Coronavirus news live: UK death toll stands at 42,647 and ‘very few’ children will need to shield in future and ‘can return to school’

An elderly man wearing a face mask waits at a pedestrian crossing amid Saturday afternoon shoppers on Oxford Street in London (Picture: David Cliff/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The UK’s death toll from coronavirus now sits at 42,647 after another 15 people died with the virus on Monday.

This is the lowest number of new deaths recorded since lockdown was announced on March 23.

Meanwhile, shielding from coronavirus will be brought to a ‘pause’ in England from August 1. Guidelines will relax in stages, provided the disease continues to be brought under control.

England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer also advised that most parents will be ‘very unlikely’ to have to shield their kids by September and thousands may already be doing so unnecessarily.

Mr Harries stressed that just 36 children have been put in intensive care as a result of coronavirus.

• UK records 15 coronavirus deaths – the lowest number since lockdown began
• Coronavirus shielding to be stopped in England from 1 August
• South Korea confirms second wave ‘linked to nightclubs and offices’
• ‘Very few’ children will need to shield in future and ‘can return to school’
• Coronavirus patient woke up from 48-day coma to discover mum had died next to him

Here, we bring you the live updates on the latest news, developments and guidance on the Covid-19 pandemic.