Boris Johnson tonight announced that primary and secondary schools will close from tomorrow - just over 24 hours after saying it was safe.
In a televised address from Downing Street, Mr Johnson plunged England back into lockdown following a huge surge in new cases.
Universities and colleges will also move to remote learning, the PM said. Yesterday he said there is "no doubt in my mind" that reopening schools is "safe" - and children returned to classrooms in some parts of the country this morning.
Talks are being held to decide how exams can be handled fairly as the government tries to avoid a repeat of last year's shambles.
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