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| Coronavirus: Stay at home over Easter to stop virus, public told | Coronavirus: Stay at home over Easter to stop virus, public told |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| People should follow the government's coronavirus rules and stay home over the Easter weekend, as warmer weather is forecast across parts of the UK. | People should follow the government's coronavirus rules and stay home over the Easter weekend, as warmer weather is forecast across parts of the UK. |
| Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the UK was "just beginning to see this strategy starting to work" and people needed to "stick with it". | Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the UK was "just beginning to see this strategy starting to work" and people needed to "stick with it". |
| Temperatures are forecast to reach 25C (77F) in some parts of the country, according to the Met Office. | Temperatures are forecast to reach 25C (77F) in some parts of the country, according to the Met Office. |
| Some police forces have warned of a crackdown on people flouting the rules. | Some police forces have warned of a crackdown on people flouting the rules. |
| It comes as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab - who is acting on behalf of the PM - chairs a virtual meeting of the emergency Cobra committee to discuss the lockdown measures. | |
| The rules, which were brought in on 23 March, are due to be officially reviewed next week. | The rules, which were brought in on 23 March, are due to be officially reviewed next week. |
| But in Wales, the rules have already been extended, while Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was "likely" the lockdown was "going to be in place for some weeks to come yet". | But in Wales, the rules have already been extended, while Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was "likely" the lockdown was "going to be in place for some weeks to come yet". |
| Meanwhile, Downing Street said Prime Minister Boris Johnson's condition "continues to improve" as his treatment for the virus carries on in intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital in London. | |
| Latest figures show the UK recorded its highest daily rise in the number of patients dying with coronavirus, with 938 deaths recorded in UK hospitals in the 24 hours up to 17:00 BST on Tuesday. The total number of UK deaths was 7,097 at that stage. | Latest figures show the UK recorded its highest daily rise in the number of patients dying with coronavirus, with 938 deaths recorded in UK hospitals in the 24 hours up to 17:00 BST on Tuesday. The total number of UK deaths was 7,097 at that stage. |
| On Thursday, NHS England announced a further 765 people with the virus had died. In Scotland, another 81 people died, while Wales announced a further 41 deaths. | On Thursday, NHS England announced a further 765 people with the virus had died. In Scotland, another 81 people died, while Wales announced a further 41 deaths. |
| Of those who died in England, 43 had no known underlying health condition and were aged between 33 and 99 years old. | Of those who died in England, 43 had no known underlying health condition and were aged between 33 and 99 years old. |
| Among those who have died in recent days is Edmond Adedeji, 62, a doctor at Great Western Hospital in Swindon. | Among those who have died in recent days is Edmond Adedeji, 62, a doctor at Great Western Hospital in Swindon. |
| Easter weekend warning | Easter weekend warning |
| Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Dowden appealed for people to stay at home over the Easter weekend. | Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Dowden appealed for people to stay at home over the Easter weekend. |
| "This is not how I planned to spend my Easter weekend, I'm sure it's not how any of your viewers planned to spend their Easter weekend," he said. "We'll have to stay at home." | |
| He said it was unlikely that the restrictions would be lifted in any way next week "given they're just starting to have an effect". | |
| Nicola Sturgeon said she knew following the rules will "seem even harder over this Easter holiday weekend". | |
| "Please stay in touch with family, friends and loved ones in whatever alternative way best works for you," she said. | |
| Since the measures were brought in on 23 March, people have been told they can only leave the house for four limited reasons: shopping for basic necessities; one form of exercise a day; any medical need and travelling to work if you cannot work from home. | Since the measures were brought in on 23 March, people have been told they can only leave the house for four limited reasons: shopping for basic necessities; one form of exercise a day; any medical need and travelling to work if you cannot work from home. |
| Police were given powers to enforce the restrictions and have been acting with discretion, with some people receiving fines. | Police were given powers to enforce the restrictions and have been acting with discretion, with some people receiving fines. |
| But the chief of Northamptonshire Police warned the "three-week grace period is over" and more people could face fines or a criminal record if they do not stick to those rules. | But the chief of Northamptonshire Police warned the "three-week grace period is over" and more people could face fines or a criminal record if they do not stick to those rules. |
| And the assistant chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police said police officers will patrol roads, adding: "If we stop vehicles and they are travelling to a second home, we will ask them to return to their primary residence." | And the assistant chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police said police officers will patrol roads, adding: "If we stop vehicles and they are travelling to a second home, we will ask them to return to their primary residence." |
| Downing Street said the police will have the "full support" of government in enforcing the lockdown, adding that individual forces will use their "discretion" as to how the measures are enforced. | |
| Restrictions, the biggest curtailment of our liberty in our lifetimes, lockdown. Call it what you will. It's not going any time soon. | Restrictions, the biggest curtailment of our liberty in our lifetimes, lockdown. Call it what you will. It's not going any time soon. |
| The Welsh government has already said so. So has the Scottish government. | The Welsh government has already said so. So has the Scottish government. |
| And the culture secretary at Westminster, Oliver Dowden, has said the evidence points to it "staying in place". | And the culture secretary at Westminster, Oliver Dowden, has said the evidence points to it "staying in place". |
| And Downing Street is at pains to emphasise the importance of social distancing, and not talk about anything else. | And Downing Street is at pains to emphasise the importance of social distancing, and not talk about anything else. |
| There have been some private grumbles at Westminster that Cardiff and Edinburgh have been so explicit, so soon - given there are UK wide discussions about this. | There have been some private grumbles at Westminster that Cardiff and Edinburgh have been so explicit, so soon - given there are UK wide discussions about this. |
| But that is to indulge in the minutiae when the big picture is what matters. | But that is to indulge in the minutiae when the big picture is what matters. |
| Should we be surprised the lockdown is going to carry on for some time? No. | Should we be surprised the lockdown is going to carry on for some time? No. |
| Yes, the government promised to look at it three weeks in. That means next week. | Yes, the government promised to look at it three weeks in. That means next week. |
| But it was always going to take this long for even the beginnings of evidence that it might be working to start to appear. So across the Easter weekend, and beyond bluntly, we need to get used to this. | But it was always going to take this long for even the beginnings of evidence that it might be working to start to appear. So across the Easter weekend, and beyond bluntly, we need to get used to this. |
| Ministers, including from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, are looking at evidence from scientists on the impact of the measures at the Cobra meeting. | |
| Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething - who is also taking part in the Cobra meeting - said there was "virtually zero prospect" of government experts advising that it was safe to lift the lockdown. | |
| He told BBC Breakfast it was important to be "straight with the public", saying that "if we don't provide a clear message" then people might be under the impression the lockdown measures might be lifted next week anyway and "start to act as if the last few days doesn't really matter". | He told BBC Breakfast it was important to be "straight with the public", saying that "if we don't provide a clear message" then people might be under the impression the lockdown measures might be lifted next week anyway and "start to act as if the last few days doesn't really matter". |
| A UK government source said "we were surprised that the Welsh government decided to jump the gun with their own plans" before the Cobra meeting. | A UK government source said "we were surprised that the Welsh government decided to jump the gun with their own plans" before the Cobra meeting. |
| The source said there was a "high level joint call" between Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart and cabinet minister Michael Gove "where it was agreed that a continued UK-wide approach was best for our response to fighting coronavirus". | The source said there was a "high level joint call" between Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart and cabinet minister Michael Gove "where it was agreed that a continued UK-wide approach was best for our response to fighting coronavirus". |
| According to new coronavirus laws, the health secretary must review the restrictions at least once every 21 days, with the first review due by 16 April. | |
| According to the latest update from Downing Street on Thursday, Mr Johnson continues to receive "standard oxygen treatment" and is "in good spirits". | According to the latest update from Downing Street on Thursday, Mr Johnson continues to receive "standard oxygen treatment" and is "in good spirits". |
| He was taken to hospital on Sunday evening after self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms and admitted to intensive care a day later. | He was taken to hospital on Sunday evening after self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms and admitted to intensive care a day later. |
| One family's story: 'Every day we prepare for worst' | One family's story: 'Every day we prepare for worst' |
| Sue Martin's husband Mal, 58, from south Wales, has been in intensive care for the past 11 days. | Sue Martin's husband Mal, 58, from south Wales, has been in intensive care for the past 11 days. |
| Doctors tried to wean Mal off the ventilator but he continued to deteriorate, and the medics told Sue and her two teenage children there was almost zero chance he was going to survive. | Doctors tried to wean Mal off the ventilator but he continued to deteriorate, and the medics told Sue and her two teenage children there was almost zero chance he was going to survive. |
| "I rang back later and begged to be able to see him. We hadn't seen him since he left the house over a week before," she said. | "I rang back later and begged to be able to see him. We hadn't seen him since he left the house over a week before," she said. |
| "We had to be in full protective gear - we weren't allowed to touch him but we could speak to him. Essentially we were going in to say our goodbyes. | "We had to be in full protective gear - we weren't allowed to touch him but we could speak to him. Essentially we were going in to say our goodbyes. |
| "We just told him we loved him and it was heartbreaking to hear the children tell him that they were going to make him proud and we were really glad to have that time with him." Since then, there has been no further improvement but no deterioration in his condition. | "We just told him we loved him and it was heartbreaking to hear the children tell him that they were going to make him proud and we were really glad to have that time with him." Since then, there has been no further improvement but no deterioration in his condition. |
| "Every day we prepare for the worst but there's this little glimmer that maybe just maybe he might turn a corner." | "Every day we prepare for the worst but there's this little glimmer that maybe just maybe he might turn a corner." |
| Read more from Sue here. Her interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme was recorded on Wednesday and broadcast on Thursday morning. | Read more from Sue here. Her interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme was recorded on Wednesday and broadcast on Thursday morning. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| How have you been affected by the issues relating to coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | How have you been affected by the issues relating to coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |