmark amount of permitted wind-tunnel time and computing data , and a sliding scale of allowance of that data depending on a team 's finishing position in the previous championship .
The top three teams in a given year will be permitted only 70 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth 80 % , then 5 % increments until the ninth and 10th-placed teams are allowed 105 % and 110 % of the total .
In short , that means the team who finished last will be allowed 40 % more aerodynamic research the following year than the top three .
The `` notional value '' rule defines a valuation for parts typically bought by customer teams from manufacturers , such as gearboxes , suspension and so on .
Once a team has bought those parts , their defined value is taken off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been leading opposition to reducing the budget cap below $ 150m , saying it causes problems for them in terms of the large numbers of redundancies it would require .
The Italian team declined to comment but is understood to be assessing the potential impact of the changes as outlined in the letter .
But the FIA has recently made a rule change that effectively makes Ferrari 's approval unnecessary .
Last month , its World Council approved a move to overturn the requirement for unanimous approval of competitors to amend rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safeguard clause '' has been added to the International Sporting Code so that only a majority is required .
The FIA said the change was needed `` in view of the unparalleled Covid-19 crisis '' .
That means that as long as five teams agree to the proposals , any objections will not necessarily stop them being adopted .
Is anything else in the letter ?
The letter also confirms a number of other rules that have been widely discussed in public and agreed already .
• the delay in the introduction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• the requirement for teams to race their 2020 cars in 2021 as well .
• the possibility that the format of some race weekends will change to facilitate cramming in as many races as possible once the championship gets under way this season - for example by compressing the on-track action into two days .
• the budget cap will reduce or increase by $ 1m for each race that is removed or added to the calendar .
So , next year for example , it will be $ 145m if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 144m if there are 20 and $ 146m if there are 22 .
• a cap on engine development costs , which Mercedes is pushing for , is to be discussed at a later date .

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Teams will meet to discuss the offer made by F1 bosses
Formula 1 bosses have made a final offer to teams of a sliding scale budget cap reducing from $145m to $130m over the next three years.
The proposal is part of changes aimed at addressing the financial impact of the coronavirus in a letter to teams from F1 managing director Ross Brawn.
F1 has proposed a cap of $145m (£116m) in 2021, reducing to $140m in 2022 and $135m for the period 2023-25.
Teams will spend the coming days assessing the ideas before a vote.
The proposals - which also include a sliding scale of allowance for aerodynamic research according to a team's success, and compensation for the manufacturer teams recognising the value of research and development of parts sold to customers - are billed as a final submission after weeks of negotiations ended in impasse last month.
A final decision on whether there will need to be a meeting of team bosses with FIA president Jean Todt, F1 chairman Chase Carey and Brawn, or simply a vote on the proposals, will be made once F1 has had feedback from the teams.
What are the details?
The letter to team bosses lists a series of means by which F1 will cut costs in as fair a way as possible in the coming seasons.
A budget cap of $175m is already in the rules for 2021 but the coronavirus crisis will lead to a significant drop in income for F1, so bosses feel further changes need to be made.
In addition to reducing the level of the budget cap, two key proposals are those governing aerodynamic research and the "notional value" of customer parts.
One is aimed at levelling the field and the other at reflecting the value of the research and development resources invested by the big teams in parts they sell to others.
On aerodynamic research, there will be a defined benchmark amount of permitted wind-tunnel time and computing data, and a sliding scale of allowance of that data depending on a team's finishing position in the previous championship.
The top three teams in a given year will be permitted only 70% of the total allowance, the team who finished fourth 80%, then 5% increments until the ninth and 10th-placed teams are allowed 105% and 110% of the total.
In short, that means the team who finished last will be allowed 40% more aerodynamic research the following year than the top three.
The "notional value" rule defines a valuation for parts typically bought by customer teams from manufacturers, such as gearboxes, suspension and so on.
Once a team has bought those parts, their defined value is taken off their total budget cap figure.
Old adversaries: Ferrari want the budget cap to stay where it is, McLaren want it to go down
Will the teams agree?
Ferrari has been leading opposition to reducing the budget cap below $150m, saying it causes problems for them in terms of the large numbers of redundancies it would require.
The Italian team declined to comment but is understood to be assessing the potential impact of the changes as outlined in the letter.
But the FIA has recently made a rule change that effectively makes Ferrari's approval unnecessary.
Last month, its World Council approved a move to overturn the requirement for unanimous approval of competitors to amend rules at late notice.
A so-called "safeguard clause" has been added to the International Sporting Code so that only a majority is required.
The FIA said the change was needed "in view of the unparalleled Covid-19 crisis".
That means that as long as five teams agree to the proposals, any objections will not necessarily stop them being adopted.
Is anything else in the letter?
The letter also confirms a number of other rules that have been widely discussed in public and agreed already.
These include:
• the delay in the introduction of the wide-ranging 2021 technical regulations until 2022.
• the requirement for teams to race their 2020 cars in 2021 as well.
• the possibility that the format of some race weekends will change to facilitate cramming in as many races as possible once the championship gets under way this season - for example by compressing the on-track action into two days.
• the budget cap will reduce or increase by $1m for each race that is removed or added to the calendar. So, next year for example, it will be $145m if there are 21 races, but $144m if there are 20 and $146m if there are 22.
• a cap on engine development costs, which Mercedes is pushing for, is to be discussed at a later date.


bbc--2020-05-05--Newcastle fans support takeover but promise to raise Saudi human rights issues

Newcastle United fans say they will raise issues about Saudi Arabia 's human rights record even if they support the prospective takeover of the club .
The country 's Public Investment Fund is expected to finance 80 % of the £300m takeover , which is understood to be close to completion .
But in an online forum , which involved over 2,000 fans , Newcastle United Supporters Trust ( NUST ) chair Alex Hurst said : `` We exist to be a critical friend of the club , and hold them to account . ''
Human rights groups and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hatice Cengiz , have opposed the takeover .
The debate on the issue has been framed by supporters ' overwhelming desire to get rid of current owner Mike Ashley , who has been in charge of the club for 13 years .
A survey published last week by NUST , which has more than 10,000 members , showed that 96.7 % of fans said they were in favour of the takeover .
But during the two-hour discussion , in which a statement by Khashoggi 's fiancee was read out and contributions came from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chi Onwurah said the issues were a lot more `` nuanced '' than some fans had been given credit for on social media .
Supporter Greg Morrison said : `` I do feel quite conflicted .
While we are not responsible for what goes on [ in Saudi Arabia ] , we have to accept we are attached to Saudi Arabia and the issues attached to that .
`` My plea is that fans do n't resort to allowing our club be used to justify or defend what goes on in Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are issues and encourage debate . ''
NUST board member Greg Tomlinson added : `` It 's not impossible to be excited about Mike Ashley 's departure and still feel concerned about the [ human rights ] issues .
`` Those feelings are not mutually exclusive . ''
Cengiz 's statement said fans should `` stand together and block '' the takeover because the PIF was chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , who she said was responsible for her fiancee 's murder in October 2018 .
Bin Salman has denied ordering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities blaming a `` rogue operation '' .
Gateshead MP Ian Mearns added : `` I can see an awful lot potentially going wrong with this takeover , but it 's time we got rid of an owner who views paying fans as an asset to be sweated or milked . ''
Jameela Khan from Amnesty International said she would welcome the critical voice of Newcastle fans .
`` We ca n't say who should own club , '' she said .
`` But as long as there is a space for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all we can hope for . ''
'We want to have an influence' Several fans hoped the new owners would ensure supporters were actively involved in the decision-making process at St James ' Park , having been marginalised under Ashley .
NUST director Peter Maughan said : `` We can not have a say in how a sovereign nation runs itself but I hope we can have a say in the way the club is run .
Whoever owns the club , we want to have an influence . ''
Steve Cockburn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was `` uneasy '' about the takeover , but added : `` We have a role to protect our reputation and our values and commitment to social justice .
We have no choice about the takeover , but we do have a choice in how we react to it and I 'm heartened by today 's discussion .
`` Even if the owners own the club , they do n't own our views . ''

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman heads Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund
Newcastle United fans say they will raise issues about Saudi Arabia's human rights record even if they support the prospective takeover of the club.
The country's Public Investment Fund is expected to finance 80% of the £300m takeover, which is understood to be close to completion.
But in an online forum, which involved over 2,000 fans, Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) chair Alex Hurst said: "We exist to be a critical friend of the club, and hold them to account."
Human rights groups and the fiancee of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Hatice Cengiz, have opposed the takeover.
The debate on the issue has been framed by supporters' overwhelming desire to get rid of current owner Mike Ashley, who has been in charge of the club for 13 years.
A survey published last week by NUST, which has more than 10,000 members, showed that 96.7% of fans said they were in favour of the takeover.
But during the two-hour discussion, in which a statement by Khashoggi's fiancee was read out and contributions came from fans and Amnesty International, local MP Chi Onwurah said the issues were a lot more "nuanced" than some fans had been given credit for on social media.
Supporter Greg Morrison said: "I do feel quite conflicted. While we are not responsible for what goes on [in Saudi Arabia], we have to accept we are attached to Saudi Arabia and the issues attached to that.
"My plea is that fans don't resort to allowing our club be used to justify or defend what goes on in Saudi Arabia, but accept and acknowledge that there are issues and encourage debate."
NUST board member Greg Tomlinson added: "It's not impossible to be excited about Mike Ashley's departure and still feel concerned about the [human rights] issues.
"Those feelings are not mutually exclusive."
Cengiz's statement said fans should "stand together and block" the takeover because the PIF was chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who she said was responsible for her fiancee's murder in October 2018.
Bin Salman has denied ordering the killing of Khashoggi, with Saudi authorities blaming a "rogue operation".
Gateshead MP Ian Mearns added: "I can see an awful lot potentially going wrong with this takeover, but it's time we got rid of an owner who views paying fans as an asset to be sweated or milked."
Jameela Khan from Amnesty International said she would welcome the critical voice of Newcastle fans.
"We can't say who should own club," she said. "But as long as there is a space for people to criticise Saudi Arabia, that's all we can hope for."
'We want to have an influence'
Some fans suggested that Newcastle were being singled-out despite other organisations also having relationships with Saudi Arabia, while others welcomed the investment that the proposed takeover would bring to the city and the region.
But many hoped the new owners would ensure supporters were actively involved in the decision-making process at St James' Park, having been marginalised under Ashley.
NUST director Peter Maughan said: "We cannot have a say in how a sovereign nation runs itself but I hope we can have a say in the way the club is run. Whoever owns the club, we want to have an influence."
Steve Cockburn, an NUST member and Amnesty worker said he was "uneasy" about the takeover, but added: "We have a role to protect our reputation and our values and commitment to social justice. We have no choice about the takeover, but we do have a choice in how we react to it and I'm heartened by today's discussion.
"Even if the owners own the club, they don't own our views."


bbc--2020-05-05--Return of sport would 'lift the nation', says UK government minister

Restarting sport in Britain would `` lift the spirits of the nation '' amid the coronavirus crisis , foreign secretary Dominic Raab said on Tuesday .
Speaking at Downing Street 's daily briefing he said the government `` has had constructive meetings with sports bodies '' .
He said talks had focused on athletes resuming training when safe to do so .
And he added that the culture secretary was looking at plans to hold sports behind closed doors .
`` I think it would lift spirits of the nation , '' Raab said .
`` People would like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children can go to school safely but also pastimes like sport . ''
Discussions about the Premier League 's return are continuing but there had been no official comment from the government .
The Premier League is hopeful of restarting in the week beginning 8 June with matches behind closed doors .
Plans for games at neutral venues have been suggested in a bid to get the season finished .
`` I can tell you that the culture secretary has been working on a plan to get sport played behind closed doors when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is something we are looking at , '' Raab said .
`` Of course , the key point though - we can only do it when the medical advice and scientific advice is that it can be done safely and sustainably .
But certainly that is something under active consideration . ''
Speaking to Radio 4 's Today programme earlier on Tuesday , health secretary Matt Hancock said he was `` open '' to the idea of the Premier League returning if there was enough testing being done .
`` But we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the relative priorities are of all the different things that could be reopened , '' he added .
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt also told the Today programme football should resume .
`` It can , and it should .
And it is our national sport .
And when people are stuck at home , this is the kind of thing that would lift people 's morale and its spirit . ''

Last updated on .From the section Sport
Leicester beat Aston Villa in the last match in the Premier League before lockdown
Restarting sport in Britain would "lift the spirits of the nation" amid the coronavirus crisis, foreign secretary Dominic Raab said on Tuesday.
Speaking at Downing Street's daily briefing he said the government "has had constructive meetings with sports bodies".
He said talks had focused on athletes resuming training when safe to do so.
And he added that the culture secretary was looking at plans to hold sports behind closed doors.
"I think it would lift spirits of the nation," Raab said.
"People would like to see us get back to work and children can go to school safely but also pastimes like sport."
Discussions about the Premier League's return are continuing but there had been no official comment from the government.
The Premier League is hopeful of restarting in the week beginning 8 June with matches behind closed doors. Plans for games at neutral venues have been suggested in a bid to get the season finished.
"I can tell you that the culture secretary has been working on a plan to get sport played behind closed doors when we move to the second phase so that is something we are looking at," Raab said.
"Of course, the key point though - we can only do it when the medical advice and scientific advice is that it can be done safely and sustainably. But certainly that is something under active consideration."
Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme earlier on Tuesday, health secretary Matt Hancock said he was "open" to the idea of the Premier League returning if there was enough testing being done.
"But we've got to make decisions about what the relative priorities are of all the different things that could be reopened," he added.
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt also told the Today programme football should resume.
"It can, and it should. And it is our national sport. And when people are stuck at home, this is the kind of thing that would lift people's morale and its spirit."


bbc--2020-05-05--Coronavirus: Why is there a US backlash to masks?

While US health experts continue to encourage mask use in public , and more parts of the country adopt this guidance , there has been pushback from some Americans about covering up .
Why ?
Many protesters across the states have been pictured defying social distancing guidance without masks or face coverings .
Online , the debate about mask effectiveness still plays out , with some claiming masks are not effective - or enforceable under US law .
This is in marked contrast to other countries where populations have generally been compliant in wearing face coverings .
The UK has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to WHO advice which says only health workers should wear them .
But the London Underground advises passengers to cover their nose and mouth .
So what does the resistance in the US look like ?
Ohio 's Republican governor Mike DeWine - who has been praised for his early efforts to stem the spread - had to walk back an order requiring residents to wear masks in public as businesses reopened , calling the measure `` a bridge too far '' .
`` People were not going to accept the government telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told ABC News on Sunday .
There are similar stories across the nation , though many states and local governments have rules or guidance encouraging masks in public spaces .
In Stillwater , Oklahoma , city officials had to rescind a mandatory mask order for local restaurants and businesses after employees were threatened and verbally abused by residents who refused to cover up .
• Why some countries wear face masks and others don't In Flint , Michigan , a security guard was shot and killed in an altercation that allegedly began over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face per the state governor 's order .
US store guard killed after mask row with customer Many New Yorkers were photographed in Central Park over the weekend enjoying the warm weather without proper nose and mouth coverings ; similar scenarios have played out on Californian and Floridian beaches .
What have political leaders said ?
On Monday , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was `` disrespectful '' for people to refuse to wear a mask in public .
`` You can literally kill someone because you did not want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irresponsible would that be ? ''
But the mixed messages have come from the very top .
At the same time as the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) announced new guidance that Americans should cover their faces in public to curb Covid-19 's spread , President Donald Trump said it was `` voluntary '' and he himself would not do so .
Then Vice-President Mike Pence was pictured visiting a health clinic without wearing one - which he later apologised for .
Why do so many Americans seem to have an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Law Professor Polly Price says the situation in America now mirrors what happened during the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak .
At the time , the US Surgeon General advised everyone to make and wear their own mask - just as instructions are now on the Centers for Disease Control 's website , guides were sent to newspapers .
`` It was up to state and local governments whether they were going to require their populations to do it - not all did , '' she says .
Some cities levied fines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There were very few court challenges , but they generally upheld the authority of local governments to have face mask ordinances , '' Prof Price says .
`` We do have a long tradition of individual rights , so even during the Spanish flu people would sue about the schools [ being ] closed .
Or restaurants and bars were closed and people would sue about that and they routinely lost . ''
In the same way that protesters have argued the lockdowns infringe their rights , much of the anti-mask rhetoric seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American resistance to government mandates .
• Why so much US resistance to the lockdown ?
But Prof Price says requiring masks during a health crisis is not fundamentally different from other safety regulations .
`` I think that governors have extensive power to order measures that protect the public health , '' she says .
`` As long as they can show that connection , just based on our constitutional tradition , that would be upheld .
It 'd be a different question if the penalty was a year in jail for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was health advice unclear for so long ?
Guidelines have been confusing , says Professor James Thomas of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Epidemiology .
One reason for that was , initially , masks needed to be prioritised for medical workers , he told the BBC .
Another reason was our unfamiliarity with the virus itself .
`` Over time , we 're learning more about it , how it 's transmitted , situations in which it is not transmitted and we 're adjusting our recommendations based on what we learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been particularly slow with Covid-19 because of a lack of testing .
But we know now that the novel coronavirus travels through droplets , like a sneeze in close quarters , rather than lingering in the air for long periods of time .
• Why we should all be wearing masks This is how masks can help .
Prof Thomas says in one case study in a Chinese hospital , around 70 individuals ended up being near a patient who was later found to have the virus .
But , because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing masks , no one else contracted it .
But not every face covering is created equal .
If you 're making your own , using a thick fabric - something where , if you hold it up to a light , you ca n't see through it - is best .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• LIKE 9/11 EACH DAY : A New York paramedic 's diary • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis Are there exceptions if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , Governor Cuomo also told residents they did not need to wear a mask all the time , like , say , on a walk in the woods .
But is that true ?
`` If you 're going for a walk and no one is around , I still think you should have your mask with you - it should be seen as a courtesy if somebody else approaches that you pull your mask up , '' says Harvard University Public Health Professor Joseph Allen .
The only way we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great deal of social trust , he says .
`` Handwashing is social trust .
Covering your coughs is social trust .
Maintaining six feet of distance from others is social trust .
Wearing a mask is social trust . ''
There will likely be `` pendulum swings '' of how cautious people are being in the coming months as cases rise and ebb , Prof Thomas says , `` but we 're likely to be seeing masks around for a good long time '' .

Coronavirus: Why is there a US backlash to masks? Published 5 May 2020
Image source, Getty Images
While US health experts continue to encourage mask use in public, and more parts of the country adopt this guidance, there has been pushback from some Americans about covering up. Why?
Many protesters across the states have been pictured defying social distancing guidance without masks or face coverings. Online, the debate about mask effectiveness still plays out, with some claiming masks are not effective - or enforceable under US law.
This is in marked contrast to other countries where populations have generally been compliant in wearing face coverings.
The UK has yet to adopt the policy, pointing to WHO advice which says only health workers should wear them. But the London Underground advises passengers to cover their nose and mouth.
So what does the resistance in the US look like?
Ohio's Republican governor Mike DeWine - who has been praised for his early efforts to stem the spread - had to walk back an order requiring residents to wear masks in public as businesses reopened, calling the measure "a bridge too far".
"People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do," he told ABC News on Sunday.
There are similar stories across the nation, though many states and local governments have rules or guidance encouraging masks in public spaces.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Some New Yorkers were seen without masks in Central Park
In Stillwater, Oklahoma, city officials had to rescind a mandatory mask order for local restaurants and businesses after employees were threatened and verbally abused by residents who refused to cover up.
In Flint, Michigan, a security guard was shot and killed in an altercation that allegedly began over a customer's refusal to cover their face per the state governor's order.
Many New Yorkers were photographed in Central Park over the weekend enjoying the warm weather without proper nose and mouth coverings; similar scenarios have played out on Californian and Floridian beaches.
What have political leaders said?
On Monday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was "disrespectful" for people to refuse to wear a mask in public. "You can literally kill someone because you did not want to wear a mask. How cruel and irresponsible would that be?"
But the mixed messages have come from the very top.
At the same time as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced new guidance that Americans should cover their faces in public to curb Covid-19's spread, President Donald Trump said it was "voluntary" and he himself would not do so.
Then Vice-President Mike Pence was pictured visiting a health clinic without wearing one - which he later apologised for.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Trump doesn't see face mask necessary behind 'the great Resolute desk'
Why do so many Americans seem to have an issue with them?
Emory University Global Health and Law Professor Polly Price says the situation in America now mirrors what happened during the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak.
At the time, the US Surgeon General advised everyone to make and wear their own mask - just as instructions are now on the Centers for Disease Control's website, guides were sent to newspapers.
"It was up to state and local governments whether they were going to require their populations to do it - not all did," she says.
Some cities levied fines for people not wearing them.
"There were very few court challenges, but they generally upheld the authority of local governments to have face mask ordinances," Prof Price says.
"We do have a long tradition of individual rights, so even during the Spanish flu people would sue about the schools [being] closed. Or restaurants and bars were closed and people would sue about that and they routinely lost."
In the same way that protesters have argued the lockdowns infringe their rights, much of the anti-mask rhetoric seems to come from the same well - American resistance to government mandates.
But Prof Price says requiring masks during a health crisis is not fundamentally different from other safety regulations.
"I think that governors have extensive power to order measures that protect the public health," she says.
"As long as they can show that connection, just based on our constitutional tradition, that would be upheld. It'd be a different question if the penalty was a year in jail for not wearing a mask."
Why was health advice unclear for so long?
Guidelines have been confusing, says Professor James Thomas of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Epidemiology.
One reason for that was, initially, masks needed to be prioritised for medical workers, he told the BBC. Another reason was our unfamiliarity with the virus itself.
"Over time, we're learning more about it, how it's transmitted, situations in which it is not transmitted and we're adjusting our recommendations based on what we learn."
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Florida has begun to reopen public spaces like beaches
Prof Thomas says the learning has been particularly slow with Covid-19 because of a lack of testing. But we know now that the novel coronavirus travels through droplets, like a sneeze in close quarters, rather than lingering in the air for long periods of time.
This is how masks can help.
Prof Thomas says in one case study in a Hong Kong hospital, around 70 individuals ended up being near a patient who was later found to have the virus. But, because the patient and everyone in the hospital were wearing masks, no one else contracted it.
But not every face covering is created equal.
If you're making your own, using a thick fabric - something where, if you hold it up to a light, you can't see through it - is best.
Are there exceptions if you're somewhere quiet?
Addressing mask-reluctance on Monday, Governor Cuomo also told residents they did not need to wear a mask all the time, like, say, on a walk in the woods. But is that true?
"If you're going for a walk and no one is around, I still think you should have your mask with you - it should be seen as a courtesy if somebody else approaches that you pull your mask up," says Harvard University Public Health Professor Joseph Allen.
The only way we're going to get through this is with a great deal of social trust, he says.
"Handwashing is social trust. Covering your coughs is social trust. Maintaining six feet of distance from others is social trust. Wearing a mask is social trust."


bbc--2020-05-05--Coronavirus: Send us the last 'normal' photo on your phone

A lot has changed since the world went into lockdown , and if you 're anything like us , you @ @ @ @ @ your phones to the time before everything was different .
We want to profile the @ @ @ @ @ your phone from before everything changed .
What 's the story behind the photo ?
@ @ @ @ @ Did you know what was about to happen ?
Please send in your photo either @ @ @ @ @ this page or by emailing it to yourpics @ bbc.co.uk and please let us know @ @ @ @ @ on which date .
We 'll profile a selection of the photos on a future @ @

We want to profile the last image you have on your phone from before everything changed. What's the story behind the photo? What does it signify? Did you know what was about to happen?


bbc--2020-05-05--Coronavirus: I watched the president reveal I had Covid-19 on TV

Sita Tyasutami had all the tell-tale symptoms of coronavirus .
Yet , as she lay in a hospital bed in Indonesia 's capital Jakarta , her condition had not been diagnosed .
Nor had that of her mother , Maria Darmaningsih , who had been admitted to the same hospital .
Confined to separate hospital rooms , Tyasutami and her mother were anxiously awaiting the results of their coronavirus tests , when Indonesia 's president made a startling announcement .
In a news conference broadcast to the nation , President Joko Widodo said two Indonesian nationals had tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country .
The pair - a 64-year-old woman and her 31-year-old daughter - were being treated at an infectious diseases hospital in Jakarta , the president said .
The briefing , held in front of jockeying reporters outside the presidential palace , confirmed the inevitable : coronavirus had reached Indonesia .
Aired on TV screens at the hospital , the president 's announcement left Tyasutami and her mother in disbelief .
President Widodo was talking about two patients at their hospital , with their profiles , their ages , their symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not mention the patients by name , but he did not have to .
Her brain whirring , Tyasutami asked a nurse whether the hospital was currently treating any other coronavirus patients .
When the nurse said no , reality hit her like a punch to the gut .
She and her mother had been revealed as the first two known cases of coronavirus in Indonesia .
`` I was confused , I was angry , I was sad , '' Tyasutami told the BBC .
`` I did n't know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media . ''
Before her diagnosis , Tyasutami was a professional dancer , a performing arts manager , a sister , a daughter , a friend .
Afterwards , her identity was reduced to a humiliating two-word label : case one .
Her medical records were leaked .
The details of her case were misreported .
False rumours spread online .
Within a matter of hours , she became the face of Indonesia 's coronavirus outbreak .
It started with an itchy throat .
Tyasutami brushed it off .
It was nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then , on the morning of 17 February , she woke up with symptoms that were more than just the hallmarks of a benign illness .
Her mother Darmaningsih , a professor of dance at the Jakarta Institute of Arts ( JIA ) , fell ill later that week .
Darmaningsih 's condition worsened after a dance performance on 23 February , leaving her feeling `` very sick '' .
At this point , Darmaningsih and Tyasutami went for a medical check-up at their local hospital in Depok , on the outskirts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darmaningsih with typhus - a bacterial disease spread by lice or fleas - and Tyasutami with bronchopneumonia .
`` We asked to be tested for Covid-19 , but our request was rejected because , at the time , the hospital did n't have the right facilities , '' Tyasutami said .
On 27 February , they were kept in hospital , unaware of the pathogen invading their cells .
It took a tip-off from a friend , 24 hours later , to set alarm bells ringing .
The friend phoned Tyasutami to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event as a Japanese woman who had tested positive for Covid-19 .
Tyasutami did not know the Japanese woman , but understood the gravity of her diagnosis .
`` That 's why I insisted once again to the doctor to be tested , '' Tyasutami said .
Doctors yielded to her request this time .
She and her mother were transferred to Sulianti Saroso , Jakarta 's infectious disease hospital , where they underwent a swab test for Covid-19 .
Tyasutami and Darmaningsih expected a doctor to tell them the results .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Widodo on 2 March .
It was as much of a surprise to them as it was to the country .
A few days would pass before Tyasutami and Darmaningsih were told that , in the event of a disease outbreak , the president must be informed before patients , by law .
Achmad Yurianto , a spokesman for the Indonesian government , told the BBC there was nothing wrong with the president 's disclosure to the public .
A 2009 health law says patient discretion does not apply to matters of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's announcement was lawful , according to Jakarta-based legal expert , Bivitri Susanti .
Was it the right thing to do , though , given the legal protection of medical records ?
`` I do n't think so , '' Ms Susanti said .
Right or wrong , the announcement thrust case one and case two into the national limelight .
Within hours , messages showing the initials , full address and medical records of case one ( Tyasutami ) and case two ( Darmaningsih ) were leaked and shared widely on WhatsApp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the spread of misinformation about their lives , was immediate , vicious and unrelenting .
`` They attacked Sita , blaming her for bringing the virus to Indonesia , '' Tyasutami 's older sister , Ratri Anindyajati told the BBC .
`` They blamed her for losing their job , or being separated from their families .
They questioned how she could look so nice and beautiful after being sick .
They said it was a set-up . ''
Tyasutami was put on trial by the public , even though it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 March .
The government had denied there were .
But in early February , a study by Harvard University suggested there could be `` undetected cases '' in the country , which has close links to China , where the virus originated .
Now , Indonesia is one of the worst-hit countries in south-east Asia , with about 12,000 cases and almost 900 deaths to date .
The origins of Covid-19 in Indonesia may never be known .
Case one and two , however , were on record .
`` Before my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followers on Instagram , '' Tyasutami said .
`` I did n't have anyone sending me hate speech .
Within days [ of my diagnosis ] , my followers went up to 10,000 .
People were commenting on everything , especially pictures of me in sexy , revealing dance clothes . ''
Why `` patient zero '' is not a helpful term Analysis by Richard McKay , historian of epidemics and lecturer at the University of Cambridge Given its accidental formation and lack of precision , `` patient zero '' is always a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided .
It was coined by mistake in the 1980s .
It is thought by some to mean the first ( or `` primary '' ) case in a given area by date of infection , by others to mean the first case noticed in an outbreak ( `` index case '' ) , and by still others to mean the first case `` ever '' appearing in humans .
The term also has a long history of being used as a sensational , attention-grabbing device and of generating stigma .
Real-world conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ display symptoms - remind us that placing overdue emphasis on any definitive ordering and numbering of cases would be misguided .
If Covid-19 had previously been perceived as a risk far removed from Indonesia , there might be some public education value to confirming the existence of cases in the country .
However , whenever the number of cases is small , extreme discretion must be used when discussing them .
On 3 March , President Widodo urged hospital and government officials to respect the privacy of Covid-19 patients , but by that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The leak set the tone for what was to come next .
Imprecise comments from Indonesia 's health minister , Terawan Agus Putranto , would prove even more chastening .
At a news conference on 2 March , the minister wrongly suggested case one ( Tyasutami ) contracted the disease from a Japanese citizen , a `` close friend '' , while dancing at a nightclub in Jakarta .
The minister 's comments allowed imaginations to run wild .
There were false reports that suggested `` the Japanese person was a close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Tyasutami said .
`` My story has been twisted so many times .
People were making assumptions about me , '' she added .
The health minister did not respond to requests for comment .
• The seven types of people who spread misinformation Tyasutami said the media should also take responsibility for the way her diagnosis was reported .
`` There is this culture of victim blaming , '' she said .
One press freedom group , the Alliance of Independent Journalists , urged the media to avoid `` sensationalist '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients .
The media went too far , Tyasutami felt .
While watching television in hospital she could see reporters `` bombarding '' her house .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• ON FRONTLINE : The young doctors being asked to play god • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis Everyone at her home had to be tested for Covid-19 , including her older sister , Anindyajati .
The 33-year-old artist manager , who lives in Vienna , had already been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a holiday in early February .
The test confirmed what Anindyajati had already suspected .
She would join her family in isolation at the same hospital , now known as Indonesia 's case three .
Aside from a few complications , the recovery period went fairly smoothly for the three of them .
On 13 March , after 13 days in isolation , Anindyajati and Tyasutami were discharged from hospital .
It was a joyous moment tinged with sadness , as their mother - yet to fully recuperate - had to remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She was not lonely , though , as her daughters kept her company , albeit at a distance .
The experience , they said , has changed their lives forever .
`` I feel that I have a second chance at life , '' Darmaningsi said .
They have been supporting families who have not been so fortunate , offering advice when it is requested .
They have even donated their blood to researchers trialling a possible treatment for Covid-19 .
Now the outbreak has become more widespread , they are just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down by the disease in Indonesia .
Yet the stigma persists .
Someone called them `` Satanic women '' in a message a few days ago , Tyasutami said .
Anindyajati tries to ignore the hate , instead focusing on the silver lining .
`` We believe there were already many suspected cases , '' she said .
`` When our diagnosis was confirmed , at least it helped the government to take action . ''
You may also be interested in :

Given its accidental formation and lack of precision, "patient zero" is always a misleading phrase, so it is best avoided. It was coined by mistake in the 1980s. It is thought by some to mean the first (or "primary") case in a given area by date of infection, by others to mean the first case noticed in an outbreak ("index case"), and by still others to mean the first case "ever" appearing in humans.


bbc--2020-05-05--Coronavirus: How India's lockdown sparked a debate over maids

At the weekend , India extended the nationwide coronavirus lockdown by another fortnight , but said that domestic helpers can now return to work .
The decision has had millions of middle-class homes debating a key question - to let the workers in or not ?
The BBC 's Geeta Pandey in Delhi explains the dilemma .
A friend once said that if she had to choose between her husband and her maid , she would pick the latter .
The comment was made as a joke , but it 's an example of how much Indians depend on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than four million people are employed as domestic helpers , often for very little money , in middle-class and affluent Indian homes .
Unofficial estimates put that number at a whopping 50 million .
Two-thirds of these workers are women .
The relationship between the maid and the `` mistress/master '' is one of interdependence - extreme poverty compels unskilled slum-dwellers and rural poor to seek employment as domestic help as a way of earning a living and for the middle-class , it provides cheap labour that keeps their homes running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , millions of middle-class homes have had to manage without their maids , cooks , nannies , nurses , drivers and gardeners as India imposed a strict nationwide lockdown to arrest the spread of the coronavirus .
To begin with most accepted the restrictions , thinking it was just for three weeks .
Some Bollywood stars even posted Instagram videos of themselves , cooking and cleaning and doing the dishes .
But with the lockdown extended twice already , and the idea sinking in that this is going to be a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miss the maids .
• Could hunger kill more people than coronavirus ?
• India lockdown extended for two more weeks • # MeToo in India : The women left behind Conversation has also veered towards how elderly people living alone are coping .
And how those in poor health are managing without help .
Then , there is the distress that domestic helpers are facing , leaving them with little choice but to get back to work .
`` Many have lost their jobs and many others say they are not being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Meenakshi Gupta Jain , chief of Helper4U , an online platform that links domestic workers with employers , told the BBC .
For the past month , their Covid Helpline WhatsApp number has been receiving 10 to 15 messages daily from maids , drivers and cooks seeking help .
`` They say they have run out of money .
What do we do ?
How do we feed our children ?
We guide them to local charities in their area who can help them get some free ration or cooking gas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verma , a domestic helper in Delhi who resumed work on Monday , says she counts herself as lucky since her employers have paid her salary for the lockdown period .
`` I was very tense all these weeks .
My husband drives an auto-rickshaw , but he 's been sitting at home because autos are not allowed to ply .
I also could n't go to work and I was afraid what would we do if I lost my job too , '' she told me .
Her sisters , she says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown period .
`` Their employers paid them for the number of days they had worked in March and did n't pay anything for April .
They also said they would pay only once they resume work , but they have n't called them back to work yet , '' she said .
The reason her sisters have not been called back to work yet is because there is a raging debate taking place in many residential societies over whether it 's prudent to allow domestic helpers to come into people 's homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` restrictions may be gone , but the coronavirus has n't '' and letting people in from the outside of their gated middle-class colonies could bring in the deadly Covid-19 virus to an area which has so far managed to remain infection-free .
But , some residential groups say the needs of the old and infirm can not be ignored .
Most Indian middle-class homes are not equipped with gadgets like dishwashers and washing machines and housework can be tough for them .
Anil Tiwari , president of the posh ATS Greens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Indian capital , Delhi , says they are `` positively thinking about allowing the maids to come in '' .
`` We have 735 apartments and there are many senior citizens who live here alone .
Many of them are facing a lot of hardships so we have to take that into account . ''
Among them is Brigadier ( retired ) Kuldeep Singh Chokkar who describes his situation as `` extremely challenging '' .
He 's 80 , a cancer survivor with a pacemaker , and lives with his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own health issues '' .
`` If we were younger , we 'd manage fine , but we are facing a lot of problems maintaining our home , '' he told me over the phone .
Until the lockdown , Brig Chokkar had a part-time maid , a gardener and a car cleaner coming in daily .
`` Absolutely , '' he says when I ask him if he is looking forward to their return .
`` It will make my life a lot easier . ''
My neighbour , retired school teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though , about opening her doors to outside help just yet .
She has a bad back and has been struggling to manage without any help , she told me .
`` But we have no choice .
We 've been doing everything on our own - cooking , sweeping , swabbing , dishes and laundry . ''
Mrs Bhatia is in her mid-60s and her husband is over 70 , hypertensive and has heart problems .
The government advisory on coronavirus says those above 60 are more at risk of infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the couple have been confined to their home for the past six weeks .
`` A neighbour 's driver helps us by bringing milk and groceries from the local market , '' Mrs Bhatia said .
She is in two minds about whether to let her maid return to work or not .
`` My children live in Mumbai and Switzerland .
I called them and asked them , 'what should we do ' ?
They said , 'let 's wait for another week and see how things unfold ' .
So we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said .
Ms Gupta Jain says when refuse collectors and vegetable vendors are allowed to come in , why are maids and drivers being penalised ?
`` You give them masks and hand sanitisers and a set of clothing that they can wear when in your home .
You take all the precautions .
But it 's time to let them back in . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to @ @ @ @ @

"They say they have run out of money. What do we do? How do we feed our children? We guide them to local charities in their area who can help them get some free ration or cooking gas," Ms Gupta Jain says.


bbc--2020-05-05--Coronavirus: Can you compare the UK with Italy?

The UK has now overtaken Italy to have the highest number of officially recorded coronavirus deaths in Europe .
The figures - announced by both governments daily - show a total of 29,427 deaths in the UK and 29,315 in Italy .
But can you make a fair comparison between the two countries ?
There are challenges around doing this at the moment and here are some of the factors to take into account .
For a start , the UK 's population is roughly 66 million , and Italy 's is about 60 million .
So the UK would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more deaths than Italy for it to have a higher death rate per person .
Given that Italy is further past the peak of the outbreak , and is now recording significantly fewer deaths per day than the UK , that may well happen .
2 .
The two countries may not be counting the same way The different ways different countries count deaths also need to be considered .
`` Every country measures deaths in a different way , '' the UK government 's chief medical adviser Chris Whitty said at one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to each other is a largely fruitless exercise '' .
On the face of it , Italy and the UK now do it in fairly similar ways - only including confirmed Covid-19 cases in their cumulative daily counts .
But while it is safe to assume the figures for the numbers of deaths in hospitals are fairly accurate , can the same be said about deaths in care homes or at home ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How to understand the death toll • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
There is no national figure in Italy for deaths in care homes - the numbers are collated on a regional basis and slightly different measures are being used in different parts of the country .
But , says Eleonora Perobelli , a researcher at the Observatory on Long Term Care in Milan , `` the vast majority of officially confirmed Covid-19 related deaths are registered in hospitals '' .
We do know that the UK figures as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who died `` in a community setting ' '' - in other words outside hospital .
We also know that there were relatively few tests carried out in care homes until recently .
But in Italy , we simply do n't know how many of the Italian deaths may have occurred outside hospital .
So it is difficult in this case to be confident that we really are comparing like with like .
Given that the daily figures released by both governments are for people who have died after testing positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on is clearly important .
To use an extreme example , if neither country had tested any people at all , nobody would have died after testing positive .
On the other hand , if everybody in the country had been tested the deaths figure would have been much higher .
The UK is currently testing more people per day than Italy , but overall Italy , which has been in lockdown longer , has carried out more than 2.2 million tests as of 5 May while the UK has done over 1.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on people who have tested positive for the virus , that is a crucial distinction , which makes comparing the figures problematic .
4 .
What is the age and health of the population ?
The most useful comparison to make between two countries looks at the total number of deaths from all causes adjusted for age .
Why would you adjust for age ?
We know that coronavirus affects older people more severely than younger people .
Older people are much more likely to have the underlying health conditions that make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK for example , in the week to 24 April , we know that coronavirus killed : • Four per 100,000 people under the age of 75 • 75 per 100,000 of the 75-84 group Italy has a higher proportion of older people and a smaller proportion of children ( who are much less likely to be severely affected ) so , if all other factors were equal , you would expect more coronavirus deaths in Italy than the UK .
The other thing you might want to adjust for would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which would be relevant for how many people you would expect to die in a given period .
This is usually expressed by giving the number of excess deaths .
If you were looking for the number of excess deaths in April , for example , it would be the number of people who have died minus the average number of deaths in April over the previous five years .
It is important to compare with the same period in previous years because we expect more people to die in winter than in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February when the first coronavirus death was reported until the end of March , there were 90,946 deaths from all causes , compared with the average of 65,592 for the previous five years - that 's an excess of 25,354 deaths .
If you compare that with the six-week period after the first coronavirus death in the UK , there were far fewer excess deaths - 89,735 people died from all causes in the UK , compared with an average of 72,812 in the same period of the previous five years , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What about population density and other factors ?
Other factors surrounding the disease - the epidemiology - also have to be taken into account .
It 's not just about the size of your population .
You also have to take account of the way that population is distributed around the country , and of relevant characteristics such as underlying health conditions .
We know that the density of population is important for the spreading of coronavirus - it 's much more difficult to keep your distance in a crowded area .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ densely populated , with about 275 people per sq km compared with about 205 in Italy .
And the most crowded part of the UK is London , which is Europe 's largest and most global city .
It 's hardly surprising that it has been one of the epicentres of this outbreak .
But if we compare London ( population roughly nine million ) with Lombardy ( population roughly 10 million ) , which has been the worst hit region of Italy , we see just how bad things have been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Italian statistics agency IStat show that deaths in Lombardy during March 2020 were 186.5 % above the five-year average for that time of year , but in the province around the city of Bergamo they were 567.6 % above the average .
That helps explain why the shocking scenes of overcrowding that were seen in some Italian hospitals have not been replicated in London hospitals .
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Coronavirus: Can you compare the UK with Italy? Published 7 May 2020
Image source, Getty Images
The UK has now overtaken Italy to have the highest number of officially recorded coronavirus deaths in Europe.
The figures - announced by both governments daily - show a total of 29,427 deaths in the UK and 29,315 in Italy.
But can you make a fair comparison between the two countries?
There are challenges around doing this at the moment and here are some of the factors to take into account.
1. Population sizes
For a start, the UK's population is roughly 66 million, and Italy's is about 60 million.
So the UK would have to register at least 10% more deaths than Italy for it to have a higher death rate per person.
Given that Italy is further past the peak of the outbreak, and is now recording significantly fewer deaths per day than the UK, that may well happen.
Image source, Getty Images
2. The two countries may not be counting the same way
The different ways different countries count deaths also need to be considered.
"Every country measures deaths in a different way," the UK government's chief medical adviser Chris Whitty said at one daily briefing, "so comparing them to each other is a largely fruitless exercise".
On the face of it, Italy and the UK now do it in fairly similar ways - only including confirmed Covid-19 cases in their cumulative daily counts.
But while it is safe to assume the figures for the numbers of deaths in hospitals are fairly accurate, can the same be said about deaths in care homes or at home?
There is no national figure in Italy for deaths in care homes - the numbers are collated on a regional basis and slightly different measures are being used in different parts of the country.
But, says Eleonora Perobelli, a researcher at the Observatory on Long Term Care in Milan, "the vast majority of officially confirmed Covid-19 related deaths are registered in hospitals".
We do know that the UK figures as of 5 May include more than 4,600 people who died "in a community setting'"- in other words outside hospital. We also know that there were relatively few tests carried out in care homes until recently.
But in Italy, we simply don't know how many of the Italian deaths may have occurred outside hospital.
So it is difficult in this case to be confident that we really are comparing like with like.
Image source, Getty Images
3. Testing
Given that the daily figures released by both governments are for people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus, how much testing is going on is clearly important.
To use an extreme example, if neither country had tested any people at all, nobody would have died after testing positive. On the other hand, if everybody in the country had been tested the deaths figure would have been much higher.
The UK is currently testing more people per day than Italy, but overall Italy, which has been in lockdown longer, has carried out more than 2.2 million tests as of 5 May while the UK has done over 1.3 million.
For daily figures that are based on people who have tested positive for the virus, that is a crucial distinction, which makes comparing the figures problematic.
Image source, Getty Images
4. What is the age and health of the population?
The most useful comparison to make between two countries looks at the total number of deaths from all causes adjusted for age.
Why would you adjust for age?
We know that coronavirus affects older people more severely than younger people. Older people are much more likely to have the underlying health conditions that make coronavirus so much more dangerous.
In the UK for example, in the week to 24 April, we know that coronavirus killed:
Four per 100,000 people under the age of 75
75 per 100,000 of the 75-84 group
242 per 100,000 people over 85
Italy has a higher proportion of older people and a smaller proportion of children (who are much less likely to be severely affected) so, if all other factors were equal, you would expect more coronavirus deaths in Italy than the UK.
The other thing you might want to adjust for would be the overall health of the population, which would be relevant for how many people you would expect to die in a given period.
This is usually expressed by giving the number of excess deaths. If you were looking for the number of excess deaths in April, for example, it would be the number of people who have died minus the average number of deaths in April over the previous five years.
It is important to compare with the same period in previous years because we expect more people to die in winter than in summer.
In Italy, from 20 February when the first coronavirus death was reported until the end of March, there were 90,946 deaths from all causes, compared with the average of 65,592 for the previous five years - that's an excess of 25,354 deaths.
It would be best to compare that with the six-week period after the first coronavirus death in the UK. The excess deaths figures are published weekly by the ONS.
You could take the six weeks starting with the week to 6 March, because that is when the first death occurred. If you do that then you find that 89,735 people died from all causes in the UK, compared with an average of 72,812 in the same period of the previous five years, which is an excess of 16,923.
But you could also start a week later, which is when the first death was registered and so appears in the ONS figures. If you do that you get a figure of almost 30,000 excess deaths.
So it is probably too early to make this comparison - it currently only appears to be a measure of how fast the virus spread. Given another month of extra data for Italy we might be able to make a meaningful comparison.
Image source, Getty Images
5. What about population density and other factors?
Other factors surrounding the disease - the epidemiology - also have to be taken into account.
It's not just about the size of your population.
You also have to take account of the way that population is distributed around the country, and of relevant characteristics such as underlying health conditions.
We know that the density of population is important for the spreading of coronavirus - it's much more difficult to keep your distance in a crowded area.
Overall, the UK is considerably more densely populated, with about 275 people per sq km compared with about 205 in Italy.
And the most crowded part of the UK is London, which is Western Europe's largest and most global city. It's hardly surprising that it has been one of the epicentres of this outbreak.
But if London (population roughly nine million) has been the worst hit region in the UK, then Lombardy (population roughly 10 million and more widely dispersed) has been the worst hit region in Italy.
Figures from the Italian statistics agency IStat show just how bad things have been in parts of northern Italy. Deaths in Lombardy during March 2020 were 186.5% above the five-year average for that time of year, and in the specific area around the city of Bergamo they were 567.6% above the average.
That's higher than in London, and helps explain why the shocking scenes of overcrowding that were seen in some Italian hospitals have not been replicated in London hospitals.
But it's also worth emphasising that the virus hit northern Italy before it hit the UK, and Lombardy had less time to prepare. In parts of southern Italy, the number of deaths recorded this year is actually below the five year average.


bbc--2020-05-05--Coronavirus: Do not use untested remedies, WHO Africa warns

The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has issued a warning against people using untested remedies for coronavirus .
Africans deserve access to medicines that have gone through proper trials even if they are derived from traditional treatments , it said .
Its statement comes as Madagascar 's president is promoting a herbal tonic for treating Covid-19 patients .
The African Union ( AU ) said it wanted to see the scientific data on the `` safety and efficacy '' of the product .
The tonic , known as Covid-Organics , was tested on fewer than 20 people over three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBC - which is not in line with WHO guidelines on clinical trials .
This can be a lengthy process in which a potential drug is tested in four phases , scaling up from a trial on a small number of patients to using it on a population countrywide .
Despite these reservations , several African countries , including Guinea-Bissau , Equatorial Guinea and Liberia , have already ordered Covid-Organics , which is produced from the artemisia plant - the source of an ingredient used in a malaria treatment - and other Malagasy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine are we ?
Last week , Madagascar 's President , Andry Rajoelina , spoke to an online meeting of African leaders about the tonic .
Following that meeting the AU asked to see more details about Covid-Organics which could be reviewed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ( Africa CDC ) .
In its statement , the WHO welcomed innovations based on traditional remedies and plants but said they `` should be tested for efficacy and adverse side effects '' .
`` Africans deserve to use medicines tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the world , '' it added .
On Monday , more than $ 8bn ( £6.5bn ) was pledged to help develop a coronavirus vaccine and fund research into the diagnosis and treatment of the disease .
Dozens of research projects trying to find a vaccine are currently under way across the world .
Most experts think it could take until mid-2021 , about 12-18 months after the new virus first emerged , for a vaccine to become available .
You may also be interested in : Several African countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of coronavirus by imposing lockdowns or curfews .
But these are now beginning to be lifted as governments try to balance health and economic interests .
The easing of the lockdowns has added urgency to the need to find treatments .
Madagascar has recorded 151 cases of Covid-19 and no deaths , Africa CDC says .
The president imposed a lockdown on the three major cities , but these have now been relaxed , the AFP news agency reports .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one ?

Several African countries acted swiftly in trying to prevent the spread of coronavirus by imposing lockdowns or curfews. But these are now beginning to be lifted as governments try to balance health and economic interests.


bbc--2020-05-05--Worst song possible plays as Trump tours mask plant

The Americans falling off a financial cliff The pandemic has left nearly 30 million unemployed in the US .
Now @ @ @ @ @ charities for help .

As President Donald Trump touts plans to reopen the economy at a mask factory in Phoenix, Arizona, Live And Let Die blares over a loudspeaker.


bbc--2020-05-06--Millie Small: My Boy Lollipop singer dies aged 73

Jamaican singer Millie Small has died at the age of 73 after suffering a stroke .
The star was most famous for her hit single My Boy Lollipop , which reached number two in both the US and the UK in 1964 .
It remains one of the biggest-selling ska songs of all time , with more than seven million sales .
Island Records founder Chris Blackwell announced her death and remembered her as `` a sweet person ... really special '' .
It was Blackwell who brought Small to London in 1963 and produced her version of My Boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vocals .
`` I would say she 's the person who took ska international because it was her first hit record , '' he told the Jamaica Observer .
`` It became a hit pretty much everywhere in the world .
I went with her around the world because each of the territories wanted her to turn up and do TV shows and such , and it was just incredible how she handled it .
`` She was such a sweet person , really a sweet person .
Very funny , great sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Blackwell .
Born Millicent Small in Clarendon , south Jamaica , she was one of seven brothers and five sisters , raised on the sugar plantation where her father was an overseer .
At the age of 12 , she won a talent contest at the Palladium Theatre in Montego Bay ; and by her teens , she was recording for Sir Coxone Dodd 's Studio One label in Kingston .
There , she teamed up with reggae singer Roy Panton , and they became one of the island 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit with We 'll Meet .
Blackwell took an interest in the singer after releasing some of those records in the UK on his fledgling record label , Island , and brought her to London in 1963 .
Small was enrolled at the Italia Conti Stage School for speech training and dancing lessons ; and she toured the UK before cutting My Boy Lollipop with a group of London session musicians ( Small claimed Rod Stewart played the harmonica solo , but he has denied being present at the recording ) .
Released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an international star , and helped popularise ska music around the world .
`` It is the ska equivalent of Elvis ' Heartbreak Hotel or the Sex Pistols ' God Save The Queen - the disc that popularised a sound previously considered to be on the margins of mainstream consciousness , '' wrote music historian Laurence Cane-Honeysett in Record Collector magazine .
However , Small was unable to replicate the success of My Boy Lollipop , scoring only one further hit , a soundalike called Sweet William , later the same year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and appeared frequently on 1960s pop shows like Juke Box Jury and Ready Steady Go .
`` My life seemed very normal to me - even though I was only 17 , I took fame in its stride , '' she told the Express in 2016 .
After leaving Island in 1970 , she recorded for legendary reggae label Trojan Records , where her first single was a cover of Nick Drake 's Mayfair .
However , it was the b-side that attracted greater attention .
Called Enoch Power , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflammatory , anti-immigration `` Rivers of Blood '' speech .
Small 's lyrics , which captured the mood of the UK 's Caribbean population , received a rapturous response when she played the song at the Caribbean Music Festival at Wembley Arena , a month after its release .
Soon after that single , and the accompanying album Time Will Tell , Small stepped away from music , saying `` it was the end of the dream and it felt like the right time '' .
In later years , she lived in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London , where she concentrated on writing , painting and raising her daughter .
When My Boy Lollipop was re-released in 1987 to mark Island Records ' 25th anniversary , the singer gave a rare interview to Thames TV , where she revealed she had , at one point , been penniless and sleeping rough in London .
However , she took the hard times in good grace , explaining : `` That 's all experience .
It was great .
I did n't worry because I knew what I was doing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ live .
It 's something I chose to do . ''
In 2011 , Jamaica 's Governor-General made Small a Commander in the Order of Distinction for her contribution to the Jamaican music industry .
The singer is survived by her daughter , Joan , who is also a musician based in London .
Tributes were led by actor Vas Blackwood , who said Small `` lit the fuse for Jamaican ska music '' .
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