HOW DID WE GET HERE? Explaining The News

While the rest of the world has enforced strict social distancing measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, Sweden has remained relaxed on its approach. The country has still allowed residents to go to cafes, restaurants, pubs, and bars - and has kept its school open as planned for children up to 9th Grade (15 years old). It has however closed its cinemas and theatres. Anthropologist Lotta Björklund Larsen says that people are hesitant with their approach to going out in public. She says those living in Sweden are maintaining distancing practice among themselves, but otherwise can continue with their daily lives. Society is being self-regulated by keeping their distance and washing their hands, police officers have not got involved nor are they expected to. How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts, and analysts.

The Coronavirus outbreak has spread across the UK with over 1,000 deaths in total, the Prime Minister and Health Secretary have both tested positive for COVID-19, and the country is in a loose lockdown - with police forces enforcing emergency measures where necessary.

Aran Shaunak is an epidemiologist, a person who studies the outbreak of diseases, who graduated from Cambridge University where he studied the exact model that the UK government has based a lot of its coronavirus strategy on.

When he predicted that the outbreak would spread widely in the UK, Aran decided to move in with two frontline NHS workers to increase the likelihood that he would contract the virus early, while hospitals were quiet and the health services would be able to treat him if necessary. He believed catching the virus while in a controlled environment would be the best way to slow its spread.

5 News would like to add that we do not advise, nor condone, trying to catch the virus. You should adhere to government advice and isolate to avoid contracting COVID-19 and to slow the spread of the outbreak.

How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts and analysts.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told everyone to stay at home, but has given quite a few exemptions to the rule. There is mounting pressure for him to enforce a stricter lockdown, especially in London, like some nearby European cities have done. In Paris, the city has been in a state of emergency lockdown for 9 days. It means the public cannot wander the streets without purpose and consent. Many have reported being stopped by police and asked to present time-stamped paperwork or risk being turned around and sent home. Journalist Elaine Cobbe has lived in Paris for two decades and is stuck in the middle of the lockdown. She talks to Andy Bell about how French police are clamping down on non-essential travel, and keeping a strict watch on social distancing rules. How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts and analysts.

The coronavirus outbreak has become a global pandemic affecting countries around the world, and is likely to be followed by a global recession. Leading British economist Dr Gerard Lyons believes that the UK government has taken some sensible steps with its most recent budget, and the follow up promises by Rishi Sunak, to combat the initial financial impact that the outbreak will have on the economy. He believes though that Boris Johnson's Cabinet need to do even more to provide financial support and safety. The global economic markets are expecting a global recession which may have a severe impact for the next year or two, and this will of course affect the majority of Britain's firms, especially our small businesses. How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts and analysts.

From terror attacks to the coronavirus, how does the UK Government fight a national crisis? Has Boris Johnson done enough to reduce panic in the battle to stop COVID-19 - or has he been absent? Former No 10 adviser reveals what it's like inside emergency COBRA meetings where the Prime Minister must take the hard decisions while reassuring the country with a clear message. Chris Wilkins served as Director of Strategy and Chief speech-writer to former Prime Minister Theresa May. In her time leading the country she had to respond to terror attacks, the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the Salisbury cathedral novichok poisoning. How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts and analysts.

An outbreak of coronavirus in the UK is highly likely and the government is preparing for a worst-case scenario which could mean calling on retired health workers, and even the military, to help fight the spread of the virus. One of the possible ways in which they could seek to tackle the infection is by asking GPs to consult by videolink to avoid contact with patients. One of the UK's most senior health officials, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries, has explained the how the government will look to delay the Covid-19 outbreak in hope of relieving the pressure it will put on the NHS. She spoke with Andy Bell to explain the best ways individuals can help by protecting themselves in their day to day routines. How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts and analysts.

Boris Johnson came under fire during his recent Cabinet reshuffle for allegedly allowing his unelected Chief Adviser Dominic Cummings to have too much involvement in Cabinet staffing. Former Special Adviser (SpAd) Peter Cardwell has advised four Cabinet ministers in his role within the government, but was sacked in the reshuffle by the Justice Secretary Robert Buckland. We ask him what exactly a SpAd is and what is it that they do? He also reveals how meetings have changed since Dominic Cummings was given a top government role within No. 10 Downing Street. How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts and analysts.

The United Kingdom has finally left the European Union and celebrated 'Brexit Day' but what does it now mean for Britain's trade with the EU and the rest of the world? As Britain and the EU start to open up talks for negotiations what are the options for trade - what is a Canada-style deal? What's an Australia-style deal and where does a possible American deal fit in? On this week's episode of How Did We Get Here? Explaining the News... Andy talks to Brexit and Trade expert Sam Lowe from the Centre for European Reform. How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts and analysts.

How accurate was the Academy Award winning film '1917'? Leading historian Alan Wakefield works as the Museum Curator for the Imperial War Museum. The film, 1917, directed by Sam Mendes has won three Academy Awards for the Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Visual Effects and Best Achievement in Sound Mixing. But how accurate is the story that it tells? Throughout the cinematic experience the film follows two soldiers who are trying desperately to deliver a message that will stop 1,600 men walking to their death in a trap laid by the enemy. Critics of the film were quick to point out the appearance of black and Indian soldiers on the frontline, however, historical evidence shows that this would have been true. How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts and analysts.

Dr Nathalie MacDermott is one of the UK's leading specialists in researching outbreaks like coronavirus, working in her role as a Clininal Lecturer in Infectious Diseases at King's College London. She talks to Andy about the Coronavirus outbreak which began in Wuhan in China, and has since taken the lives of over 500 people, infecting thousands more, including some people that have returned to the UK from Asia. Dr MacDermott tackles some of the rumours about the virus, confirming that it is believed to have been originally contracted through contact with bats.