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Today's daily government coronavirus conference was led by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who followed recent trends in hosting the briefing solo, similar to what we see by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab earlier this week. No scientific or medical advisors were present during today's update.

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Key points to take away from today's speech are:​

• After this mornings announcement Mr Williamson shows the UK's new COVID alert level, which is now three. He warns "this doesn't mean the pandemic is over".
  
  

  

  
  
  

• The number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK is now 301,815 after 1,346 more cases were confirmed.
  
  

  

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• Another 173 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 have died in the UK. It brings the number of coronavirus deaths in hospitals, care homes and the wider community to 42,461. However the government figures do not include all deaths involving COVID-19 across the UK, which is thought to have passed 53,000.
  
  

  

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• Williamson urged parents to allow their kids back to school if/when they can: "It's in every child's best interests to return to school if they are eligible to and able to".
  
  

• Williamson said "we will bring all children back to school in September”. It comes after the PM said he was "sure" all children can be back in school full-time from September and hinted hinted social distancing rules in classrooms could be relaxed. He later added 'All children, in all year groups' will return to school in September - Williamson.
  
  

• Mr Williamson said further guidance will be issued in the next two weeks on how schools can return. He says "bubbles" of 15 children have been allowed in classroom but he intends to expand this to the whole class.
  
  

• 'We will not allow an entire generation to lose out on their education' say Williamson

  
  

To read a brief summary of last night's points and important measures click here.

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