BBC Radio Devon

Students at universities in England can start returning home for Christmas from today.

Under government guidance, they need to test negative for the coronavirus before travelling.

Zara Clench, in her first year of a social work degree at Cardiff University, said there was some doubt she'd be able to return to Devon for Christmas.

"Honestly, at one point it felt like it might never come, but this last month's been quite exciting, knowing that we can come home," she said.

"I had a special way of counting down. I bought an advent calendar, not to count down to Christmas, but to count down until the day I could go home," she added

The students' return after the festive season will be staggered to avoid a surge in infections .

Those on more practical courses such as science, medicine and drama will go back between 4 January and 18 January, while those studying subjects like English, history and maths may have to wait until February.

Inspiring communities share how they are spreading Christmas cheer amid a pandemic.

BBC Spotlight

People are being encouraged to support local businesses as shops reopen with the ending of the second national lockdown in England.

Shops owners in Wadebridge said the pre-Christmas trade would be essential.

Michelle Poynter (pictured), from Mish Lingerie and Swimwear, said she was concerned about how long "consumer confidence is going to be damaged".

Caroline New, from Wadebridge Chamber of Commerce, said retailers had just "lost a whole month" of one of the busiest times of the year.

Putting down Sumatran tiger Shakira, 18, was the "kindest" option, Paignton Zoo say.

BBC News

The first Covid vaccine has been approved by the UK government and could start to be rolled out next week.

People have been asking the BBC questions about what this means.

Questions have included:

• How can we be sure the vaccine is safe with such a short testing period?
• Are you protected after the first dose of the vaccine?
• Is the vaccine compulsory?
• How long will immunity last once vaccinated?

Find out what we know here.

Hannah Stacey
BBC Radio Cornwall

Cornwall is adjusting to the national Covid lockdown lifting and non-essential shops being allowed to reopen.

England has now entered a tiered system, with Cornwall in tier one - the lowest of restrictions.

As you can see here, it was a quiet start in Helston.

BBC Radio Devon

The UK's medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), says the public can be absolutely confident that no corners have been cut as the UK becomes the first country to license the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.

The jab will start being administered next week.

Care home residents and those looking after them will be the first to get it, followed by all those aged 80 or over and front line health and social care workers.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has offered to get vaccinated live on television to help convince people jab is safe.

Dr Tina Joshi, from Plymouth University, said she recognised some people would be reluctant to have it because of fears about how quickly it had been approved.

But she added that she would not hesitate when it was offered to her.

The pair were brought together in Scarborough after both losing their partners.

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

All non-essential shops are now re-opening after the end of the national coronavirus lockdown on Tuesday night and, in Truro, there does seem to be a new sense of hope among traders.

England has now entered a tiered system, with Cornwall in tier one - the lowest of restrictions.

Businesses in the city seemed to be up and raring to go, and there's a real sense of trying to pull together, encouraging people to come out and support their high street and support their restaurants.

There are 33 traders at a city farmers' market full of festive goods.

Food producers have always been able to sell, but craftspeople are now able to be out as well.

I spoke to Heather Bell, from Cornish Honey Fudge, and she said: "It's just such a great feeling that everybody, including the craftspeople, can be out."

BBC Radio Cornwall

One of Cornwall's best-known chefs was looking forward to reopening his businesses as it meant staff would return to full salaries after coronavirus furloughing, he said.

Paul Ainsworth said Cornwall was "lucky we're in tier one" of the latest restrictions, but he felt for those businesses in higher tiers.

Cornwall is the only part of mainland England to have been placed in tier one after the latest nationwide lockdown finishes.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

Shops and businesses are open again in Cornwall, the largest area in England to be in tier one.

In Newquay, Vincent Fraser-Hunt, head of retail at Married to the Sea clothes shop, said: “We're really glad lockdown is over and it feels great to have customers in the shop again.

"It did give us the opportunity to do a slight refit, restock and also launch a new website."

Mr Fraser-Hunt said online trade during lockdown had enabled the business to "stay afloat".

He said: "I feel lucky to be in tier one and be welcoming back customers to enjoy the Christmas trade.

"I’ve definitely noticed more people on the streets today which is great for the town.”

BBC Radio Devon

Devon is now in tier two of England's latest Covid restrictions.

It means separate households cannot get together indoors and pubs can only reopen if they serve food.

The revised tiers were approved by Parliament last night, although 55 Tory MPs voted against it, including two from Devon.

Many businesses have complained the move will hit them businesses hard.

Plymouth Labour MP Luke Pollard abstained in the House of Commons vote, saying that, even though the government had been helping businesses, it needed to do more, especially for the hospitality sector.

Special Covid compliance officers have gone on patrol across west Devon and the South Hams.

They are visiting businesses, and also investigating complaints of Covid restriction breaches.

Jonathan Hawkins, from South Hams District Council, said it was "not in the slightest" a case of being heavy-handed.

Hamish Marshall
BBC Spotlight

Latest figures, up to Friday 27 November, show Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly had the second lowest coronavirus infection rate in the country.

The rate of 29 cases per 100,000 population was only bettered by the Isle of Wight - the other area going into tier one restrictions.

The infection rate has halved from the figures in the previous seven-day period.

Every council area in the South West has shown a reduction in cases numbers from the previous seven day period, except Torridge in north Devon.

At one time it had the lowest infection rate in the country, but there were 69 new cases in the period to last Friday, giving it an infection rate of 101 per 100,000.

East Devon and North Devon also had rates of about 100, but are well below the England average of 157.

BBC Spotlight

Police across Devon, Cornwall and Dorset say they will be carrying out breath tests on all motorists who commit a road traffic offence during December.

The move is part of both forces’ annual Christmas crackdown on drink and drug driving.

During last year's campaign, officers across the three counties carried out almost 1,700 breath tests and charged more than 320 with a drink-drive or drug-drive related offence.

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

The leader of Exeter City Council has warned residents that "today is not a day of freedom" as the city goes from lockdown into tier two coronavirus restrictions.

The new tiered approach – similar to what was seen in October – is instead being used to try and keep coronavirus in check, with Devon – including Plymouth and Torbay – placed in tier two and Cornwall in tier one.

But Phil Bialyk, leader of Exeter City Council, warned citizens that while cases in the city have been falling, there is still a lot to do, and that cases in the elderly population are still rising.

Speaking at Tuesday night's executive meeting, he said: “We all have to be careful and there is still a lot to do and it’s not over yet and that the Nightingale Hospital has opened is a reminder to us all that it is being used now and we mustn’t become complacent in trying to curb the coronavirus.

“It is not a day of freedom tomorrow but a day where we have to be very careful how we conduct ourselves. We are in tier two, and whatever we think of that, appropriate or otherwise, we have to follow the government guidance to keep Exeter safe. It is critical for the business that we do so.”

As of Tuesday, Exeter’s case rate for the previous seven-day period up until 29 November was 97.4 per 100,000 population - slightly higher than Devon’s average of 84.1 - and the case rate in the over-60s was 129.9/100,000, with a rate of 268/100,000 in the over-80s.

The over-80s is the only age range though where cases in the city are still rising.

Under tier two guidance, households are still banned from mixing indoors, subject to the exemptions, but the "rule of six" applies in all outdoor settings.

James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News

Image source, Reuters

The Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has been approved for widespread use in the UK.

British regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe to start being used from next week.

But people have questions, such as:

• What is it and how effective is it?
• Has this type of vaccine ever been used before?
• Who will get it first and how soon can I have it?
• What logistical challenges are there to overcome?
• Will it offer lasting protection?

You can find out what answers we have discovered here.

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Devon residents are being reminded that "Christmas could be cancelled" if they are told to self-isolate in the run-up to the holiday season.

The county is under the government's stronger tier two restrictions.

While up to three households will be allowed to mix for five days over the Christmas holidays – with no mixing and matching of the households over different days allowed – the rules around self-isolation will not change.

Therefore, anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 after developing symptoms post-14 December, will see Christmas Day included as part of their 10-day self-isolation period.

The lifting of the rules over the Christmas period does not apply to anyone who has been told to self-isolate, and therefore families and children would not be able to mix with relatives.

Public Health Devon said: “The virus, I’m afraid, does not let up for public holidays, which means that we cannot let up in our efforts to stop its spread.

“The advice will be that people who are asked to self-isolate over the Christmas period do not meet with people from outside their household.

“This is not going to be a normal Christmas. Despite restrictions allowing some relaxation within Christmas bubbles, it is really important that we do everything we can to reduce risk of spreading the virus among our families and friends, especially those who are already vulnerable.”

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

Businesses in Truro are hoping people will shop local as the national lockdown lifts and non-essential shops reopen.

England has now entered a tiered system, with Cornwall in tier one - the lowest of restrictions.

There are 33 traders at the city's farmers' market full of festive goods.

Image source, bb

BBC News

The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use.

British regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe for rollout next week.

Immunisations could start within days for those who need it the most, such as elderly, vulnerable patients.

The UK has already ordered 40m doses - enough to vaccinate 20m people.

Around 10m doses should be available soon, with the first 800,000 arriving in the UK in the coming days.

BBC Spotlight

All non-essential shops are allowed to open across Devon and Cornwall after the second national lockdown ended at midnight.

England has now entered a tiered system, with Cornwall in tier one and Devon in tier two.

Shop and restaurant owners have been making preparations to welcome customers back and ensure they feel say in the high street again.

Emma Sixton, of the restaurant Sam’s In The City in Truro, said this time of the year will be "really, really important" for business owners.

"November is usually quite quiet but December is a massive part of the economy for the retail and hospitality industry in Cornwall," she added.

Sarah Barton, from Truro Galleries, said she was "convinced" people would come.

"They've made Truro look so beautiful with all the lights and we're going to have the markets for people to come and browse as well."

We'll be following how things are going for businesses under the new restrictions throughout the day.