Newspaper headlines: 'Life on hold' as UK 'ready for the worst' By BBC News

Staff Published duration 4 March

image copyright PA Media image caption The Queen wore gloves as she awarded the CBE to actress Wendy Craig, but Buckingham Palace would not confirm whether the decision was linked to the coronavirus outbreak.

"Life on hold for three months" is the Daily Mail's headline - which, like most of the newspapers, leads with the government's plans to deal with the coronavirus.

It says Britons will be asked to suspend their social lives if the infection takes hold.

The Guardian reports on contingency plans to take police officers off of some investigations in order to deal with an epidemic. It says 999 response times could be extended.

The Financial Times focuses of the economic cost of the crisis, leading with the US central bank slashing interest rates.

Metro and the Daily Express are among the papers to feature prominently a picture of the Queen presenting a CBE to actress Wendy Craig.

Both papers note Her Majesty's decision to wear gloves at an investiture - apparently for the first time - in what they say appeared to be a precaution against spreading the illness.

According to the The Daily Telegraph, the "right notes of proportionality, transparency and competence" were struck at Boris Johnson's news conference at Downing Street on the coronavirus crisis. But it says that "among the many unknowns is whether the NHS can cope with a major outbreak".

image copyright Getty Images image caption Flack, pictured in November 2019, took her own life in February

The Daily Mirror says the Crown Prosecution Service is reviewing its decision to pursue a prosecution against Caroline Flack. The 40-year-old former Love Island presenter was found dead at her flat in London last month. She had been due on go on trial after being charged with assaulting her partner.

Following a freedom of information request from the Mirror, the paper says, "it is understood the CPS will look into its handling of the matter through a post-case review panel".

The Guardian reports that women in labour are being refused epidurals in breach of official guidelines.

The newspaper says Department of Health investigation also found that women "may not be being kept fully informed that if they choose to give birth at home or in a midwife-led unit they may have to be transferred if they want an epidural".

image copyright Getty Images

In the US, the Washington Post was one of many news websites following the results of Super Tuesday through the night.

Joe Biden won a string of victories in the vote to pick a Democratic White House candidate to face Donald Trump in November.

The Post's Philip Bump says: "One week ago, the most natural question one might have asked about former vice president Joe Biden's campaign was how soon it was likely to end." Now he has "energy and momentum".

Finally, the Daily Mail says a campaign has been launched to save Jolly the Fisherman - the mascot of the seaside town Skegness in Lincolnshire. Local officials are considering "axing the mascot over health and safety worries".