Coronavirus in Sheffield: What to expect when schools close in battle against Covid-19

All lessons have been cancelled indefinitely and GCSE and A-Level exams will no longer take place this summer.

SHOPPING: Video shows shoppers queuing outside Sheffield supermarket for coronavirus supplies before doors open

Schools will only open to the children of ‘key workers’ – including NHS staff, delivery drivers and those in the emergency services – to allow their parents to continue working.

LATEST: Full list of 'key workers and 'vulnerable children' as Sheffield schools close

Students whose exams have been cancelled have been told there are plans for them to receive qualifications, although Prime Minister Boris Johnson has not outlined the procedure for that.

He has urged parents not to leave children in the care of grandparents or older relatives who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill with coronavirus.

Meals and vouchers will be provided for pupils who currently receive free school lunches.

Mr Johnson said closing schools would be ‘frustrating’ for many parents and it will ‘make it harder for them to go out to work’ but said further measures were being worked on to support individuals and their families to help keep the economy going.

He said the Government would try to keep the duration of school closures to an ‘absolute minimum’.

The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said closing schools would help reduce transmission.

He urged people to continue with social distancing and to stay home if ill, adding: “When we don't adhere to this we are actually putting lots of people at risk.”

He said people should view the Government's guidelines as ‘a really clear instruction’ - not merely advice.

England's chief medical officer, Professor Chirs Whitty, said the UK was in for the ‘long haul’ in terms of social distancing measures.

When asked if it was safe for a few people to kick a ball about, Prof Whitty said: “If it is in the open air and people are keeping their distance then we would certainly want people to continue to enjoy themselves.

“Going to the park, yes. Crowding together with lots of people for a long time, that is the kind of thing we would rather people did not do.”