bbcuk--2020-03-19--Why Anneka Rice got the urge to find her waxwork head

Anneka Rice is best known for racing about in a jumpsuit for Channel 4 's Treasure Hunt and the BBC 's Challenge Anneka .
She later took to radio , presenting on BBC Radio 2 , and was a contestant on last year 's Strictly Come Dancing .
Also last year , Rice moved into performing comedy and recorded The Clemmie Hart Years for Radio 4 , in which she told the true story of how she created a fictional agent for herself .
Ahead of her second stint at raising a laugh for the station in Help !
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave BBC News an honest reflection on her experience of fame .
I try to think of my life in comic episodes , as it 's been so bizarre .
That 's how the stand-up started .
The real version is a little dark for mass sharing .
One of the most surreal episodes was having a Madame Tussauds waxwork made .
I hung from a rope ladder in the foyer in the '80s , in a jumpsuit , the first person bemused tourists saw when they walked in .
When I forged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my outfit and put a paintbrush in my hand .
I only found I 'd been removed when Channel 4 came to interview me about the honour of being immortalised in wax .
I basked in their attention , until they told me I 'd been melted down and my head was in Wookey Hole .
My body had probably gone into making Kim Kardashian 's bottom .
If you Google `` Wookey Hole Madame Tussauds '' you will see rows of decapitated heads gathering dust on a shelf .
I suddenly had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I imagined a mini-bus full of rejected National Treasures off on a journey to find our heads .
Think We 're Going on a Bear Hunt meets Indiana Jones .
I wanted to bring my head back to show my sons , who still think I 'm a builder because I spent so much time up a step ladder during their childhood .
This would be my badge of honour .
`` Look who your mum was , boys ! ''
My search became a metaphor for my life .
I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my phone-calls unanswered .
It took me back to my teenage years , when I was so invisible to my parents I thought the only way to get them to notice me was if I was sent to prison .
I took to shoplifting in a desperate attempt to be arrested and was taken home in a police car .
I used to steal vast bras , size 46FF , stuffing them into my school rucksack .
Those bras had a life of their own - my geometry set fitted nicely into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other .
Once I got lucky in Croydon and was arrested .
While I was being held by the Surrey constabulary I gave the performance of my life .
I made a break for it , running down the high street .
Now you know why I loved doing Celebrity Hunted so much .
When they asked for my name I proudly gave it : `` Wendy Method '' .
She was the class bully and made my life hell .
Agonisingly though , they let me go and I went home on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Strictly Come Dancing I took myself off to London and gave another great performance to the personnel officer at the BBC who accepted me on a BBC training course .
After two years at the World Service on The World Today and Outlook , I wanted to be part of that world we were broadcasting to .
A three-year stint in Hong Kong followed , working as a sub-editor at TVB news and then as newsreader , when the usual person was taken ill .
I was so nervous the first night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the studio and had to be taken to work in a police car - my dream !
The second night Spike Milligan crawled into the studio and sat under my news desk stroking my foot .
I was completely out of my depth , 20 pretending to be 26 .
But I was flying .
When I returned to the UK , I got diverted from journalism and was literally flying - this time in a helicopter without any doors .
More jeopardy .
I had to change my name as Equity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I took the name of my friend Gary 's sister , Anneka , and ping !
I was a different person again , this time with an exotic Swedish back-story .
Challenge Anneka was heady stuff .
An army of hundreds of volunteers over the years followed me wherever the projects took us .
These volunteers still continue to touch me beyond anything else .
Many still work on the projects , 30 years on .
Meanwhile , Cubby Broccoli auditioned me to be a Bond Girl , Hollywood came calling wanting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Challenge and I had a rose named after me .
I gave birth to my first son via a puppet on Spitting Image , with Kenneth Kendal giving me instructions .
When son number one came out he was followed by a cameraman .
Honestly , check it out .
I 've put it on Twitter .
Despite all these credentials , my waxwork search was proving fruitless .
Madame Tussauds put up a wall of silence .
On Twitter I was told I 'd been seen recently in a pile of bodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Frank Bruno or The Krankies .
Then another bizarre twist .
A friend reckoned she saw Bill Clinton at the RAF Museum in Shropshire , sitting in a tank .
Another swore they saw Larry Grayson 's head impaled on a rusty pitchfork outside Ramsay Bolton 's castle on Game of Thrones .
Do Tussauds have a lucrative trade selling off heads ?
I think I 'm a little way off this being my fate at the BBC .
I love being one of the longest-serving female broadcasters .
If you sliced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me like a stick of rock .
My Radio 2 audience have known me all their life .
When I was doing stand-up at the Backyard Comedy Club , I was touched there were queues round the block of people in their 30s who had grown up with me on TV .
More surreally I met several Baby Annekas , named after me in the '80s and '90s .
Now in their 30s we agreed collectively it was an outrage my waxwork was missing .
They do n't want to be associated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alan Bennett said : `` Keeping On , Keeping On . ''
This is a good mantra after 43 years at the BBC .
Work gives me a rhythm , which I need for my real head .
Help !
My Head 's in Wookey Hole can be heard on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds on 20 March at 11:30 GMT .
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

It took me back to my teenage years, when I was so invisible to my parents I thought the only way to get them to notice me was if I was sent to prison.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Public reacts to schools closing

Schools in the UK are due to shut from Friday as a result of the coronavirus pandemic , the prime @ @ @ @ @ only exception will be for those looking after the children of keyworkers and vulnerable children @

Schools in the UK are due to shut from Friday as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the prime minister has announced.
The only exception will be for those looking after the children of keyworkers and vulnerable children.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--5 Live caller 'dancing around days after having coronavirus’

‘ I was dancing around days after having coronavirus ’ Steve has cystic fibrosis , but says he was up @ @ @ @ @ room '' just a few days after having coronavirus .

A BBC Radio 5 Live listener called in from his hospital bed in where he's being treated for coronavirus.
Steve in London tested positive and has cystic fibrosis, which makes him more vulnerable to serious complications.
He says after a few days of feeling ill, he was up "dancing around his hospital room".
Listen to ongoing coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds


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

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

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


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: The 'Green Goddess' returns with self-isolation fitness tips

1980 's fitness star Diana Moran , better known as the Green Goddess , has returned to British screens with @ @ @ @ @ keep fit and stay healthy during self-isolation .

1980's fitness star Diana Moran, better known as the Green Goddess, has returned to British screens with her tips on how to keep fit and stay healthy during self-isolation.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Two jurors discharged in PC death trial

Two jurors in the trial of three teenagers accused of murdering a police officer have been discharged because they are self-isolating .
One of them developed a fever and another is self-isolating because her son is showing coronavirus symptoms .
The Old Bailey has heard PC Harper died after being dragged along a country road near Sulhamstead , Berkshire , in August .
The teenagers have been on trial at the Old Bailey since 9 March , but proceedings stopped on Tuesday after a juror fell ill with a `` horrible cold '' .
The court heard the remaining jurors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on in what the judge described as “ difficult times ” .
Mr Justice Edis said the information he had was `` you are all willing and able to continue ” and told them he was happy to continue .
He said : “ This is a trial which is being conducted under unusual circumstances and the critical thing about it is that it must be conducted fairly .
`` What that means is we need to spend as long as it takes to do the trial fairly .
`` We can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to the end . ''
The judge said jurors should feel “ no pressure of any kind to get through it ” and if they are “ really worried ” at any time then they must notify him .
“ If there is a lockdown in London , we will have to wait and see what those rules are , '' he added .
The court has heard distressing details of how PC Harper got caught in a towing strap trailing behind a car that was trying to evade him .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike .
The two 17-year-olds , who can not be named due to their age , pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a quad bike .
The pair also deny manslaughter .

The judge said jurors should feel “no pressure of any kind to get through it” and if they are “really worried” at any time then they must notify him.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: Three more Scottish deaths confirmed

Three more patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus , bringing the total number of deaths to six .
The first minister told the Scottish Parliament the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 had risen to 266 , an increase of 39 from Wednesday .
But Nicola Sturgeon warned the figures were `` likely to be an underestimate '' .
She added that those on the frontline of the NHS were the priority for testing .
• How the coronavirus has spread in Scotland Police officers and other emergency service personnel will also be included in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will still be able to go to school .
Ms Sturgeon acknowledged there must be local flexibility on what constitutes a key worker as some posts may be considered crucial in rural areas but not in cities .
The first minister told MSPs that Scotland now has three laboratories - in Edinburgh , Glasgow and Dundee - for testing and it is hoped they will be able to carry out 3,000 tests a day .
Ms Sturgeon said a £2.2bn package of support was available to help sustain businesses and help them pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural businesses will be able to apply for a £10,000 grant • Hospitality businesses will be given 12 months of business rates relief • Those with a rateable value of between £18,000 and £51,000 will be able to apply for a £25,000 grant Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said more supplies of personal protective equipment were distributed on Wednesday , but they were paper masks with an expiry date of 2016 .
He called for a guarantee that the appropriate supplies would be made available and asked for reassurances for staff who feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first minister replied : `` We will do everything we can to protect those on the frontline . ''
• IN NUMBERS : How the virus has spread in Scotland • EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?

The first minister told MSPs that Scotland now has three laboratories - in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee - for testing and it is hoped they will be able to carry out 3,000 tests a day.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Coronavirus: First death confirmed in NI

The first coronavirus-related death in Northern Ireland has been confirmed .
The patient was male , elderly , had an underlying medical condition and was being treated in a hospital in the greater Belfast area .
The patient was among the 77 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland .
On Thursday , the Department of Health said that in the case of an 80 % infection rate , the NI death toll could be in the region of 14,000 .
Health Minister Robin Swann described the scale of the impending surge as being `` of biblical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is already fast becoming unrecognisable before our very eyes . ''
Outlining plans to deal with a surge , Mr Swann earlier said testing capacity would be expanded to about 800 Covid-19 tests per day .
There are now 557 confirmed cases in the Republic of Ireland after 191 new cases were announced on Thursday , with a further death being recorded , bringing the total to three deaths associated with COVID-19 .
His department is considering bringing in private suppliers at the beginning of next week .
Mr Swann announced that third-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within six months would be redeployed to clinical care duties .
`` This will happen within the next 14 days and will provide support of up to 800 senior nursing and midwifery students , '' he said .
Meanwhile , about 230 final year medical students at Queen 's University will join the medical register four months earlier than originally envisaged .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• CONTAINMENT : What it means to self-isolate • HEALTH MYTHS : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Stressing the importance of `` social responsibility '' in terms of following government advice regarding precautions , Mr Swann said : `` These are n't light requests , these are things that will pull down [ the number of deaths ] significantly . ''
Mr Swann said `` changes that would have seemed unthinkable weeks ago will become the new norm '' .
`` Decisions that would previously have taken months or even years will be taken in hours . ''
On Thursday afternoon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Roselawn crematorium will close from Monday `` in order to protect the staff who have to undertake [ cremations ] , and also to protect grieving families and friends from the growing transmission of Covid-19 '' .
Cremations will continue to be carried out , but no family can attend them .
`` We understand that families may wish to make alternative arrangements to hold a service or ceremony elsewhere , '' it said in a statement .
As of Thursday at 14:00 , 1,646 tests had been carried out in Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost' Mr Swann said if social distancing and other measures were properly implemented , they could reduce the peak by some 50 % and reduce deaths by up to a third .
He said planning assumptions indicated 8 % of infected people would need hospital treatment , 0.7 % would require critical care , and 1 % would die .
However he added the figures would vary highly depending on age and other health factors .
`` There is no doubt that these measures come at a cost , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stick to .
They will have significant social and economic impacts .
But they will save lives . ''
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill paid tribute to the `` amazing health workers who are doing everything they can to provide the best possible care for people in the most difficult circumstances '' .
• 'No risk to food supplies ' due to coronavirus • All trusts have identified specific wards to provide additional bed capacity to respond to the needs of people with Covid-19 who need hospital admission ; • Forty additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 paediatric units ) have been ordered bringing the total available in Northern Ireland to 179 by the end of March ; • Plans are in place to rapidly increase the number of critical care beds as necessary ; • Some 90 staff across a number of pharmacies are self isolating , according to Community Pharmacy NI - 20 pharmacists and 70 support staff ; • Care workers are concerned about a lack of safety equipment to protect them from potential infection from coronavirus ; • Pauline Shepherd , of Independent Health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` ill-equipped '' .
She said more resources and equipment are needed ; • There is no risk to food supplies and while panic-buying is an issue , it is expected to end as people realise supply lines are secure and run out of space in their homes to store food ; • DAERA 's head of farming , Norman Fulton , said producers and retailers are coping well with the increased demand .

On The View, he added: "You may think you're going to be fine. Think about your father. Think about your mother. Think about your grandfather. Think about your next door neighbour, because your actions today will have an adverse effect in a fortnight's time on those individuals. So be responsible."


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Wiltshire woman jailed for smuggling crystal meth in dolls

A woman who helped smuggle crystal meth with a street value of nearly £1m into the UK disguised as dolls and coffee beans has been jailed .
Paolo Patricia Morrish was caught after a package from Mexico was intercepted at Stansted Airport in January 2019 .
That package contained 432 toy figures full of the drug .
Morris , 42 , pleaded guilty to being part of a smuggling operation and was jailed for six years and four months at Swindon Crown Court .
Her husband David Morrish , 49 , pleaded guilty to a charge of assisting an offender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at their home .
He was given a nine-month sentence , suspended for 18 months .
Prosecuting , Tessa Hingston told the court Border Force officers who discovered the drugs at Stansted Airport replaced the package with a dummy version .
Officers tracked the fake package to an address in Chippenham in Wiltshire where it was collected by Morrish .
She was then arrested at her home in Malmesbury by officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit , Ms Hingston said .
She admitted receiving a total of four packages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crystal meth painted to look like coffee beans .
Ms Hingston said the overall street value of the drugs was estimated to be about £997,880 .
Judge Jason Taylor told Morrish her contact with criminals in Latin America suggested she had ambitions to expand the smuggling .
Representing Morrish , Michael Hall said she had tried to enter the world of drug smuggling but had not been very successful .
`` She expresses huge amounts of genuine regret , '' he added .

Representing Morrish, Michael Hall said she had tried to enter the world of drug smuggling but had not been very successful.


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Tens of thousands of retired medics asked to return to NHS

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

One proposal under discussion is for the UK to follow the lead of countries such as Denmark, where the government has promised to cover 75% of salaries at private companies for three months, if they promise not to let staff go.


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Key workers revealed ahead of school shutdown

Friday marks the last day at school for most children across the UK until further notice , in response to the escalating coronavirus outbreak .
Schools in England , Scotland and Wales will close on Friday to everyone except vulnerable children , and those with a parent identified as a key worker .
Schools in Northern Ireland will shut from Monday .
A-level and GCSE exams , and primary school Sats - usually taken in May and June - have been cancelled .
Most local governments have indicated schools may not reopen properly until the end of the summer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak The government has published a list of key workers whose children can still go to school if they can not be looked after at home .
These workers ' jobs are considered `` critical '' for the response to the pandemic .
The list has been separated into eight categories , including frontline health workers and social care staff , nursery and teaching staff and those involved in food production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police , those in key public services , transport workers and critical staff in financial services and utilities .
The list comes as an appeal is launched to ask more than 65,000 retired doctors and nurses in England and Wales to return to the NHS to help tackle the outbreak .
Meanwhile , the chancellor is set to announce a wage subsidy package to protect jobs later .
• Frontline health workers such as doctors and nurses • Workers in key public services including those essential to the justice system , religious staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , communication and financial services staff , including postal workers , and waste disposal workers '' If your work is critical to the Covid-19 response , or you work in one of the critical sectors listed below , and you can not keep your child safe at home then your children will be prioritised for education provision , '' the government said .
However it stressed that `` every child who can be safely cared for at home should be '' and asked workers to consult their employers to confirm whether `` their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , who will also be exempt , include those who have a social worker and those with special educational needs .
The Department for Education said it would help local authorities identify those `` who most need support at this time '' .
The government has encouraged local authorities to keep residential special schools and specialist colleges open wherever possible .
• How long could schools be closed ?
• When will the outbreak end ?
School leaders said the list of key workers was `` perhaps more extensive than we might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders , said schools will be doing all they can so pupils who need to can still turn up to school after the weekend - but that more strategic planning will be needed in future , due to reduced staffing levels .
Confusion continues over how grades will be awarded in the light of the decision to cancel this summer 's exam season .
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has indicated guidance will be issued on Friday , adding the government would work with schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ofqual , `` to ensure children get the qualifications they need '' .
Meanwhile , Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said he hoped `` many , many thousands will respond '' to letters being sent to former doctors and nurses in England and Wales asking them to rejoin the NHS .
In Scotland , anyone who left the medical profession during the past three years has also been asked to consider returning .
Senior officials have said the ex-employees are needed to boost frontline services .
Asked when the former medics would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told BBC Breakfast those who left most recently could return `` straight away '' , while others will be given refresher training `` over the next couple of weeks '' .
Conservative MP Maria Caulfield , a former nurse , has said she will swap Westminster for the hospital ward - tweeting that it is `` important we all help where we can '' .
It comes as the government pledged to ensure that all hospitals have enough protective gear and ventilators , following concern workers were being put at risk by shortages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been dispatched overnight to get the equipment to about half the UK 's hospitals , and pledged a lorry load would be sent to each before next week .
Asked about the number of ventilators in the UK , Mr Hancock said `` no number is too big '' and the government 's appeal for manufacturers to make ventilators had received `` thousands '' of responses , including from Formula One .
Mr Hancock also responded to an emotional video appeal from a critical care nurse , asking people to stop panic-buying and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health secretary suggested supermarkets could consider dedicating a specific hour to key workers .
Elsewhere , the chancellor 's wage package , due to be unveiled later on Friday , is the latest in a string of big fiscal attempts to ease the burden on businesses and their employees .
Many firms are warning of collapse , wiping out thousands of jobs , as life in the UK is largely put on hold .
In other key developments in the UK : • 144 people with the virus have died , and 3,269 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Trials of a coronavirus vaccine could begin within the next month , Public Health England has said • Military leaders have been told by the head of the armed forces to be ready by the middle of next month to help respond to the pandemic , in guidance seen by the BBC • Ministers are asking phone operators if they can use mobile data to help monitor whether people are following social distancing advice • Train operators across Britain will gradually reduce services from Monday • Jaguar Land Rover , is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at its UK plants • The Bank of England has cut interest rates from 0.25 % to 0.1 % - the lowest level in its history .
• The Catholic Church in Britain will suspend public masses from Friday evening until further notice In other key developments around the world : • Argentina has become the first country in South America to ban all citizens from leaving their homes except to buy food and medicines • An estimated 400 British nationals are among those stranded in Peru , after the country closed its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the most populous US state , has issued a `` stay at home '' order to residents • Globally , the number of confirmed cases has passed 220,000 , with more than 9,000 deaths Do you work in healthcare ?
Or have you recently retired ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also contact us in the following ways : • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

But students will also have the option to sit an exam early in the next academic year - which starts in September - or they can appeal against their calculated grade if they feel it does not reflect their performance and choose to sit exams next summer.


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Chancellor prepares wage package rescue plan

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is to announce an employment and wage subsidy package to try to protect millions of jobs .
Talks went on into the night with business groups and union leaders , who urged the government to help pay wages amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Many firms are warning of collapse , wiping out thousands of jobs , as life in the UK is largely put on hold .
News of more help for companies pushed stock markets higher , with the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 up 5 % at one point .
The pound rose 3.3 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The chancellor 's wage package , due to be unveiled later on Friday , is the latest in a string of big fiscal attempts to ease the burden on businesses and their employees .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged struggling businesses to `` stick by their employees , because we 're all going to need them '' .
• 'There is n't time .
Firms are closing now' One proposal under discussion is for the UK to follow the lead of countries such as Denmark , where the government has promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private companies for three months , if they promise not to let staff go .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
Businesses will be `` watching carefully to see what government support comes in '' today , says Dame Carolyn Fairbairn , director general of the Confederation of British Industry .
`` Many other countries have now done this - France , Germany , Spain , Italy have put employee wage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through quickly I believe there are businesses who will take a different decision because they want to keep their people and they want their businesses to be viable for when we recover , '' she told the BBC .
The announcement will come just days after the government unveiled a range of financial measures including £330bn in loans , £20bn in other aid , a business rates holiday , and grants for retailers and pubs .
The Bank of England has cut interest rates twice in a little over a week to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while lenders will offer a three-month mortgage holiday to homeowners in financial difficulty due to the virus .
On Thursday , the chancellor spoke to representatives of business groups and unions including the Federation of Small Businesses and the Trades Union Congress , where it was agreed more needed to be done to protect workers ' jobs .
`` As well as providing emergency support to business , it is essential that money goes into workers ' pockets now .
We must do whatever it takes to stop businesses going to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Frances O'Grady , general secretary of the Trades Union Congress .
Negotiations went on into the night between the chancellor , business groups and unions over a package of measures to support wages and pay , as many British companies see their cashflow dwindle because of the coronavirus and measures brought in to suppress it .
All sides were speaking with one voice about an unprecedented scheme to help workers get through a temporary economic stoppage , although there is acknowledgement that it will not be able to make up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such scheme will cost many billions of pounds .
Ideas discussed include guaranteeing some proportion - over half - of workers ' wages , at least for specific sectors initially .
This follows the lead of countries like Denmark , which have guaranteed to support 75 % of wages if firms do not make staff redundant .
The support would be temporary , and could be linked to the 12 week period within which the PM mentioned the country could `` send the virus packing '' .
The technical difficulty is how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be through the tax system , or as a series of guarantees to businesses , or informally after a significant tax holiday .
Former Business Secretary Greg Clark suggested in the Commons on Thursday it could work by using refunds on the Pay As You Earn tax scheme operated by all employers .
Labour is floating proposals to subsidise 80-90 % of workers ' wages .
A formal government announcement is expected this afternoon .

"Many other countries have now done this - France, Germany, Spain, Italy have put employee wage support in place and if that comes through quickly I believe there are businesses who will take a different decision because they want to keep their people and they want their businesses to be viable for when we recover," she told the BBC.


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Train services to be cut amid falling demand

Trains operators across Britain will gradually reduce services from Monday , amid falling demand because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The government said it had agreed the plan with the rail industry to reflect the fall in passenger numbers , while keeping vital services running .
Operators will still run core services to ensure key workers can get to their jobs and the flow of goods continues .
It comes after the PM said people should avoid `` non-essential '' travel .
Train operators across the country had already begun cancelling services because of staff being off sick or self-isolating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transport for London has announced up to 40 Underground stations will be shut until further notice , while bus services will be reduced .
Buses in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester are also among those to be cutting services .
The reductions to services will be keep under review , with operators communicating any changes with passengers , the Department for Transport said .
To minimise disruption , services will be reduced progressively , but over the longer term , the department said there would be `` a gradual move towards introducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ network '' .
The plan will also ensure people can travel to medical appointments and key freight services can continue to ship vital goods where they are needed , it added .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said : `` We are taking decisive action to protect the public which means reducing travel for the time being , whilst still ensuring key worker heroes can get to their jobs to keep this nation running .
`` We continue to work closely with the industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these challenging times . ''
Mr Shapps told MPs on Tuesday that rail companies , bus firms and airlines could be temporarily nationalised to help them through the outbreak .
Robert Nisbet , of the Rail Delivery Group , which represents train operators and Network Rail , said the measures would allow trains to continue to operate over a prolonged period with fewer railway workers , whose safety `` remains front of mind '' .
Passengers are advised to check the time of their train on the National Rail Enquiries website before travelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been agreed by the Scottish and Welsh governments The Scottish Transport Secretary said operators would be moving to a `` reduced timetable '' , while the Welsh Government Minister for Economy and Transport said services would also be reduced in Wales from Monday .

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "We are taking decisive action to protect the public which means reducing travel for the time being, whilst still ensuring key worker heroes can get to their jobs to keep this nation running.


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Why are Southwold and Lowestoft faring so differently?

Lowestoft and Southwold sit just 14 miles apart on the eastern edge of England .
As the coronavirus outbreak takes hold , one is bustling with people , the other has become a “ ghost town ” .
Why ?
A cursory scroll of social media feeds yields image after image of deserted high streets , shut shops and empty roads .
Enter Southwold , however , and you ’ ll struggle to find somewhere to park .
The market is on , the streets are alive with pedestrian footfall and people are strolling along the seafront taking in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just amazing how many people were out and about , ” says Keith Newland .
“ Everywhere was very busy and it was totally different to what you would expect it to be .
“ There are shops here right on your doorstep and that means we don ’ t need the car as everything is available.
” But for occasional walks out to the shops or with their dog , Mr Newland and his wife Judy are effectively self-isolating and not going out to cafes or restaurants .
The couple own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are far from alone here , where it seems every second person you meet is a second homeowner .
And it is this , some in the town claim , that is responsible for all the people on the streets .
Laura Cliff , who runs the Little Gems grocery store , says her trade this most recent weekend was three times what it would usually be .
Many second-home owners , it seems , have either decamped to Southwold or have stayed on there in light of the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners here who have decided to stay and people are really keen to buy fresh produce to stay healthy , ” says Ms Cliff .
So far she is managing to keep with demand for food supplies .
“ We are sensible , it is a changing thing , '' she adds .
“ The local community have all been in and said they will help out with deliveries .
We ’ ve not had to call on people yet but we may well do because I know they mean it when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • TRAVEL PLANS : What are your rights ?
Ms Cliff is being helped in the store by her brother Benjamin , a freelance chef , who last week lost his job at a hotel on the outskirts of Norwich .
“ My agency has told me that there is just nothing coming in , everything has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our industry is going to take the biggest hit , I think .
“ I now have to sign on .
I ’ ve never had to do that before.
” But while the level of second home ownership in Southwold has meant a busy period for local traders , not everybody sees that as a positive thing .
On the Friendly Bungay Facebook page , one person wrote : “ Really , really cross Southwold alive with second homeowners from London flaunting about and stupid enough to think our beautiful fresh clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” That post was greeted with wide-scale agreement , with one person saying : “ I have friends in Southwold , and once again they are flooded with holiday homeowners .
No food , nowhere to park ” .
Lowestoft stands in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle seen in Southwold .
Off-shore worker Peter Hogg is sitting alone in the East Prom Pavilion sipping a cup of tea .
The 63-year-old was supposed to move home from one part of Lowestoft to another .
But earlier he learned the person handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now self-isolating .
“ I was walking down London Road South earlier , ” he says , referring to one of the town ’ s longest roads .
“ I looked one way and then the other and realised I was the only person walking along the entire road .
Dominic Clarke mans the counter at the fish-and-chip shop at The Galley in Lowestoft .
“ Some people are keeping their distance , ” he says .
“ And it is a quiet time of year here and it is always quiet during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in still .
“ The main changes we ’ ve had to make are taking the cutlery off the tables and we ’ re cleaning everything down three times a day .
`` We ’ ve had no issues with supplies with anything except getting hand sanitiser - that ’ s the one thing we ’ ve struggled with.
” Holly Davis , manager at the East Prom Pavilion , says : “ It has been quieter , there ’ s no doubt about that , and I do know of premises that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is never this quiet normally , and this is the time when we would usually be getting busier with Mother ’ s Day and Easter coming up.
” As for the second-home owners down in Southwold , Ms Davis says they would be very welcome to pay a visit to Lowestoft .

“The local community have all been in and said they will help out with deliveries. We’ve not had to call on people yet but we may well do because I know they mean it when they say it."


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Cathedrals and churches live stream services

Churches and cathedrals in England are planning to stream services after being instructed to close for three months because of coronavirus .
Durham Cathedral plans to post some services online and live stream others .
Precentor Canon Michael Hampel said he hoped it would allow congregations to be a part of worship `` even though we are apart from each other right now '' .
`` We feel greatly conflicted '' by closing but would `` play our part in stemming the flow of the coronavirus '' , he said .
Churches such as Trent Vineyard Church in Nottingham plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others , like St Andrew 's Church in Shifnal , Shropshire , are recording sermons and putting them on YouTube .
Mass and Choral Evensong services at All Saints ' Church in Northampton posted on Facebook have been viewed hundreds of times .
Church rector Father Oliver Coss joked on Twitter that the inadvertent `` comedy moments '' would make an `` outstanding couple of hours ' amusement '' when the pandemic was over .
Catholic mass is being live streamed from a number of churches in the Diocese of Westminster .
Priests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cathedral in Norwich will celebrate mass every day , but without a congregation , and plan to have these streamed early next week .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • HOW IS THE UK PREPARING ?
The government 's plans • HOW DO I SELF-ISOLATE ?
What to do St Stephen 's Church in Borrowash , Derbyshire and St Helier Methodist Centre in Jersey hope to live-stream Sunday services soon .
Durham Cathedral said a service for St Cuthbert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 19:00 GMT while Holy Communion would be live streamed at 11:15 on Sunday on the cathedral 's Facebook page and remain online for a week .
BBC local radio stations will be broadcasting a service given by the Most Reverend Justin Welby , Archbishop of Canterbury at 08:00 each Sunday , which will also be streamed at 09:00 on the Church of England 's Facebook page .

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bbcuk--2020-03-20--Wetherspoon's boss says shutdown would be 'over the top'

The boss of one of the UK 's biggest pub chains is keeping its pubs open despite the government 's advice to avoid pubs .
Wetherspoon 's chairman Tim Martin told the BBC a shutdown in the face of coronavirus would be `` over the top '' .
He said a sensible balance was for pubs to open but to implement `` social distancing '' measures , like no standing at the bar .
His stance is contrary to many other retail chains which have started to reduce hours or shut shops .
Mr Martin said that Wetherspoon 's sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's advice to avoid pubs .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
In the six weeks to 8 March , like-for-like sales had increased by 3.2 % and total sales by 2.9 % .
However , in the following week , to 15 '' In the early part of the current week , following the Prime Minister 's advice to avoid pubs , sales have declined at a significantly higher rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is obviously very difficult to predict , in these circumstances , how events will unfold in future weeks and months , but we now anticipate profits being below market expectations , so long as the current health scare continues . ''
As a result , he said it was impossible to provide `` realistic guidance on our performance in the remainder of the financial year '' .
The company will delay most capital projects and delay expenditure where possible .
`` As a result of these actions , combined with the government 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee facilities , the company believes it has sufficient liquidity to maintain operations at a substantially lower level of sales . ''
Elsewhere , other businesses have revealed details of how the pandemic is affecting them .
• Marks & Spencer said it was preparing for the contingency that some stores may have to close temporarily .
`` At this stage we are not assuming a return to normal trading in the Autumn , '' the retailer added .
• The owner of Sports Direct , Frasers Group , says Covid-19 is set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its business and it no longer expects to meet its earnings growth forecasts .
• InterContinental Hotels Group says demand for hotels is `` currently at the lowest levels we 've ever seen '' .
In China in February it saw revenue per available room - a key measure in the hotels sector - drop 90 % .
It expects this revenue measure to drop by 60 % across its global business in March given the restrictions being put in place .
• Property listings website Rightmove says the speed of the slowdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant '' .
It says it will cut its charges for agency , new homes and commercial customers by 75 % from April for four months , which it says will cost it between £65m and £75m .
• Estate agent Foxtons says it anticipates `` an inevitable material disruption '' to trading in the coming months and is evaluating a number of measures to preserve cash .
• Heathrow Airport says it is taking steps to reorganise and shrink its operation to remain open during the crisis , but its financial performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Measures it has already taken include reducing operating costs , cancelling executive pay , freezing recruitment and reviewing all capital projects .

Tim Martin told the BBC there would be no pub closures despite the government's advice for people to avoid pubs. "In the early part of the current week, following the Prime Minister's advice to avoid pubs, sales have declined at a significantly higher rate," he said.


bbcuk--2020-03-19--Singer Duffy unveils music comeback 'to lift spirits in troubling times'

Pop star Duffy has unveiled her first original song for a decade , weeks after revealing a rape and kidnap ordeal that led her to retreat from the public eye .
The Welsh singer sent the song , titled Something Beautiful , to BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley , who played it on Thursday .
`` I do n't plan to release it , '' Duffy wrote .
`` I just thought a little something might be nice for people if they are at home , on lockdown . ''
Last month , she revealed she had been `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She explained : `` Of course I survived .
The recovery took time .
There 's no light way to say it .
`` But I can tell you in the last decade , the thousands and thousands of days I committed to wanting to feel the sunshine in my heart again , the Sun does now shine . ''
• Listen to Something Beautiful by Duffy in full on Jo Whiley 's Radio 2 show ( at 1hr 55m ) The new track is a love song that features the familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will remember from the days when Duffy was one of the country 's biggest stars .
`` Thanks , Duffy , for sending that to me , '' Whiley said .
Duffy had the UK 's best-selling album of 2008 and the following year became the first woman to win three Brit Awards in the same night .
But she virtually disappeared from the public eye after releasing her second album in 2010 .
She briefly re-emerged with a cameo role in the 2015 film Legend and two songs on the soundtrack - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nelson and Hank Cochran rather than originals .
In her message to Whiley , which she posted on Instagram , the singer wrote that she felt `` freer '' after revealing her ordeal .
`` So here 's a song… here 's Something Beautiful , '' she wrote .
`` It 's just something for you to play people on radio during these troubling times , if you like the song of course .
If it lifts spirits . ''
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bbc.co.uk .


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Gareth Southgate urges England fans to 'look out for each other'

England manager Gareth Southgate says `` we should n't spend another moment '' thinking about the postponement of Euro 2020 and called for all England fans to `` look out for each other '' .
This summer 's finals have been put back a year because of the coronavirus outbreak , while the Three Lions were due to play friendlies against Italy and Denmark next week .
Southgate - who says that all of his current players can still play in the finals next year - has written an open letter to England fans , which is reproduced in full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering our squad for March fixtures this weekend , it felt an appropriate moment to write a message to all of our supporters .
For everyone in our country , the primary focus of the present - and the coming months - is undoubtedly to look after our families , support our communities and work together to come through what is clearly the most extreme test that we 've faced collectively in decades .
On behalf of all the team and staff , I would like to take this opportunity to send our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones already .
Our thoughts are with you and with those who sadly will suffer similarly in the coming period .
In the way you 've all come together to support our team , we must now work together to combat a virus that is causing physical and emotional issues to so many .
So , please continue to follow the guidelines for hygiene and also the sensible precautions put in place to control the spread of the virus in order to protect those most vulnerable to its impact .
That responsibility lies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conscious of the economic uncertainty affecting so many businesses and , consequently , virtually every family .
Coupled with the unique challenges of self-isolation , the loss of routine to normal working and social life , we face real challenges to our mental wellbeing .
Our children may feel anxious with uncertainty .
It 's not normal for any of us and it 's going to challenge us all .
Look out for each other .
Please do n't suffer alone , and remember that our great country has come through these enormous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will do so again .
We were due to play next week and to represent you all this summer , but now is clearly not the moment for us to take centre stage .
The heroes will be the men and women who continue working tirelessly in our hospitals and medical centres to look after our friends and families .
They wo n't receive the individual acclaim , but we all know their importance is beyond anything we do on the pitch .
When we play again as an England team , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only our country but the rest of the world as well is on the road to recovery .
Hopefully we will be closer to each other than ever , and ready for the beautiful distraction that football can bring .
To play in a European Championship next summer will still be possible for all of our squad and so we should n't spend another moment thinking about the postponement of the competition .
I feel sure that , when that moment comes , I will never have been prouder to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , I wish you and your families strength and love to thrive through the challenges ahead .
• Coronavirus : What does extended suspension of football in England mean ?
• The latest news on the coronavirus outbreak

Uefa president explains Euro 2020 delay
England manager Gareth Southgate says "we shouldn't spend another moment" thinking about the postponement of Euro 2020 and called for all of the national team's fans to "look out for each other".
This summer's finals have been put back a year because of the coronavirus outbreak, while the Three Lions were due to play friendlies against Italy and Denmark next week.
Southgate - who says that all of his current players can still play in the finals next year - has written an open letter to England fans, which is reproduced in full below.
'Please don't suffer alone'
Gareth Southgate took England to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018
Dear England fans,
As we would have been gathering our squad for March fixtures this weekend, it felt an appropriate moment to write a message to all of our supporters.
For everyone in our country, the primary focus of the present - and the coming months - is undoubtedly to look after our families, support our communities and work together to come through what is clearly the most extreme test that we've faced collectively in decades.
On behalf of all the team and staff, I would like to take this opportunity to send our sympathies to those who have lost loved ones already. Our thoughts are with you and with those who sadly will suffer similarly in the coming period.
In the way you've all come together to support our team, we must now work together to combat a virus that is causing physical and emotional issues to so many. So, please continue to follow the guidelines for hygiene and also the sensible precautions put in place to control the spread of the virus in order to protect those most vulnerable to its impact.
That responsibility lies with us all.
We are also conscious of the economic uncertainty affecting so many businesses and, consequently, virtually every family. Coupled with the unique challenges of self-isolation, the loss of routine to normal working and social life, we face real challenges to our mental wellbeing. Our children may feel anxious with uncertainty. It's not normal for any of us and it's going to challenge us all.
Look out for each other. Please don't suffer alone, and remember that our great country has come through these enormous challenges before - and, together, we will do so again.
We were due to play next week and to represent you all this summer, but now is clearly not the moment for us to take centre stage. The heroes will be the men and women who continue working tirelessly in our hospitals and medical centres to look after our friends and families. They won't receive the individual acclaim, but we all know their importance is beyond anything we do on the pitch.
When we play again as an England team, it will be at a time when not only our country but the rest of the world as well is on the road to recovery. Hopefully we will be closer to each other than ever, and ready for the beautiful distraction that football can bring.
To play in a European Championship next summer will still be possible for all of our squad and so we shouldn't spend another moment thinking about the postponement of the competition.
I feel sure that, when that moment comes, I will never have been prouder to be the leader.
Again on behalf of us all, I wish you and your families strength and love to thrive through the challenges ahead.
Best wishes,
Gareth.


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: BT has 'plenty of capacity' despite Netflix quality cuts

BT says its broadband infrastructure has plenty of `` headroom '' to cope with increased demand as more people stay home due to coronavirus .
The company said that since Tuesday , data use on its network had increased by between 35-60 % .
On Thursday , Netflix said it would lower the picture quality of movies in Europe , to reduce data use .
But BT said daytime and evening usage was still much lower than the highest levels it had ever recorded .
In a statement , BT said : `` The additional load ... is well within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headroom for it to grow still further '' .
The highest rate of traffic BT has ever seen on its own network is 17.5 terabits per second ( Tbps ) , on an evening where there was high demand for video games downloads and streaming football .
At a data rate of 1Tbps , 125 gigabytes ( GB ) is downloaded every second - the equivalent of about 55 high-definition movies .
By comparison , average daytime use on BT 's network this week has been 7.5Tbps - far below the highest peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to handle .
While analysing its data , BT said it discovered that : • mobile internet use had reduced by 5 % on its networks as people stay at home and use the wi-fi • data use peaked at 17:00 GMT every day this week , the time of Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's daily news briefing about the coronavirus However , it warned that mobile phone voice calls could be affected if demand increased .
It said current use was `` well within the levels the network is built to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use a landline phone if they have one , or internet voice-calling services such as Skype , WhatsApp or Zoom instead .
On Thursday , Netflix said it would reduce the bitrate of movies in Europe , to reduce data use by about 25 % .
The company said it was in response to `` the extraordinary challenges raised by the coronavirus '' .
Several factors influence how much data is used when streaming a movie online .
One of them is video resolution , including whether a video is high-definition ( HD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is bitrate , which influences how clear and smooth videos look when streamed online Videos with a higher bitrate tend to look less `` blocky '' or pixelated , but use more data .
Out of these two , Netflix says it will cut its streaming bitrates .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak With all the extra people working from home , daytime use has only jumped by half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7.5tbps .
`` I 've seen a flurry of media stories reflecting an understandable concern that our networks will be unable to cope with the additional traffic of millions of home-workers , '' Howard Watson , BT 's technology officer , said .
`` However the UK 's communications infrastructure is well within its capacity limits , and has significant headroom for growth in demand . ''

Virgin Media said it was seeing a similar 50% boost to the amount of downloaded data during the day - but added that this was still below its evening peaks. Uploads, meanwhile, were 80% higher than normal during daytime hours. Virgin said the number of voice calls via its landlines were also up by 80% during the busiest time of the day.


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: When will the outbreak end and life get back to normal?

The world is shutting down .
Places that were once teeming with the hustle and bustle of daily life have become ghost-towns with massive restrictions put on our lives - from lockdowns and school closures to travel restrictions and bans on mass gatherings .
It is an unparalleled global response to a disease .
But when will it end and when will we be able to get on with our lives ?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he believes the UK can `` turn the tide '' against the outbreak within the next 12 weeks and the country can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if the number of cases starts to fall in the next three months , then we will still be far from the end .
It can take a long time for the tide to go out - possibly years .
It is clear the current strategy of shutting down large parts of society is not sustainable in the long-term , the social and economic damage would be catastrophic .
What countries need is an `` exit strategy '' - a way of lifting the restrictions and getting back to normal .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you lift the restrictions that are holding the virus back , then cases will inevitably soar .
`` We do have a big problem in what the exit strategy is and how we get out of this , '' says Mark Woolhouse , a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh .
`` It 's not just the UK , no country has an exit strategy . ''
It is a massive scientific and societal challenge .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
There are essentially three ways out of this mess .
Each of these routes would reduce the ability of the virus to spread .
Vaccines - at least 12-18 months away A vaccine should give someone immunity so they do not become sick if they are exposed .
Immunise enough people , about 60 % of the population , and the virus can not cause outbreaks - the concept known as herd immunity .
The first person was given an experimental vaccine in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to skip the usual rules of performing animal tests first .
Vaccine research is taking place at unprecedented speed , but there is no guarantee it will be successful and will require immunisation on a global scale .
The best guess is a vaccine could still be 12 to 18-months away if everything goes smoothly .
That is a long time to wait when facing unprecedented social restrictions during peacetime .
`` Waiting for a vaccine should not be honoured with the name strategy , that is not a strategy , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity - at least two years away The UK 's short-term strategy is to drive down cases as much as possible to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed - when you run out of intensive care beds then deaths spike .
Once cases are suppressed , it may allow some measures to be lifted for a while - until cases rise and another round of restrictions are needed .
When this might be is uncertain .
The UK 's chief scientific advisor , Sir Patrick Vallance , said `` putting absolute timelines on things is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unintentionally , lead to herd immunity as more and more people were infected .
But this could take years to build up , according to Prof Neil Ferguson from Imperial College London : `` We 're talking about suppressing transmission at a level whereby , hopefully , only a very small fraction of the country will be infected .
`` So eventually , if we continued this for two-plus years , maybe a sufficient fraction of the country at that point might have been infected to give some degree of community protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mark over whether this immunity will last .
Other coronaviruses , which cause common cold symptoms , lead to a very weak immune response and people can catch the same bug multiple times in their lifetime .
`` The third option is permanent changes in our behaviour that allow us to keep transmission rates low , '' Prof Woolhouse said .
This could include keeping some of the measures that have been put in place .
Or introducing rigorous testing and isolation of patients to try to stay on top of any outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracing the first time round and it did n't work , '' Prof Woolhouse adds .
Developing drugs that can successfully treat a Covid-19 infection could aid the other strategies too .
They could be used as soon as people show symptoms in a process called `` transmission control '' to stop them passing it onto others .
Or to treat patients in hospital to make the disease less deadly and reduce pressures on intensive care .
This would allow countries to cope with more cases before needing to reintroduce lockdowns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have a similar effect by increasing the capacity to cope with larger outbreaks .
I asked the UK 's chief medical adviser , Prof Chris Whitty , what his exit strategy was .
He told me : `` Long term , clearly a vaccine is one way out of this and we all hope that will happen as quickly as possible . ''
And that `` globally , science will come up with solutions '' .

The world is shutting down. Places that were once teeming with the hustle and bustle of daily life have become ghost-towns with massive restrictions put on our lives - from lockdowns and school closures to travel restrictions and bans on mass gatherings.


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: ‘If you can’t work, what do you do?’

Many self-employed people are struggling because work is being cancelled during the coronavirus outbreak , but are excluded from financial measures announced by the UK government .
`` It made me feel as if I was n't of any importance , '' says Cathy Wassell , a freelance digital marketing agency owner based in Stratford-Upon-Avon who has run three businesses from home over the last 17 years .
`` I watched the chancellor 's speech but it was glaringly obvious that there was no help for self-employed people in those packages at all . ''
According to the Office for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-employed people in the UK , who make up 15 % of the labour market .
Many self-employed workers have told the BBC their income has dropped to zero , and they do not know how they will be able to pay their bills .
`` We shortly will have no income and no way of protecting ourselves financially from the expenditures we still have to make , '' said Anneli Hukins , owner of Kent-based holistic health business Woodstock Holistics .
`` I 've been working as much as I can until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this week . ''
Ms Wassell , who runs the agency Socially Contented , said that one of her clients had lost three contracts worth about £300,000 , and would be out of business by the end of March .
Other clients were late to pay her , which meant she could n't afford her own bills , including paying the freelancers she employs .
On Tuesday , UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed a £350bn stimulus package to help firms to battle the impact of coronavirus , including £330bn of business loan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover a business rates holiday and grants for retailers and pubs .
However , many small businesses are run by the self-employed , working either remotely or from home , which means they can not benefit from a business rates tax break because they do n't have a premises .
They are also not in favour of taking out loans to make ends meet .
`` There 's no way that I would take the loan , '' said Ms Hukins .
`` If I 'm going to be struggling to pay off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my rent and bills , then there 's no way I can keep up with the payments for the loan . ''
• 'There is n't time .
Firms are closing now' Calum Macnee is the owner of walking tour operator Stills & Hills in Edinburgh .
His income is completely dependent on tourists , a source which has now `` disappeared '' for the foreseeable future .
`` The only option on offer in the government package to replace that lost income , appears to be to borrow money and put myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid off , if and when the work comes back , '' he said .
`` I am reluctant to put myself at the mercy of the large financial institutions who seem to be the only ones guaranteed to benefit . ''
' I have been in tears' Joanne Wilson is a self-employed nail technician in West Sussex and runs the business Miss Jo 's Nail Co from her home .
A millennial hoping to get onto the property ladder , Ms Wilson spent several years saving up for a house deposit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 16 clients she typically serves a week dwindled to four , and from next week , she will have no work at all .
`` It 's looking like it 's never going to happen for me to buy a house , '' she said .
`` I have been in tears over the fact that I saved and saved and saved , and now I 'm going to have to dive into my savings and live off it . ''
The government has said it will make it `` quicker and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus to access benefits .
The chancellor said that those on contributory employment and support allowance ( ESA ) will be able to claim from day one , instead of day eight .
He is also temporarily removing the minimum income floor from universal credit .
The minimum income floor would have taken into account how much someone would normally expect to earn in a month when calculating their entitlement to universal credit .
The removal of the minimum income floor means more will be able to claim for time they spend off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens if you 're not sick ?
Ms Wilson is exasperated by the government policy : `` I 'm not currently sick but I still ca n't work because of this situation .
If you ca n't work , you ca n't work .
What do you do ? ''
The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed ( IPSE ) has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson together with numerous other industry bodies , calling on the government to implement a temporary income protection fund specifically for the self-employed .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak , self-employed people contributed £305bn to the British economy .
The industry body says the coronavirus outbreak has caused `` an income crisis '' that can not be fixed without help .
IPSE 's policy director Andy Chamberlain told the BBC : `` Not only are self-employed people facing personal ruin , but their businesses are also likely to fail and this will have knock-on effects for the rest of the economy .
`` We 're very grateful for the measures the chancellor has already unveiled , however it is becoming increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near far enough . ''

"There's no way that I would take the loan," said Ms Hukins. "If I'm going to be struggling to pay off my overdraft to continue to pay for my rent and bills, then there's no way I can keep up with the payments for the loan."


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: How can you still celebrate Mother's Day?

It will be a Mother 's Day like no other on Sunday , as scores of people self-isolate and are forced to rethink plans with loved ones .
With the usual lunches and afternoon teas cancelled , what can people do instead to celebrate ?
Affi Parvizi-Wayne lives just three doors down from her 74-year-old mother , Afsar , in north London .
Like millions of others , they wo n't be able to have the family lunch they planned for this weekend .
For them , Mother 's Day is usually a triple celebration because it coincides with Afsar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` To suddenly be told the only interaction is through the window is tough for my mum , '' says Affi , a social entrepreneur with two children .
Instead , she says her family plan to congregate on the pavement outside Afsar 's house and sing happy birthday .
`` My nieces are going to release some balloons '' .
Afsar has four children and six grandchildren , and is usually the person who brings everyone together .
This year , she is going to cook the family a traditional Persian dish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and leave it on her doorstep to be collected .
The two households will set up screens by their dining tables and have a virtual meal together .
An added bonus is it also means family members in Iran can be present too .
`` This Sunday will be about keeping the spirits up , '' Affi says .
Elsewhere in London , it will be chicken legs from the freezer for Ros Ball and her family , who are self-isolating after one of them showed coronavirus symptoms .
Ros 's mum Penny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Bedfordshire .
But they plan to sit down to eat together over FaceTime .
Ros 's children aged , 9 and 12 , will then play some online games and quizzes with their granny .
Others are still planning to share a meal in a more conventional way .
Becky Greenwell and her sister have moved back in with their parents , in Woking , to be with them during the coronavirus outbreak .
They 've had to cancel plans to celebrate Mother 's Day with a Sunday roast in a pub @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to sit round the dinner table together .
`` We are planning on cooking my mum a three-course meal based on her favourite foods and printing out a special menu , like we used to when we were kids , '' she says .
Meanwhile , Savannah Dawsey-Hewitt , from Harpenden , in Hertfordshire , says she has baked her mum some ginger , turmeric and banana muffins , topped with brazil nuts .
All the ingredients were chosen for their immune-boosting properties .
According to current guidelines there is no evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packages or food , if cooking is what you plan to do .
But the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) recommends following good hygiene practices when handling and preparing food , such as washing hands , cooking meat thoroughly and avoiding potential cross-contamination between cooked and uncooked foods .
For other it will be about dealing with self-isolation .
Rob Bacon 's mum Vicky , 75 , will receive a bumper pack of her favourite magazines , sweet treats and crucially wine , for Mother 's Day this year , to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newly-established family Whatsapp group - called The Bacons - also plan to set-up chairs a safe distance from Vicky and her husband Roy 's front door , bringing their own food and drink .
`` We will all wrap up warm and talk , '' says Rob , who works in public health for local government .
Marie Phillips ' mum , Janet , is a nurse .
They ca n't be together either on Mother 's Day so she has posted her a grow your own vegetable kit to her keen gardener @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find distractions and try to put our energy into something positive , '' says Marie .
Planting seeds and waiting for vegetables to grow or flowers to bloom can be a hopeful reminder of better seasons to come .
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • ELDERY : How can we stay in virtual touch For some people , even delivering a card or present wo n't be an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is in self-isolation and plans to send her mum a virtual card , together with a subscription to an online streaming service and Spotify .
`` My mum is on her own and I 'm worried she is going to get bored in self-isolation .
I wanted to make sure she has music and films and television at her fingertips . ''
For others technology could be the solution .
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 this week , Dr Sarah Jarvis said cancelling celebratory lunches and big gatherings would be the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly mothers to do .
Instead , she suggests investing in a mobile phone or tablet and setting up so elderly relatives with Skype or FaceTime .
Caroline Abrahams , charity director at Age UK agrees .
`` We need to think creatively about how to stay in contact with older friends and relatives to keep morale up . ''
She suggests considering using video technology that is integrated on smartphones , tablets and laptops .
She says those are often be the most straightforward and easy to use , and to remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use equipment like a mouse rather than a touch screen .
`` It might turn out that some of these options remain a good way to maintain regular contact and nip loneliness in the bud in the long-term . ''


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: How to help kids cope with life without school

Children across the UK will be off school for an indefinite period of time because of coronavirus .
Some are likely to be anxious , so how can parents help them cope ?
No school for the `` foreseeable '' future .
Exams off .
Clubs closed .
Millions of children will be looking forward to a spring , and possibly a summer , free of responsibility and routine .
But these are not normal times - they 're likely to have to spend days and nights indoors with parents or guardians .
They wo n't get much personal contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cancellation of exams will make a difficult time of year even more worrying .
`` It 's the perfect storm for parents and children , '' says Sam Cartwright-Hatton , professor of clinical child psychology at the University of Sussex .
`` It 's not just the fact that they 're going to be cooped up together .
Emotions are also going to be super-stressed because - on top of what young people are feeling - parents are worried about jobs , food supplies , paying the next mortgage bill . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enclosed living , Prof Cartwright-Hatton advocates setting a clear routine , particularly for younger children - such as a couple of hours of school work in the morning or a specified time for craft work in the afternoon .
She argues that pre-teenage children `` turn inwards quite quickly '' if they spend too much time alone .
Parents should play with them and encourage those of an adventurous nature to regard the situation as an `` adventure '' .
This approach wo n't work for the more sensitive children who will need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it simple , stick to facts • How families can deal with self-isolating together • How to exercise while staying at home Prof Cartwright-Hatton recommends keeping classmates and members of clubs like Brownies , football teams and music groups in touch via Skype , FaceTime , Zoom or other video-conferencing services .
This would allow them to share details of their day and play games .
`` I would worry about a child who had no-one to play with for six months .
We 're going to have to get creative in keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kerplunk wo n't work on Skype , but Cluedo or Monopoly might . ''
Get out , if you can Going out wo n't be as easy as it usually is , which could add to a feeling of claustrophobia as spring and summer approach .
Those with gardens are encouraged to use them for fresh air and exercise .
`` A balance has to be struck between mental and physical health , depending on what the next piece of official information is , '' says Eva Lloyd OBE , professor of early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` If it 's safe to go the park , people should do that too . ''
It 's impossible to shield all but the youngest children from coronavirus talk , particularly with parents turning on TVs at 17:00 GMT for the latest government briefing .
But Prof Cartwright-Hatton suggests not exposing under-10s to any news at all , except in tailored forms such as the BBC 's Newsround , which consults experts on its likely psychological impact .
Teenagers are better equipped to make their own judgements , but they should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours on end searching the internet or using social media unsupervised , she warns .
• EASY STEPS : How to keep safe • A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• GETTING READY : How prepared is the UK ?
Another potential outcome of so much information coming children 's way - along with a great deal of advice , such as standing two metres away from grandparents to avoid possible transmission - is `` guilt '' , says Prof Lloyd .
`` I worry that they 'll wonder whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've done , '' she adds .
`` It 's a very strange situation for them .
We 've got to show them that none of this is their fault and that children throughout the world are going through the same experience . ''
Coronavirus news is grim for people of all ages , but parents can offer perspective .
`` Downplay their fears but be realistic , '' says Prof Cartwright-Hilton .
`` Do n't promise things that you ca n't be sure are n't true .
If there 's misinformation about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can counter that .
`` But , whenever you 've discussed coronavirus , move on afterwards , so children do n't spend too much time thinking about it . ''
Students who were due to take their GCSEs , A-levels , Highers and other exams have had them cancelled .
They do n't know when or if they will go ahead at a future date .
Teenagers who would otherwise be revising could now be at home wondering how they will get their qualifications .
`` I 'd listen and be very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Whatever emotions the situation is throwing up , tell them you understand how awful it must be at the moment and what a shame it is .
`` But let them know you ca n't solve this for them .
If they are really catastrophising about it - worrying that they wo n't go to university and wo n't get a job - correct that , because it 's not the case . ''
The situation the UK finds itself in is new for parents and children .
Prof Lloyd says families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of every week to discuss how the arrangement is faring .
`` It 's going to be challenging , '' she says .
`` If it 's not working , people will need to change it .
We should include the children in discussions .
From the age of about two they will want to have an input . ''
Discussions between parents over their own coronavirus worries can wait until after children have gone to bed , Prof Lloyd adds .
When will it end ?
At the best of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` Are we nearly there yet ? ''
or `` Is it nearly over ? ''
Explaining the word `` indefinite '' might prove problematic .
`` For young children that 's an emerging concept , '' says Prof Lloyd .
`` You get them to imagine the summer holidays , that it would be long like them , but not so much fun . ''
It 's a daunting prospect for parents , taking over what the state has offered for well over a century - daytime education and childcare .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at things to ensure the coming weeks and months are more bearable ?
`` We often talk about work-life balance and parents not being able to spend enough time with kids , '' says Prof Cartwright-Hatton .
`` That 's not going to be a problem for a lot of people for quite a while now .
We 've got to look for the silver lining in all this . ''

"I worry that they'll wonder whether this is happening because of something they've done," she adds. "It's a very strange situation for them. We've got to show them that none of this is their fault and that children throughout the world are going through the same experience."


bbcuk--2020-03-20--Coronavirus: Ways to stay social online while in self-isolation

Everyone should avoid non-essential contact with others to prevent the spread of the coronavirus , the prime minister has said .
As schools shut and some people work from home , many are feeling cut off from their everyday hobbies and social lives .
But the internet offers a means to stay connected and to keep us all entertained and educated through the days of isolation .
Here are just some of the ways people are already using technology to lift their spirits .
Groups have also been finding innovative ways to socialise , hosting dinner parties and even Brownies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs 45 pub quizzes in Scotland , but has started doing live online sessions every night , with hundreds participating .
`` It 's been a pretty bad couple of weeks and pub quizzes bring the community together , '' says Andrew Wildgoose , founder of Goose 's Quizzes .
`` So we wanted to find a way for people to still enjoy them . ''
Even book clubs are operating digitally , with private WhatsApp groups forming to share reading lists and Rebel Book Club launching a 14-day free reading challenge for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also been downloading the free Google Chrome extension Netflix Party , which allows users to watch Netflix together .
It synchronises screens and creates a group chat to communicate .
For those craving some culture , museums and galleries have been posting on social media under the hashtag # museumfromhome , showcasing their collections .
One exhibition at God 's House Tower in Southampton is having a `` virtual launch '' on Saturday , as the venue has shut due to coronavirus .
`` We 're really devastated that the venue has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crow , director of the gallery .
`` Hopefully , this will allow people around the world , not just those local , to see it .
`` It really does herald a new era in God 's House Tower 's fascinating 700-year-old history by presenting art exhibitions online . ''
Exercise classes have moved from gyms to online , creating videos or `` lives '' on Instagram and Facebook .
Many fitness clubs , including Barry 's , Crossfit and David Lloyd , are providing online workouts people can do at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is currently self-isolating , has filmed YouTube videos to follow and has been teaching classes via Zoom and Skype .
`` The best thing about yoga is that you can do it anywhere , with no equipment , '' she says .
`` It really gives you a chance to take a break from work , stay calm and process everything that 's going on .
`` Stretching can make a big difference if you 're hunched up on a laptop all day at home . ''
Free video appointments with vets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app until the end of April .
Users are paired with a qualified vet who can give advice and refer the patient to a physical service if necessary .
David Prien , the firm 's co-founder , says there 's been an 80 % rise in people using the app over the past few weeks .
`` Just because you 're in isolation does n't mean your pet stays healthy , '' he adds , noting that it also gives vets who are housebound something to keep them occupied .
People are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Borrow My Doggy , to walk the pets of those who can not because of new working arrangements or self-isolation .
Following food shortages in supermarkets , foodies are getting creative online , posting tips for alternative ingredients and recipes with a limited food cupboard .
Nia Williams , director of Slow Food Wales , a grassroots movement that promotes local food and traditional cooking , is making video guides on how to grow fruit and vegetables at home .
`` We 've had so much freedom and access in our lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into shock , '' Nia says .
`` I 'm making these videos so families have something to do but to also empower them to have a bit more control over their food and situation . ''
Finally , for those wishing to add a touch of class to their nights in , the Champagne Bureau has this handy guide to pairing champagne with your takeaway of choice .
`` Champagne is a versatile wine which enhances our everyday meals , '' says Francoise Peretti , director of the UK division .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and self-isolate , it will provide the joyful lift we all need , ''