Education secretary Gavin Williamson announced on Wednesday that schools and colleges will only stay open from Friday afternoon until further notice for vulnerable children and those of “key workers”.

Bristow Helicopters has successfully repatriated offshore workers in the oil and gas industry with suspected cases of the novel coronavirus – COVID-19 – using three specially-configured former search and rescue aircraft.

Oilfield service giant Halliburton plans to furlough about 3,500 employees of its Houston headquarters for the next two months amid grim market conditions that include four year-low oil prices and the coronavirus outbreak.

CHC Helicopter has announced that they will be providing a special helicopter service to remove corona virus patients from North Sea installations.