Covid-19: Lockdown countdown and care homes guidance - BBC News
Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Wednesday evening.
Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Wednesday evening. We'll have another update for you on Thursday morning.

Care homes must provide a Covid-secure environment - such as floor-to-ceiling screens or visiting pods - to allow families to visit loved-ones during England's lockdown, the government says. But Kate Lee, chief executive at Alzheimer's Society, says the proposed "prison-style screens" with people speaking through phones are "frankly ridiculous when you consider someone with advanced dementia can often be bed-bound and struggling to speak". Meanwhile, schools have also been given updated guidance that says pupils and teachers must now wear masks in all communal areas. Head teachers expressed anger that the directive was given to them less than 24 hours before the second lockdown begins.

The NHS will not collapse during the coronavirus second wave, but lockdown is needed to stop major disruption to care, health leaders in England say. According to evidence presented by NHS England at a press briefing, hospitals could take a maximum of about 20,000 Covid-19 cases before they fill up. It says this could happen within weeks unless infection levels reduce. "However well-prepared hospitals, the NHS, GP surgeries are, it is going to be a difficult period," NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens says.

John Lewis Partnership and Lloyds Banking Group have become the latest companies to announce job cuts. John Lewis, which also runs Waitrose supermarkets, says it will axe up to 1,500 jobs at its head office as it makes further cost cuts. Lloyds is cutting a further 730 jobs as part of a major restructuring programme. Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer sank to the first loss in its 94 years as a publicly-listed company as the coronavirus crisis hit trading.

With hours to go until England's lockdown, some people have embarked on a busy day of shopping. In June, when stores reopened for the first time after the spring, we spoke to shoppers about the first thing they bought after lockdown. Today we returned to the same shopping centre - centre.mk in Milton Keynes - to see what people are stocking up on this time.

Find more information, advice and guides on our coronavirus page.

Plus, we take a look at some of the things you are able to do in England's lockdown this time - like meeting a friend outside or having a support "bubble".

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