The Papers: \'Hope in sight\' as UK nears \'second phase of battle\'

Newspaper headlines: 'Hope in sight' as UK nears 'second phase' of lockdown

By BBC News Staff
The Times front page
Image caption Most of the papers lead on Boris Johnson's plans for the next stage of the UK's response to the coronavirus outbreak. The Times says the PM will reveal a "limited" set of changes to the lockdown "within days". Plans include allowing shops selling "not-essential" items to reopen, it says, although schools will stay closed until June.
Daily Mirror front page
Image caption "Not much longer" is the take in the Daily Mirror, which says the PM is "finally" set to announce his strategy for how the UK will exit the lockdown. The paper claims Mr Johnson will reveal that friends and family will be able to meet in small groups soon.
The Sun front page
Image caption The Sun leads on the prime minister saying the UK is "beginning to turn the tide" in its battle with coronavirus. It highlights some non-virus NHS services being reopened, as well as the number of Covid-19 hospital deaths falling to the lowest figure in a month.
The Daily Telegraph front page
Image caption Mr Johnson will hold a series of meeting with key ministers this week to finalise how different sectors could start easing their way out of lockdown, according to the Daily Telegraph. The paper says his plan to "refine" the restrictions are part of his promise to "fire up the engines" of the economy.
i front page
Image caption "Hope in sight" declares the i, which reports that Mr Johnson's meetings over the UK's next steps will include talks with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Guardian front page
Image caption The Guardian claims ministers have already held a series of high-level meetings to try and address fears that millions of people will be "too fearful" to return to work. It says Business Secretary Alok Sharma has met with trade unions and business leaders amid concerns in Whitehall that many employees may be reluctant to return to the workplace - even when the government gives the go-ahead.
Financial Times front page
Image caption Chancellor Rishi Sunak is planning to "gradually" phase out the government's job retention scheme, reports the Financial Times, which says Tory MPs have warned of large-scale unemployment if it was stopped abruptly. The paper says Mr Sunak is discussing with business groups and unions how to wind down the state support which is due to end on 30 June.
Daily Mail front page
Image caption Doctors' "desperation" over a lack of protective equipment is the focus for the Daily Mail, which quotes a new poll showing that a quarter of doctors are having to re-use kit meant to be worn just once. The paper says the survey from the Royal College of Physicians "laid bare" the extent of shortages in the NHS.
Metro front page
Image caption NHS workers are also the lead in the Metro, which reports that families of "lost heroes" who died because of coronavirus while working for the health sector will get a £60,000 payout.
Daily Express front page
Image caption Some of those healthcare workers who died with the virus are pictured on the front of the Daily Express, which focuses on the one minute silence being held to remember "their sacrifice" on Tuesday morning.
The Daily Star front page
Image caption And away from coronavirus, the Daily Star claims EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson - who played Barry in the soap - says he can't go the pub "without girls swooning over him".

The papers and news websites have plenty to say about Boris Johnson's first appearance since returning to work following his recuperation from coronavirus.

The Spectator website says the statement was more of a pep talk and a way of saying to the country that he was back and in control of things.

In the Sun's words, Britain will have been mightily relieved to see him back in command with his optimism undimmed. For Macer Hall in the Daily Express, he glowed with renewed vim and vigour and was back to his oratorical best.

Paul Goodman, writing on the Conservative Home website, says listening to his vivid language, with its image of the British people fighting back against a mugger virus, was like being jolted awake after snoozing off.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the prime minister will hold a series of meetings with key ministers this week to finalise details of how different sectors of the economy could start easing their way out of the lockdown.

The Times quotes a No 10 adviser as saying Mr Johnson will "put flesh on the bones" of the plan by the end of this week.

Image copyright Downing Street
Image caption Boris Johnson returned to work after recovering from the virus

The Daily Mirror says that after more than a month of being cooped up, people have been given a glimmer of hope over a return to something resembling normal life.

"Not much longer", is the paper's front page headline. With similar optimism, the i headline declares there's "hope in sight".

According to the Guardian, business leaders and trade unions have been drafted into sector-by-sector meetings chaired by Business Secretary Alok Sharma in recent days, amid concerns in Whitehall that many employees may be reluctant to return to the workplace.

The paper says measures under discussion aimed at allaying fears include the use of face masks and hand sanitiser on public transport, one-in-one-out rules and socially-distanced queues for non-essential shops, as well as revised operating procedures for building sites.

Image copyright AFP
Image caption The Nightingale Hospital in Bristol was the latest facility to be opened in response to the coronavirus crisis

The Times says Britain's Nightingale hospitals are being lined up to become the primary centres for treating Covid-19 patients.

Under proposals being discussed in government and the NHS - the paper goes on - the 10 new hospitals will aim to care for as many coronavirus patients as possible, allowing traditional hospitals to become "Covid-free zones".

That would free up beds to allow them to scale up routine operations again.

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The Daily Express leads with the one-minute silence for key workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus. Pictures of many of them are arranged around the headline, "in memory of their sacrifice".

The Daily Mirror says the deaths are a grim reminder of the debt of honour owed to "huge numbers of grafters" risking their lives to save ours and keep Britain functioning.

Let the silence be deafening as we demonstrate our quiet gratitude, the paper urges.

Image copyright PA Media
Image caption More than 120,000 birthday cards have been sent to Captain Tom Moore

Finally, the Daily Mail has a picture of what it calls a sea of cards for Captain Tom Moore's 100th birthday on Thursday.

Captain Tom's 16-year-old grandson, Benjie, is standing in the middle of the cards, which take up the whole of the floor of the hall at Bedford School, where he's a pupil.

The school has taken on the task of sorting through the sack loads of cards for the Second World War veteran, who has raised £29m for NHS charities. The paper says more than 120,000 cards have - so far - been sent from around the UK and the world.