The government is keeping a close eye on a mutation of the Delta coronavirus variant thought to be up to 10% more transmissible amid a rise in UK cases.
Education unions have called for the reintroduction of extra safety measures in schools after official estimates showed around 270,000 secondary pupils had COVID-19 last week.
The last remaining UK troops have begun to touch down in the UK after leaving Kabul for the last time, ending Britain's 20-year campaign in Afghanistan.