E3: UK coronavirus live: all schools to close from Friday; GCSE and A-level exams cancelled

Thirty-two more people die in England taking UK death toll to 104. Rolling UK coverage

Education secretary Gavin Williamson told the Commons:

After schools shut their gates on Friday afternoon they will remain closed until further notice this will be for all children, except to those of key workers and where children who are most vulnerable.

The scientific advice shows that the settings are safe for this small number of children to continue attending. But asking others to stay away will go towards helping us slow the spread of this virus.

I can confirm that we will not go ahead with assessments or exams, and that we will not be publishing performance tables for this academic year. We will work with a sector and have to ensure children get the qualifications that they need.

My department is working closely with local authorities, representatives of early years schools and head teachers, regional schools, commissioners and bodies such as Ofqual about how to deliver this change as effectively as possible.

We will give schools the flexibility to provide meals or vouchers to children who are eligible for free school meals. Some schools already doing this and we will make sure that those costs are reimbursed as soon as possible.

We will put in place a national voucher system for every child who is eligible for free school meals.

Q: Do you think people who ignore social distancing advice are immoral?

Johnson says he is a believer in freedom. People must make their own choices.

Vallance says the modelling allows for the fact that some people will not follow the social distancing advice. But people how ignore it are putting the NHS at risk. It is not soft advice, he says.

Johnson repeats the point about being willing to move further and faster if tighter rules are required.

Q: Will the school closures be mandatory? And will schools that have already closed have to reopen to take key workers?

Johnson says the government has the power to do this. He thinks the power covers private schools too. As for provision for the children of key workers, he wants to ensure that schools that have closed do provide this cover.

Legislation is in place which I have no intention of changing.

Q: What will you do for renters at risk of eviction?

Johnson says he will legislate to address this. He says it would not be right for people to be penalised as a direct result of following government advice.

Q: Is it right that the emergency legislation coming tomorrow will lift the cap that can be invested in struggling industries?

Johnson says there is already a big package in place to support businesses. He says the point is a good one. The government will continue to look at the support that might be needed to help companies in difficulties through no fault of their own.

Q: If you ramp up testing, where do those take place?

Vallance says he does not want everyone coming to hospital for those tests.

Q: Students will be preparing for GCSEs and A levels. What will you do about those? Students college places will depend on those results.

Johnson says he totally understands the frustration of these pupils. He will ensure their progress is not impeded. The government will make sure that in time they get the qualifications they need. That will be done fairly, he says.

Q: How long might these closures last? The Scottish government says it could be until the public holidays?

Johnson says he hopes he can keep it to an absolute minimum. But he judges that now is the right time to place more downward pressure on the upward trajectory of the virus.

Q: A third of the deaths are in London. The tubes and buses are full. London is not taking your advice. When will you introduce further measures for London?

Johnson says he always said he would do the right measures at the right time.

Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, is also here. She does not make an opening statement.

Vallance says he wants to stress that schools are not dangerous places for children.

But this measure will “knock down” transmission, and put some delay in the process.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, is speaking now.

He says the measures announced on Monday are already having an effect on behaviour.

Johnson says he also need to advise parents that children should not be left with older grandparents. He says he knows that will be difficult. He wants to thank people for the effort they are making complying with these measures, he says.

He says by looking after the children of key workers, teachers will be a critical part of the fightback against coronavirus.

Johnson says they also need to keep the NHS going.

So health workers who are parents will have to continue to go to work.

Boris Johnson has just started his press conference.

He is making the announcement that Gavin Williamson has just delivered in the Commons. (See 5.22pm.)

In the Commons Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, has just started making a statement.

It coincides with the PM’s press conference, which is about to start, because yesterday the Speaker complained about the economic rescue package being announced at a press conference, not to the Commons first.

All UK schools are to close from Friday until further notice, the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, has announced.

The closures will apply for all pupils except children of key workers and the most vulnerable.

The Welsh health minister, Vaughan Gething, has said individual funerals may not be possible if the number of coronavirus deaths is at the “top end of the reasonable worst case scenario”.

He said:

If we really are seeing a level of mortality that means that the normal process can’t cope then we’d have to make changes.

And the initial part could be about increasing storage of the deceased and powers for local authorities to acquire places to store bodies.

It’s one of the most difficult things we may face if coronavirus does get towards the top end of the reasonable worst case scenario.

Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has tested positive for Covid-19, he shared on Twitter.

He is the third MP to test positive for the illness.

After a 6 day wait for results I have just been informed I have tested positive to COVID-19.

I was tested on the last day the NHS was still conducting community testing.

If we are to beat this then we need to take the @WHO advice and “Test, Test, Test”.

The priority must be our healthcare and social care workers, we need them on the frontline saving lives and testing is the only way we will achieve that.

Read more here https://t.co/hOev9ximYk

In an article for the Guardian Rebecca Long-Bailey, the Labour leadership candidate, is calling for people who lose work because of coronavirus to be offered an employment protection payment worth at least 75% of previous earnings, up to a limit. She explains:

The chancellor ditched Tory economic orthodoxy to help business through this crisis, so he must be prepared to do the same for workers and the self-employed.

That means introducing an employment protection payment of at least 75% of previous earnings, up to a limit. This should be available for all workers whose employers have had to cease or reduce their business activity; for the self-employed, calculated on average earnings; and for those unable to work due to caring responsibilities. Ireland and Denmark have announced similar schemes already. This would ensure we maintain people’s incomes so they can get through the outbreak and protect their jobs for when we ultimately emerge on the other side.

Related: It's time to move mountains to protect people – we need universal basic income | Rebecca Long-Bailey

The Guardian understands the latest figures for transport use in London shows sharp falls since the government urged people to stay home on Monday.

Use of the tube network is down by almost 50%, compared to its normal level, with bus use down 40%.

Ocado has temporarily shut down access to its website Ocado.com and its app until Saturday, as it struggled to cope with a surge in demand due to the pandemic.

Bosses work on ways to ensure more delivery slots can be available due to the coronavirus outbreak, the company said.

From David Blevins, Sky’s Ireland correspondent.

BREAK: @SkyNews understands that schools in Northern Ireland will close to pupils immediately and to staff from Friday. #COVID19

Boris Johnson announced a three-month mortgage holiday at yesterday’s coronavirus press conference, but no measures to support people struggling to pay their rent. At PMQs today Johnson said the government would bring forward legislation to support private renters, but it is not yet clear what this support will entail.

One in five, or 4.6 million households, are privately rented in England. However young people and those from a minority ethnic background are more likely to rent their home from a private landlord, Guardian analysis shows.

More than a third of 25-34-year-olds live in private rented accommodation, according to 2017 data from the Office of National Statistics. This age group has the highest proportion of private renters. By comparison just 8% of those in the 55-64 age category rent their homes.

High Street coffee giants Costa Coffee and Starbucks will tomorrow switch hundreds of outlets to a “takeaway” model – closing off all indoor and outdoor seating – and also going completely cash-free to reduce the risk of contamination through touch.

Today Starbucks has been offering free filtered coffee to all NHS, council and emergency services staff, while similar initiatives have been launched by Pret a Manger and McDonalds. The new government rules on “social distancing” mean it has already closed stores in cinemas and large shopping centres where people typically gather in large groups.

As the nation’s favourite coffee shop, we are committed to providing you with a clean and safe environment. The safety of our customers and our store teams is our number one priority, no more so than when operating in unprecedented times.

Shakespeare’s Globe in London has announced it will close its doors to the public until further notice, ceasing performances, educational activities and tours.

Following “one of the hardest decisions we have had to make”, the Globe signed off on Twitter with a moving and optimistic message, amended from Julius Caesar: “When we do meet again, why, we shall smile.”

Hello from one Globe to another. ⭕ pic.twitter.com/9a4HAyRzKE

The UK’s major mobile operators are to allow customers to access NHS advice about coronavirus for free, PA Media reports.

EE, O2, Three and Vodafone have all agreed to let customers go to www.nhs.uk and 111.nhs.uk without any data costs.

Here is the Guardian’s latest Politics Weekly podcast. Heather Stewart is joined on the line by Ryan Shorthouse, Miatta Fahnbulleh, and Polly Mackenzie to talk about the possible consequences of the UK government’s response to Covid-19. Plus, Rajeev Syal talks to the former head of the civil service Lord Kerslake about how Whitehall deals with a national emergency.

Related: Where will we be after coronavirus? Politics Weekly podcast

The TUC has published a report setting out details of five measures that it thinks the government should adopt to protect jobs and family incomes. It is calling for:

1 - Wage subsidies for people who have lost work. “Just like in Germany, Denmark and Sweden the government should subsidise wages for reduced hours and help working families,” the TUC says.

The chancellor’s announcements so far will help protect businesses. But he must now urgently step up the protections that workers need too.

The coronavirus death toll in the UK has reached 104 after NHS England said a further 32 people had died in England after testing positive.

This brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 99. The patients were aged between 59 and 94 years old and had underlying health conditions.

The cycling industry will join forces to call on government to exempt cycling from any ban, due to its strategic role in the nation’s resilience - not only as transport but a form of exercise, the Bicycle Association has said.

Italy and Spain banned leisure cycling in the last week. The industry wants the UK to avoid cycling bans, and it wants bike shops exempted from shop opening restrictions as it believes cycling has a strategic role to play in mitigating some of the impact on peoples’ lives of restrictions on transport and access to the outdoors.

Plans are being worked on in Wales to “re-purpose” schools - and teachers - to support children of key workers such as health professionals.

Welsh education minister Kirsty Williams said at a press conference in Cardiff that she did not expect the summer exams to take place this year.

We will be looking to establish a system of support that will allow those key personnel to be able to use those facilities. We do not want do denude those frontline workers by not having an option for childcare. It’s a massive task.

We will continue to keep the situation under review. I am not anticipating that we will be able to get school back to normal at the Easter break. Children will be off for four weeks. I do not anticipate that schools will be back to normal for a considerable amount of time.

We are not in normal times. The [teaching] profession knows they have a crucial role to play in helping this nation overcome the the problems we are facing.

We are hoping to make an announcement across all [UK] nations as soon as possible but she said it was possible GCSE and A-level students in Wales may be graded on the basis of assessments already available.

Blood donors have been urged to keep donating, as people start to take social distancing measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, the Press Association reports. NHS Blood and Transplant said that its donor sessions are still open around the country. NHSBT said it needed to make sure people continued donations as normal to ensure hospitals had the stocks that they need.

At a news conference about the closure of schools in Wales from Friday (see 1.14pm) Kirsty Williams, the Welsh government’s education minister, said that she did not expect the schools to go back to normal after Easter. She also said that she did not expect the exam period to proceed.

These are from the BBC’s James Williams, quoting Kirsty Williams.

“I do not not anticipate that schools will be back to normal after the Easter break”

No exact timetable as it’s under review but it’ll be like this for a long time.

NEW: “I don’t foresee the summer exam period will proceed”

KW: We haven’t taken this decision because of a change in advice but because of a pragmatic approach to help the country.

On free school meals: “we arelooking to put in place emergency provisions for the next 2 weeks” ahead of Easter break.

Will work on longer post-Easter plan.

KW: We will be looking to move to grade GCSE (year 11) and A-level (year 13) students on existing assessments.

Tesco, the UK’s biggest supermarket, is the latest to say it will impose restrictions on all customers to buying a maximum of three products per line from Thursday, as it copes with the high demand from the coronavirus pandemic.

All non-essential visits to patients are being stopped at one of the largest hospital trusts in England because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The announcement came from the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS foundation trust, which operates the Queen Elizabeth hospital, a regional cancer and trauma centre, and several other clinical sites across the Midlands.

While shoppers may have been struggling to buy staple grocery essentials such as toilet roll and pasta online or in supermarkets, operators of the UK’s convenience stores have taken to social media to offer to help local customers who might be struggling.

Alan Carr of Nisa’s Newport Village Stores in Saffron Walden, Essex, is offering a free delivery service to anyone in self-isolation or any elderly people concerned about the virus and not wanting to leave their homes. In a post on its Facebook page, it has published details of the quietest times in the shop so customers can choose to visit then, with photos of the chiller cabinet groaning with fresh meat packs from local butchers.

As of 2pm, coronavirus testing has confirmed six new cases in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number to 68.

The total number of tests completed is 1,482.

Final-year medical students are being graduated early this week and fast-tracked to hospitals to carry out tasks such as patient assessments and blood tests to help fight the pandemic, BuzzFeed UK’s political editor Alex Wickham reports.

NEW: Medical schools have this week started to award early graduation to final-year students, emails show

They are being sent to hospitals to help

Govt source confirms the emergency legislation tomorrow will pave the way for students to be fast-trackedhttps://t.co/I6PUlIb56T

Sales at UK restaurants, cafes, and pubs are down 69% compared with the same week last year, according to stats from retail data company Tenzo, which monitors sales of hospitality businesses in the UK.

The Britannia hotel chain says it has offered the government the use of its rooms as extra hospital accommodation for coronavirus patients.

The company said it had more than 60 hotels and more than 600 beds in cities and towns across the UK that could be used for critical care or as extra care home accommodation.

All Wetherspoon pubs will remain open, but customers will pay by card, avoid standing at the bar and sit at alternate tables, PA Media is reporting.

Dame Judi Dench has done it again going, er, viral on Twitter with this uplifting message.

“Just keep laughing, that’s all we can do.”

Message from Ma... pic.twitter.com/3ExqvA5tvY

Landlords are threatening to evict tenants, including in at least one case an NHS worker, because they are scared of catching coronavirus from them, a housing charity has revealed.

Shelter said that it has been contacted by tenants facing eviction or already evicted because of the pandemic and warned that more than 50,000 households could be turfed out of their homes in the next six months unless the government acts urgently to protect tenants.

The housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, is expected to detail measures on renters after the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced on Tuesday that homeowners would be granted a mortgage holiday to help them through the coming months. On Wednesday, the prime minister, Boris Johnson, told parliament: “We will be bringing forward legislation to protect private renters from eviction.”

Shelter said that it has been contacted by one renter who works at an NHS hospital who said their landlord wanted to evict them and the other tenants in the property, some of whom also work at the hospital, because he fears contracting the virus from them. The landlord reportedly added that unless a cure in found in the next few weeks, they will have to leave.

Tens of thousands of renters face being turfed out of their home in the next six months if the government fails to act quickly,” said Polly Neate, chief executive at Shelter. “We need a wholesale and complete halt to all evictions while the coronavirus crisis unfolds. The government has stepped to in to support mortgagees and it must now act decisively to help renters survive the current storm. It must legislate immediately to halt all eviction proceedings during this period of social disruption.”

We know that many landlords will take action to evict tenants, leaving them homeless in the midst of a pandemic. Renters should not have to choose between staying healthy and keeping a roof over their head.

Here’s a good question from BTL prompted by what Boris Johnson said at PMQs. (See 1.25pm.)

Andrew,
When will we attain 25 000 tests a day (five times the current rate)?

As many as 25,000 people within NHS hospitals will be tested for coronavirus every day as part of a major national effort to boost testing capacity, the government has confirmed today.

With a focus on ensuring the highest priority cases are tested first, officials are working to rapidly increase the number of tests that can be conducted by Public Health England and the NHS in laboratories, with the expected surge in capacity ready within just four weeks ...

The UK biotech Synairgen has joined the global race to come up with a treatment for Covid-19. It has received the green light from UK regulators to conduct a trial of its lead drug SNG001 in Covid-19 patients “to potentially assist with the global outbreak of the virus”.

The inhaled drug is being developed for chronic-obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), a severe lung disease. In the phase 2 (intermediate) trial, 100 patients with coronavirus will be given the drug across a number of NHS trusts. The trial is expected to start imminently.

The reduced innate immune response that exists in the lung of those at most risk of serious Covid-19 disease such as older people and those with pre-existing lung disease makes such patients ideal candidates to receive inhaled SNG001 to replace their interferon deficiency … In the absence of a suitable vaccine, increasing the host’s own immunity to enhance protection and virus elimination would seem a logical therapeutic approach.

The wedding of the Queen’s granddaughter Princess Beatrice is being reviewed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

It is due to take place on 29 May. Buckingham Palace confirmed to PA that the planned reception in the palace gardens will not take place, in line with government advice, and a private marriage amongst a small group of family and friends was being considered.

Back in the Treasury committee Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, says he has been speaking to the communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, only this morning about what extra help councils might need, particularly with regard to social care.

ITV has announced plans to scale back some of its output amid the coronavirus outbreak, which includes postponing the final and semi-final of The Voice.

The broadcaster also announced plans to air a new weekly Monday night show called Coronavirus Report.

If you are concerned about the number of confirmed cases in your area, the Guardian’s Seán Clarke and Pablo Gutiérrez have put together these very handy tools to map the spread of the virus across the UK.

Related: Coronavirus UK cases: how many are in your area?

London paramedics attending people who could be infected with the coronavirus were told only one person in each team of two could wear a face mask, with the other instructed to stand two metres away from the patient if “clinically appropriate”, our Mattha Busby reports.

The message was sent from controllers to London Ambulance Service crews at 3am on Tuesday, prompting paramedics to question why they were ordered to ration face masks in the advice given in a directive sent to ambulance terminals.

Related: London paramedics rationed to one mask between two people

A Deliveroo driver in Sheffield said he felt torn over whether he should go back to work seven days after he came down with flu-like symptoms and was denied access the company’s Covid-19 fund.

The driver, a father of three who preferred not to be named, said he had been left struggling to pay his rent and bills and to buy food for his family after losing a week’s worth of pay from his delivery work.

He says the automated NHS 111 would not supply him with a sick note and, although he was able to get through to his local family practice, a GP told him there was no capacity for them to do so either.

Deliveroo told him it would not pay out money from its hardship fund unless he had a note to prove his illness, he said. He now felt he would have to go back out to work despite not feeling fully recovered, or face destitution. He said:

”Now I’m thinking, is it really worth it? I’m feeling a bit better now, I’m thinking I’m just going to self-isolate until Saturday [the seventh day after the symptoms began]. I’ve got bills, rent, I’ve got three kids that are at home now.

“It feels a bit selfish for me to go out to work and not think about other people. If I pass my germs on to them I couldn’t live with myself. But then again, if I don’t go out to work I don’t eat. I’ve got rent and bills to pay. It’s such a dilemma, I’m seriously getting pulled from left to right ... do I take the gamble or not?

“I’ve spoke to this other guy from Sheffield as well, he was unwell about three or four days. He said: ‘Do you know what? Just forget about telling Deliveroo.’

“I think there’s plenty of people out there who just think, don’t let Deliveroo know. There’s a lot of people out there who if they don’t work they don’t eat.”

In an article for the Guardian Richard Horton, editor of the Lancet, the medical journal, says the UK was much to slow to appreciate the seriousness of coronavirus. Here is an excerpt.

After weeks of inaction, the government announced a sudden U-turn on Monday, declaring that new modelling by scientists at Imperial College had convinced them to change their initial plans. Many journalists, led by the BBC, reported that “the science had changed” and so the government had responded accordingly. But this interpretation of events is wrong. The science has been the same since January. What changed is that government advisers at last understood what had really taken place in China ...

Something has gone badly wrong in the way the UK has handled Covid-19. I know Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, and Patrick Vallance. I have the utmost respect for both. They have had the services of some of the most talented researchers in the world to draw on. But somehow there was a collective failure among politicians and perhaps even government experts to recognise the signals that Chinese and Italian scientists were sending. We had the opportunity and the time to learn from the experience of other countries. For reasons that are not entirely clear, the UK missed those signals. We missed those opportunities.

Related: Scientists have been sounding the alarm on coronavirus for months. Why did Britain fail to act? | Richard Horton

If schools in Wales - and probably England too - are to close for long periods, what happens with GCSE and A-level exams this summer?

Kirsty Williams, the Welsh education minister, said the issue was still under discussion.

One of the critical decisions that we will seek to clarify with urgency is that of the forthcoming examinations .... In line with all education ministers across the UK, I will be making a further announcement shortly.

The Wiltshire town of Chippenham was quiet despite more than 3,000 children being freed from their lessons after two large secondary schools closed their doors.

Most pupils from Hardenhuish and Sheldon schools seemed to be following orders to stay at home and get on with their studies – and even their PE lessons - remotely.

Back in the Treasury committee Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, says there are emergency powers that allow the Treasury to provide loan guarantees.

But he wants to ensure that, if he needs to go further, he can. That is why the emergency legislation being published tomorrow will give him extra powers.

At the Downing Street post-PMQs lobby briefing the prime minister’s spokesman was asked about the possibility of school closures in England. He said the possibility of school closures had always been part of the plan “should the medical and scientific advice state that was the right step to take and that we have reached the right moment to do so”. He added: “That’s the basis on which we make our decisions.”

Two weeks ago, at the start of this crisis, officials were playing down the need for school closures, stressing that children were not at particular risk and that closures would have an impact on the NHS.

A prisoner at HMP Manchester has tested positive for Covid-19 – the first in the UK to do so – and is currently in hospital, the BBC’s Danny Shaw reports.

No other prison staff or prisoners have tested positive but 13 prisoners and four members of staff were put into isolation as a precaution.

BREAKING: A prisoner at HMP Manchester has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently in hospital - says @MoJGovUK No other prison staff or prisoners have tested positive but 13 prisoners and four members of staff were put into isolation as a precaution.

At the Treasury committee Labour’s Alison McGovern asks about a restaurant owner who employs 100 people. He says loans are of no use to him. (Most of the £350bn business support package announced yesterday related to loans, not grants.) McGovern says loans are useful for a business facing deferred income. But these businesses are facing lost income.

Rishi Sunak says he is offering long-term loans, with no interest payable for the first six months. He says he thinks this will help keep a business viable.

At the Treasury committee Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, has just been asked why the pound has been falling so much when this is clearly a global crisis, not a UK one. Unsurprisingly he said, as chancellor, it would not be right for him to comment on the value of the pound.

In the Treasury committee Sunak is asked if employment support allowance, at £73, and statutory sick pay, at £94, is not enough.

Sunak says he thinks these benefits are only part of the safety net. He says, in relation to comparison with benefit levels in other countries, you need to bear in mind the benefits of the NHS too. And the safety net has been strengthened.

Back in the Treasury Sunak denies being reluctant to talk about his proposals for employment support. He says he will be speaking to unions later today.

As soon as he has effective plans, he will announce them.

Rishi Sunak is being questioned by the Commons Treasury committee:

Q: Is there any mileage in looking at a reverse national insurance approach? (This is what the CBI wants - see 9.04am.)

Britons in Spain have been urged by the Foreign Office to return before 24 March when all Spanish hotels close.

In a statement, it said:

The Spanish government have confirmed that all hotels will close in Spain from Tuesday 24 March.

We therefore advise British travellers in Spain to contact their tour operator or airline as soon as possible, to arrange their return journey home before this date.

#Spain The Spanish government has ordered that hotels and short-stay accommodation (such as short-stay campsites or caravan parks) must close by Tuesday 24 March. Full information here: https://t.co/HC5BMOiQCb pic.twitter.com/JRZhbjPbVK

ITV has announced a temporary change to the airing of Coronation Street and Emmerdale due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Filming will go ahead on Coronation Street and Emmerdale, ITV said today, but scheduling will change. It comes after the BBC said it would suspend filming on EastEnders. https://t.co/JpP0ENu17R pic.twitter.com/vRlaSffwAo

Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, is giving evidence to the Commons Treasury committee.

Mel Stride, the committee chair, goes first.

The online wine retailer Naked Wines has stopped taking new orders, citing a “surge” in demand yesterday from customers stuck at home.

In a message the firm said that it would “temporarily pause” new deliveries while it worked through an existing backlog. It warned that the time taken to get wine to people’s doorsteps would take “much longer than usual”.’

An update... pic.twitter.com/8cta0iwfM9

British universities have today moved to empty their campuses of all but essential staff and researchers, telling students to vacate their accommodation.

Oxford University’s famous Bodleian library shut its doors on Wednesday morning, while Imperial College and University College London have told students that normal services and facilities would be unavailable, and that they should prepare to move out.

The University of Cambridge said its libraries would close from Wednesday evening and other buildings would shut on Friday, with staff to work from home unless needed for “business-critical” activities.

“We are asking students – both undergraduate and postgraduate – to return home now, if possible. It is especially urgent for international students needing to make travel arrangements to do so as quickly as possible, as many countries are already imposing travel restrictions,” Cambridge’s vice-chancellor, Stephen Toope, said.

A union representing Deliveroo riders says the gig economy firm’s coronavirus sick pay process doesn’t work.

As more and more people in self-isolation rely on couriers to deliver food as well as parcels, the company said it will offer its 35,000 riders in excess of statutory sick pay, for up to two weeks of self-isolation.

Given that the NHS guidelines state that people that display Covid-19 symptoms should not go to their GP and the 111 helpline does not currently provide sick notes, it is unclear how Deliveroo workers are expected to provide said notes,” said the Independent Workers of Great Britain union.

Deliveroo and other so-called gig economy employers have to stop blocking their workers’ access to these funds and immediately introduce full contractual sick pay, without pre-conditions,” said Alex Marshall, who chair’s the union’s courier and logistics branch.

These workers are being expected to play a huge role in feeding people during this time of crisis, so it is time for their employers and the government to give them the basic rights we expect in any decent and just society.”

The number of people to test positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 9am on Wednesday is 2,626, up from 1,950 at the same time on Monday, according to the Gov.uk website.

A total of 56,221 people have been tested in the UK, with 53,595 negative results.

Gavin Williamson, the eduction secretary for England, is due to make a Commons statement at around 5pm, LBC’s Benjamin Kentish reports.

At PMQs Boris Johnson strongly hinted that he is moving towards at least a partial closure of schools in England. (See 1.25pm.)

NEW: Gavin Williamson statement in the Commons expected at 5pm. Almost certain to relate to closure of schools.

A Commons statement is expected at 5pm on the situation regarding school closures in England.

Education Secretary will make a statement to Commons at 5pm

Police say the public have been so compliant during the coronavirus crisis that they have not had to use special powers they were granted on a single occasion.

In February police were given the power to detain people suspected of having the virus and take them to a medical facility.

Charities are warning of a rise in calls from people with disabilities who are being cut off from vital supplies as others resort to panic buying amid the coronavirus outbreak, Frances Ryan and Sarah Marsh report.

People with disabilities have contacted the Guardian to say they are not able to get their supermarket food deliveries due to panic buying and stockpiling of goods, which has increased demand on supermarkets amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

A number of people have also struggled to get vital medical supplies, with a woman who has muscular dystrophy unable to find any non-latex gloves for suctioning her airway. She had to pay £70 to get them off Amazon.

Another woman with a systemic neuro-immune condition said all the online supermarket delivery slots were booked up to April, while another individual who contacted Sainsbury’s to complain says she was asked why they should prioritise disabled people.

Related: Disabled people cut off from vital supplies due to panic buying

A third patient has died after testing positive for Covid-19, as Scotland announced schools and nurseries would be closing at the end of the week.

There are now 227 cases of the coronavirus in Scotland, an increase of 32 from yesterday.

We will of course only keep them closed for as long as we absolutely have to. But at this stage, I cannot promise that they will reopen before the summer holidays.

Administrators at collapsed department store chain Beales have decided to close the final remaining 11 stores on Thursday, two weeks earlier than previously planned, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Will Wright, partner at KPMG and joint administrator, said:

Whilst it is regrettable that we have had to take this decision, especially given the fantastic support that the staff have provided to the business and the administrators since our appointment, the impact of these unprecedented circumstances has left us with no alternative option.”

Ryanair has said it will cut flight schedules by more than 80% from Thursday until 24 March.

After that period, “most if not all” flights will be grounded except for “a very small number of flights to maintain essential connectivity, mostly between the UK and Ireland”.

The traditional Durham Miners’ Gala which was set to take place in July has also been cancelled due to the crisis, organisers have confirmed.

The 2020 Durham Miners' Gala has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 #coronavirus crisis. We have taken the decision early to relieve public services in the months leading up to this year’s @DurhamGala.

Read more: https://t.co/sLU9MImDbM pic.twitter.com/GMhIz5qZZk

King’s College in Cambridge is closing its chapel and the college grounds to all visitors from today. All events and dinners are to be cancelled or postponed until further notice, and only fellows, college staff and existing students will be able to enter the grounds.

The Eurovision Song Contest has been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, it has been announced.

An official statement from the European Broadcasting Union on the #Eurovision Song Contest 2020. pic.twitter.com/b3h7akxvpF

Even the most ghastly events normally have some minor, beneficial upside and now, alongside improved global air quality and the abolition of the BBC Question Time audience, we can add PMQs to the list of things made better by coronavirus. The tone was always going to serious and sombre given the nature of the crisis facing the country. (Every single question was about coronavirus, by my count.) But the effect of holding it in a near-empty chamber also made a difference because there was no cheering or barracking. Boris Johnson had no noise cushion to help him through. It meant that what he said mattered more.

Johnson was pressed repeatedly, especially by Jeremy Corbyn, by Ian Blackford and most effectively of all by Chris Byrant, on what he was doing to help workers who will lose out from coronavirus and he was on slightly shaky ground. Ministers insist they will announce a package of employment support measures very soon, and Johnson repeatedly insisted that people should not lose out for doing the right thing (ie, for staying at home, even if they feel well) and he repeatedly said that he was willing to do whatever it took. To some extent, that still sounded more like a slogan than a strategy.

I can indeed confirm that we will be bringing forward legislation to protect private renters from eviction, that is one thing we will do, but it is also important as we legislate that we do not simply pass on the problem, so we’ll also be taking steps to protect other actors in the economy.

The house should expect further decisions to be taken imminently on schools and how to make sure we square the circle both of making sure we stop the spread of the disease but also making sure we relieve, as much as we can, pressure on our NHS.

The Catholic church in England and Wales is suspending services from Friday until further notice.

A letter from Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the archbishop of Westminster, says: “In response to the coronavirus pandemic, so many aspects of our lives must change. This includes the ways in which we publicly express our faith.

Breaking: Nicola Sturgeon announces schools and nurseries in Scotland will close to pupils at the end of the week.

The first minister said there will be further announcements to support low income students on free school meals as well as students who have exams.

A third patient in Scotland has died after contracting the coronavirus, PA reports.

#Breaking A third patient in Scotland diagnosed with Covid-19 has died, the Scottish Government has confirmed

All state schools in Wales are to close from Friday, the Welsh government has announced.

Schools policy in the UK is devolved to national governments and assemblies, meaning that individual governments can make those decisions.

Today, I can announce we are bringing forward the Easter break for schools in Wales. Schools across Wales will close for statutory provision of education at the latest on 20 March 2020.

I have been clear up to now that the continuity of education and the wellbeing of our learners has been at the heart of my decision making. This will always be the case.

Parkrun has cancelled all events across the UK with immediate effect. Bosses said closures were expected to continue through April at least.

All parkrun events in the UK have been suspended with immediate effect due to the ongoing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation

All events will be cancelled until at least the end of March

You can read more here
https://t.co/OkmVtZAgKW

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WHSmith will be doubling the NHS staff discount on food and drinks to 20% in all its hospital stores from Thursday.

The retailer said the move was in recognition of healthcare professionals’ efforts during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Glastonbury is the latest cultural casualty of the coronavirus outbreak, but several other events have been cancelled, postponed or rescheduled this morning.

The Design Museum in west London follows most other cultural spaces around the UK by closing its doors for the foreseeable future.

Tim Marlow, chief executive and director of the museum said: “No-one doubts the severity of what we will face in the weeks ahead but it’s clear that museums in general, and one devoted to design in particular, will have a significant role to play in the future.”

The Who have officially postponed their UK and Ireland Tour 2020. Full details: https://t.co/UB5Ha0TYDY pic.twitter.com/ARkFefjwam

Peter Kay’s Dance for Life – Postponement Announcement pic.twitter.com/hVXQVuWOj8

The National Trust for Scotland will close all its historic buildings and events including weddings will be postponed, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to the Coronavirus emergency, we've taken the difficult decision to keep gated properties closed and cancel events from 20 March to protect our visitors, supporters, volunteers and staff. We’re sorry for the disappointment caused (1/2)

– but we’re keeping our country parks, gardens and landscapes open where possible, so the nation can relax and rejuvenate. Find out more ➡️https://t.co/lviYbWesmn (2/2)

We’re keeping many of our gardens & parks open for free during this difficult time so you can find fresh, green & clean space to relax & rejuvenate, while following social distancing guidance. Our castles, houses, cafes & shops will close from 20 Mar ➡️https://t.co/T4f8erzZBg pic.twitter.com/rRHQr39vIW

A trade union representing gig economy workers has called on Deliveroo, the food delivery service, to reform its Covid-19 hardship fund, which they say only pays out to workers with a sick note.

Even as food delivery services become increasingly crucial for households in self-isolation over suspected coronavirus infections, there are fears that the gig economy riders who staff them may be continuing to ride while themselves sick or face destitution.

Deliveroo’s fund, announced last week, was supposed to offer riders a safety net in case they had to self-isolate over suspected infection with coronavirus.

However, a spokesperson for the IWGB said that riders who were calling up to report that they were suffering from symptoms were having their delivery accounts deactivated, then told they could not access emergency funds unless they were able to provide a sick note.

NHS guidelines state that people who display symptoms of the disease should not go to their GP, and the NHS 111 helpline cannot provide sick notes, making them impossible to obtain for suspected Covid-19 infections in most cases.

It is understood that riders working for other gig economy services are being left in the same position. Alex Marshall, chair of the IWGB Couriers and Logistics branch, said:

“Deliveroo and other so-called gig economy employers have to stop blocking their workers’ access to these funds and immediately introduce full contractual sick pay, without pre-conditions.

“Increasingly, these workers are being expected to play a huge role in feeding people during this time of crisis, so it is time for their employers and the government to give them the basic rights we expect in any decent and just society.”

The Guardian has contacted Deliveroo for comment.

In these unusual times, with social distancing, working from home and self-isolation taking effect the world over, sales of sex toys appear to have seen an uplift.

Stats suggest UK sales are up 13%, whilst in Canada they have soared by 135% and by 71% in Italy.

Just read a press release claiming that Covid-19 has seen sex toy sales shoot up by 135% in Canada and 71% in Italy. The UK, meanwhile, lags behind with just a 13% increase. Make of that what you will.

Theresa May, the former PM, asks if Johnson agrees that it may be difficult to ease the social isolation rules before a vaccine is necessary. Does the PM agree, and how will the government have an exit strategy from these measures.

Johnson says the government’s policy is to push down the peak of the epidemic. And he says he is confident that the country will get through this.

Andrew Murrison, a Conservative, commends Johnson for his handling of the crisis. What guidelines will be given to NHS staff to help them decide which patients to prioritise?

Johnson says medics are used to taking these decisions. The government will led them use their discretion, he says.

Labour’s Rupa Huq says today is the day of the single parent family. Ronald Reagan initiated this in 1984, she says. Does he agree all families matter?

Johnson backs Huq for what she said.

Labour’s Siobhain McDonagh asks Johnson to tell the courts to stop section 21 evictions.

Johnson says he will be bringing forward legislation to address this.

Stephen Farry, the Alliance MP, asks when Johnson will accept that it will be necessary to extend the Brexit transition.

Johnson says his focus is coronavirus. “The other matter” has been legislated on, he says.

Andy Carter, a Conservative, asks for an assurance that the government will do all it can to save lives.

Yes, says Johnson.

Johnson says he agrees on the need to work collectively on the search for a vaccine. He says the UK is working with the EU, the G7 and the WHO on this.

Felicity Buchan, a Conservative, asks for an assurance that the government will do everything to help the low paid. Now is not the time to be squeamish about public sector debt, she says

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