Coronavirus latest news: Reopening all schools would bring 'very real risk' of a second peak, warns Dominic Raab

 

Reopening all schools in the UK would bring a "very real risk" of a second deadly peak of coronavirus, Dominic Raab has warned.

The Foreign Secretary said there would be a phased plan to bring all students back to schools, avoiding a spike in the 'R' transmission rate of the virus that could overwhelm the NHS.

Speaking at the daily Downing Street briefing, Mr Raab said the Government is still consulting its scientific advisors on how to open schools again, but they are unlikely to return to full capacity immediately.

"The crucial bit for us is the five tests and the risk of a second spike in relation to any new changes that we would make and that must of course included schools," he said.

"At least to date the evidence has been that we wouldn't be able to open up all schools without a very real risk that the R rate - the transmission rate - would rise at such a level that we would risk a second spike."

The UK now has the highest Covid-19 death toll in Europe totalling 32,375, the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows.

There were 29,710 deaths involving Covid-19 in England and Wales up to April 24.

 

In today's briefing, Mr Raab pointed to new National Cyber Security Centre guidelines for fighting cyber criminals and hostile foreign states during the crisis.

Some criminals have been exploiting Covid-19 for their own "nefarious ends", he said.

Follow the latest updates below.