nigeria, act now. …… Summary Confirmed cases worldwide pass 200,000, more than 8,000 people have died Italy registers 475 new deaths - the highest one-day rise since it was hit by the virus The UK is to shut schools - but they will still need to look after children of key workers Prime Minister Boris Johnson tells news conference "we need to apply further downward pressure" on cases Canada and US closing border to non-essential transit EU countries have begun turning away travellers from outside the bloc Share prices fall in Europe and Asia as stimulus packages fail to reassure markets Glastonbury festival and Eurovison Song Contest cancelled
Live: Government coronavirus update
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17:39
Harries: No danger to children
Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, says the whole approach is to reduce social contact throughout society.
"This measure moves that on a small amount but it is not to do with the safety of the children," she says.
17:38
PM: People making 'heroic effort' to follow advice
Mr Johnson responds to a question about people in London - where the coronavirus outbreak is ahead of other places in the UK - who appear not to be following the government's advice.
He says "we have always said we will do the right measures at the right time".
He adds that people are making a heroic effort to adhere to the government's advice but that this is under constant review.
17:36
Williamson: Closing schools 'will help slow spread'
"The scientific advice shows that these settings are safe for this small number of children to continue attending," Gavin Williamson told MPs.
"But asking others to stay away will just go towards helping us slow the spread of this virus.
"Examples of these key workers include NHS staff, police and delivery drivers who need to be able to go to work.
"Vulnerable children include those who have a social worker and those with educational health and care plans."
Mr Williamson said the Government is "expecting" early years providers, sixth forms and further education colleges to do the same.
17:34
PM: We won't hesitate to go further
Mr Johnson finishes his opening speech by saying his government "will not hesitate to go further and faster in the days and weeks ahead".
17:33
Vallance: Schools not dangerous places
Professor Patrick Vallance says the "overriding consideration is to save lives and protect the most vulnerable".
The government's chief scientific officer says people's behaviour has already been changing since earlier measures, but adds: "The thing we must protect... is to make sure that the NHS, intensive care capacity and ventilator capacity is not breached".
He says that schools did not need to be shut from the start as they are "not dangerous places" for pupils or teachers, "but this extra bit is now important to protect NHS capacity" and stop the spread.
17:32
PM: Children should not be left with older relatives
The prime minister says children should not be left with older grandparents or older relatives who may be particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus.
"I want to thank families for their sacrifice," he adds. "I want to thank teachers, all the support staff who keep schools going."
17:31
No exams this year, UK education secretary says
This year's exams will not go ahead, Gavin Williamson says.
The spike of the virus is increasing at a faster pace than anticipated, he says, and taking these measures "will save people's lives".
17:30
PM: Schools will still open for key worker children
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.
17:29
PM: School closures will help reduce cases
Mr Johnson says everyone must follow social distancing advice to protect themselves and their loved ones.
"Avoid all unneccesary gatherings, pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants," he says.
He adds that the decision to close schools has less impact than other measures - such as the advice to remain at home for seven days if you develop symptoms, and for 14 days if someone in your household develops symptoms.
But "now we need to apply further downward pressure" on the rising numbers of cases.
17:24
BREAKING Italy deaths surge by 19% in a day
The death toll from the virus in Italy has surged by 475 over the past 24 hours, officials say.
It brings the total number of deaths in the country to 2,978, an increase of 19%.
The total number of confirmed cases in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the virus, rose to 35,713 from 31,506,
17:23
BREAKING 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.
17:22
PM begins No 10 daily press conference
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.
17:21
BREAKING English schools will close to almost all children on Friday
English schools will close to all but the children of key workers and the most vulnerable children from Friday.
17:16
White House: 20% unemployment in 'worst-case scenario'
US President Donald Trump and his coronavirus taskforce have delivered another update on the state of the crisis. This is what our reporters in Washington DC heard:
The defense department will be making millions of respiratory masks and other personal protective equipment available, including up to 2,000 ventilators
The president announced he is suspending all foreclosures and evictions until the end of April
In the coming days laboratories will be able to run tens of thousands of tests per day; the US is also working on creating a self-swab test
Trump pushed back against his treasury chief’s estimate that 20% of people could become unemployed due to the pandemic, saying that was only “an absolute, total worst-case scenario”
The taskforce cautioned that early reports from Europe show some younger people have become seriously ill with Covid-19, and called on millennials to practice social-distancing
17:13
Still awaiting PM's briefing
As we wait for the prime minister to speak at Downing Street, here's a reminder of the key developments in the UK today:
Schools in Scotland and Wales will be closed by the end of this week, the governments in those nations have said
Northern Ireland schools are closing today
The UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is due to speak to MPs on the situation for schools in England shortly
Meanwhile, Labour's Lloyd Russell-Moyle has
become the third MP to test positive for Covid-19.
The coronavirus death toll in the UK has risen to 104 - up from 71 the day before
The Glastonbury music festival and the Eurovision song contest are the latest events to be cancelled
17:11
BREAKING Schools in Northern Ireland to close today
Northern Ireland has taken the decision to close schools as of 17:00 GMT today.
It follows decisions by both the Welsh and Scottish governments to close their schools at the end of the week,
17:00
Delay to UK education secretary's statement
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16:58
UK PM press conference due shortly...
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to start his daily press conference at 17:15 GMT after a slight delay.
The UK's Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, is expected to give a statement simultaneously in the Commons.
We believe both politicians will talk about plans for English schools after governments in Wales and Scotland said they would be closing them down at the end of the week.
16:51
200,000 cases confirmed globally - WHO
We've just been tuning in to a press conference from the World Health Organization.
These are the key takeaways:
Confirmed cases of the virus have now surpassed 200,000 globally
There have been at least 8,000 deaths around the world
The vast majority of confirmed cases - 80% - have occurred in Europe and the Western Pacific region, which includes much of Asia
Social distancing measures, such as closing major events, can help slow transmission and reduce pressure on the health system
"But to suppress and control epidemics, countries must isolate, test, treat and trace," the WHO chief said
The WHO and its partners are organising a multi-country study - known as the Solidarity Trial - in which untested treatments are compared with each other
It has also advised people in Africa to avoid mass gatherings and prepare for an increase in cases
16:42
UK PM: Britain has 'resolve and resources' to win virus fight
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has posted an upbeat message to the country about coronavirus.
"This enemy can be deadly, but it is also beatable - and we know how to beat it," the message reads.
View more on Twitter
The prime minister is due to give his daily news conference shortly (at 17:00 GMT).
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