UK coronavirus live: No 10 rejects claim lockdown being eased too soon as England's schools begin to reopen

News updates: Downing Street rejects calls for easing to be paused; police in Scotland disperse people five times more often on Saturday than last weekSchools expect half of pupils will stay home as year groups returnCould Covid-19 have reached the UK earlier than thought?UK lockdown rules: what you are allowed to do from MondayDowning Street lobby briefing – SummaryCoronavirus – latest global updates 2.44pm BST NHS England has announced 108 new deaths in hospital of people who tested positive for coronavirus bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 26,722. The full figures are here.Of the 108 new deaths announced on Monday, 13 occurred on May 31, 40 occurred on May 30 and 16 occurred on May 29. 2.17pm BST Earlier in the comments PaulyLans asked this.AndrewAre the social media reports of private schools not opening until September true? Haven’t seen proof, but if it is verifiable I’m disappointed there’s very little being made of this. Especially given that’s where the majority of Tory MPs (especially those in cabinet) send their children.As state primary schools in England open today, so too do their independent counterparts, often known as prep schools. Christopher King, the chief executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools, says almost all of the 550 prep schools in England belonging to IAPS have opened to year 6 pupils this morning. Those with nurseries or “pre-prep” are also opening to reception and year 1 age groups, with what King calls a mixture of enthusiasm and apprehension.‘The vast majority of prep schools in England are open today, apart from a few that are opening tomorrow. They are enthusiastic about reopening, but for staff and parents there is a degree of apprehension particularly because of the younger year groups and the difficulty in social distancing,’ King said.I’m reliably informed that 15 of the current cabinet members have their children educated in state maintained schools. Continue reading…
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