Schools in England will close from Friday until further notice for all pupils except children of key workers and the most vulnerable.
Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the measures would apply for all pupils except children of key workers and the most vulnerable.
It comes after NHS England announced an increase of 32 deaths in England on Wednesday evening.
The number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK hit 2,626 earlier the biggest single day jump in cases since the outbreak began.