At least one in 20 children were absent from state schools in England because of Covid within the last week, as official figures reveal a 66% increase in the number of pupils with confirmed coronavirus infections. Commenting on the figures, Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said: The vast majority of children and young people are in school, but I am aware that sadly a minority are experiencing disruption at the moment. Whilst pupils who are self-isolating are being immediately provided with high-quality remote education, we know that the best place for children is in the classroom. That is why I am working with the health secretary, alongside scientists and public health experts, to relax covid measures in schools in line with wider work to remove restrictions across society. I’ll be looking closely at the issues around the need for ongoing isolation of bubbles and the outcomes of the daily contact testing trial, as we consider a new model for keeping children in education. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has said the behaviour of Scottish football fans has probably contributed to the rise in Covid cases in the country. (See 2.52pm.) But she also said another factor was Scotland having a higher proportion of people susceptible to the virus than other parts of the UK, because fewer people were infected in earlier waves. (See 3.10pm.) Ministers have been accused of making a “mockery” of quarantine rules after it was announced some business executives travelling to England will be able to temporarily leave self-isolation. Chris Whitty may be given police protection after another video surfaced of England’s chief medical officer being subjected to “appalling abuse”. Downing Street has admitted a health minister used private emails for government business despite denying it 24 hours earlier, but defended Lord Bethell, saying he had abided by the guidance. The private mobile number of Dominic Raab, the UK foreign secretary, has been online for at least 11 years, raising questions for the security services weeks after the prime minister’s number was also revealed to be accessible to anyone. That’s all from me for today. But our coronavirus coverage continues on our global live blog. It’s here.