LIVE: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has begun the daily press conference on the coronavirus inside No 10 after the announcement that English schools will close to all but children of key workers and the most vulnerable.
He is joined by two government scientific and medical advisers, Sir Patrick Vallance and Dr Jenny Harries.
England’s schools to close ‘until further notice’ on Friday
The benefits of schools remaining as open are changing swiftly, Williamson says.
He says schools are finding it difficult to continue as normal, as staff levels drop.
He says schools will shut their gates on Friday afternoon until further notice.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that exams in UK schools will not take place as planned in May and June this year due to the #coronavirus pandemic. The Prime Minister also announced that “we will make sure that pupils get the qualifications they need and deserve”.
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Schools will still have to babysit
Mr Johnson explains that schools will still need to look after the children of key workers – such as NHS staff – but also the most vulnerable pupils.
This is to ensure public services can continue to operate.
He says the government is working with nurseries and private schools to help this happen and making food vouchers available.
Exams, he adds, will not take place in May and June as planned.
Paying tribute to the efforts of teachers, and school staff, Mr Johnson said he wanted to do more to “remove burdens on schools”.
He added: “The House should expect further decisions to be taken imminently on schools and how to be sure we square the circle, making sure we stop the spread of the disease but relieve pressure on the NHS.”
Meanwhile, all schools in Wales will close by Friday at the latest in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the Welsh Government has announced.
Scotland’s schools and nurseries will close from the end of this week and may not reopen before the summer, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.
This is following the number of confirmed cases worldwide pass 200,000, more than 8,000 people have died and in the UK the death toll rises to 104 – an increase of 32. The total number of positive cases in the UK has risen to 2,626, up from 1,950 on Tuesday, according to government figures.
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