Coronavirus diary, Sunday March 29

After 10 days, there are increasing signs of concern and even anger over some of the government's draconian restrictions and the way they are being controlled. This has been influenced by the worsening of the situation with more than one thousand deaths and the number of confirmed cases increasing dramatically. Here in Wales there have been 43 deaths.

Derbyshire Police: heavy handed

The strain of being confined at home, the continuing shortage of safety equipment, the lack of testing of NHS staff and key workers, and the heavy handed way some police forces are dealing with the new rules and laws, are adding to the confusion. 

The first fines have been paid by people ignoring unclear rules about when, why and where they can go out, causing anger. The mood today is more sombre after an indication from the prime minister that a lock down could last until the end of May, more than eight weeks away. A government minister this morning struggled to answer a difficult question why is the UK lagging most European countries in testing? Emergency hospitals are being set up in major cities including Cardiff to deal with the coronavirus. In London, a conference centre is being converted into a hospital with 4,000 beds and will open next week. One in Birmingham will provide even more. Despite earlier claims that food supplies to supermarkets would be maintained, television news is showing rows of empty shelves.

Joe Wicks: keeping the nation fit from his living room

Television, radio and social media platforms are providing round the clock news even after cutting programmes drastically, concentrating on ways to break the monotony of the millions stuck at home. A simple daily keep fit routine demonstrated by a fitness trainer from his living room is being followed by three million. Most journalists and many broadcasters are working from home. The editor of the Sunday Times says today that everyone involved in its production was using the new technical aids to work apart, coming together towards the end of the week to put the paper to bed. 

Sunrise, with several carers at home looking after their families, is managing well. Today is a special day for me. This morning, I managed to climb stairs to the first floor, the first time I have been able to climb stairs since Christmas 2018 in Robert's house. I could not even manage a kerb safely or walk across to Penarth Pier. I'll try to keep up the progress.