Charley Adams
BBC News Online

Celebrities are being asked to lead by example and not travel to the South West while the country is in lockdown.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall says high profile figures have the chance to influence the nation in a hugely positive way by not travelling to the region.

The public is being urged to not travel to the counties and risk spreading the new strain of the coronavirus.

This follows the prime minister's announcement of a new national lockdown in England.

Image source, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

There have been cases of people travelling to the South West to visit second homes, including one recent high profile incident which resulted in officers turning away five people from tier four areas on the Isles of Scilly.

"At a time when stopping the spread of this terrible virus is more important than ever, I must urge people not to make unnecessary journeys to the region," said Alison Hernandez.

She direct some comments to celebrities: "I would urge you to lead by example and together we will come through this."

However, she emphasised people fleeing domestic abuse are still able to travel.

BBC Radio Cornwall

A Cornish MP says there is "work the government must do to restore confidence" after the confusion with tiers and rules changing rapidly in the county.

Derek Thomas, the MP for St Ives, says the tier system was confusing and is pleased there is now clarity so people know what they are doing.

He has described the situation in Cornwall as "very confusing" moving "rapidly" from tier one to national lockdown.

The prime minister announced England would be going into a national lockdown on Monday evening.

The MP for St Ives says the way out of the lockdown is by the "fantastic public will of the people, especially here in Cornwall".

Adam Durbin
BBC News

Image source, Devon and Cornwall Police

Dartmoor National Park has issued a plea for people to remain in their local area to exercise, in line with lockdown rules.

Last week warnings were issued by police about cars blocking roads in icy conditions around the park.

Government rules say people "should not travel outside your local area" for their daily exercise.

The park confirmed car parks and some toilets would remain open in guidance to people using Dartmoor during lockdown, external.

It said: "If car parks are full, please do not park on verges, double yellow lines, in front of gates and entrances, narrow lanes or anywhere on the road where you will block access.

"Access must be kept clear for farmers, residents and emergency services."

BBC Spotlight

Business owners in Falmouth have spoken to the BBC about how the latest national lockdown will impact them.

Eloise Rowe, who runs Falmouth Bookseller, said she was able to adapt in the November lockdown and set up a click and collect service, but was not sure if that would be possible now.

She said: "November is busier, so there was definitely a lot more people around.

"This time it's a bit more confusing, I think people aren't sure what they can and can't go out for.

"So we'll have to wait and see really."

Dominic Lilly's store - the Red Elephant Beer Cellar - can stay open under current rules, but he expects to be doing a lot of collection and delivery orders of alcohol rather than people shopping in person.

He said: "Obviously it's great we're still open and we can keep doing what we're doing.

"But the rest of the town isn't open so the footfall that comes will be zero.

"Looking up and down the street now there's not really many people, so we'll be packing a lot of boxes to send out."

Emily Dymond, who came into the Cor Gallery to take down Christmas decorations and pack up for lockdown, described the government's decision as the "sensible option".

She said: "It's obviously not great in terms of business but there is some support out there.

"If we didn't have support that would be a problem, but with the local rise [of Covid-19 cases] it keeps us safe.

As a relatively new business, Ms Dymond described the last year as an "interesting time".

"But the summer was quite busy and everyone's pitching together to help each other out where they can."

Rob England
BBC England Data Unit

As England enters its third national lockdown, the South West remains one of the areas with the fewest coronavirus cases - but they are rising sharply.

The region recorded about 296 positive cases for every 100,000 people as of the latest figures, the second lowest infection rate in the country.

However, in context locally, this was an increase of more than two thirds on the previous week, the second steepest rise of any region, albeit from a low rate initially.

Image source, .

Across Devon and Cornwall, Cornwall had the highest infection rate of about 299 cases per 100,000 people as of the 31 December - nearly triple the total for the previous week. Torridge, in Devon, saw the lowest rate of 101 cases per 100,000.

Cornwall and Exeter saw the highest proportion of people testing positive for coronavirus in the last week. Of those tested in both areas 9% had at least one positive result, this was an increase on the previous week.

The situation in hospitals is less clear. Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust had the highest number of beds filled with covid patients as of 30 December, at 82. This was slightly fewer than at the same time the previous week and about the same level as a month ago.

Overall, cases seem to be rising and positivity increasing among those tested in Devon and Cornwall - it remains to be seen what further strain this will put on the NHS locally.

BBC Radio Cornwall

A Cornwall businesswoman has told the BBC that a winter lockdown is better for retail businesses.

Rebecca Heane, owner of Cream Cornwall - a shop with outlets in Falmouth and St Ives - explained although a lockdown is disruptive for her business, it's preferable to have one in winter.

She said: "If it has to happen again, now is a great time as January and February are traditionally our quietest months, there's not a lot happening.

"So it's much, much better that it happens now than in July and August."

Image source, Google

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Devon’s public health chief has urged everyone to pull together, to follow the new national lockdown restrictions and to "please stay at home and only go out when you need to".

While cases in Devon have not risen as sharply as elsewhere in the country, the county’s rate has risen to 152.4 per 100,000 people.

Steve Brown, director of Public Health Devon said: "Devon residents have done well over the Christmas and New Year period to help prevent the sharp rise in positive cases that many other parts of the country are currently experiencing.

"While case numbers here in Devon are relatively low compared to many parts of the country, we are still seeing cases rise.

"Right now, I ask everyone to pull together and to follow the new national lockdown restrictions, the details of which we will learn more about over the next day or so.

“Please, stay at home and only go out when you need to, and minimise your contact with other people.

"If you must be outside, please continue to follow social distancing rules, wear a face covering in public places, and wash your hands properly and regularly."

Appledore Primary School has remained open after its text and email messaging system crashed on Monday evening.

The primary school, near Bideford, said it was unable to communicate with parents about moving to remote learning when the "weight of traffic" to its communication system caused a server to crash.

Staggered starts at the beginning and end of the school day will remain in place for all students on Tuesday, but it will close in line with national rules from Wednesday, the school explained.

It will be open to the children of key workers, external, vulnerable children and nursery and reception pupils.

Image source, Reuters

Head teacher Jeremy Cooper apologised for the problems and the lateness of any message to parents.

"Unless it is an emergency, please do not ring the school to discuss this because we will need the phone lines to call out to you," Mr Cooper added.

Adam Durbin
BBC News

Two rainbow benches have been given as a gift to North Devon District Hospital by members of the local community.

The multicoloured benches were donated by the Rotary Club of Bideford to "bring a smile or two", the club's president said.

They are inscribed with the phrase 'Thankful for our many pots of gold...' and made out of recycled plastic, Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust said.

Image source, Rotary Club of Bideford

Club president Jacquie Willoughby explained "rainbows have been a central theme" of the pandemic and they wanted to do "something special" for hospital staff.

She said: "The benches are to remind NHS staff that they are appreciated for all they have done this year and continue to do every day, every week, every year – they are undoubtedly pots of gold.

"We also hope that patients and their friends and families who sit on these benches will find them uplifting."

Adam Durbin
BBC News

Front line and vulnerable staff at Torbay hospital are starting to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

The jab will eventually be rolled out to all staff, Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust said.

Ian Currie, medical director for the trust, said he was "really pleased" to be able to have the vaccine as his job involved visiting all wards.

"It means I can help keep our staff and patients safe during the ongoing pandemic, as well as protecting my family and myself," he said.

Image source, NHS

Michelle Bell, who heads up the trust's vaccination programme, thanked people for their patience in waiting to hear about getting the vaccine.

She said: "Please don’t worry if you haven’t heard from us yet.

"We are working through our patient lists in priority order, as set out in the national guidance, and will make contact with everyone who is eligible, just as soon as we can."

Derriford Hospital has been "overwhelmed" by calls from people asking for a Covid-19 vaccine who are not eligible to receive one, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust said.

The trust explained the hospital is not legally permitted to vaccinate the general public or key workers.

The hospital can only give jabs to people over 80 years old and their carers receiving outpatient treatment, as well as health and care staff invited to receive one.

The trust said on Facebook: "Unless you have been contacted by a member of Derriford staff please do not call the hospital vaccination clinic number or just turn up, as we will have to turn you away."

Adam Durbin
BBC News

A doctor from the University of Exeter Medical School says Covid-19 cases are rising across the South West.

Dr David Strain explained while overall case numbers are significantly lower than some other areas of the country, infections are rising faster.

He said: "Our trajectory is just as steep, if not more steep than other regions."

Dr Strain added while the South East's coronavirus cases were twice as high, increases there had been about 20% over the last two weeks, while the South West has risen by about 37%.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Cornwall's director of public health has said the third lockdown has come at the right time as Covid-19 infections in the county have spiked in the past week.

Rachel Wigglesworth explained there are currently more than 1,500 confirmed cases in Cornwall - more than triple the week before.

She said this translates to 299 cases per 100,000 people - but she warned the actual figure is likely be higher with undetected cases.

Ms Wigglesworth said the rising rates were "clearly a serious situation" and Cornwall should try to "come together and use the opportunity of the lockdown".

"I know it's challenging for lots of people and families particularly, but it should have an impact," she added.

Rebecca Wills
BBC South West

Schools are now only open for the children of key workers and vulnerable children with the majority of pupils switching to remote learning until at least the February half term.

Image source, PA Media

Cornwall councillor Sally Hawken, who is in charge of education, said the lockdown will hopefully end the sense of uncertainty which many parents and teachers were feeling when schools returned for the new term on Monday.

She said not knowing what was happening from one day to the next had been difficult.

"If you look at the amount of guidance that has changed for schools, it has just been enormous and all of that takes a huge toll on people who are trying to plan and organise things and [are] trying to do their very best for young people.

"I absolutely know that is what all our teachers are trying to do."

BBC Spotlight

A Conservative MP from Devon has questioned the timing of Monday's lockdown announcement.

MP for Newton Abbot, Anne Marie Morris, also called on the government to provide some "jolly good evidence as to why it is the right way forward".

"I think a lot of people out there want some answers.

"They are willing to support the government to deal with this disease... and they want some jolly good evidence as to why this is the right way forward because right now I am left with more questions than answers."

BBC Radio Cornwall

The head of Cornwall's Chamber of Commerce has said this lockdown could provide the circuit-breaker needed to stop coronavirus in its tracks.

Chief executive Kim Conchie hopes businesses could then aim to return to something more normal by Easter, but called for a clearer plan for businesses from the government.

Mr Conchie said a "weariness" was creeping in.

He said: "The government needs to acknowledge that, and make sure we can live with that with a clearer slightly longer period of certainty ahead, and give businesses and of course everybody in public health and schools a clearer route ahead."

Mr Conchie said from a business point-of-view he had been urging the government to come up with a 15-month plan for business rather than this "topsy-turvy, uncertain world that we are in all the time".

He said he wanted a "clear plan" through to the end of the next financial year in March 2022.

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online

The BBC team in the South West will be answering as many of your questions as possible about the new lockdown in the Spotlight programme at 18:30 on BBC One.

You can get in touch by emailing us at spotlight@bbc.co.uk or via our Facebook page, external.

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online

Cornwall Council is urging people to follow the new lockdown restrictions and says it will be supporting residents and businesses.

The local authority called on the government to introduce tighter restrictions hours before Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced a third national lockdown for England.

Council leader Jilian German said the action should have been taken “as soon as the surge in case numbers became evident”.

He said: “My hope now is that these steps will prove enough to make a real difference and reduce the spread of the virus.

“We will now assess the details of [Monday’s] announcement, and make sure we are ready to support to our residents, especially those shielding, and our local businesses in the way we have been since the first lockdown started back last March.”