Earlier, we reported that coronavirus infections across the UK are continuing to rise, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics.

It's important to also note that new government data shows the reproduction rate of the virus in the UK has fallen slightly.

The estimate for the R number is between 1.2 and 1.4, according to data released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).

Last week, the R number was between 1.3 and 1.5.

R represents the average number of people each Covid-19 positive person goes on to infect.

When the figure is above 1, an outbreak can grow exponentially.

An R number between 1.2 and 1.4 means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 12 and 14 other people.

Image source, Gett

If you are just joining us this lunchtime, here are the most recent updates from around the UK:

• First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled a new five-tier system of restrictions in Scotland, coming into force on Monday 2 November
• Infections continue to rise across the UK, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics
• Wales' 17-day "firebreak" lockdown will start at 1800 BST, with the first minister describing it as a "short sharp shock" to save lives
• Cabinet minister Stephen Barclay said there was a "common purpose in England to get the virus down" so people could enjoy Christmas
• Greater Manchester joined the highest tier of restrictions in England
• Warrington confirms it will move to England's highest tier from next week as talks continue with Nottingham about a similar move
• The organisers of the Chelsea Flower Show announce plans to bring it back next year with measures to protect visitors from coronavirus

Image source, Getty Images

As we have been reporting today, Wales will go into a "firebreak" lockdown from 18:00 BST.

The country's First Minister Mark Drakeford said the Welsh government was "unanimously" presented with advice that a firebreak lockdown was "the best course of action".

"It is a sharp, deep form of restriction that creates a break in the transmission of the virus," Drakeford said.

"We think it will work in Wales to this extent. Not that it will magic the virus away, not that we will emerge on 9 November not needing to worry about it, but that it will reset the clock and allow us to get through to Christmas without needing to see a period of such significant restraint."

He said he hoped measures being put in place in other parts of the UK to reduce the spread of coronavirus would succeed.

"Then we will all be able to meet with family, with friends, have some sort of Christmas in which there is still something for us all to celebrate," Drakeford said.

Read our story here

Let's have a closer look at Scotland's new tier system.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says it is "flexible" with different levels, assessed weekly, that can be applied in different parts of the country depending on the prevalence of the virus. The intention at all levels is to keep schools open

• Level zero will see most businesses open and eight people from three households able to meet indoors
• Level one is closest to England's medium level and will see will see indoor meetings restricted to six people from two households
• Level two is closest to England's high level, and will prohibit indoor meetings and place limitations on hospitality
• Level three is closest to England's very high level, and will see "tougher restrictions" similar to those now in place in Glasgow and Edinburgh at present, including the closure of pubs Restaurants may be able to open in some situations
• Level four will involve the closure of non-essential shops and only six people from two households will be able to meet outdoors

Sturgeon stressed that although level four would be similar to the full lockdown implemented in March, there would be key differences - with the aim being to keep manufacturing and construction operating. The aim across all levels is to keep schools open.

Read more: How will Scotland's tier system work

Coronavirus infections are still rising across the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It estimates cases have risen by a quarter to more than 35,200 a day in England.

Around one in 130 people you meet in the street in England had coronavirus in the week to 16 October, data from its infection survey suggests, external.

That's compared to one in 180 in Wales and Scotland, and one in 100 in Northern Ireland.

The highest levels of the virus continue to be in the north west and north east of England.

Infection rates have been highest among older teenagers and young adults in recent weeks.

The ONS figures are based on a survey of people in random households, whether they have symptoms or not, giving one of the most accurate pictures of the epidemic.

Although cases are still rising, they suggest a slight slowing in the rate of growth of infections since the previous week's survey.

Read the full story here.

Image source, Reuters

Warrington will enter tier three coronavirus restrictions next week, after an agreement was reached with the government this morning.

The area will see the same rules imposed as currently apply to some other places in tier three, meaning gyms will stay open but soft play centres will close.

The deal is worth £5.9m. Local Conservative MP Andy Carter says this is proportionate to the financial settlement for other tier three areas.

Read more

Nicola Sturgeon promises she will listen to the concerns of hospitality businesses over the new Covid rule tiers for Scotland, which range from level zero to level four.

Level three would see "tougher restrictions" like those now in place in Glasgow and Edinburgh, including the closure of pubs - although restaurants may be able to open in some circumstances.

She says she will listen to suggested changes in the coming days and will meet with the other party leaders this afternoon.

Sturgeon continues to say she knows hospitality will want to argue for different types of premises to be open at different levels of intervention.

After a short consultation, the Scottish parliament will debate and vote on the framework on Tuesday, she adds.

Meanwhile in Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said a firebreak lockdown coming into force at 18:00 BST on Friday is "a short, sharp shock that will save people's lives".

"The clear advice we have is that we need to act urgently now because the virus is moving too fast," Drakeford told a press conference in Cardiff. "We have to act and have to act now."

Public Health Wales has reported 45 deaths in people with Covid-19 this week, Drakeford said.

He also said that supermarkets only selling essential goods during the short lockdown is "a simple matter of fair play".

"We are requiring many hundreds of small businesses to close on the high street right across Wales. We cannot do that and then allow supermarkets to sell goods that those people are unable to sell.

"And we are looking to minimise the amount of time that people spend out of their homes during this two-week period. This is not the time to be browsing around supermarkets looking for non-essential goods."

Scotland's first minister goes on to give more details about how the new tiers will work.

She says the "objective at all levels is, as far as possible, to keep schools open," although it may be necessary to have safety measures in place.

"We are not back at square one," she says.

"We have made progress in tackling the virus, and we have more tools at our disposal to help control it. And today’s framework will help us to make further progress."

Sturgeon adds that even under level 4 restrictions, six people from up to two households will still be able to meet outdoors and manufacturing and construction businesses will stay open, with safety measures in place.

Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland's new level zero is "broadly comparable to the position we reached in August when the virus was very suppressed, but still a threat".

Level one and level two are the closest to normal the country can be without effective treatment or a vaccine, while the highest grade would be more similar to a full lockdown.

The first minister said the new strategy was about "striking the best balances we can" between suppressing the virus and minimising wider harms to businesses and individuals.

Scotland's new five-tier alert system will come into force from Monday 2 November. Different local authorities will be placed into different tiers in the coming days.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the tier for each area will depend on the levels of infection nationwide or in different parts of the country.

She says: "We are proposing today five levels of possible intervention. This will allow us to take a national approach if required. It is possible that the whole country could be placed in the same level."

Scotland has recorded 18 deaths from coronavirus and 1,401 positive tests in the past 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon said. The first minister told the Scottish Government's coronavirus briefing the death toll under this measure - of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days - has risen to 2,688.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is announcing a new five-tier system of restrictions for Scotland.

The new system adds two levels to the three tiers used in England.

Here are the most recent updates on the pandemic if you're just catching up over lunch:

• The French government is imposing a curfew on two-thirds of the country - 46 million people - from Friday night for six weeks, after a record 41,622 new coronavirus infections were reported.
• The Swiss Federal Health Office has reported 6,634 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours - the first time daily figures have exceeded 6,000.
• US regulators have given full approval for the antiviral drug remdesivir to treat Covid-19 patients in hospitals.
• In India, large crowds at rallies ahead of elections in the northern state of Bihar have raised coronavirus fears, with footage showing people jostling to get a glimpse of politicians and hardly anybody appearing to wear masks.

Hugh Casswell
Political reporter, BBC Radio Nottingham

Image source, Reuters

Nottingham and parts of Nottinghamshire are expected to be moved into the tier three - very high - Covid alert level next week.

Discussions between the government and council leaders are continuing after talks ended on Thursday without a final decision being made - but it is understood they are on the finer details, such as whether or not gyms can stay open.

Talks have been described as "amiable and constructive", with one source saying the government seems keen to come to an agreement after the very public disagreement with the mayor of Greater Manchester.

With Parliament not sitting next week, ministers could lay a Statutory Instrument on Monday next week, with the new restrictions coming into force on Wednesday in Nottingham City, Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe.

Image source, Reuters

There have been confirmed Covid-19 cases in half of Northern Ireland's schools since the start of term in late August, according to new figures published by the Public Health Agency (PHA).

The agency reported 2,030 positive cases in schools since teaching returned.

And it said there had been 608 Covid-19 "incidents" in 519 schools up until 20 October.

An "incident" can be a single positive case, a cluster of two to five cases or more than five cases.

It's the first time the agency has reported the number of Covid cases specifically in schools.

You can find out more about it here.

Image source, Getty/ BBC

Image source, PA Media

The Chelsea Flower Show was one of many casualties of the pandemic this year - with the event in May forced online.

But organisers the Royal Horticultural Society have unveiled plans to bring back the event at London's Royal Hospital Chelsea next year, with Covid-safe measures in place.

Despite the changes, they say the show will still resemble previous years, with its extensive flower and plant displays and show gardens.

The RHS says the show will be run over more days next year - six in total - from Tuesday 18 May to Sunday 23 May.

Other changes will include fewer visitors - 140,000 across all days compared with 168,500 over five days in 2019; socially distanced queuing, and a requirement to wear masks in the show's few indoor areas.

Sue Biggs, RHS director-general, said would the show would offer refunds if it cannot go ahead.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Blackpool Council

Blackpool Tower was lit up last night with an SOS message, as the town's businesses say they have had "mass cancellations" on an "unimaginable scale" since moving into tier three restrictions.

Over 1,000 traders have written an open letter to the prime minister asking him to save the resort's tourism industry.

Hotels and guesthouses, which are usually full during October half term, "lie virtually empty", they said.

The letter states urgent aid is needed or many businesses will shut.

Read the full story here.

Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi, who was admitted to hospital with pneumonia after testing positive for Covid-19 this week, tweets that she has been discharged.

Ms Qureshi, who represents Bolton South East, says she is grateful to the NHS workers who provided "excellent" care.

In a follow-up tweet, she thanks her own staff and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle for "allowing me to still be able to vote this week".

"I am completely overwhelmed by the kind messages I have received from everyone, they meant so much," she adds.

Wales' 17-day "firebreak" lockdown will start at 18:00 BST, with the health minister saying the aim is to bring "a much more normal Christmas season".

What do residents in Caerphilly county - the first to go into a local lockdown on 8 September - think?

Hair salon Unique Creations in Blackwood has been "chock-a-block" as people want a pre-lockdown trim before it closes this evening.

"We're flat out," says stylist Ellen Watkins.

"I'm hoping it will be the same when we come back but I don't really know. There's a lot of worry. I'm looking to buy a house.

"Financially, where am I going to be if the salon can't open back up? It's a really scary time for me."

Elsewhere in Caerphilly, as this video shows, opinions are divided.