Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the Government's furlough scheme for four months until the end of October while hospital death tolls have risen by 627 to a total of 32,693.
The Standard understands that the Chancellor will shift part of the wage subsidy – currently 80 per cent of regular salary – onto employers from June 30, but it will not be scrapped.
The announcement came as Heath Secretary Matt Hancock poured cold water onto beach getaway hopes, saying: "It is unlikely that big, lavish international holidays are going to possible for this summer."
Meanwhile, new data from the Office for National Statistics revealed that Covid-19 deaths in England were 24 per cent higher than previously reported, and Alok Sharma led this afternoon's Downing Street press briefing, warning businesses to keep all workplaces "Covid-secure" – or face prosecution.
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