bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: Court fine for Tesco queue rule breaker

A man has pleaded guilty to breaching coronavirus social distancing rules by repeatedly approaching people in a supermarket queue .
@ @ @ @ @ was arrested after getting too close to shoppers outside Tesco in Stalybridge on Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ the first person to be charged in the UK since the new restrictions came into @ @ @ @ @ ' Court , Mackie was fined £635 after he admitted failing to maintain public health @ @ @ @ @ of Stamford Street , Stalybridge , was `` unnecessarily out of his home '' and @ @ @ @ @ people contrary to social distancing rules '' despite advice from officers .
• A SIMPLE @ @ @ @ @ symptoms ?
• NEW GUIDANCE : What must I do ?
• NEW RESTRICTIONS : @ @ @ @ @ MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

He is thought to be the first person to be charged in the UK since the new restrictions came into force.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus victim, 108, survived 1918 Spanish flu pandemic

Tributes have been paid to a 108-year-old woman who lived through the Spanish flu pandemic but has died after contracting coronavirus .
Hilda Churchill died at Kenyon Lodge care home in Salford on Saturday .
She died four days after showing mild symptoms of Covid-19 and a day after testing positive .
Her grandson Will Hadcroft said the `` kind-hearted matriarch of the family '' was due to celebrate her 109th birthday on Sunday .
He said she would be `` greatly missed '' and her death had devastated the family , especially when she was `` so near to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Hadcroft , 50 , from Edgworth , said his grandmother , who had four children , 11 grandchildren , 12 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren had certainly `` lived her life '' .
`` She moved to Little Hulton in 1936 from Crewe .
It was before World War Two and the Salford overspill and it was a quiet little village , '' he said .
He said the former seamstress would recall seeing aeroplanes for the first time and very few cars on the road .
`` Grandma would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Little Hulton then you knew they must be rich , '' he added .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • STRESS : How to look after your mental health Mr Hadcroft said his grandmother had lived through two world wars and the Spanish flu which killed 50 million people in 1918-1920 .
The Spanish flu also killed her one-year-old sister , said Mr Hadcroft , who works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Hadcroft said he would most treasure family days out to Walkden Park in the summer with his grandmother , her cooking and the made-to-measure suits she would make for him .
`` She was very industrious , sharp , intelligent and kind-hearted lady ... a real character who will be greatly missed , '' he said .
Abbey Healthcare , which runs Kenyon Lodge , said it was `` deeply saddened '' at the news of Hilda 's death .

He said she would be "greatly missed" and her death had devastated the family, especially when she was "so near to ratcheting up another [birthday]".


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: Easter egg crackdown over essential status 'wrong'

Convenience stores selling Easter eggs are facing interference from “ heavy-handed ” officials trying to restrict the range of goods they can sell under coronavirus curbs , a trade body says .
Some shops have been told by police and local councils that the chocolate eggs are considered non-essential goods .
The Association of Convenience Stores ( ACS ) blamed “ overzealous enforcement and a misreading of the rules ” .
It has told shopkeepers to carry on selling a full range of goods .
“ The government have defined which stores can remain open , and that includes convenience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said ACS chief executive James Lowman .
“ There is no government definition of which products can be sold within those stores .
“ In the cases where officers have challenged retailers and shoppers in this way , it ’ s brought confusion , distracted retailers in the busiest weeks of their lives and increased the interactions between people at a time when the government is trying to minimise them.
” The attempt to restrict the kinds of goods sold in convenience stores drew a scathing reaction from retail analyst Richard Hyman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bonkers , '' he said .
`` This is a time when being excessively pedantic seems rather absurd .
`` It 's certainly right that if restrictions are going to be applied , they should be applied to types of outlet , not types of product . ''
He said the current rules , which put no restrictions on the items essential retailers can sell , were common sense and pointed out that supermarkets also had Easter eggs for sale .
`` Going beyond that , what difference does it make if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppose they might argue that it 's taking up space on shelves that could be used for other items , '' Mr Hyman said .
Some social media users shared the same opinion , with one saying that chocolate was `` the only thing keeping me sane '' during the pandemic .
Another thought that purchasing Easter eggs is acceptable if you are already visiting a shop for essential items - or buying them as `` eggstras '' .
Exactly what qualifies as an `` essential '' business which is allowed to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confusion in some quarters .
The official list of essential retailers put together by the Cabinet Office includes off-licences , supermarkets and pharmacies as well as newsagents and corner shops .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do i protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak The ACS said it had a partnership with Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards , which had confirmed that there should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sold in convenience stores .
An ACS spokesman told the BBC that “ only a few members ” had faced this “ heavy-handed ” approach , adding : “ We hope that it ’ s ended there.
” The association said that if any retailers continued to face such challenges , they should get in touch with the name of the local authority or police force and officer , so that it could follow up with them .
After strict new restrictions were brought in by government earlier this week , it issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that are allowed to stay open .
They include : • Off-licences and licensed shops selling alcohol , including those within breweries

The association said that if any retailers continued to face such challenges, they should get in touch with the name of the local authority or police force and officer, so that it could follow up with them.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: How do I get a food parcel?

People have been stockpiling food , supermarket online delivery slots are full , items are restricted in stores and vulnerable people are being sent food parcels by the government .
So what is being done to make sure people can get food ?
A total of one-and-a-half million people in England have been identified as being extremely medically vulnerable .
The government has contacted 900,000 of those and plans to distribute free food parcels every week to more than 50,000 who have no family or friends to help them .
The first 4,000 were delivered at the weekend .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pasta , cereal , fruit , tea bags , potatoes and tinned goods as well as toilet paper .
A food distribution company will deliver the packs to people 's doorsteps , although in some cases local authorities , charities or emergency services may help out .
The government is working in partnership with the food industry , local government , and voluntary groups and could potentially deliver hundreds of thousands every week .
What are supermarkets doing to keep customers safe ?
Branches of the main supermarkets have introduced policies to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other .
These include somebody on the door controlling customer numbers , and spacing out those queuing outside .
Inside , many supermarkets are providing hand sanitiser for customers and floor markers for till queues .
In addition , some are putting up screens between the cashiers and the public .
Other initiatives include Tesco introducing floor markings showing which direction to walk down the aisles in some of its larger stores .
Morrisons has a queuing zone if there are too many customers to be separated by the floor markings , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is plenty to go round Despite empty shelves caused by panic buying in the past couple of weeks , the supermarkets say there is no shortage of food .
The problem has been getting deliveries to shops as fast as people buy key items , they say .
The stores have now taken action to combat this by introducing strict purchase limits on individual items .
Tesco has doubled the amount of some key items arriving in stores , including toilet rolls , pasta and rice .
Sainsbury 's says that since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have stayed on shelves for longer .
What else have supermarkets done ?
The supermarkets have introduced allotted times of the day when only the elderly , vulnerable and disabled , or NHS staff and other key workers , can shop .
Several food retailers are `` drastically cutting '' the range of products they sell .
They are also telling manufacturers to stop making some products to focus on those for which there is greatest demand .
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• CONTAINMENT : What it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What 's the UK 's plan and what could happen next ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak How are online deliveries holding up ?
This has been a sticking point for many people , who are finding themselves unable to book slots and follow Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's request to use online deliveries and stay at home .
Tesco is limiting online orders to 80 items only and is encouraging shoppers who can get out to use its click and collect service at local stores .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slots for more vulnerable customers .
Asda is adopting the same policy and is also recruiting more delivery drivers .
Sainsbury 's has introduced priority slots for elderly and vulnerable customers and is contacting eligible customers on its database .
Morrisons is creating 3,500 new jobs to help expand its online delivery service .
Waitrose says it will set aside at least 25 % of its delivery slots to elderly or vulnerable people and is working to identify eligible customers .
What is the government doing ?
Rules have been relaxed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This means they can share resources , such as distribution depots , delivery vans and staff , as well as co-ordinating stock levels across the country .
Rules around drivers ' hours have been eased and the 5p plastic bag charge is being waived for online orders , to speed up deliveries .

Other initiatives include Tesco introducing floor markings showing which direction to walk down the aisles in some of its larger stores. Morrisons has a queuing zone if there are too many customers to be separated by the floor markings, while Asda is bringing in directional barriers.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: What are ventilators and why are they important?

The government has ordered thousands of ventilators to help ease the pressure on hospitals caused by the coronavirus crisis .
For patients with the worst effects of the infection , a ventilator offers the best chance of survival .
What is a ventilator and what does it do ?
Simply put , a ventilator takes over the body 's breathing process when disease has caused the lungs to fail .
This gives the patient time to fight off the infection and recover .
Various types of medical ventilation can be used .
According to the World Health Organization ( WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Covid-19 - the disease caused by coronavirus - recover without needing hospital treatment .
But one person in six becomes seriously ill and can develop breathing difficulties .
In these severe cases , the virus causes damage to the lungs .
The body 's immune system detects this and expands blood vessels so more immune cells enter .
But this can cause fluid to enter the lungs , making it harder to breathe , and causing the body 's oxygen levels to drop .
To alleviate this , a machine ventilator is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels of oxygen , into the lungs .
The ventilator also has a humidifier , which modifies adds heat and moisture to the medical air so it matches the patient 's body temperature .
Patients are given medication to relax the respiratory muscles so their breathing can be fully regulated by the machine .
People with milder symptoms may be given ventilation using facemasks , nasal masks or mouthpieces which allow pressurised air or mixtures of gases to be pushed into the lungs .
University College London engineers have worked with clinicians at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is known as the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ( CPAP ) device .
It is being trialled at several London hospitals and if all goes well , the Mercedes-AMG-HPP group can begin building up to 1,000 of the machines per day from next week ( 6 April ) .
The CPAP device has already got approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency .
Early reports from Lombardy in northern Italy suggest about 50 % of patients given CPAP have avoided the need for invasive mechanical ventilation .
However , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagious respiratory infections has raised some concern , as any small leaks around the mask could spray droplets on medical staff .
Hoods , where pressurised oxygen is pumped in via a valve , are also being commonly used to treat Covid-19 patients , partly because they reduce the risk of airborne transmission of the virus from droplets in the breath .
These are known as `` non-invasive '' ventilation , as no internal tubes are required .
However , Intensive Care Units ( ICUs ) would generally put patients suffering acute respiratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure oxygen levels in the body stay normal .
Dr Shondipon Laha , from the Intensive Care Society , told the BBC most patients with Covid-19 would not need a mechanical ventilator and could be treated at home or with supplementary oxygen .
But although there were risks when using ventilators , such as not knowing who would suffer long-term effects , he said , sometimes a ventilator was `` the only way of getting oxygen into the patient '' .
Another issue , Dr Laha explained , was having enough of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ventilators expected to be needed .
`` A ventilator is a complex beast - it can cause a patient trauma if not set up properly , '' he said .
`` The technical aspects are challenging .
People have knowledge on varying types of ventilator in other specialities , but may need support in using them in intensive care if they 're unfamiliar with this . ''
How many ventilators does the UK have - and how many might we need ?
The NHS is reported to have just 8,175 ventilators - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The government believes up to 30,000 could be needed at the peak of the pandemic - and has placed an order for 10,000 newly-designed machines from technology firm Dyson .
Dyson insiders have told the BBC they have a working prototype , designed and built from scratch , which has been tested on humans and is `` ready to go '' .
A further order of 5,000 machines could come from Luton-based Smiths group , possibly its portable ParaPac model .
Another British company , Gtech , has designed a prototype which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply without the need of a power source .
A number of other companies - including a consortium of Airbus , Meggit and GKN - are also lining up to supply further ventilators based on existing designs .
Meanwhile , a team of scientists and engineers from Oxford University and King 's College London has unveiled its own low-cost design , which it says could be quickly put into production .
And researchers at the University of East Anglia are looking at using 3D printing to quickly produce ventilator parts , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Coronavirus: What are ventilators and why are they important? Published 16 April 2020
Image source, Dyson
The government has said it will buy thousands of ventilators to help ease the pressure on hospitals caused by the coronavirus crisis.
For patients with the worst effects of the infection, a ventilator can offer the best chance of survival.
What is a ventilator and what does it do?
Simply put, a ventilator takes over the body's breathing process when disease has caused the lungs to fail.
This gives the patient time to fight off the infection and recover.
Various types of medical ventilation can be used.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some 80% of people with Covid-19 - the disease caused by coronavirus - recover without needing hospital treatment.
But one person in six becomes seriously ill.
In these severe cases, the virus causes damage to the lungs, causing the body's oxygen levels to drop and making it harder to breathe.
To alleviate this, a ventilator is used to push air, with increased levels of oxygen, into the lungs.
The ventilator also has a humidifier, which adds heat and moisture to the air supply so it matches the patient's body temperature.
Patients are given medication to relax the respiratory muscles so their breathing can be fully regulated by the machine.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, All medical ventilation requires close supervision from trained staff
People with milder symptoms may be given ventilation using facemasks, nasal masks or mouthpieces which allow air or an oxygen mixture to be pushed into the lungs.
This is known as "non-invasive" ventilation, as no internal tubes are required.
Another form of ventilation - continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP - keeps a patient's airways continuously open,
Early reports from Lombardy in northern Italy suggest about 50% of patients given CPAP have avoided the need for full mechanical ventilation.
A type of CPAP ventilation using a hood, where pressurised oxygen is pumped in via a valve, reduces the risk of airborne transmission of the virus.
Image source, Intersurgical Image caption, Oxygen hoods reduce the risk of disease transmission
Intensive Care Units (ICUs) would generally put patients suffering acute respiratory distress on mechanical ventilation quickly, to ensure oxygen levels in the body stay normal.
However Dr Shondipon Laha, from the Intensive Care Society, told the BBC that unless they become seriously ill, most patients with Covid-19 would not need a mechanical ventilator and could be treated at home or with supplementary oxygen.
Although there were risks when using ventilators, such as not knowing who would suffer long-term effects, he said, sometimes a ventilator was "the only way of getting oxygen into the patient".
Another issue, Dr Laha explained, was having enough trained staff to operate the ventilators correctly.
How many ventilators does the UK have - and how many might we need?
The UK is understood to currently have about 10,000 ventilators having added to the previous stock of just over 8,000 by increasing production and sourcing other machines from overseas.
A number of ventilators have also been acquired from private hospitals.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the country needs 18,000 machines for when the virus peaks, down from an original estimate of 30,000.
Mr Hancock told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme on 5 April that projected demand had come down because social distancing measures were working.
The exact type of extra ventilators needed, and who makes them, is still being finalised.
The delay is linked to a changing understanding of how to treat patients requiring ventilation, according to the Financial Times.
Image caption, The Smiths ParaPac ventilator is designed to be easily transported
A consortium of UK manufacturers is leading efforts to produce a version of a machine built by Oxfordshire company Penlon. On 16 April, it was announced that the Penlon Prima ESO2 devices had been approved and that hundreds are expected to be built for hospitals over the next week. By the start of May, it is hoped that 1,500 a week will be made.
As part of that same initiative, the first ventilators - portable ParaPac devices from Luton-based firm Smiths - have been delivered to wards over the last few days.
The consortium includes Airbus, Rolls Royce and a number of Formula One racing teams.
A separate machine being designed and built from scratch by Dyson is also being considered by the government.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: A visual guide to the pandemic

Coronavirus has been spreading rapidly across the world , affecting more than 177 countries and claiming more than 36,200 lives .
There are more than 755,500 confirmed cases worldwide , with the US recording more than any other country , including China .
Europe has also seen a surge in cases .
This series of maps and charts will help you understand what is going on .
The virus is spreading rapidly in many countries .
The US overtook China , where the virus originated , in terms of confirmed cases on Thursday , according to figures collated by Johns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of people with coronavirus is thought to be much higher as many of those with milder symptoms have not been tested and counted .
The virus emerged in China in December 2019 and around 3,300 people there have died from the infection - but both Italy and Spain now have much higher death tolls .
The coronavirus outbreak was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) on 11 March .
This is when an infectious disease is passing easily from person to person in many parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The WHO said it took more than three months to reach the first 100,000 confirmed cases worldwide , but only 12 days to reach 200,000 , four days to reach 300,000 and three days to reach 400,000 and another five to reach 700,000 .
China says it has now all but stopped the spread of the disease and the authorities have started to allow some access to Wuhan , the city in Hubei province where the outbreak began .
After more than two months of isolation , people were allowed to enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave .
South Korea has also seen its number of cases fall in the last couple of weeks and is hoping to reopen schools next month .
Other countries , like Italy , Spain and the US , are still ramping up measures as they continue to try to slow down the spread of the virus .
Governments across the world have halted flights , locked down towns and cities and urged people to stay at home .
India and Saudi Arabia have begun strict lockdowns , while similar restrictions on the movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across Europe .
• What measures are countries taking to stop coronavirus ?
European countries have seen steep rises in infections and deaths , and the region has become the new epicentre of the crisis .
Italy has more than 101,700 cases and three other countries in Europe already have more than 40,000 cases - Spain , Germany and France .
The UK , Switzerland , the Netherlands and Belgium all have more than 10,000 .
• How fast is the coronavirus growing in the UK ?
The Spanish government , which declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , further tightened its lockdown telling non-essential workers to stay at home for two weeks .
There have been more than 7,340 deaths as a result of the virus in Spain .
Since Italy passed China 's tally of confirmed cases , its daily death tolls have been bleak .
On Monday , Italy registered another 812 deaths in 24 hours , bringing its total to more than 11,590 .
The majority of the deaths have occurred in the northern Lombardy region , which contains the city of Milan .
Hospitals there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and nurses have been asked to return to work .
The country has been locked down since 12 March , with nearly all shops , bars , hairdressers , restaurants and cafes closed .
• How are European capitals coping with shutdown ?
In Germany , there have been almost 64,000 cases so far and more than 560 deaths .
Chancellor Angela Merkel has herself been forced to self-isolate after coming into contact with a doctor who was infected .
In the UK , confirmed cases stand at more than 22,140 and at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Boris Johnson , who has himself tested positive for the virus , announced a clampdown on 23 March , urging people to stay at home to avoid unnecessary transmission of the disease .
President Putin of Russia , which has seen 1,800 cases , called for a `` non-working week '' , to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
• UK outbreak in graphics : How many cases are in your area ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US The WHO has said that the US could become the next epicentre of the pandemic , given the `` very large acceleration in cases '' .
New York is at the centre of the outbreak , many more cases than any other state .
US President Donald Trump has said federal coronavirus guidelines , such as social distancing , will be extended across the US until at least 30 April .
He had previously said they could be relaxed in mid-April .
There are growing fears that Louisiana could become another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state 's biggest city , New Orleans , could be out of ventilators by 2 April and potentially out of beds by 7 April .
Nationwide measures mean people must continue to avoid non-essential travel , going to work , and eating at restaurants or bars .
Gatherings are limited to groups of under 10 people .
But stricter restrictions apply to millions in some of the worst-hit states .
New data shows the economic impact it is having on the country , with the number of people without jobs surging to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The previous record was set in 1982 , when unemployment claims hit 695,000 .
President Trump has ordered General Motors to make ventilators for coronavirus patients , invoking the Korean War-era Defense Production Act , which allows a president to force companies to make products for national defence .
Mr Trump said action was needed to save American lives .
• A visual guide to the economic impact of coronavirus Millions living under restrictions on their movement India is one of the latest countries to enforce a lockdown , meaning its 1.3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homes for a few weeks at least .
That means more than a quarter of the 7.8 billion people in the world are now living under some form of restrictions on their movement and social contact due to the coronavirus .
People in major cities like London , Barcelona and New York are now moving around far less than they were a few weeks ago , according to data from the travel app Citymapper .
The data also shows that while Milan in northern Italy has been locked down for several weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been restricting movement in recent days .
While movement is also down in the South Korean capital Seoul , the city has n't ground to a halt like European capitals despite facing huge numbers of coronavirus cases - a sign of the country 's decision to focus on widespread testing and contact tracing rather than social distancing .

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This information is regularly updated but may not reflect the latest totals for each country.
** The past data for new cases is a three day rolling average. Due to revisions in the number of cases, an average cannot be calculated for this date.
Source: Johns Hopkins University and national public health agencies


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus in UK: How many confirmed cases are there in your area?

In the UK there are more than 22,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and at least 1,408 people , who have tested positive for the virus , have died .
More than 112,800 people in the UK have been tested for the virus but were found not to have it .
The actual number of people with the respiratory infection in the country is estimated to be much higher .
Chief scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance has said it is `` premature '' to put a time limit on how long the social distancing measures might have to stay in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have confirmed cases in your area : If you ca n't see the look-up click here .
The following charts and graphics will help you understand the situation in the UK and how the authorities are dealing with it .
The new coronavirus , which causes the respiratory disease known as Covid-19 , was first confirmed in the UK at the end of January .
While there were a number of people testing positive throughout February , figures in the UK began to increase at the beginning of March .
Numbers are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has increased by more than 2,600 since Sunday , according to the Department of Health and Social Care .
The number of deaths has risen by 180 from 1,228 to 1,408 .
Over the past week the number of deaths has roughly doubled every three days .
If the trend continues , there could be another 1,000 deaths by the middle of the week .
In Scotland , 47 people have died so far , while the figure in Wales is 62 .
Northern Ireland has seen a total of 22 deaths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has introduced a series of restrictions on people 's movement in a bid to slow the virus 's spread .
On Monday ( 30 March ) it announced plans to bring home tens of thousands of Britons stranded abroad by the coronavirus pandemic .
Sir Patrick said it would be two to three weeks before social distancing measures began to have any effect on the numbers falling ill. UK figures are currently lower than some other European countries , such as Italy , for example , where there have been more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Globally , authorities have confirmed more than 755,000 cases of the coronavirus and 35,000 deaths .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• EASY STEPS : How can I try to stay well ?
• MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the pandemic 2 .
London has seen the most deaths Most of the deaths in the UK have been in England , primarily in London .
The capital has seen more than 400 fatalities so far .
London hospitals are facing a `` tsunami '' of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of intensive care beds , according to Chris Hopson , of NHS Providers , which represents hospitals .
The ExCel exhibition centre in east London is being converted into a field hospital which could eventually hold up to 4,000 patients .
Two further temporary hospitals are planned : one at the NEC centre in Birmingham that will house 5,000 beds and another at the Convention Complex in Manchester , which will have 1,000 beds .
Work has also started to turn part of Birmingham Airport into a mortuary able to store at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll rise significantly .
3 .
We are in the second phase of the government 's response The government 's action plan for dealing with the virus involves three phases - contain ; delay ; mitigate - alongside ongoing research .
After trying to contain the disease , the country moved to the `` delay '' phase on 12 March to stop the wider spread of the virus .
Even if you have no symptoms , the government says you should : • Stay at home - only go out for essential shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day • Stop all non-essential contact with others - public gatherings of more than two people are banned • Stop all unnecessary travel - you can travel to work if absolutely necessary • Work at home where possible Police have been given powers to fine people deliberately flouting the restrictions , with increasing penalties for repeat offenders .
The government is now encouraging self-isolation at home for over 70s , and those more vulnerable to the virus , for 12 weeks .
British nationals should avoid all non-essential foreign travel to tackle the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has advised .
Retired NHS staff have been asked to return to work .
A government appeal for volunteers to help deliver food and medicine to the vulnerable has prompted more than 750,000 responses .
4 .
People who think they have coronavirus should self-isolate Symptoms include a high temperature and a `` new , continuous '' cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour , or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours ( if you usually have a cough , it may be worse than usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus you are advised not to go to a GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital .
Instead , you stay at home for seven days .
If you live with other people , you should keep at least 2m away from them and they should also stay home for 14 days to see if they develop symptoms .
If your symptoms persist or worsen you should contact the NHS 's dedicated 111 online coronavirus service or call 111 .

Based on the survey, the estimated peak of the pandemic, in cases if not in deaths, was in late March 2022, where at one point about 4.9 million people were thought to have the virus. However, the survey did not capture the first wave of the pandemic, with trials only beginning in England in April 2020.


bbcuk--2020-03-29--Coronavirus: What we still don't know about Covid-19

It feels like an eternity ago , but the world only became aware of the coronavirus in December .
Despite incredible efforts by scientists around the world , there is still much we do not understand , and we are all now part of a planet-wide experiment trying to find answers .
Here are some of the big outstanding questions .
1 .
How many people have been infected .
It is one of the most basic questions , but also one of the most crucial .
There have been hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases around the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the total number of infections .
And the figures are further confused by an unknown number of asymptomatic cases - people who have the virus but do n't feel ill .
Developing an antibody test will allow researchers to see whether anyone has had the virus .
Only then will we understand how far or how easily the coronavirus is spreading .
2 .
How deadly it really is .
Until we know how many cases there have been , it is impossible to be certain of the death rate .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of people infected with the virus die .
But if there are large numbers of asymptomatic patients , the death rate could be lower .
The main symptoms of coronavirus are a fever and a dry cough - these are the ones you should be on the look out for .
A sore throat , headache and diarrhoea have also been reported in some cases and there is mounting speculation that a loss of sense of smell may affect some .
But the most important question is whether mild , cold-like symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sneezing , are present in some patients .
Studies have suggested this is a possibility and that people could potentially be infectious without knowing they are carrying the virus .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak 4 .
The role children play in spreading it .
Children can definitely catch coronavirus .
However , they mostly develop mild symptoms and there are relatively few deaths among children compared with other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of disease , partly because they mix with lots of people ( often in the playground ) , but with this virus , it is not clear to what extent they help spread it .
5 .
Where exactly it came from .
The virus emerged in Wuhan , China , at the end of 2019 , where there was a cluster of cases at an animal market .
The coronavirus , officially called Sars-CoV-2 , is closely related to viruses that infect bats , however it is thought the virus was passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that then passed it on to people .
That `` missing link '' remains unknown , and could be a source of further infections .
6 .
Whether there will be fewer cases in summer .
Colds and flu are more common in the winter months than in the summer , but it is not yet known whether the warmer weather will alter the spread of the virus .
The UK government 's scientific advisers have warned it is unclear whether there will be a seasonal effect .
If there is one , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller than that for colds and flu .
If there is a major dip in coronavirus over the summer , there is a danger that cases will spike in winter , when hospitals are also having to deal with an influx of patients with the usual winter bugs .
7 .
Why some people get much more severe symptoms .
Covid-19 is a mild infection for most .
However around 20 % go on to develop more severe disease , but why ?
The state of a person 's immune system seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there may be some genetic factor too .
Understanding this could lead to ways of preventing people from needing intensive care .
8 .
How long immunity lasts , and whether you can get it twice .
There has been much speculation but little evidence on how durable any immunity to the virus is .
Patients must have built up an immune response , if they successfully fight off the virus .
But as the disease has been around for only a few months there is a lack of long-term data .
Rumours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down to tests incorrectly saying they were free of the virus .
The question of immunity is vital for understanding what will happen in the long term .
9 .
Whether the virus will mutate .
Viruses mutate all the time , but most alterations to their genetic code do not make a significant difference .
As a general rule , you expect viruses to evolve to be less deadly in the long run , but this is not guaranteed .
The concern is that if the virus mutates , then the immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific vaccine no longer works ( as happens with flu ) .

Coronavirus: What we still don't know about Covid-19 Published 29 March 2020
Image source, Getty Images
It feels like an eternity ago, but the world only became aware of the coronavirus in December.
Despite incredible efforts by scientists around the world, there is still much we do not understand, and we are all now part of a planet-wide experiment trying to find answers.
Here are some of the big outstanding questions.
1. How many people have been infected.
It is one of the most basic questions, but also one of the most crucial.
There have been hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases around the world, but this is only a fraction of the total number of infections. And the figures are further confused by an unknown number of asymptomatic cases - people who have the virus but don't feel ill.
Developing an antibody test will allow researchers to see whether anyone has had the virus. Only then will we understand how far or how easily the coronavirus is spreading.
2. How deadly it really is.
Until we know how many cases there have been, it is impossible to be certain of the death rate. At the moment the estimate is that around 1% of people infected with the virus die. But if there are large numbers of asymptomatic patients, the death rate could be lower.
3. The full range of symptoms.
The main symptoms of coronavirus are a fever and a dry cough - these are the ones you should be on the look out for.
A sore throat, headache and diarrhoea have also been reported in some cases and there is mounting speculation that a loss of sense of smell may affect some.
But the most important question is whether mild, cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose or sneezing, are present in some patients.
Studies have suggested this is a possibility and that people could potentially be infectious without knowing they are carrying the virus.
4. The role children play in spreading it.
Children can definitely catch coronavirus. However, they mostly develop mild symptoms and there are relatively few deaths among children compared with other age groups.
Children are normally super-spreaders of disease, partly because they mix with lots of people (often in the playground), but with this virus, it is not clear to what extent they help spread it.
5. Where exactly it came from.
The virus emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019, where there was a cluster of cases at an animal market.
The coronavirus, officially called Sars-CoV-2, is closely related to viruses that infect bats, however it is thought the virus was passed from bats to a mystery animal species that then passed it on to people.
That "missing link" remains unknown, and could be a source of further infections.
6. Whether there will be fewer cases in summer.
Colds and flu are more common in the winter months than in the summer, but it is not yet known whether the warmer weather will alter the spread of the virus.
The UK government's scientific advisers have warned it is unclear whether there will be a seasonal effect. If there is one, they think it is likely to be smaller than that for colds and flu.
If there is a major dip in coronavirus over the summer, there is a danger that cases will spike in winter, when hospitals are also having to deal with an influx of patients with the usual winter bugs.
7. Why some people get much more severe symptoms.
Covid-19 is a mild infection for most. However around 20% go on to develop more severe disease, but why?
The state of a person's immune system seems to be part of the issue, and there may be some genetic factor too. Understanding this could lead to ways of preventing people from needing intensive care.
8. How long immunity lasts, and whether you can get it twice.
There has been much speculation but little evidence on how durable any immunity to the virus is.
Patients must have built up an immune response, if they successfully fight off the virus. But as the disease has been around for only a few months there is a lack of long-term data. Rumours of patients being infected twice may be down to tests incorrectly saying they were free of the virus.
The question of immunity is vital for understanding what will happen in the long term.
9. Whether the virus will mutate.
Viruses mutate all the time, but most alterations to their genetic code do not make a significant difference.
As a general rule, you expect viruses to evolve to be less deadly in the long run, but this is not guaranteed.
The concern is that if the virus mutates, then the immune system no longer recognises it and a specific vaccine no longer works (as happens with flu).


bbcuk--2020-03-05--Coronavirus: How to wash your hands - in 20 seconds

The NHS says that washing your hands is a key part of preventing the spread of viruses such as the @ @ @ @ @ from the University of Westminster demonstrates how to do this properly - which should take @ @ @ @ @ EASY STEPS : What can I do about the virus ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE @ @ @ @ @ ?

The NHS says that washing your hands is a key part of preventing the spread of viruses such as the coronavirus.
Dr Adele McCormick from the University of Westminster demonstrates how to do this properly - which should take about 20 seconds.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: Why are British travellers struggling to get home?

Around the world there are thousands of Britons desperate to get home .
And yet many are stranded .
Airports have been closed and borders shut .
Cities have been placed in lockdown .
Many are trapped in hotels , often with money and food running out .
They are sat on the phone calling airlines or tour operators , on hold for hours or failing to get through at all .
They are emailing , phoning and messaging the local British embassy , often to no avail .
In hundreds of posts and videos on social media , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world and asking - why is more not being done to help them ?
• The scale of the challenge is unprecedented No-one knows how many Britons are travelling abroad at any one time .
The UK is not a police state and does not require its citizens to register every time they leave .
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told MPs recently it could be anything between 300,000 and a million people at any one time .
These travellers are not on any list and are dispersed to the four winds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but confined instead by local curfews in provincial towns .
Some will be in places that are within easy reach .
Others will be in locations where there are no direct flights to the UK even in normal times .
Getting such numbers home is an unprecedented , historic task and will not be solved by asking British Airways to arrange a few flights .
• The Foreign Office is not geared up to handle the crisis The FCO is largely a diplomatic machine , designed to develop and implement foreign policy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a consular arm , of course , to help Britons in trouble overseas but it is not designed to deal with something of this scale .
The crisis centre in the bowels of King Charles Street was set up in 2012 so the FCO could handle two incidents in different places at the same time , such as an earthquake and a tsunami .
It was not designed to handle a global consular crisis with many thousands of Britons simultaneously stranded round the world .
Latest virus updates from around the world The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To give you a sense of context , according to the latest FCO accounts , in 2018/19 , the department helped more than 22,000 British people in new consular cases around the world , and ongoing support to 7,700 existing cases .
They are now having to cope with hundreds of thousands at the same time .
So as a result the FCO is having to reconfigure itself in the midst of the crisis .
Whole departments have been closed down and staff redeployed to help handle the crisis .
After the 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its staff - about 550 people - to be able to respond to crises .
Now almost the whole of the FCO is being retasked .
• There is less consular support on the ground than you might imagine The Foreign Office is spread very thinly .
It has 280 posts in 168 countries and 10 overseas territories .
But it has only about 2,000 actual diplomats in positions abroad .
They are supported by locally hired staff in each country .
But the numbers vary .
And some embassies or high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might imagine .
They can take some calls but might not have enough people to absorb hundreds or thousands of people phoning in .
The Foreign Office has suffered spending cuts for years and one of its biggest costs are staff salaries .
William Hague famously noted , when foreign secretary , that the FCO had a smaller budget than Kent County Council .
• The consular call centres have been overwhelmed If you ring up an embassy and you can not get through , or it is a weekend , you will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FCO 's central consular contact centres .
These are located , perhaps surprisingly , in Malaga and Ottawa .
They were set up in 2011 to help handle basic queries so embassies and high commissions could focus on more important cases .
In the whole of the financial year 2018/19 , these two call centres received 350,000 calls .
The vast majority were sorted out without having to contact the relevant embassy for a reply .
In contrast , on one day recently , Malaga handled 28,000 calls alone .
As a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capacity of its call centres .
• 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 • Countries are reluctant to open their airspace Governments have closed their airports for a reason .
They are petrified that coronavirus might spread .
They know that if they make an exception for the UK , then many other countries will demand an exception too .
So British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to try to persuade counterparts to lift the lockdown temporarily .
The Foreign Secretary has spoken to more than 30 other foreign ministers in recent days trying to get them to open up their airspace .
Deals are being done .
Some countries are helping each other bring their nationals back , trading seats on flights .
But this diplomacy is hard and it takes time .
As well as talking to ministers and officials , British diplomats are also having to negotiate with military chiefs who are often in charge of national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a country to open its airports , it then has to persuade the airlines to put on some commercial flights .
This is easier said than done .
Airlines are businesses and they have to be convinced and paid to put on flights .
That means they need a clear sense of passenger numbers and that can be hard to confirm .
Governments can not force airlines to reduce their prices .
There might be many planes sat on the ground at airports round the world .
But the airline industry is highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slots takes time .
Oh , and the Royal Air Force does not have enough transport planes to solve the crisis , in case you were wondering .
• Actually many Brits are getting out For all the many difficulties that some British nationals are experiencing , many others are getting home .
According to the FCO , more than 200,000 Britons have been helped to return home from Spain since the authorities announced travel restrictions .
Since March 16 , when Egypt first began suspending flights , the Cairo embassy has helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 53 flights .
Over the last couple of weeks , the ambassador in Morocco , Tom Reilly , and his team have helped 8,500 British nationals get home on 49 commercial flights despite the travel restrictions .
More than 1,900 Britons have been repatriated on special charter flights from cruise ships docking in Japan , California and Cuba .
Some 1,400 have come back on FCO charters from Peru and China .
About 4,000 have been helped back from Jamaica .
Around 500 have left Bali after the FCO helped unblock visa complications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airlines to open up their route from Australia , providing 3,500 seats for Britons each day since last Friday .

These travellers are not on any list and are dispersed to the four winds. Many are not in capital cities but confined instead by local curfews in provincial towns. Some will be in places that are within easy reach. Others will be in locations where there are no direct flights to the UK even in normal times.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: Grounded planes and deserted airport terminals

Major airports around the UK have been left almost empty as demand for air travel has plummeted following the worldwide @ @ @ @ @ bans have caused many airlines to massively scale back flights , resulting in abandoned terminal @ @ @ @ @ EasyJet said it would be grounding its entire fleet and it would be encouraging staff @ @ @ @ @ NHS Nightingale Hospital in east London .
Jonathan Hinkles , the chief executive of regional @ @ @ @ @ had fallen by 75 per cent .

On Monday, EasyJet said it would be grounding its entire fleet and it would be encouraging staff to work at the new NHS Nightingale Hospital in east London.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus and sex: What you need to know

If I have sex can I catch coronavirus ?
You might have thought about it but been too embarrassed to ask .
To separate the facts from myths , we 've put your questions to health experts .
Dr Alex George is an A & E doctor and former Love Island contestant .
Alix Fox is a sex journalist , presenter of BBC Radio 1 's Unexpected Fluids show , and co-host of The Modern Mann podcast .
Is it safe to have sex during the coronavirus outbreak ?
Dr Alex George : If you 're in a relationship… living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same environment , it should n't change your situation .
However if one of you is displaying symptoms of coronavirus then you should maintain your social-distancing and isolate , even within your home .
In an ideal world everyone would stay two metres apart - even in their own house , but we realise this may not be realistic .
Alix Fox : It 's also really important not to assume that if you are experiencing mild symptoms of coronavirus it will be the same for your partner .
So , if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and stay away from your lover .
• Coronavirus : What is the UK advice for me ?
What about sex with new people ?
Dr Alex : I certainly would n't advise having new sexual partners at the moment , because the risk is you could pass on the virus .
Alix Fox : Do n't forget as well , some people who are carriers of the virus wo n't have any symptoms .
So even if you feel absolutely fine… you could still pass on the infection to someone and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via close contact and kissing .
I kissed someone I recently met , and they 've gone on to develop symptoms .
What should I do ?
Dr Alex : If you 've kissed or been in contact with someone who you think has gone on to develop coronavirus , make sure you self-isolate .
Keep an eye on your symptoms .
If you are developing symptoms , then be extra careful .
Go online to the nhs.uk website .
Only call the 111 service if your symptoms are so bad that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox : We should be responsible with each other , and for ourselves in our relationships .
If you 're somebody who has developed symptoms , and you know that you 've kissed people recently , you should let them know .
And even if you 've kissed someone and they 've got symptoms and you have n't , you should also self-isolate .
I was n't using condoms with my partner before coronavirus , should I start now ?
Alix Fox : The answer depends on why you were n't using condoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because you have both been tested for STIs , or you 're in a heterosexual relationship prior to menopause and are using another kind of contraception to prevent an unplanned pregnancy , then that 's fine .
But if you were n't using condoms because you were relying on something like the pull-out method - or you were taking chances with STIs - then it 's even more important that you use condoms now .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guide to the outbreak Can I get coronavirus by touching someone else 's vagina or penis ?
Dr Alex : If you are going to touch each other 's genitals it 's likely that you will potentially be kissing at the same time - and we know the virus is passed through saliva .
Essentially , any possibility of transfer of coronavirus - from your mouth to your hands , to genitals , to someone else 's nose or mouth - increases the risk of passing on coronavirus .
We want to cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So , no contact between a partner that you 're not living with is really important .
How can I maintain a relationship at a time like this ?
I do n't want to be single now .
Alix Fox : This whole pandemic is prompting a lot of people to rethink what a good sex life is and what constitutes as an enjoyable , pleasurable exchange .
I 've heard of people writing erotic stories to each other , and people who are dating but quarantined in different places taking advantage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of people have been getting really creative .
If you use your imagination a little bit there are lots of ways you can have a sexy time without being face-to-face with somebody .
It 's also important to remember that right now… some people might be discovering that they or their partners have different libidos .
You might find yourself in a situation where you were only going on a date once a week , and suddenly you 're living under the same roof .
You might find that you want sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice versa .
It 's important to communicate this in a respectful , compassionate manner .
Living together does not mean that you 're entitled to sex whenever you want .
And for anybody who is in a situation where they 're with a partner and they 're not having a good time , because they feel like they 're being forced into sex , there are helplines available for that .
Am I more at risk of catching coronavirus if I have HIV ?
Alix Fox : Dr Michael Brady at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great advice on this .
If you are already on regular medication to manage HIV , and you have a good CD4 count ( number of white blood cells to fight infection ) and an undetectable viral load ( the amount of HIV in the blood ) then you 're not considered to have a weakened immune system .
This means you run no additional risk of contracting coronavirus .
So , if you 're HIV positive , continue taking your meds as you would do .
Make sure that you follow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes to things like isolation .
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

Coronavirus and sex: What you need to know Published 30 March 2020
Image source, Getty Images
If I have sex can I catch coronavirus? You might have thought about it but been too embarrassed to ask.
To separate the facts from myths, we've put your questions to health experts.
Dr Alex George is an A&E doctor and former Love Island contestant. Alix Fox is a sex journalist, presenter of BBC Radio 1's Unexpected Fluids show, and co-host of The Modern Mann podcast.
Image source, Paul Cochrane/Jessie Whealey Image caption, Alix Fox and Dr Alex George answered some of the questions around sex and coronavirus that are being searched for online
Is it safe to have sex during the coronavirus outbreak?
Dr Alex George: If you're in a relationship… living with that person, and sharing the same environment, it shouldn't change your situation. However if one of you is displaying symptoms of coronavirus then you should maintain your social-distancing and isolate, even within your home. In an ideal world everyone would stay two metres apart - even in their own house, but we realise this may not be realistic.
Alix Fox: It's also really important not to assume that if you are experiencing mild symptoms of coronavirus it will be the same for your partner. So, if you're showing any symptoms whatsoever do try and stay away from your lover.
What about sex with new people?
Dr Alex: I certainly wouldn't advise having new sexual partners at the moment, because the risk is you could pass on the virus.
Alix Fox: Don't forget as well, some people who are carriers of the virus won't have any symptoms. So even if you feel absolutely fine… you could still pass on the infection to someone and they could pass it on to other people via close contact and kissing.
I kissed someone I recently met, and they've gone on to develop symptoms. What should I do?
Dr Alex: If you've kissed or been in contact with someone who you think has gone on to develop coronavirus, make sure you self-isolate.
Keep an eye on your symptoms. If you are developing symptoms, then be extra careful. Go online to the nhs.uk website. Only call the 111 service if your symptoms are so bad that you need medical support from us.
Alix Fox: We should be responsible with each other, and for ourselves in our relationships. If you're somebody who has developed symptoms, and you know that you've kissed people recently, you should let them know. And even if you've kissed someone and they've got symptoms and you haven't, you should also self-isolate.
I wasn't using condoms with my partner before coronavirus, should I start now?
Alix Fox: The answer depends on why you weren't using condoms.
If you weren't using condoms because you have both been tested for STIs, or you're in a heterosexual relationship prior to menopause and are using another kind of contraception to prevent an unplanned pregnancy, then that's fine. But if you weren't using condoms because you were relying on something like the pull-out method - or you were taking chances with STIs - then it's even more important that you use condoms now.
Can I get coronavirus by touching someone else's vagina or penis?
Dr Alex: If you are going to touch each other's genitals it's likely that you will potentially be kissing at the same time - and we know the virus is passed through saliva. Essentially, any possibility of transfer of coronavirus - from your mouth to your hands, to genitals, to someone else's nose or mouth - increases the risk of passing on coronavirus. We want to cut this back to the absolute minimum. So, no contact between a partner that you're not living with is really important.
How can I maintain a relationship at a time like this? I don't want to be single now.
Alix Fox: This whole pandemic is prompting a lot of people to rethink what a good sex life is and what constitutes as an enjoyable, pleasurable exchange. I've heard of people writing erotic stories to each other, and people who are dating but quarantined in different places taking advantage of the time and the distance. A lot of people have been getting really creative. If you use your imagination a little bit there are lots of ways you can have a sexy time without being face-to-face with somebody.
It's also important to remember that right now… some people might be discovering that they or their partners have different libidos. You might find yourself in a situation where you were only going on a date once a week, and suddenly you're living under the same roof. You might find that you want sex when your partner doesn't, or vice versa. It's important to communicate this in a respectful, compassionate manner. Living together does not mean that you're entitled to sex whenever you want. And for anybody who is in a situation where they're with a partner and they're not having a good time, because they feel like they're being forced into sex, there are helplines available for that.
Am I more at risk of catching coronavirus if I have HIV?
Alix Fox: Dr Michael Brady at the Terrence Higgins Trust has provided some really great advice on this. If you are already on regular medication to manage HIV, and you have a good CD4 count (number of white blood cells to fight infection) and an undetectable viral load (the amount of HIV in the blood) then you're not considered to have a weakened immune system. This means you run no additional risk of contracting coronavirus. So, if you're HIV positive, continue taking your meds as you would do. Make sure that you follow the same rules as everybody else when it comes to things like isolation.
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus doctor's diary: Why are people stealing hospital supplies?

The Covid-19 outbreak has already brought a range of challenges for front line medical staff - shortages of equipment , doctors and nurses falling ill , and even thieves trying to break in and steal valuable supplies .
In the first of a series of diaries , Dr John Wright reports on preparations at Bradford Royal Infirmary .
Following the UK-wide lockdown , the hospital followed suit in a bid to limit transmission of the coronavirus .
Eighteen entrances across the 26-acre site were sealed off and everyone is now funnelled through one main door .
Staff must show their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring visitors with them , even when they 're coming in for cancer treatments .
But not long before millions of people across the UK stepped out of their houses and applauded NHS workers , one man carefully dressed in doctor 's scrubs .
He even completed his disguise with a stethoscope .
He then attempted to bluff his way past a security guard , who demanded to see his pass , and when he was caught he made a run for it .
There had already been thefts of surgical gowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's possible this man was after supplies like these , or possibly drugs .
The head of the Bradford Hospital Trust , Mel Pickup , has heard that there are now shortages on the streets because of the epidemic .
`` People who have addictions need to feed them , '' she says .
`` Where do you go if you want drugs and you ca n't get those on the street any more ? ''
Hospital scrubs are now having to be stored under lock and key .
Prof John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is head of the Bradford Institute for Health Research .
He has looked after patients in epidemics all over the world , including cholera , HIV and ebola outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa .
Over the next few weeks he will be reporting for the BBC on how his hospital , the Bradford Royal Infirmary , copes with Covid-19 .
We know from what 's been happening in Italy how Covid-19 is likely to affect us in Bradford .
Multi-generational households are common in Italy and also here - particularly among Pakistanis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the population and are genetically predisposed to heart disease and diabetes , the very underlying health conditions that can make Covid-19 particularly deadly .
There are poor areas in Bradford , and some white people have high levels of lung disease from smoking .
We know there is a tsunami coming .
At present there are 16 intensive care beds in the hospital and that 's usually enough , but it 's been projected that we could be treating 500 people at the peak of the epidemic , so we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ward has been fitted with ventilators and other wards are being reconfigured .
Dr Debbie Horner , in charge of Covid-19 intensive care planning , says accepting the scale of what 's happening has been like going through the stages of bereavement .
`` Initially you 've got a kind of shock and then comes denial and acceptance , '' she told me .
`` As an intensive care community , most of us are now in the kind of acceptance phase . ''
• John Wright is recording from the hospital wards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Front Line • You can hear the next episode at 11:00 on Tuesday 31 March , catch up with the first episode online , or download the podcast We have also been taking steps to obtain more personal protective equipment .
Our stocks of surgical masks are good , but supplies of more effective PPE masks and eye-protection visors were running low .
So a consultant , Dr Tom Lawton , went to Screwfix to buy industrial masks - and then found a way of attaching medical filters to them , using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garage .
Another went to a builders ' merchants and bought 2,000 pairs of goggles .
Consultant anaesthetist Dr Michael McCooe , meanwhile , started looking into ways of sterilising masks , so they could be re-used , and called Whittaker 's gin distillery in the Yorkshire Dales .
Mr Whittaker himself answered the phone , and said that his 96 % proof gin could be diluted for the purpose .
`` He was very happy to donate to us , '' Dr McCooe told me .
`` He 'd been looking into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health service and whether they could make hand sanitiser .
It 's a great step forward and now we just need somewhere safe to store it all ! ''
But in the last week or so , both Debbie Horner and Michael McCooe have gone into isolation .
Debbie called me on the afternoon of Friday 20 March , just before we were going to run our Covid-19 case rehearsals , to say that she had some mild symptoms and was going to go home , just to be on the safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing staff for the virus , but given how important she was , we felt that we needed to make an exception - and so we arranged for a surreptitious visit to Accident and Emergency on Saturday morning to swab for Covid-19 and other more likely seasonal viruses .
Then , on Monday , our microbiologist rang to drop the bombshell : the swab had come back positive .
A day later the clinical director of urgent care , Dr Sam Khan , started to feel unwell .
And then Dr Michael McCooe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , another anaesthetist at the hospital , was ill .
It seems likely that we were infecting one another as we planned our response to coronavirus , until we got our social distancing house in order .
If we lose many more of our senior clinical leaders at this early stage of the campaign it would be a disaster .
We have a rapidly increasing number of cases , but it still feels like the calm before the storm .
And the eye of the storm will be in our Intensive Care Unit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

Debbie called me on the afternoon of Friday 20 March, just before we were going to run our Covid-19 case rehearsals, to say that she had some mild symptoms and was going to go home, just to be on the safe side. We haven't yet started testing staff for the virus, but given how important she was, we felt that we needed to make an exception - and so we arranged for a surreptitious visit to Accident and Emergency on Saturday morning to swab for Covid-19 and other more likely seasonal viruses.


bbcuk--2020-03-29--Coronavirus: Self-isolation when you are affected by dementia

As people are told to stay at home to stem the spread of coronavirus , some living with dementia are struggling to adapt to the change .
Mike Brookes , 77 , was diagnosed nine years ago and his wife Liz worries he will be like a `` prisoner ... with little understanding of what is happening '' .
Like other families , they have been cut off from outside support .
The Alzheimer 's Society said it was `` seriously concerned '' about self-isolation , but had plenty of advice .
Mr Brookes , an RAF veteran , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three weeks in their home just outside Manchester .
`` Mike was an obsessive watcher of the news , but I 've had to limit it now because I went into his room and he was in floods of tears , '' Mrs Brookes said .
`` People with dementia may not always understand what 's going on but they understand emotions , and that worry and anxiety has been passed on to Mike . ''
He struggles to remember to wash his hands and not to open the door , Mrs Brookes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time adjusting to his new routine .
`` We potter around the garden , '' she said , which helps keep her husband active .
He is building a planter so the couple can grow their own vegetables .
The Alzheimer 's Society recommends staying active to `` fight off boredom and frustration '' during the pandemic .
Pat Horriben , who cares for her friend Jane Roberson , said the pair had been going on long walks near their home in Bransford , Worcestershire , to keep busy and active .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , Ms Horriben said , `` to The Carpenters and Simon and Garfunkel '' .
Before the coronavirus outbreak , carers would visit three times a week to wash and dress Ms Roberson , who would also visit a day centre on certain days .
`` Now I 'm back to doing Jane 's personal care full time , '' Ms Horriben said .
'On your own' Her friend , a former teacher , was diagnosed with dementia six years ago and has since lost her ability to communicate .
`` So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really are on your own , '' Ms Horriben said .
The friends are supported by the Alzheimer 's Society , which advises carers and those living with dementia to keep in touch with loved ones over the phone or online to ease feelings of loneliness .
The charity has also set up an online community for people to talk and share experiences as well as `` companion phone calls '' where volunteers will call people affected by dementia to help them feel connected .
`` Many face being completely cut off from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , friends and family , causing them huge anxiety and distress , '' Kathryn Smith , from the Alzheimer 's Society , said .
Supporting someone with dementia during the lockdown The Alzheimer 's Society has lots of advice for supporting people living with dementia during the coronavirus pandemic : • Look after your own mental health • Arrange deliveries for food , medicine and other essentials • Stay active to stave off boredom and frustration • Stay connected to loved ones online or over the phone • Follow good hygiene , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut off was a major concern for Rachel Fearnehough .
She moved her 75-year-old mum , Diane McDonald , into her home in Scarborough , so she could self-isolate with her family .
She had encouraged her `` fiercely independent '' mum to move in when she moved to north Yorkshire from Wolverhampton last year , but the former psychiatric nurse refused .
`` Isolation has been a big adjustment for her , '' Ms Fearnehough said .
She was concerned that if she continued living independently her sociable mum `` would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We explain to mum why she 's here and what the government has said .
`` Sometimes she has glimmers of her old self that comes through and she says 'Yes , I see ' , but then a few minutes later she says , 'Well I 'm off to get a paper ' , and we have to explain again . ''
Ms McDonald , who lives in the Yorkshire village of Cottingham , loves to keep busy and is more used to caring for others .
Her daughter said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'Well mum you 're here to look after us ' , and find things for her to do like cleaning the windows and knitting to keep her occupied .
`` She loves walking the dog , Hector , too , and I think if we did n't have him it would be a lot more difficult . ''
The Alzheimer 's Society has compiled a list of activity ideas to keep people living with dementia active , but said it was always best to base these on their interests and preferences .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive .
`` We were both war babies , '' Ms Horriben said .
`` That sense of people getting on with it , of managing and making the best of things has come back to us so that 's what we are doing .
`` I 'm sure we can get through this together . ''
• 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on Twitter , and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone .

"Sometimes she has glimmers of her old self that comes through and she says 'Yes , I see', but then a few minutes later she says, 'Well I'm off to get a paper', and we have to explain again."


bbcuk--2020-03-29--Coronavirus: 'I still wear a suit even in my own home'

Maintaining a normal regime during coronavirus self-isolation can be important for your mental health , according to some experts .
BBC Radio Tees reporter Adam Clarkson has spoken to one man doing his best to keep to a routine .
Ben Lawson-Green wakes up at 06:30 every day .
He has a shower , makes a coffee and gets dressed into his suit .
He then walks `` about five steps '' into his home office , located in the kitchen of the `` caravan-sized cottage '' where he is self-isolating amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
Pretending `` it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big part of trying to continue his training as a wealth manager .
The 25-year-old , from near Whitby in North Yorkshire , returned from Poland this week , following advice from the British Embassy .
He had previously spent two weeks cooped up in his Warsaw flat where he admitted he `` was losing the plot '' .
His office closed down after a number of his colleagues began showing coronavirus symptoms .
`` My job is to get clients in for a face-to-face meeting , so it involved a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the office , it was hard .
`` I was drinking about 10 cups of coffee a day and just pacing around my flat in my suit . ''
He landed in London on Thursday .
`` I looked at the departure board and there were only two flights leaving , both to London .
There were four of us .
There were more staff than passengers on the plane . ''
Despite not being able to interact with family and friends face-to-face , Ben said he was loving his new way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit different but we 'll get there .
My 'office ' is a lot smaller than what I 'm used to , but I can turn around and pretty much reach the kettle , which is good .
`` My parents have been dropping stuff off for me outside the door but really it 's business as usual .
`` I had a conference call with my boss this morning - he appreciated the suit . ''
• Coronavirus : Who will pay my wages if I ca n't work ?
• In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The next two weeks would be difficult , Ben said , but using video calling would get him through it .
He said sticking to tasks was one of the hardest things .
`` When I finish work I do some exercises .
I just try and keep my mind clear , '' he said .
`` My best advice is stick to your normal routine .
Staying focused is a big challenge but try not to let your mind wander . ''
It 's important to try and stick to a schedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenny .
`` This is completely new , nobody really knows what 's going on .
Do not be surprised if you feel a little bit anxious about it , '' she said .
`` We are sharing the most unique moment in time and we 're all in this together . ''
• EASY STEPS : 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said : `` Create a daily timetable and stick to it .
Make sure that you distract yourself .
`` Do crafts , do puzzles , do work and cooking and mark down each and every activity - you will reduce the temptation to get angry .
`` When it comes down to being on your own , you are going to have to really think about how to get creative .
`` Tell people you are struggling .
Remember to call friends - connect with people .
`` We will go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll ask - did I use this time with a purpose ? ''
You can hear more on the The Self-Isolation Podcast available on BBC Sounds .

"When it comes down to being on your own, you are going to have to really think about how to get creative.


bbcuk--2020-03-29--Bob Weighton turns 112: The times and life of the world's oldest man

Bob Weighton , the world 's oldest man , turns 112 today .
Born in 1908 , he is the same age as Inter Milan football club , and pre-dates Selfridges department store and the beatification of Joan of Arc .
As young Robert came into this world , Herbert Asquith was still a week from becoming British prime minister , and King Edward VII had two more years to live .
Here we take a look at some of the little-known events that have happened on the birthdays of Mr Weighton , as he enjoys this one at his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1908 , Robert is the 15th most popular boys ' name in England and Wales .
It is flanked by Frank and Harold , while William , John and George claim the top spots .
The favoured girls ' names are Mary , Elizabeth , Florence and Annie .
In a pleasing coincidence , Joan Hocquard , from Poole in Dorset , is also 112 today and so is the UK 's joint-oldest person .
Her name is fairly unusual - in 1908 Joan is the 161st most popular and does n't really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert , Captain Robert Falcon Scott , of the British Antarctic Expedition , dies on Bob 's fourth birthday .
Scott and four others trudge 850 miles to reach the South Pole .
They arrive on 17 January to find the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen has beaten them to it .
Edgar Evans is the first of Scott 's team to die , followed a month later by Lawrence Oates .
Henry Bowers , Edward Wilson and Scott huddle in a tent and try to sit out a storm while their food supplies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writes `` it seems a pity but I do not think I can write more '' .
The men 's bodies are found eight months later , just 11 miles from their next food store .
On Bob 's 10th birthday , British forces are struggling in the first Battle of Amman in the Ottoman Empire .
Bad weather , boggy underfoot conditions and unrelenting attacks are among the factors that lead to the withdrawal of troops a couple of days later .
Closer to home though , and maybe for a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day publishes an extract of the will of a Mr Astley Weston , who left not just money for his children , but advice too .
Among other words of wisdom , he urges them to `` not take any intoxicating drinks or narcotics '' and to avoid `` extravagance , self-indulgence and indolence '' .
Finally , if they should consider marrying , they were to consult their mother and take her advice .
Fast-forward now to 29 March 1927 .
A 19-year-old Bob might have been interested in what is happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beach , where the specially built Sunbeam 1000hp is revving its engine .
Henry Segrave is determined to beat the land speed record and finally crack the 200mph mark .
For official ratification , he has to complete two runs .
Strong winds on the outward leg cause the car to skid violently .
Segrave is forced to drive into the sea to slow down .
Remarkably , he is able to make the return journey .
The speeds clocked on the two runs are 200.668mph and 207.015mph , giving an average speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 years later ( when Bob is a youthful 109 ) and is on display at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu , Hampshire .
We have moved on to 29 March 1938 .
Bob turns 30 and the country is gearing up for war .
In the House of Commons , a debate is raging about… the importation of rubber footwear .
MPs are concerned that 2.5 million foreign rubber boots and shoes were shipped to the UK in the first two months of the year , threatening the interests of British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trade reassures his colleagues that he will help protect the British market .
• Lessons of the world ’ s most unique supercentenarians A fairly dull discussion , but perhaps worth it for the waggish contribution of the Glaswegian MP JJ Davidson , who pipes up to say : `` Does that mean that the President of the Board of Trade will not support the foreign heels ? ''
It is not recorded whether his fellow backbenchers find him funny .
In 1943 , Bob turns 35 on the same day John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now 43 , he could have taken the eight-year-old future prime minister to celebrate their birthdays by attending the opening night of The King and I on Broadway , starring Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brynner .
Lawrence is unaware she has liver and abdominal cancer , and faints backstage after a matinee before being admitted to hospital .
Just 15 months later , she is dead .
In 1955 , on Bob 's 47th birthday , a new world rail speed record is set by SNCF in France .
The train reaches 331km/h @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage the track .
We 're now at the end of the swinging 60s and Bob turns 61 in 1969 , the day the Eurovision Song Contest ends in a four-way draw between the United Kingdom , Spain , the Netherlands and France .
The organisers manage to cobble enough winner 's medals together by using the ones they have earmarked for ( up to three ) songwriters .
Other countries are so annoyed by the tie that four withdraw from the following year 's competition , and a tiebreak procedure is introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bob celebrates his 66th birthday .
Also on that day , a group of farmers digging a well find a life-sized human head made from clay buried near Xian in China .
They call in the experts and a 2,200-year-old terracotta army is discovered .
Three pits are found to contain more than 8,000 soldiers , 130 chariots and 520 horses , thought to have been buried in order to help China 's first emperor , Qin Shihuangdi , in the afterlife .
Bob could have marked his 72nd birthday by having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although he would have had to pick carefully .
There are only four finishers in the 30-strong field in 1980 .
The race is won by the American-owned horse Ben Nevis , ridden by Charlie Fenwick at a starting price of 40-1 .
Bob turns 82 in 1990 - on the same day as the outbreak of the little-known Hyphen War , a conflict over what to call Czechoslovakia after the fall of the Communist government the previous year .
Slovak politicians feel `` the Czechoslovak Republic '' does not recognise Slovakia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state to be named `` the Czecho-Slovak Republic '' .
It is resolved when the two agree to split the country ( over more substantial issues ) and on 1 January 1993 the two states become the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic .
Bob 's 101st birthday in 2009 is a difficult one for then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith , as the news breaks that she claimed parliamentary expenses for pay-per-view pornographic films .
The resulting scandal eventually leads to her resignation from the front benches , and in 2010 she loses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , open up a new avenue for Ms Smith - in 2011 she presents a radio documentary about pornography .
It is called Porn Again .
In 2014 , on Bob 's 106th birthday , the first same-sex marriages in England and Wales take place .
North Londoners and partners of 17 years Peter McGraith and David Cabreza become husband and husband at one minute past midnight .
And finally , in 2020 , Bob reaches his 112 birthday - although he has had to cancel his celebrations because of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reigns of five British monarchs , 22 UK prime ministers - serving a total of 27 terms - and 21 presidents of the USA .
He was alive during all three London Olympics , and both world wars , and has weathered the Spanish flu , cholera and smallpox .
It 's anyone 's guess as to what happens next year .

The organisers manage to cobble enough winner's medals together by using the ones they have earmarked for (up to three) songwriters. Other countries are so annoyed by the tie that four withdraw from the following year's competition, and a tiebreak procedure is introduced shortly afterwards.


bbcuk--2020-03-29--Polio: memories of self-isolation in the 1950s

The children of Northern Ireland 's 1957 polio epidemic are no strangers to isolation .
That year brought the worst ever outbreak of polio to these shores .
It 's a cruel disease , often known as creeping paralysis and it targets children and teenagers .
Survivors were often left unable to walk or move their limbs .
In summer , it was rife and parents warned children to stay away from swimming pools and cinemas .
Old black and white pictures of rows and rows of children lying paralysed in huge iron lungs struck fear into every parent 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dot of a vaccine delivered to school children in a lump of sugar - would come too late for them .
In 1957 , there were 297 cases of polio in Northern Ireland .
Eddie McCrory from Belfast got polio two days after his fifth birthday .
His father took him in the ambulance to the old fever hospital at Belvoir Park in Belfast .
`` He promised he would n't leave me , but he did , '' said Eddie .
`` I was put in isolation for six weeks .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a room .
The doctors and nurses came in wearing masks and all gowned up , it was frightening . ''
His father came to look in at him through the window .
`` I cried when I saw him .
'You promised me you would n't leave me , but you did .
So you go away ! '
'' I told him .
His mother visited too , but when she saw him , she burst into tears and could n't stop crying .
A nurse took her aside and told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and smile .
`` I was completely paralysed for those six weeks , '' he said .
`` I remember a wasp got into the room and I could not move a muscle .
I was petrified .
I screamed , but I could n't lift my hands to put the sheet over my head . ''
This was in the days before mobile phones .
Many people did not have a landline to keep in touch with family .
The local newspaper let people know how a patient was surviving .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you were given a patient number , '' said Eddie .
`` Each night , a list of patient numbers would appear in the Belfast Telegraph and beside each number would be a grade on a scale from 1 to 5 - to report how critical you were .
`` My mother gave my patient number to aunts and uncles and that was how they checked on how I was doing . ''
After six weeks in isolation , he was transferred to Greenisland Hospital where he spent almost a year .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital school .
It was a long year - he came out wearing two sets of callipers and a brace on his back .
At night , he had to sleep entombed in a plaster cast .
That went on for the following two years and he struggled to walk again - falling and ending up in plaster casts with chipped bones on a number of occasions .
For many of the members of the NI Polio Fellowship being separated from loved ones was their childhood .
Joe McVeigh was born in Belfast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got polio at just five months old and spent the first six years of his life in Belfast 's Musgrave Park hospital , then transferred to St Joseph 's Hospital , Westmeath .
He was 16 years old when he went home for good .
He remembers very little of Musgrave : `` I was very little and I do remember hiding under the bed when they were coming around to do school lessons , '' he said .
He could not walk and had two callipers and a back brace connected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an orthopaedic hospital and people came and went .
There were a few patients like him from Northern Ireland who were there long term .
`` My parents came to see me twice a year , that was all they could afford , '' he said .
`` My father was a labourer .
To visit me , he had to hire a car and stay overnight and come back up the next day.
`` The years went by .
It was his life .
`` When I was 14 or 15 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But up to that I had never been at home .
To me , that was strange .
I was nearly institutionalised . ''
When it was all over , it took time to get used to living with his family .
`` I 'd been used to sleeping in a ward with a lot of others - first the children 's ward , then the adults ' ward .
I had not been used to being around girls like my sisters . ''
In the current crisis , hearing people talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing people rush to buy food , he wonders why .
`` I do n't understand or believe the panic , '' he said .
`` My message to people is that they will get through it . ''
Eddie and Joe are members of the Northern Ireland Polio Fellowship .
Now , many of them are self-isolating .
Eddie says that they have their own WhatsApp group to boost their morale .
`` Twenty-five of us took part in an online pub quiz last weekend .
We keep each other 's spirits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other day that said : 'There really is no problem with self-isolating .
But how come one of my bags of rice contains 6,729 grains and the other has 6,731 ? ''
People who had polio had to work for years to reclaim their limbs and their movement .
You did n't just recover , stand up and walk away .
Eddie 's message for all those facing the horrors of the coronavirus is one of resilience - a reassurance that this too shall pass , from people who have lived long @ @ @ @ @

Eddie's message for all those facing the horrors of the coronavirus is one of resilience - a reassurance that this too shall pass, from people who have lived long and faced hard times.


bbcuk--2020-03-29--Coronavirus: Six things that are booming in sales

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on , many retailers are seeing trade collapse , but others are overwhelmed by demand .
`` We 're as busy as at Christmas time , '' says the owner of an online coffee business , `` we 're selling double . ''
An outdoor games supplier is in the same position : `` We 've sold out of table tennis tables - they 're the new loo roll . ''
While families are stuck at home , they ’ re keen to find ways of keeping their minds and bodies active , well-fed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whether for exercise or for a safer means of travel , bicycle sales are speeding up .
`` People are thinking , I want to have independence , '' says Will Butler-Adams , chief executive of the folding bike company , Brompton .
`` I think sales in the UK across the industry are probably up around 15 % . ''
Meanwhile , the London Cycle Workshop is twice as busy as normal , servicing older bikes for customers trying to avoid public transport or `` just looking for something to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rise in sales of exercise bikes , saying : “ People who are not able to get out still want to exercise indoors.
” Toby Clark , from Mintel market research , says his teams are seeing reports of “ really high sales of home exercise equipment , as people try to compensate for the fact that they now ca n't get to the gym '' .
John Lewis backs that up .
The department store has seen a `` significant uplift '' in home gym equipment and other fitness products .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock of outdoor table tennis tables is sold and a delivery due this week is pre-sold .
`` I 've sold 124 tables in the last week , he says , `` In the same week last year , I sold just 15 . ''
Orders took off when the government said schools would have to close .
Andy , whose business Home Leisure Direct is based just outside Bristol , has sold an `` awful lot '' of pool tables as well .
His pool table stock has halved from 500 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wrexham , which sells a wide range of plant seeds , says he had to stop taking orders after a rush for staples including carrots , lettuce , beans and tomatoes .
`` It 's just the sheer volume , '' he says , `` We 're catching up with a massive surge . ''
Two of the biggest seed companies , Marshalls and Suttons , have stopped answering the phone .
For some buyers , there is a worry about fresh vegetables running short , but Phil says many are just looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been meaning to do the veg patch for years and it 's something educational to do with the kids , '' he adds .
Another specialist retailer , Franchi Seeds , has taken down its website temporarily , saying `` people are panic buying '' .
Indoors , more people are taking up sewing and knitting as a way to beat the boredom of confinement .
London-based department store Liberty says sales of sewing accessories are currently up 380 % on last year , while purchases of their craft kits have risen 228 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular with people who have time on their hands right now is settling down with a good book .
And perhaps surprisingly , fictional accounts of epidemics are in great demand .
At number two in Amazon UK ’ s chart of most sold books of the week is The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz .
Although it was written in 1981 , it describes a virus called Wuhan-400 , in what appears to be an uncanny prediction of the coronavirus .
Another novel that is selling well is The Plague by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Penguin says its sales in the last week of February were 150 % up on last year and it is reprinting the book .
Its sales have also risen sharply in France and Italy .
As supermarket bosses have been telling us , there is collectively £1bn more worth of food in our houses than before the stockpiling rush started .
But where does it all go ?
You have to have somewhere to store it .
As a result , freezers and fridges have zoomed up the list of products people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a rush for laptops as well , also for office equipment , because many are finding that slouching on the sofa is not the best way to work .
Dixons Carphone said it had seen very good sales of equipment for home working ( laptops , printers ) , for home entertainment ( TVs , gaming consoles ) and for home living ( fridges , freezers , kitchen appliances ) , with same-store sales up 23 % .
Rave Coffee , selling exotic coffees from an industrial unit in Cirencester , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cope because demand has doubled .
`` We have 11 members of staff and need another five , '' says Vikki Hodge , who runs the business .
`` People were buying our coffee for their office supply , now they are getting it at home , '' Vikki explains .
`` Where I had one office ordering , I might get 10 people ordering from their living room . ''
But even the businesses doing well in the crisis remain in danger .
Andy from Home Leisure Direct says he has stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factories closed in France , Spain and Italy .
`` I think we 'll go into lockdown before the end of the week , '' he says , `` I 'll mothball the business . ''
Andy has 40 staff , many of whom will have no work to do , so he is planning to apply for government funding to help with the wages .
Vikki from Rave Coffee is acutely aware that the businesses surrounding her on her industrial park in Cirencester are having to shut down .
`` I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are small businesses struggling , '' she says .
She believes keeping going is not just about providing more jobs .
It 's about providing funding for the firms which need help .
`` We will pay our VAT and PAYE on time , '' Vikki adds , `` It goes in the pot to help them . ''

Another novel that is selling well is The Plague by French author Albert Camus. UK publisher Penguin says its sales in the last week of February were 150% up on last year and it is reprinting the book. Its sales have also risen sharply in France and Italy.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: Grounded planes fill airport runways

Major airports around the UK have been left almost empty as demand for air travel has plummeted following the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ have caused many airlines to massively scale back flights , resulting in abandoned terminal buildings @ @ @ @ @ .

Major airports around the UK have been left almost empty as demand for air travel has plummeted following the coronavirus outbreak.
Various travel bans have caused many airlines to massively scale back flights, resulting in abandoned terminal buildings and planes sitting on runways.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: Less contact with people is helping, says chief science adviser

The government 's chief scientific adviser , Sir Patrick Vallance , has said social distancing and self-isolation is helping to @ @ @ @ @ , however it 's still too early to know exactly how long the measures will @ @ @ @ @ .

The government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, has said social distancing and self-isolation is helping to prevent the spread of coronavirus, however it's still too early to know exactly how long the measures will have to stay in place.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: Raab announces scheme to fly stranded Brits home

The Foreign Secretary , Dominic Raab , has announced plans to help get Brits stranded abroad due to coronavirus back @ @ @ @ @ government briefing he said that the government had struck a deal with the major airlines @ @ @ @

The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, has announced plans to help get Brits stranded abroad due to coronavirus back home.
In Monday's government briefing he said that the government had struck a deal with the major airlines for the scheme.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: Britons stranded in the Philippines

Joe Caswell , a 24-year-old graduate from the Wirral , was on a round-the-word backpacking trip for seven months .
@ @ @ @ @ an abrupt halt in the Philippines when the country was put under strict quarantine measures @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 on 15 March .
Travel restrictions mean hundreds of foreign travellers remain stranded across @ @ @ @ @ 7,000 islands .

Joe Caswell, a 24-year-old graduate from the Wirral, was on a round-the-word backpacking trip for seven months.
But that adventure came to an abrupt halt in the Philippines when the country was put under strict quarantine measures to slow the spread of Covid-19 on 15 March.
Travel restrictions mean hundreds of foreign travellers remain stranded across the archipelago of more than 7,000 islands.


bbcuk--2020-03-29--Coronavirus: When can the UK get back to normal?

The deputy Chief Medical Officer for England has said social distancing measures will likely be in place in some form @ @ @ @ @ Jenny Harries said the initial three-week mark was to `` review where we are '' @ @ @ @ @ the country should not revert to normal ways of living and it was likely to @ @ @ @ @ months before we start returning to normality .

The deputy Chief Medical Officer for England has said social distancing measures will likely be in place in some form for six months.
Dr Jenny Harries said the initial three-week mark was to "review where we are", but warned if successful the country should not revert to normal ways of living and it was likely to be between three to six months before we start returning to normality.


bbcuk--2020-03-30--Woodmancote murder probe: Two adults and two children found dead

Two adults and two children who are believed to be from the same family have been found dead at a @ @ @ @ @ the four people and a pet dog were found a property in Duffield Lane , @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday .
Police have begun a murder inquiry , but said it was thought @ @ @ @ @ incident contained to one property '' .
Sussex Police said detectives were not currently `` @ @ @ @ @ with the incident '' .
`` Our thoughts are with the family at this incredibly @ @ @ @ @ '' Ch Supt Jerry Westerman said .

Two adults and two children who are believed to be from the same family have been found dead at a house.