bbcuk--2020-05-11--Coronavirus: Changes to wedding rules 'under consideration'

The justice secretary has indicated there may be changes to lockdown rules which has led to weddings being cancelled due to the coronavirus .
Robert Buckland told BBC Radio 4 he was giving `` anxious consideration '' to the effect of potential changes .
Weddings , baptisms and other ceremonies have been put on hold because of the ban on gatherings of more than two people to stop the disease spreading .
Mr Buckland was questioned after PM Boris Johnson 's TV address on Sunday .
He used the broadcast to outline a `` conditional plan '' to reopen society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weddings or any other large social gatherings .
• Lockdown hen party virtually as good as the real thing • ' I 've cancelled my wedding because of coronavirus' The issue of weddings came up on BBC Radio 4 's Westminster Hour , when panellist Katy Balls , the Spectator 's deputy political editor , told the programme she was due to be going on honeymoon .
Ms Balls had planned to go away a week after getting married , but said `` both things are going to have to wait '' which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some time '' after listening to Mr Johnson 's speech .
Mr Buckland said he was giving a `` lot of anxious consideration to the effect of the potential changes '' to rules on marriage ceremonies , urging people to `` watch this space , we 're working on it . ''
He added there are some people who really want to get married `` because things are happening in their life that means they might not be together for a long time '' .
One such case is that of Roy Wilson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He married his long-term partner in hospital after he began showing symptoms of Covid-19 .
Mr Wilson , who tested negative for the virus , married Jill Hird after securing special dispensation from the Archbishop of Canterbury .
Before the government announced the lockdown on 23 March , the Church of England restricted wedding ceremonies to five people - including the bride and groom , the priest and two witnesses .
Some couples have opted to hold virtual wedding ceremonies , inviting their friends and family to watch them via video conferencing apps @

Ms Balls had planned to go away a week after getting married, but said "both things are going to have to wait" which she believes could be "for quite some time" after listening to Mr Johnson's speech.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: Businesses want 'clear guidance' on return to work

Business groups have called for clarity on what will need to change in the workplace as Boris Johnson unveils a `` conditional plan '' to reopen society .
`` Businesses need their practical questions answered so they can plan to restart , rebuild and renew , '' said the British Chambers of Commerce .
The prime minister said those who could not work from home should be `` actively encouraged to go to work '' in England .
But he told people to avoid using public transport where possible .
`` Businesses will need to see detailed plans for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all nations across the UK and supported by clear guidance , '' said Adam Marshall , director of the British Chambers of Commerce ( BCC ) .
He added : `` It is imperative that companies have detailed advice on what will need to change in the workplace , including clarity on the use of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) . ''
In a televised address , Mr Johnson said he wanted those in the construction and manufacturing industries to return to work this week .
Caution was however urged by other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Directors ( IoD ) .
Its director general , Jonathan Geldart , said it was vital the guidance was clear so that companies could plan how to return safely .
`` As people with ultimate legal responsibility , directors need to have confidence that it 's safe , and that if they act responsibly they wo n't be at undue risk .
Businesses should consult with their people to put in place robust policies , which in many cases might not be an overnight process . ''
Carolyn Fairbairn , the director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( CBI ) said businesses were `` keen to open and get the economy back on its feet '' .
`` But they also know putting health first is the only sustainable route to economic recovery .
The message of continued vigilance is right , '' she said .
Commenting on the prime minister 's address , she said : `` This announcement marks the start of a long process .
While stopping work was necessarily fast and immediate , restarting will be slower and more complex .
It must go hand in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , testing and access to PPE .
Firms will want to see a roadmap , with dates they can plan for . ''
Very little has changed in terms of the regulations and prohibitions first announced in March .
The lockdown remains .
Closed shops , for example , wo n't reopen .
What we did get was a `` change of emphasis '' - that people should assume they should go back to work , rather than presume they should not .
Some in government and in industry fear that the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply embedded itself in the minds of millions of workers .
The prime minister 's replacement of that message with `` stay alert '' in England is designed to get businesses to use the existing discretion in the lockdown regulations .
The practicalities of that are not easy , however , with business groups and unions not agreeing on what constitutes a `` Covid-safe '' workplace .
The government acknowledges that there wo n't be enough public transport options for people to return to work .
Many workers will also face problems with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the extent that some industries will reopen - such as construction and perhaps some forms of hospitality by July , any increase in the rate of infection could see the brakes applied quickly .
The path ahead will be a delicate , difficult and constant balancing act between health and the economy .
For now , the economy is definitively second priority .
During his address , Mr Johnson added that workplaces would receive guidance on how to become `` Covid secure '' .
Frances O'Grady , general secretary of the Trades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be published .
BBC News previously reported that reduced hot-desking and alternatives to social distancing where it is not possible were among measures being considered to let workplaces reopen .
One of seven draft plans to ease anti-coronavirus restrictions , seen by the BBC , also urged employers to minimise numbers using equipment , stagger shift times and maximise home-working .
Many companies have been shut since widespread limits on everyday life were imposed on 23 March , in a bid to limit the effects of the virus 's spread on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government is now paying the wages for nearly a quarter of UK jobs under a programme aimed at helping people put on leave due to the virus pandemic .
Under the job retention scheme , it funds 80 % of workers ' wages , up to £2,500 a month .
On Sunday , business groups also urged caution when it came to any future withdrawal of the support .
Adam Marshall of the BCC added : `` Firms will also need to know that government support schemes , which have helped save millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue for as long as they are needed so that they can plan ahead with confidence . ''
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"As people with ultimate legal responsibility, directors need to have confidence that it's safe, and that if they act responsibly they won't be at undue risk. Businesses should consult with their people to put in place robust policies, which in many cases might not be an overnight process."


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Plans for early prisoner release shelved by government

Proposals to release some offenders from prison earlier than planned have been shelved by the government .
The change was due before the House of Commons on Tuesday where it faced opposition from a number of Tory MPs .
But a Whitehall source told the BBC it was no longer necessary as the coronavirus outbreak has eased pressure on the prison system with fewer cases going to the courts .
Inmates could still be released under the COVID early release scheme .
The government proposal would have seen offenders in England and Wales who meet certain criteria - including serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - eligible for release 180 days early under the Home Detention Curfew scheme instead of the current 135 days .
The plans , which pre-dates the pandemic , had been looked at as a means of giving offenders more time to transition back into the community - and as a way of reducing parts of the prison population .
Previous estimates , from last year , show around 500 prisoners would have been eligible under the change .
A number of Conservative MPs were known to have been unhappy with the plans with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were set to rebel .
However the proposed change has now been dropped with a government source telling the BBC it is no longer necessary .
• Thousands of Covid-19 cases in prisons , says study At the beginning of April the government announced that , in a bid to reduce coronavirus infections , low-risk offenders with two months or fewer still to serve would be released on temporary licence in stages .
Speaking at the end of last month , Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said that , under the Covid early release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in England and Wales had so far been freed .
Mr Buckland said progress on the scheme announced at the start of the month had been `` slow '' .
But he said other measures , such as requiring inmates to spend more time in their cells , had so far helped to prevent an `` explosive outbreak '' .
As of Wednesday , 390 prisoners and 447 prison staff had tested positive for COVID-19 across 74 prisons in England and Wales .

The government proposal would have seen offenders in England and Wales who meet certain criteria - including serving a sentence of less than four years - eligible for release 180 days early under the Home Detention Curfew scheme instead of the current 135 days.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: Airlines warned over passenger refund rights

The aviation watchdog has warned airlines that they are legally required to provide refunds to customers who had their flights cancelled because of the coronavirus .
By law , plane operators must refund customers within seven days if their flight is cancelled .
But with fewer than 10 % of UK flights taking off , airlines are struggling to deal with all the requests for refunds .
The Civil Aviation Authority ( CAA ) said it could take action against airlines .
`` We are reviewing how airlines are handling refunds during the coronavirus pandemic , and will consider if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that consumer rights are protected , '' the regulator said in a statement .
• 'First Ryanair agreed to a refund , then it didn't' Last month , consumer group Which ?
said it had received thousands of complaints from people struggling to secure a refund for their cancelled travel .
Instead , airlines were offering customers vouchers to be used when lockdown are lifted .
The travel industry 's own estimates suggested £7bn of travellers ' money was affected , Which ?
said .
Now the CAA has stepped in .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive a refund for their cancelled flights , despite the challenges the industry is currently facing , '' it said .
`` We support airlines offering consumers vouchers and rebooking alternatives where it makes sense for the consumer .
`` But it is important that consumers are given a clear option to request a cash refund without unnecessary barriers . ''
The regulator said it did not expect airlines to `` systematically '' deny consumers their right to a refund .
`` We expect airlines to provide refunds for cancelled flights as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are operational challenges for airlines in the current circumstances . ''
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has said it will take up to six months to refund passengers for flights cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic .
He told the BBC that the airline was struggling to process a backlog of 25 million refunds with reduced staff .
Airlines have been forced to ground the majority of their fleets because of the crisis , which has all but eliminated demand for air travel .
As a result , British Airways , Virgin Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job cuts .
Airlines have also said that plans to introduce a 14-day quarantine period for anyone arriving in the UK from any countries apart from the Republic of Ireland and France will further hurt demand .
UK airports suggested that a quarantine `` would not only have a devastating impact on the UK aviation industry , but also on the wider economy '' .
Karen Dee from the Airport Operators Association , which represents most UK airports , said the measure should be applied `` on a selective basis following the science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key sectors should be mitigated '' .

"We are reviewing how airlines are handling refunds during the coronavirus pandemic, and will consider if any action should be taken to ensure that consumer rights are protected," the regulator said in a statement.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: Minister defends 'stay alert' advice amid backlash

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has insisted now is the right time to update the government 's coronavirus message from `` stay at home '' to `` stay alert '' , amid widespread criticism .
PM Boris Johnson announced the slogan for England , telling people to `` stay alert , control the virus , save lives '' , ahead of his national address .
Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland are sticking with `` stay at home '' .
Scotland 's Nicola Sturgeon said : `` I do n't know what 'stay alert ' means . ''
The first minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` For Scotland right now , given the fragility of the progress we 've made , given the critical point that we are at , then it would be catastrophic for me to drop the 'stay at home ' message .
`` I am particularly not prepared to do it in favour of a message that is vague and imprecise . ''
Labour 's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth warned people might be `` puzzled '' by the change .
But Mr Jenrick told the BBC 's Andrew Marr : `` Stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home as much as possible , but stay alert when you do go out , by maintaining social distancing , washing your hands , respecting others in the workplace and the other settings that you 'll go to . ''
A further 269 people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus , taking the total number of deaths recorded to 31,855 .
The number of deaths recorded tends to be lower over the weekend because of reporting delays .
The government has also missed its target of 100,000 coronavirus tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a row , with 92,837 tests on Saturday .
• What will be the 'new normal ' ?
The prime minister shared the new government slogan on Twitter , detailing some of the guidance issued to the public .
A No 10 spokesman added : `` Everyone has a role to play in keeping the rate of infection ( R ) down by staying alert and following the rules . ''
Mr Ashworth called on the government to clarify what the new slogan meant .
`` When you 're dealing with a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need absolute clarity from government about what the advice is .
There is no room for nuance , '' he said .
`` The problem with the new message is that many people will be puzzled by it , '' he added .
Mr Jenrick said the updated message was a `` cautious '' one , because the rate of infection remained high and the public were `` understandably anxious '' .
He dismissed Mr Ashworth 's concerns , saying : `` The public are capable of understanding a broader message as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus . ''
However , the Liberal Democrats ' acting leader Sir Ed Davey said changing the slogan `` makes the police 's job near-impossible and may cause considerable alarm '' as he urged the government to publish the evidence that has informed the new strategy .
And on social media , Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham called the updated advice `` too ambiguous '' and `` unenforceable '' .
The UK government 's new slogan is part of moving into the next phase of the response to coronavirus .
Staying at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy , but ministers want to `` broaden the message '' .
Some are worried the new campaign is ambiguous and muddies the water .
In Wales and Scotland , the devolved governments who control health have made clear they will keep the original slogan - stay at home , protect the NHS , save lives .
So from tomorrow , messaging will be different in different parts of the UK .
And I understand there are real concerns in the Scottish government about how people will react - and fears it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their advice to stay at home unless essential .
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would continue to use the `` stay at home '' message in Scotland and later said she had asked the UK government `` not to deploy '' the new slogan there .
Leaders of the devolved nations - which have the power to set their own lockdown regulations - said they had not been consulted over the `` stay alert '' message .
Ms Sturgeon said the first she heard of the updated guidance was in newspaper reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said that , other than allowing people to leave home for exercise more than once a day , the rules there had not changed .
`` We remain in lockdown for now and my ask of you is to remain at home '' , she said .
Behavioural expert Professor Susan Michie , who is part of the government 's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( Sage ) , warned some people might take the more generalised `` alert '' slogan as a `` green light '' to socialise .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helpful message in terms of guiding behaviour .
It does not give advice as to what people should do , '' she told the PA news agency .
Meanwhile , the government 's pandemic response has been called `` wishy-washy '' by a body representing police officers in London .
It comes after a police force in east London shared an image of a crowded park in Hackney on Saturday , where hundreds of people , they said , were eating and drinking alcohol .
Ken Marsh , from the Metropolitan Police Federation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme authorities `` needed to be firmer right from the beginning '' and that if authorities had been more stringent from the outset `` we would have a better result now '' .
But another adviser to Sage , Prof Mark Woolhouse of Edinburgh University , told BBC Radio 4 's The World This Weekend outdoor activities posed a `` relatively low risk '' so long as people with symptoms were not going out and that those who needed to quarantine themselves did so .
In his address , the prime minister announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracking coronavirus in England and unveiled a `` conditional plan '' to reopen society , allowing people in England to spend more time outdoors from Wednesday .
Mr Johnson also said people who could not work from home should return to the workplace - but avoid public transport .
The lockdown has already been extended for another three weeks in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland to 28 May .
• The Department of Health has confirmed 50,000 coronavirus test samples were sent to the US earlier this week after problems in UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to hit the 100,000 daily testing target for the seventh day running • More than 70 public figures - including Baroness Doreen Lawrence and author Malorie Blackman - are calling for a full independent public inquiry into deaths from Covid-19 among people from ethnic minority backgrounds • A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • FACE MASKS : Should I be wearing one ?

So from tomorrow, messaging will be different in different parts of the UK. And I understand there are real concerns in the Scottish government about how people will react - and fears it will be harder to get them to follow their advice to stay at home unless essential.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Lincolnshire students urged to help pick fruit and veg

Students are being urged to spend their summer holidays working on farms to help keep Britain fed during the coronavirus crisis .
Farms are struggling after lockdown lead to a shortage of migrant workers .
Sixth-form , college and university students have been encouraged to help pick fruit and vegetables .
A `` student land army '' is needed to bring in the harvest , according to the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership .
Lincolnshire produces a quarter of the country 's vegetables with the local food sector employing 56,000 people .
However , travel restrictions put in place to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are struggling to recruit the workers they need .
Students have now been asked to `` support national food security through local food supply chains '' by signing up to work on farms .
• Fruit and veg growers call for workers to 'feed the nation' • Eastern Europeans to be flown in to pick fruit and veg Sarah Louise Fairburn , chair of the enterprise partnership 's food board , said : `` A student land army can have a significant impact on the national effort to overcome the pandemic emergency and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an income while they 're not studying . ''
The appeal has been shared by educational establishments across Lincolnshire as well as by the local council in neighbouring Rutland .
The UK is said to be approaching its peak summer harvest season with 80,000 seasonal workers needed from the end of May .
A national campaign is underway to recruit workers and prevent millions of tonnes of fruit and vegetables from going to waste .
Much of the work is normally done by seasonal migrant labourers , although overseas workers have been affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was reported that Eastern European farm workers were being flown to the UK on charter flights to pick fruit and vegetable crops .
The National Farmers ' Union has called on `` young , fit '' university students and people who have found themselves out of work to join the farming and food industry during the crisis .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• IMPACT : What the virus does to the body • RECOVERY : How long does it take ?
• LOCKDOWN : How can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How do we get out of this mess ?
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Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news @ bbc.co.uk .

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bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: Lockdown birthday party ends in arrests

Seven people were arrested when police tried to stop a birthday party attended by about 40 people .
Officers who @ @ @ @ @ gathering in Bolton , Greater Manchester , were `` met with hostility '' .
A @ @ @ @ @ to co-operate and `` began to deliberately cough and spit '' , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ 23 and 48 , were arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and for @ @ @ @ @ Another person was given a fixed penalty .
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said adults @ @ @ @ @ the party in Wemsley Grove on Saturday night .
Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts said @ @ @ @ @ disappointing to see the rules being flagrantly ignored by those who are putting their own @ @ @ @ @ so many others at risk . ''

Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts said: "It is really disappointing to see the rules being flagrantly ignored by those who are putting their own safety and the safety of so many others at risk."


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Murder arrest over Wisbech industrial estate death

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murdering a victim found dead in bushes on an industrial estate .
The body of a man , who has not yet been named , was found at about 05:10 BST on Saturday in Sandall Road , Wisbech , Cambridgeshire .
A post-mortem examination of the victim , thought to be a 28-year-old from the town , found he died from blunt force trauma to the head .
Two suspects from Wisbech , aged 24 and 27 , remain in police custody .
The body was discovered by a member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen at the site examining a bicycle that was also in the hedge .
Det Ch Supt Martin Brunning said : `` This man was subjected to a brutal assault and we have a team of detectives dedicated to bringing the person , or people , responsible to justice .
`` We are in touch with the victim 's next of kin and are keeping them updated on the fast-moving developments . ''
He described it as a `` tragic death '' but said detectives were `` satisfied it is a contained incident @ @

The body was discovered by a member of the public, and forensics officers were later seen at the site examining a bicycle that was also in the hedge.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Lockdown update: What are the new rules set out by Boris Johnson?

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced his plans to restart the economy and ease lockdown restrictions in England .
But how could everyday life change ?
Can more people go back to work ?
• From Monday , people in England who `` ca n't work from home '' will be `` actively encouraged to go to work '' • But they should still avoid public transport if possible because of social distancing • And the government says it is working on guidance for employers to make workplaces `` Covid-secure '' Previous draft government proposals to bring UK businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer continue .
Companies will also need to look at staggering shifts , rethink how equipment is shared and plan safe walking routes for staff - in offices , on factory floors and at building sites .
The issue of how businesses can secure personal protective equipment without competing with the NHS has raised concerns .
And unions say employers must be compelled to protect staff .
When will schools and universities return ?
• Mr Johnson says primary schools in England may be ready to reopen `` in stages '' - but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • This could begin with Reception , Year 1 and Year 6 pupils going back • The prime minister also says it 's the government 's `` ambition '' to give secondary school pupils doing exams next year `` at least some time with their teachers '' before the summer holidays The Welsh government has ruled out school reopenings happening on 1 June .
Scotland 's First Minister , Nicola Sturgeon , has said she does not expect schools to be reopening as soon as 1 June .
No detail is available on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But there has been speculation previously that measures to keep pupils and teachers safe could include : • groups of pupils attending on different days Meanwhile , there is uncertainty over whether students will be able to go to university in person in September or whether they will be taught partially or completely online .
Will people be able to exercise more ?
• From Wednesday , people in England will be able to spend more time outdoors `` for leisure purposes '' • They can `` take more and even unlimited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only exercising once a day • People will also be free to sit in parks , and be able to `` play sports '' with people from the same household • But social distancing rules - keeping at least two metres away from people outside your household - must still be followed The BBC understands that the changes in the guidelines will mean two people from different households would be able to meet while sitting more than two metres apart in a park .
And Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says sports like golf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now be possible for people in the same household .
The Welsh and Scottish governments have said people can exercise outdoors more than once a day from Monday .
How will the virus threat be publicised ?
• A `` Covid alert system '' , with the level of danger rated 1 to 5 - 5 being the most critical - will be introduced , Mr Johnson said • This will determine how `` tough '' social distancing measures need to be - the lower the number the more they will be relaxed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently at Level 4 When can I go shopping again ?
• The prime minister says the `` phased reopening '' of shops - other than food stores and other `` essential '' outlets - may begin in England on 1 June , at the earliest • This will only happen where social distancing rules can be followed Garden centres in Wales will open from Monday .
Decisions are awaited in Scotland and Northern Ireland .
Mr Johnson made no mention of garden centres in England in his speech .
Some DIY stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but they are accepting card payments only and have shorter trading hours .
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
• RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?
What about pubs , cafes , restaurants , theatres and cinemas ?
• Mr Johnson says the government `` hopes '' to reopen `` at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places '' in England but this will happen later than for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the earliest • This will also depend on scientific advice and the possibility of keeping to social distancing measures Draft government guidance previously seen by BBC News had said bar areas , seated areas in restaurants and cafes must remain closed even as the economy is opened up - and venues should serve takeaways only .
• Mr Johnson says it will `` soon be the time '' - with coronavirus transmission rates falling - to impose quarantine on people coming to the UK by air No more detail was given in Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine would take or how it would be enforced .
Overall , social distancing is a big challenge for airports and airlines , with Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye saying it is `` physically impossible '' .
EasyJet plans to leave middle seats empty , but Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary says this would be `` idiotic '' .
There has been speculation that air passengers may have to : • arrive up to four hours before departure , for health screening UK airlines say they have been told by the government that people arriving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the Republic of Ireland from the end of this month will have to self-isolate for 14 days - Mr Johnson did not give this much detail in his speech .
Trade body Airlines UK says such a move would `` effectively kill air travel '' .
Meanwhile , the government has said people should not book holidays at home or abroad until social distancing rules are relaxed .

If you test positive for Covid you are no longer legally required to self-isolate, but you are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: When will schools reopen?

Coronavirus: When will schools reopen?

Schools across the UK have been closed to the vast majority of pupils since the end of March .
When - and how - will they return to anything approaching normal again ?
Will schools reopen before the summer holidays ?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that primary schools in England might start to reopen from 1 June at the earliest .
Any reopening would be conditional on the R rate and number of new infections staying low .
He said pupils in Reception , Year 1 and Year 6 might be able to return in stages .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays . ''
However , there are no plans to reopen schools yet in the rest of the UK .
In Scotland , First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said any return to school `` might not be possible '' before the summer holidays , which start at the end of June there .
Wales 's Education Minister Kirsty Williams has said schools in Wales will not reopen on 1 June .
And in Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said a phased return in September is likely .
A phased return could mean that a few year groups would be the first to return to school , or that pupils would take turns to study at home and in school .
This would allow schools to maintain some level of social distancing .
It might also mean staggering break times and putting limits on class sizes .
A phased return may also mean that some pupils will not return until the autumn term - or at least for anything like a regular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , and some academics have questioned whether school closures have had any impact on controlling the virus .
However , the government 's chief medical officer , Prof Chris Whitty , responded that while schools were `` not dangerous '' for children during the pandemic , the decision to close them would slow the rise of infections .
On top of how to manage social distancing , any school seeking to reopen has to consider other questions : • Should children return to school if they live with family members who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable staff would need to be shielded ?
• What protective equipment might be needed for teachers ?
Which pupils should be the first to return ?
Robert Halfon MP , who chairs the Education Select Committee , thinks primary schools should be the first back .
This would help parents and stop disadvantaged youngsters falling behind at an early stage , he argues .
But Geoff Barton , of the head teachers ' union , says the priority should be Years 10 and 12 , who are due to sit GCSEs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where children are about to move to secondary school .
Others say it should be up to each school to decide the order in which its pupils return .
Denmark was the first European country to start allowing children up to the age of 11 back to school .
Germany has also partially reopened schools for young children and those taking exams , with others to follow later in the term .
Primary schools and nurseries in France will reopen on Monday , with schools for 11 to 15-year-olds following a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will open in June .
Schools in the Republic of Ireland will not reopen until August , while Italy and Spain are to keep their schools shut until September .
Schools , nurseries and childminders in the UK are still providing care for children whose parents are key workers `` critical to the Covid-19 response '' , and who can not be safely cared for at home .
They are also providing care for children who are known to be vulnerable - those with a social worker , for example , or those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent figures ( 30 April ) show that 191,000 children are currently attending school - 2 % of those who normally attend .
Of that figure , 58,000 are classed as vulnerable .
How are children currently being educated at home ?
Schools have tried to continue a limited curriculum online , relying on parents and guardians to supervise .
Educationalists say that parents should not be expected to do the teacher 's job , but they can try to maintain a routine of learning and study habits - even if it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
To support home learning , the BBC has also launched a major programme of expanded educational content on its BBC Bitesize service , including regular daily lessons in English , Maths and other core subjects .
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
Summer exams have been cancelled in England , Wales and Scotland .
This includes GCSEs and A-levels in England and Wales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests in England .
In Scotland , Highers and Nationals will not be going ahead .
Exam watchdogs have been working together on alternative arrangements .
Have you been affected by the school closures due to coronavirus ?
Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
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How are Covid rules changing across UK schools? Published 23 February 2022
Image source, Getty Images
All remaining Covid restrictions have now been scrapped in English schools.
Rules have also been eased elsewhere in the UK, but some measures are being retained for the moment.
How are the Covid rules changing in schools?
The legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive test is also being removed, although it is still recommended.
Head teachers groups have warned that the changes to testing and self-isolation "may actually lead to an increase in disruption", as Covid is more likely to spread in the classroom, leading to further pupil and staff absence.
Image source, Getty Images
All school staff and secondary school pupils in Scotland and Northern Ireland are still asked to take two lateral flow tests (LFTs) a week (three in Wales).
In Wales, schools are largely back to normal. Face coverings will no longer be required in classrooms after 28 February, but should still be worn in communal areas of secondary schools.
In Northern Ireland, schools reopened with the same measures as last term. If a primary or post-primary class has multiple Covid cases, all pupils should take an LFT. The guidance that pupils in post-primary schools should wear face coverings still applies.
In Scotland, social distancing remains in place. However, pupils will no longer have to wear masks in school from 28 February.
How many teachers and pupils are off because of Covid?
The latest data for England shows that 182,000 pupils (2.2%) of pupils were absent for Covid-related reasons on 10 February, down from 320,000 (3.9%) on 3 February.
On the same date, 2.8% of teachers and school leaders and 2.5% of teaching assistants and other staff were absent due to Covid, down from 4.4% and 4.1% respectively the previous week.
Almost half England's schools (45%) had one in 20 teachers absent due to Covid.
In Scotland on 17 February, 12,638 students (2.4%) were missing from school due to Covid-related reasons. The highest absence rate this year was seen on 7 January, when 43,565 students (14.1%) were off.
In Northern Ireland, 5.2% of students, 9% of teachers and 11% of classroom assistants in schools were absent due to Covid over the week 24 to 28 January - the highest rates since the new term began.
Image source, Getty Images
Many schools have told the BBC they have struggled to find temporary staff to cover the teachers who are off.
England's Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi urged retired teachers to return and join teacher supply agencies to fill gaps, but a BBC survey suggested there had been a limited response.
Mr Zahawi also suggested schools could merge classes. But teaching unions said there were logistical difficulties and safety issues with teaching large groups of children.
Image source, Getty Images
Can a child go to school if they or someone in their household or class has Covid?
After Thursday 24 February, people in England with Covid will no longer have a legal obligation to self-isolate.
However, people who test positive will still be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days, including school staff and students.
The legal requirement to self-isolate remains in place across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
As long as they don't have Covid symptoms, under-18s already don't have to self-isolate if someone else in their household has Covid.
Similarly, whole classes are no longer automatically sent home to isolate if a pupil or teacher tests positive.
However, close contacts aged five or above are strongly advised to test for at least seven days.
All primary and post-primary pupils in Northern Ireland are advised to take an LFT if there are multiple Covid cases in their class.
Which pupils are being vaccinated?
All children aged five to 11 in the UK will be offered a low-dose vaccine, which is being rolled out on a "non-urgent" basis.
It's expected to be offered in England in April, and plans are also under way in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In addition:
the low-dose vaccine is already being offered to five to 11-year-olds with medical conditions that put them at greater risk
all children aged 12 and over are being offered two doses of the Pfizer jab
sixteen and 17-year-olds who had a second vaccine dose at least three months ago can have a booster
the JCVI has also recommended that the booster is also offered to children aged 12-15 who are in an at-risk group or live with someone who is immunosuppressed
Children who aren't at high risk from Covid should wait 12 weeks after a positive test before having a jab.
How will exams work this year?
Grades will again be decided by external marking, instead of the teacher assessments used in 2020 and 2021, but grade boundaries will be more lenient in England, Wales and Scotland.
English exam boards have published details about this year's GCSE, AS and A-level papers for most subjects, including maths, biology, chemistry and languages.
Students taking GCSE exams in English Literature, geography, history and ancient history won't have to answer questions on one option from their course.
In maths and science exams, students will be given sheets of formulae and equations.
Students taking vocational B-Tec qualifications will have fewer internal assessments.


bbcuk--2020-05-08--Coronavirus R: Is this the crucial number?

There is a simple , but crucial number at the heart of understanding the threat posed by the coronavirus .
It is guiding governments around the world on the actions needed to save lives , and it gives us clues to the extent that lockdown can be lifted .
It is called the reproduction number or simply the R value .
The reproduction number is a way of rating a disease 's ability to spread .
It 's the number of people that one infected person will pass the virus on to , on average Measles has one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of 15 in populations without immunity .
It can cause explosive outbreaks .
The new coronavirus , known officially as Sars-CoV-2 , has a reproduction number of about three , but estimates vary .
Why is a number above one dangerous ?
If the reproduction number is higher than one , then the number of cases increases exponentially - it snowballs like debt on an unpaid credit card .
But if the number is lower , the disease will eventually peter out as not enough new people are being infected to sustain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force the reproduction number down from about three to below one .
This is the reason you 've not seen family , have had to work from home and the children have been off school .
Stopping people coming into contact with each other to cut the virus 's ability to spread .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• IMPACT : What the virus does to the body • RECOVERY : How long does it take ?
• LOCKDOWN : How can we lift restrictions ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this mess ?
What is the R number in the UK ?
The reproduction number is not fixed .
Instead , it changes as our behaviour changes or as immunity develops .
Mathematical modellers at Imperial College London are attempting to track how the number has changed as isolation , social distancing and the full lockdown were introduced .
Before any measures came in , the number was well above one and the conditions were ripe for a large outbreak .
Successive restrictions brought it down , but it was not until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
It 's a bit technical but by this point scientists refer to the Rt , rather than R , as the number is changing over time .
The R value was around 0.7 a couple of weeks ago , but is now thought to be somewhere between 0.75 and 1.0 .
This increase is being driven by a care home epidemic - as cases fall elsewhere in society , the number of infections in care homes has an ever growing impact on the R number .
So how does this inform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to lift lockdown , the aim will be to keep the reproduction number below one .
Dr Adam Kucharski , from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , told the BBC : `` It 's a big challenge making sure you 're not loosening too much and increasing transmission . ''
However it has taken a monumental effort , one that has caused damage to people 's lives , to get the number from three to 0.7 .
`` It does n't give you a lot of room to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one ] '' , Dr Kucharski added .
Earlier in April , Germany 's reproduction number fell to about 0.7 , the same as the UK 's now .
But the Robert Koch Institute said that number had increased in recent days to one , before dropping back to 0.75 .
`` The number should stay below one , that is the big goal , '' said Prof Lothar Wieler , head of the institute .
Which measures could be lifted ?
Unfortunately there is no confirmation how much each intervention affects the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimates .
`` Opening schools versus workplaces versus other gatherings - understanding how much they increase the reproduction number is going to be the challenge , '' said Dr Kucharski .
Another issue is that people 's behaviour changes over time , so the number can creep up even if lockdown policies remain unchanged .
• Coronavirus lockdown : How can we lift restrictions ?
• Why millions will soon be using coronavirus apps • Coronavirus immunity : Can you catch it twice ?
What is likely to be needed are new ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more extensive testing and tracing or location-tracking apps .
These can suppress the reproduction number in a more targeted way , allowing some of the other measures to be lifted .
Is it the most important number ?
The reproduction number is one of the big three .
Another is severity - if you have a very mild disease that does not cause many problems then you can relax a bit .
Coronavirus , and the disease it causes , Covid-19 , is severe and deadly , unfortunately .
The last is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for deciding when to act .
If you have a high number , but ease restrictions so the reproduction number is about one then you will continue to have a high number of cases .
Having a vaccine is another way to bring down the reproduction number .
A coronavirus patient would naturally infect three others on average , but if a vaccine could protect two of them from infection then the reproduction number would fall from three to one .

Before any measures came in, the R number was well above one and the conditions were ripe for a large outbreak. Successive restrictions brought it down, but it was not until full lockdown that it was driven below one.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: What are the new quarantine rules?

A two-week quarantine period is expected to come into force for anyone arriving in the UK from abroad - except those travelling from the Republic of Ireland or France .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed the measure will soon be imposed to try to prevent imported coronavirus cases infecting the population , but he did not address the length of the quarantine period or how it will be enforced .
Some airports are also introducing new rules on face coverings and gloves .
And Eurostar passengers are now required to cover their faces .
So what do you need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic ?
What are the new quarantine rules ?
UK airlines and airports say they have been told the measures will come in at the end of May .
In a speech to the nation , Mr Johnson said he was `` serving notice '' that the quarantine measures would come in soon , but did not give a more detailed timeframe .
He added that the UK 's falling infection rate meant introducing quarantine would now be more effective and prevent `` reinfection from abroad '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a joint statement saying quarantine measures do not apply `` at this stage '' to those crossing between the two countries .
It is expected that all other passengers arriving in the UK would have to self-isolate for 14 days at a private residence .
Key workers such as lorry drivers who transport goods and people working in the shipping industry are expected to be exempt .
Speaking ahead of an official announcement , industry body Airlines UK said the policy needed `` a credible exit plan '' and should be reviewed weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have devastating impact on their industry and the wider economy .
What about face masks , gloves and temperature checks ?
People travelling through Manchester , Stansted and East Midlands airports will now be told to cover their faces and wear gloves .
Passengers will be given face coverings and gloves initially .
Airport staff will also wear them .
Manchester Airports Group , which owns the sites , said the measure will show `` one way in which air travel can be made safe '' .
Some temperature screening trials will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the world 's busiest airports , is already trialling large-scale temperature checks .
Chief executive John Holland-Kaye has called for a common international standard for health screening at airports `` to build confidence in international travel '' .
Air France says passengers will be temperature checked before flying from 11 May .
The carrier is also making face masks compulsory - similar to several US airlines .
What about social distancing on flights ?
Aer Lingus has said it will review procedures following a claim it did not maintain social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EasyJet has said it plans to keep the middle seats on planes empty for a time once UK lockdown restrictions are lifted .
Emirates and the US airline Delta have announced similar plans .
But Michael O'Leary , the boss of Ryanair , has said empty seats do not ensure safe social distancing and are financially unviable .
The International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) , the body representing global airlines , says leaving the middle seat empty would not improve passenger safety .
It says most airlines would not have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seats had been removed .
How many people are still flying ?
Far fewer people are flying since the Foreign Office advised against international travel .
Between 16 and 22 April , for example , the number of air passengers coming into the UK was 99 % lower than the same period in 2019 .
American Airlines said social distancing had been possible `` for all passengers '' , suggesting that its aircraft have a lot of empty seats .
And Virgin Atlantic said many of its flights in April were only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried 40,000 passengers in April - down from 13.5 million in the same month last year .
If you have to fly , it 's a common belief that you are more likely to become ill on an aeroplane , because you 're breathing `` stale '' air .
However , according to the World Health Organization , the quality of air in a plane cabin is very carefully controlled and changed up to 30 times an hour .
However , there is a greater likelihood of the virus being transmitted if passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result of an infected individual coughing , sneezing or touching surfaces .
This is the same as in any other situation in which people are close to each other , such as on a train or a bus .
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning ?
• EXERCISE : What are the guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
Public Health England says passengers should sit as far apart as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Centre - which was set up by the Department of Health - offers the following advice : • Avoid moving from your seat unnecessarily , but exercise your legs ( flex and extend the ankles ) to encourage blood flow • Only use the designated toilet for your area and wash your hands before leaving • If you start to feel unwell , stay in your seat and speak to the air crew You should not be travelling if you are unwell , or if you have tested positive for Covid-19 .

What Covid tests do I still need to travel abroad? Published 11 February 2022
Image source, Getty Images
Fully vaccinated people travelling to the UK no longer have to take any Covid tests - either before departure or on arrival.
The prime minister has announced that he intends to remove England's remaining Covid restrictions at the end of the month.
What changes have come into force for vaccinated travellers?
Fully vaccinated travellers (two doses) and under-18s no longer need to take a test either before or after they arrive in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
To qualify as vaccinated, non-UK travellers must have received their jabs in a country or territory with "approved proof of vaccination". This now covers most countries in the world, with more - including China - due to join on 11 February.
What if I'm unvaccinated?
Unvaccinated travellers still have to show proof of a negative Covid test taken two days before departure.
They must also take a post-arrival PCR test two days after arrival. This must be booked before travelling to the UK and bought privately from a government-approved list of providers.
If this is positive, they need to self-isolate.
However, unvaccinated travellers no longer have to self-isolate on arrival, or take a test on day eight.
What other rules are still in force?
All unvaccinated travellers to the UK must complete a passenger locator form before departure.
How do I prove vaccinations and test results at the UK border?
Digital Covid passes showing your vaccination status can be downloaded to your phone, whether you're in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Test results can be in the form of a printed document, or an email or text on your phone. They must be in English, French or Spanish.
European Union residents can use the EU Digital Covid Certificate to show their vaccination status or test results.
Since 3 February, 12 to 15-year-olds in England have also been able to prove their vaccination status via the digital NHS pass.
What about other countries' rules?
You are responsible for checking the entry requirements for any other countries you wish to visit, as well as the local Covid restrictions which are in force. These can change quickly.
Many UK families have cancelled half-term trips to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands because children over 12 must be double vaccinated to enter.
Very few countries allow unrestricted access to those who have not been vaccinated.
It is thought more than 80 holiday destinations around the world still require all UK travellers to take a pre-departure PCR test before arrival.
UK-issued Covid passes can be used throughout the EU to show proof of vaccination - either digitally, or as a printed download (as long as it is dated after than 1 November 2021).


bbcuk--2020-05-11--Coronavirus: Strange days in east London

Photographer Spencer Murphy talks about the pictures he has been taking during the lockdown caused by the spread of the coronavirus .
A few days before the UK went into coronavirus lockdown , I took the car to a neighbouring district of London to try and pick up some shopping .
As I drove , Louis Armstrong 's What A Wonderful World came on the radio , and at that moment I found myself passing by three people wearing protective masks and gloves : a mother and child waiting at a bus stop , and a teenager on a bike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by in the other direction , I turned to my wife to comment and she had tears in her eyes .
It was one of the most surreal and cinematic experiences of my life , and I knew then that I had to try and document these strange days .
I have found myself taking pictures of the people and the paraphernalia that feel so symbolic of the Covid-19 pandemic .
I want the images to feel as though you are moving through the city , as if viewed from a moving vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis - as I was on that initial day .
Responding to life outside my window is a familiar way of working for me , so this seemed like a natural reaction but one I did n't take lightly .
I understand that people out there are feeling anxious and vulnerable , and I have friends who work within the NHS who have made great personal sacrifices .
So I have tried to make the work whilst out on my daily walks and rides , whilst maintaining and respecting safe distance and limiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's been hard but also life-affirming and nice to maintain some form of human contact albeit in the briefest of moments , from six feet away and behind masks .
Before the pandemic hit I was making my first moving image documentary about a community in east London , which I was halfway through , and has been cut short for now .
It 's interesting to see how communities have thrived under these restrictions and how neighbours who were strangers are now closer than ever , even though they are socially distant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the better , sometimes for the worse , has been at once inspiring and unsettling .
The effects of this crisis will be felt for generations , and I hope the lessons we learn stay with us in more carefree days to come .
Here is a selection of pictures form the project : Strange Days is an ongoing project documenting this time .
You can follow along on a dedicated site Spencer has set up : www.strangedays2020.com You can see more of Spencer 's work at : www.spencermurphy.co.uk

I understand that people out there are feeling anxious and vulnerable, and I have friends who work within the NHS who have made great personal sacrifices. So I have tried to make the work whilst out on my daily walks and rides, whilst maintaining and respecting safe distance and limiting myself to the outside world. It's been hard but also life-affirming and nice to maintain some form of human contact albeit in the briefest of moments, from six feet away and behind masks.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: How they tried to curb Spanish flu pandemic in 1918

It is dangerous to draw too many parallels between coronavirus and the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic , that killed at least 50 million people around the world .
Covid-19 is an entirely new disease , which disproportionately affects older people .
The deadly strain of influenza that swept the globe in 1918 tended to strike those aged between 20 and 30 , with strong immune systems .
But the actions taken by governments and individuals to prevent the spread of infection have a familiar ring to them .
Public Health England studied the Spanish flu outbreak to draw up its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key lesson being that the second wave of the disease , in the autumn of 1918 , proved to be far more deadly than the first .
Britain was still at war when the virus claimed its first recorded victim , in May 1918 .
The government , like many others , was caught on the hop .
It appears to have decided that the war effort took precedence over preventing flu deaths .
The disease spread like wildfire in crowded troop transports and munitions factories , and on buses and trains , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arthur Newsholme for the Royal Society of Medicine .
But a `` memorandum for public use '' he had written in July 1918 , that advised people to stay at home if they were sick and to avoid large gatherings , was buried by the government .
Sir Arthur argued that many lives could have been saved if these rules had been followed , but he added : `` There are national circumstances in which the major duty is to 'carry on ' , even when risk to health and life is involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Spain , but Spain was the first country to report deaths from it , leading to the assumption that it must have started there .
Spain 's newspapers were not subject to wartime censorship , because it was a neutral country .
News of the epidemic was initially suppressed in other countries to avoid damaging morale .
In 1918 , there were no treatments for influenza and no antibiotics to treat complications such as pneumonia .
Hospitals were quickly overwhelmed .
There was no centrally imposed lockdown to curb the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halls , cinemas and churches were closed , in some cases for months .
Pubs , which were already subject to wartime restrictions on opening hours , mostly stayed open .
The Football League and the FA Cup had been cancelled for the war , but there was no effort to cancel other matches or limit crowds , with men 's teams playing in regional competitions , and women 's football , which attracted large crowds , continuing throughout the pandemic .
Streets in some towns and cities were sprayed with disinfectant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they went about their daily lives .
Public health messages were confused - and , just like today , fake news and conspiracy theories abounded , although the general level of ignorance about healthy lifestyles did not help .
In some factories , no-smoking rules were relaxed , in the belief that cigarettes would help prevent infection .
During a Commons debate on the pandemic , Conservative MP Claude Lowther asked : `` Is it a fact that a sure preventative against influenza is cocoa taken three times a day ? ''
Publicity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through coughs and sneezes .
In November 1918 , the News of the World advised its readers to : `` wash inside nose with soap and water each night and morning ; force yourself to sneeze night and morning , then breathe deeply .
Do not wear a muffler ; take sharp walks regularly and walk home from work ; eat plenty of porridge . ''
No country was untouched by the 1918 pandemic , although the scale of its impact , and of government efforts to protect their populations , varied widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states imposed quarantines on their citizens , with mixed results , while others tried to make the wearing of face masks compulsory .
Cinemas , theatres and other places of entertainment were closed across the country .
New York was better prepared than most US cities , having already been through a 20-year campaign against tuberculosis , and as a result suffered a lower death rate .
Nevertheless , the city 's health commissioner came under pressure from businesses to keep premises open , particularly movie theatres and other places of entertainment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was seen as a potential bulwark against the spread of infection , leading to some ingenious solutions to keep society going .
But it proved impossible to prevent mass gatherings in many US cities , particularly at places of worship .
By the end of the pandemic , the death toll in Britain was 228,000 , and a quarter of the population are thought to have been infected .
Efforts to kill the virus continued for some time , and the population were more aware than ever of the potentially deadly nature of @ @ @

The flu did not originate in Spain, but Spain was the first country to report deaths from it, leading to the assumption that it must have started there. Spain's newspapers were not subject to wartime censorship, because it was a neutral country. News of the epidemic was initially suppressed in other countries to avoid damaging morale.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--The high-flying circus firm for pop and rock stars

The BBC 's weekly The Boss series profiles different business leaders from around the world .
This week we speak to Billy Alwen and Julian Bracey , founders of UK circus performance business Cirque Bijou .
Many of us dream of quitting our nine-to-five jobs , to , as the saying goes , `` run away and join the circus '' .
Billy Alwen did just that - literally - when he quit a fledgling career in politics in 1992 , aged 25 , to become a full-time circus performer .
A few years later , in 1999 , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend Julian Bracey .
Over the past two decades their business has designed and performed large open-air spectacles at cultural events around the world , from Glastonbury Festival , to Olympic Games , to New Year celebrations in the Far East .
At the same time , its staff go on tour with singers and bands such as Taylor Swift , Katy Perry and Muse , to bring their performances alive with fire performers , tight-rope walkers , and even giant robots .
Londoner Billy had been all set for a life in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international relations from the University of Staffordshire , he spent three years working as a political researcher in the House of Commons .
But in his spare time he had started training as a trapeze artist , and in 1992 he walked away from the day job to become a full-time professional circus performer .
`` I knew my heart lay in performing , '' says Billy , now 53 .
He started to get work with circuses , and performed at private parties and festivals .
Meanwhile , Julian Bracey , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university in the 1990s .
He had won a scholarship to enrol on a prestigious course at the University of Montreal .
On the streets of the Canadian city he says he was exposed to a lot of circus and street performance .
`` I would see people busking in a market , and think , ' I can do that , ' '' says Julian , 50 .
So he ditched his plans for a career in design .
`` I ended up street performing all around the world , as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ juggler .
`` Then I joined a French circus , working as a compere .
I was n't fluent in any other languages , but I learnt the whole show in French , and even Spanish . ''
Returning to the UK , Julian joined a Bristol-based circus group , where Billy was by then working .
When they decided to go into business together they had no money to invest other than what they were continuing to earn from ad-hoc performance work .
To keep costs down they made do with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Julian 's father 's basement .
Billy says they decided to stay in Bristol because `` it has a thriving arts scene , and is a renowned centre for circus in the UK '' .
But why the French name , which translates as `` Elegant Circus '' ?
Julian explains : `` At the time , being an English circus was n't that cool , so we thought we should give ourselves a French name , hence Cirque Bijou . ''
The business then grew steadily over the years , thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's excellent contacts .
`` I had a little black book , and I knew lots of people , as I had travelled a lot , '' he says .
`` I was quite protective of our contacts .
That 's changed now because of social media , it 's now more inclusive .
You can now see someone on TV , Google their name , and say , 'Hey , do you want to be in our show ? '
'' • ‘ After eight years on drugs , I run a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the stupidest idea he had seen' • 'Coronavirus is the biggest low in my career' • ' I reinvented the hair tie from my uni halls' As the company grew , Billy and Julian both quickly gave up performing themselves , to instead focus on the production work .
Over the years they have produced spectacles such as the annual Taiwan Lantern Festival , an international exhibition in Kazakhstan , and the opening ceremonies for the sailing events at the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in the UK .
The show for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Add their work with music artists , and the company is typically involved in more than 100 shows around the world each year .
To meet all its commitments , the business relies on a pool of about 200 freelance performers .
Given that these men and women are often playing with fire , or walking tightropes , health and safety is a big factor .
One year they worked with Katy Perry at an awards show , where she wanted Catherine wheels attached to the backpacks of all her dancers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ backs , and we 'd accounted for all the health and safety hazards , '' says Julian .
`` But then this guy from Sony came up to us , and said , 'You realise that there 's this invisible video screen behind you ?
It 's worth £300,000 , and if you burn it you are in trouble ! '
`` That was slightly scary , but in over 20 years we have never had any accidents , which is amazing . ''
Typically , Billy and Julian spend lots of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which both admit can take a toll on their personal lives .
Julian says it was particularly tough when he spent five months on tour with Muse when his daughter was born .
Presently though , all is on hold due to the coronavirus lockdown .
`` We have had around 20 events cancelled or postponed , '' says Julian .
`` The summer season for live events is effectively cancelled . ''
The company is using the downtime to develop new shows instead .
Ade Berry , artistic director at London arts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cirque Bijou has `` paved the way '' for circus performance in the UK .
`` It 's redefining circus , and pushing organisations like us to try to achieve more , and rethink everything we know , '' says Mr Berry .
He adds that Cirque Bijou 's continuing work with disabled people , via its side project Extraordinary Bodies is particularly inspiring .
As to the future of Cirque Bijou , Billy and Julian see it carrying on for at least another 20 years .
It does sound more fun than @ @ @ @ @

"We strapped the fireworks to their backs, and we'd accounted for all the health and safety hazards," says Julian. "But then this guy from Sony came up to us, and said, 'You realise that there's this invisible video screen behind you? It's worth £300,000, and if you burn it you are in trouble!'


bbcuk--2020-05-10--My Money: 'I've gone from being a photographer to a farmer'

My Money is a series looking at how people spend their money - and the sometimes tough decisions they have to make .
Here Anna Jackson , 27 , takes us through a week in the life of her family 's farm in Bottesford near Scunthorpe , where she has returned after the coronavirus outbreak brought her freelance photography work to a halt .
Like most people , corona has really turned my life upside down .
I 've gone from being a freelance sports photographer in London to being a farmer in Lincolnshire .
Rather than my life revolving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the Big Smoke , I now wake up early for lamb feeding with Timmy our orphan lamb , learning about drilling and fixing fence posts with nosy cows trying to lick you .
Currently I am not furloughed as I was freelance , so money is in short supply to say the least .
I 'm still paying £815 a month for rent plus bills for a London flat that I 'm not living in , plus £114 for my monthly subscriptions .
I 'm volunteering for my Mum ( Sally ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Pink Pig Farm shop and park in Scunthorpe , whilst also working full time on the farm with Dad .
Mum has furloughed 24 staff , so she only has my sister and I to help with her daily farm shop stall , where we sell everyday essentials .
Our chickens have n't stopped laying .
Weekly shop .
Now that I 'm back living with my parents ( it 's taken some adjusting to ) we do a weekly shop , this includes all the meals throughout the week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ supermarket once a week .
As my parents are older I do n't want to add potential risk when we do n't need to .
One person is the designated shopper .
My sister has been relegated as she buys too many naughty treats , my Dad has been kindly asked not to go because he deviates from the whole shopping list and I ca n't go anymore because I take too long .
So Mum grudgingly does the weekly shop .
Total spend : £88 for the weekly shop .
( £22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the rare key workers who has been travelling around in the car ever since the virus was announced .
When we first started driving to the agricultural suppliers the roads were empty apart from lorries .
We , of course , had our government letter of authority to travel , just in case we got stopped .
Since then the roads have definitely got busier .
We are n't quite sure where people are going but it 's definitely increased .
Travel per week costs around £70 .
We travel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pigs or sheep , and to an outlying farm three times a week .
Although I do n't have to pay this as it 's a business expense , it has made me realise how much it costs to be a farmer and how much of a risk you spend up front before you get full payment from your harvested crops .
Lamb chaos .
We noticed one of the lambs had a swollen red eye so we took a photo and sent it to the vets .
The vets said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
This is n't an easy feat as you need to first catch the lamb and then administer the ointment daily .
Lambs are a pain to catch , they are nimble and speedy .
However , first we needed to get the lotion from the vets , and vets are not cheap .
This costs the business money but luckily not me .
It 's making me understand how much it costs to run a family business , it 's not dissimilar to the money I was spending in London .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been blending into one , so we 've decided to have a special dinner once a week as a family .
There 's a fancy dress theme and going over the top is advised .
A different person hosts it each week and cooks food associated with said theme .
This is a great way to be creative with food , share the cooking and it does n't cost any extra dimes .
We each get rated with a score , because there 's four of us we pronounce the winner at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dad is at a slight disadvantage as his cooking often comes with a health warning .
As a family we 've had to find creative ways to keep entertained that are low on cost : • We have cinema afternoons on a Sunday • Garden workouts ( usually with sheep bleating at us ) A tricky sell .
I sold one of my cameras and lenses today for extra cash to pay rent , as a photographer you need at least two cameras for events or shoots .
Two reasons : if one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and secondly , during events you want a different lens on each camera to capture moments quickly .
This gave me an extra £450 which is great but does n't even cover one month 's rent .
I 've been doing some photo editing on the side with clients who need it/can afford it .
This has helped immensely even though I only earn around £100 a month , every little helps .
More blogs from the BBC 's My Money Series : • 'The alcohol bill has increased ... but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 'People have started leaving their houses again' • 'Poor in money but rich in friends' • ' I had to get tickets , it was a huge sum , $ 519 ! '
Internal debate .
Sadly since corona I 've had three second-hand ( borrowed ) phones die on me , as my phone broke just before corona .
Not through any fault of my own , they all just bit the dust one after another .
A few thoughts came to my head : that I probably should n't buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only losing money , and in theory I wo n't receive money from the government as a self employed taxpayer until June .
However , as I 'm doing social media for my photography business ( Anna Rachel Photography ) and my Mum 's farm park , I would struggle to do both without a phone ( I 've already been stealing my Mum 's for a good week , she is n't too pleased ) .
So I decided to bite the bullet and buy one .
My savings have covered it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need a new phone at some point anyway .
Still a very scary decision , which took weeks of back-and-forth and an internal debate .
Farming is n't cheap .
Sunday is a slow day , we wake up , feed the lambs , Dad and I go on a bike ride spying on all the other farmers ' fields and then run the stall from outside the cafe .
Sunday is really the only rest day for farmers .
My Dad wears his smarter clothes , and we try and not farm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
We got a phone call from our next-door neighbours saying we had piglets on the road .
We hopped in the car but after driving up and down the road we could n't find any loose piglets .
This left us stumped for ages trying to figure out how they had gotten out .
Eventually we realised they were getting under a fence .
Often on farms you need to spend money on repairs .
This week we 've bought lamb ointment , bolts for the tractor , lamb powder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Expenses I know I could n't afford this right now , but I feel fortunate that my Dad can keep the farm going .
*Since corona I 've stopped paying for a workspace , unsubscribed from lots of subscriptions , and the Adobe software company has paused payment on memberships during corona .
How does Anna feel about her week ?
Whilst at the abattoir this week we got chatting to a 76-year-old farmer waiting in line ( at a distance ) and he mentioned how farmers are struggling so much during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single farm payment every year from the EU .
This helps to covers costs as the supermarkets often do n't pay farmers enough for their produce .
However these farm payments often do n't leave room for savings , so lots of farmers do n't have pensions , they will work their whole lives with an uncertain retirement .
When I say `` work '' I 'm talking about 12-hour shifts every day , on their feet , in the cold , it 's hard labour ( as I 've discovered ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you with a smile .
This week I 've realised I may be losing money and paying for things I ca n't afford but I feel very lucky to have learned so much about where our food comes from .
Farmers are key workers that often get forgotten about .
They are constant key workers as without them we 'd all have empty bellies .
I guess I feel grateful for the farmers we have in the UK and lucky that I am involved in the process .
You may be eating some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , next year ( if it rains ) !

A different person hosts it each week and cooks food associated with said theme. This is a great way to be creative with food, share the cooking and it doesn't cost any extra dimes. We each get rated with a score, because there's four of us we pronounce the winner at the end of the fourth week. Dad is at a slight disadvantage as his cooking often comes with a health warning. As a family we've had to find creative ways to keep entertained that are low on cost:


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: The main takeaways from Johnson's statement

The prime minister has unveiled a `` conditional plan '' to reopen society , allowing people in England to spend @ @ @ @ @ for schools , shops and hospitality businesses to return to business .
Boris Johnson said @ @ @ @ @ if it was safe to do so , and leaders from the other nations of @ @ @ @ @ they are cautious to change the lockdown restrictions .
The BBC 's political editor Laura @ @ @ @ @ from the address to the nation .

The prime minister has unveiled a "conditional plan" to reopen society, allowing people in England to spend more time outdoors and plans for schools, shops and hospitality businesses to return to business.
Boris Johnson said changes would only be implemented if it was safe to do so, and leaders from the other nations of the UK have indicated that they are cautious to change the lockdown restrictions.
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuennssberg explains the key points from the address to the nation.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Boris Johnson sets out plan to modify lockdown

Coronavirus : What is a vaccine and how is one made ?
We look at the work needed to create @ @ @ @ @ might be ready for the coronavirus .

The prime minister has set out a series of steps for the lifting of the coronavirus lockdown.
In a ministerial broadcast Boris Johnson encouraged people in England to exercise outdoors more often, and those unable to work from home to travel to their usual place of work.
Mr Johnson also looked ahead to possible school re-openings in June and hospitality and public places returning to business in July.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: Labour's Starmer says PM statement 'raises as many questions as answers'

People are being told to go back to work without clear guidance, the Labour leader has said.
Sir Keir Starmer said Boris Johnson's statement on a plan to ease the coronavirus lockdown "raises as many questions as answers".
He also questioned how people would be able to got to work without using public transport.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Making puppet theatres from lockdown parcel packaging

Like many other venues forced to shut their doors due to coronavirus , puppeteers The Little Angel Theatre have had @ @ @ @ @ .
They 've been overwhelmed by the response .

Like many other venues forced to shut their doors due to coronavirus, puppeteers at London's Little Angel Theatre have had to up their online presence.
They've been overwhelmed by the response to their streamed shows, with children inspired to do their own performances at home.
Video journalist: Alex Stanger


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: 'It was a terrible time'

Coronavirus: 'It was a terrible time'

Ertan , a 70-year-old bus driver , has now recovered from Covid-19 after a lengthy stay in hospital .
His @ @ @ @ @ a new device currently being trialled by the NHS .
Ertan is now back home @ @ @ @ @ able to witness his first follow-up appointment with clinical staff via video .
Watch more @ @ @ @ @ outbreak : Your Coronavirus Stories

A 70-year-old bus driver has expressed his happiness at being back home after four weeks in hospital with coronavirus.
The BBC's Fergus Walsh catches up with Ertan Nazim one month after this report inside the intensive care unit at London's University College Hospital.
Watch more personal stories during the coronavirus outbreak: Your Coronavirus Stories


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Newspaper headlines: Chaos or freedom? Lockdown roadmap divides papers

`` Boris keeps handbrake on '' is how the Daily Mail describes the prime minister 's televised address on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ outlined `` the first sketch '' of an exit from the coronavirus lockdown - including @ @ @ @ @ and primary schools in England next month .
From Wednesday , people will be allowed @ @ @ @ @ drive to do so , as well as playing sport with household members and sunbathe @ @ @ @ @ the paper says Mr Johnson is `` ready to slam on the brakes again at @ @ @ @ @ is a surge in new cases of the virus .

Several papers look ahead to the Premier League's discussions about how to finish the football season, with the Guardian calling it a "week of chaos". It says clubs are divided between those which want to resume playing as soon as possible - and those concerned about the health implications, and the conditions under which matches would be played.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Think what you're doing, says Covid-19 police boss

A senior police officer who spent more than three weeks in hospital with coronavirus said he is `` very disturbed '' at some people 's attitude to lockdown .
Ch Supt Phil Dolby , of West Midlands Police , was admitted to Worcester Royal Hospital on 29 March and later placed on a ventilator for 13 days .
In a post on Twitter , he criticised `` increasingly blasé '' behaviour .
His comments come as forces around England reported multiple instances of people ignoring lockdown rules .
Mr Dolby told the BBC he was prompted to speak out about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience of the virus which `` nearly killed '' him .
`` I 've been pretty disappointed and shocked to see so many people being quite blasé about the lockdown and the social distancing , '' he said .
`` You can see queues of people getting into parks , queues of cars driving to beaches , lots of activity that seems to me to be against the medical advice .
`` I 've felt that a missing voice in all of that was someone who 'd been through it , was still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` As a 45-year-old fairly healthy person with no real health issues , the virus nearly killed me .
`` As a result , not only have I been a victim , my family have been through an awful lot of trauma as well , we are also concerned about what that means for us going forward , so I felt an extra voice adding to that debate would be useful for people to think about what they were doing . ''
The have been reports from forces across England about people breaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • On Saturday , police in Hackney said they were `` fighting a losing battle '' as people gathered in parks • One driver was fined twice in 10 minutes when stopped while travelling from Edinburgh to Wigan to buy a puppy • Officers in Cumbria stopped a man driving from London to Aberdeen to see his cousin • The same force also stopped a driver from Essex who had driven to the Lake District • Plymouth Police tweeted that in a 24-hour period the Devon and Cornwall force dealt with `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports of COVID-19 breaches or alcohol related incidents '' • Dorset Police said it spent hours moving on sunbathers on Highcliffe Beach , including a family who had travelled from Southampton to use a dinghy in the sea • On Friday , a street party in Corby involving up to 50 people and a bouncy castle in the street was shut down Elsewhere , seven people were arrested when police tried to stop a birthday party with about 40 attendees in Bolton , Greater Manchester .
In East Sussex , a couple camping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police , the coastguard and a volunteer lifeboat after leaving their car at nearby Beachy Head .
Meanwhile , Derbyshire Police tweeted that there were a number of non-essential journeys in Matlock Bath .
They added : `` We are n't the fun police but looking at Twitter it feels like a growing minority are risking undoing all the good work previously done . ''
And Liz Stone , from Fawley , Hampshire , took pictures of a number of cars parked at Lepe Beach on Saturday while travelling back from feeding her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It was crazy , '' she said .
`` People were walking around , sitting on the beach , some were paddling .
They were just having a normal day at the beach . ''
Mr Dolby 's original Twitter post has been retweeted more than 3,000 times and had hundreds of replies , including one from a nurse who said they were `` increasingly baffled , frustrated and saddened '' by the behaviour of some people .
Meanwhile , a body representing police officers in London said the government 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ken Marsh , from the Metropolitan Police Federation , told BBC Radio 4 authorities `` needed to be firmer right from the beginning '' .
At the government 's daily coronavirus briefing on Saturday , transport secretary Grant Shapps was asked about the apparent rise in people going outside , which came after warnings against sending out `` mixed messages '' with newspaper reports suggesting sunbathing and picnics could be permitted as early as Monday .
He dismissed allegations the government 's messaging strategy was confusing , and said : `` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of understanding what is meant . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• NEW GUIDANCE : What must I do ?
• NEW RESTRICTIONS : What are they ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
Send your story ideas to : newsonline.westmidlands @ bbc.co.uk

"As a result, not only have I been a victim, my family have been through an awful lot of trauma as well, we are also concerned about what that means for us going forward, so I felt an extra voice adding to that debate would be useful for people to think about what they were doing."


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: Fears over growth of decontamination firms

Lives could be put at risk by an influx of companies offering to clean up potential coronavirus hotspots , a leading cleaning firm has warned .
SafeGroup boss Steve Broughton said the market was being `` flooded '' by firms that lacked the experience or equipment to operate `` safely or correctly '' .
Mr Broughton said the trend `` worries me because something will go wrong '' .
His company employs more than 100 staff in Edinburgh , Croydon , Manchester and Birmingham .
Concerns have also been raised by industry standards and training body , the British Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It warned that a current lack of regulation meant `` any Tom , Dick or Harriet can claim to be a cleaning professional/specialist '' .
Their comments came after BBC Scotland learned that dozens of companies across the UK have launched fumigation and decontamination services following the coronavirus outbreak .
A recent survey by the British Pest Control Association found that more than a third of UK pest controllers ( 114 of 330 respondents ) said they were now offering a Covid-19 disinfection service .
BBC Scotland also found companies in other sectors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including a general trades firm , that were offering to disinfect spaces such as offices , homes and supermarkets .
Mr Broughton , whose firm recently spent two months decontaminating Stansted Airport and has just secured a five-year deal to clean US bases in the UK , said : `` We have been involved in working in biohazardous environments for the past 10 years so it was quite easy for us to adapt to the Covid-19 outbreak .
`` However , I think there are too many companies seeking a market opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right equipment to deliver a service safely or correctly .
`` The market is being absolutely flooded at the moment by people from all sorts of backgrounds and it worries me because something will go wrong .
`` To use an analogy , it 's like a journalist deciding to become a chef .
They can write but they do n't know necessarily know how to cook things safely , so people can end up being sick . ''
Stan Atkins , chief executive of the British Institute of Cleaning Science , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 , numerous cleaning companies claim that they are 'qualified ' to carry out 'deep cleans ' .
`` At this time there is no way of checking the validity of these claims .
`` We must remember that the cleaning industry is currently unregulated , and any Tom , Dick or Harriet can claim to be a cleaning professional/specialist . ''
He added : `` The best advice we can offer is : ensure that the cleaning contractor/s you choose to use are a member of a recognised professional cleaning industry body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - the client should always specify what they require from a decontamination clean . ''
The Property Support Services Group ( PSS ) , a long-standing BICSc member which has started disinfecting several Scottish depots for cash and carry firm United Wholesale , said it was `` vital that businesses do n't cut corners as they plan for the easing of lockdown '' .
Chairman Michael Rust said : `` Given the high level of training required to use the right equipment and specialist cleaning products , the clear advice to all businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a long history in this sector - otherwise you 're risking the safety of your workers and the public . ''
The Scottish government said the routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched objects was `` vital to preventing the spread of infection in the workplace '' , as outlined by guidance it published last month .
A spokesman added : `` Although trading standards is a reserved matter , we would advise that consumers in Scotland choose a reputable cleaning contractor - ideally one that is a member of a recognised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wary of services that claim to provide specific anti-coronavirus measures . ''

Mr Broughton, whose firm recently spent two months decontaminating Stansted Airport and has just secured a five-year deal to clean US bases in the UK, said: "We have been involved in working in biohazardous environments for the past 10 years so it was quite easy for us to adapt to the Covid-19 outbreak.


bbcuk--2020-05-10--Coronavirus: Ministers issue statement on recovery plan

The Northern Ireland Executive says it will `` consider its plan for a phased , strategic approach to recovery '' at a meeting on Monday .
A statement from First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill was issued on Sunday night .
Politicians in NI had emphasised the `` stay at home message '' ahead of the prime minister 's address on Sunday .
The executive has already extended lockdown in NI until 28 May .
Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill took part in a Cobra call on Sunday afternoon with the prime minister .
On Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditional plan '' to reopen society , allowing people in England to spend more time outdoors from Wednesday .
Mrs Foster said on Sunday evening `` we have flattened the curve of infection , reduced the R rate to below one and protected our health service but we are not out of the woods yet '' .
`` It is important that we continue to follow this advice , '' she added .
`` As the executive begins to finalise our plans for recovery , we need to strike the balance between continuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and give people hope for the future .
`` The changes that we will introduce will be gradual , proportionate and based on scientific and medical advice and will be taken at the right time and in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland . ''
Ms O'Neill said `` we are at a critical stage in the fight against the virus and so our recovery must be phased , gradual and strategic '' .
She added : `` The decisions this executive will take in the days and weeks ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever have to make .
`` We know that six weeks into the restrictions , people need some light at the end of the tunnel .
`` We also know that recovery will only happen one step at a time , to do otherwise risks undermining the sacrifices people have already made and increases the risk of a second spike in the future . ''
Health officials in England have changed their message to `` stay alert '' with regard to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak .
In NI , the message remains the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foster said the message on the whole remained to `` stay at home '' .
She added Northern Ireland will have a `` road map '' for moving out of lockdown at the beginning of the week .
She said people in Northern Ireland had complied with the social distancing regulations although `` compliance is beginning to fray '' .
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Health Minister Robin Swann both tweeted `` stay at home '' messages on Sunday .
Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said that in a cross-party call with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had expressed concerns about the `` stay alert '' message .
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he felt the message `` does n't make any sense and nobody will understand it '' .
`` I said very clearly to Boris Johnson , it 's not a burglar we are worried about it 's a virus , '' he added .
And Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said : `` It is our strong belief that now is not the time to change the message or direction .
`` Until the R rate is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , keep protecting our NHS & above all , keep saving lives . ''
Green Party NI leader Clare Bailey said `` the message for people across Northern Ireland is to stay home , safe safe and protect our NHS '' .
Earlier on Sunday Scotland 's First Minister asked the UK government not to advertise its new `` stay alert '' message north of the border .
Nicola Sturgeon said : `` Given the critical point we are at in tackling the virus , # StayHomeSaveLives remains my clear message to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wales , the country 's First Minister Mark Drakeford said people should stay home `` wherever you can '' .
On Sunday , it was reported that five more people diagnosed with coronavirus have died in Northern Ireland .
That brings the number of Covid-19 related deaths to 435 , according to Department of Health figures .
They show the number of people with a positive laboratory completed test is now 4,119 .
The total number of laboratory completed tests is 38,984 .
These figures are one of two sets published in Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Northern Ireland 's Statistics and Research Agency ( Nisra ) , which cover all fatalities where coronavirus has been recorded on the death certificate .
• How can we stop coronavirus in care homes ?
Figures released by Northern Ireland 's Statistics Agency ( Nisra ) on Friday showed there have been 516 coronavirus-related deaths recorded overall in NI - including 232 in care homes , and four in hospices .
Official statistics on Friday showed that , for a second week , there were more deaths in care homes ( 71 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Overall , there have been 232 care home deaths related to coronavirus .
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has called for universal testing for Covid-19 across all of Northern Ireland 's care homes immediately .
A further 269 people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died in the UK it was reported on Sunday , bringing the total to 31,855 .
The figures count deaths in hospitals , care homes and the community .
On Sunday , it was reported that a further 12 people with Covid-19 have died in the Republic of Ireland .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in the country to 1,458 .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • WHAT WE DO N'T KNOW How to understand the death toll • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?

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