Johanna Carr
BBC News Online

The coastguard has urged people to stay at home after getting reports of groups of people on beaches around the UK during the coronavirus lockdown.

Image source, NILFANION/CREATIVE COMMONS

Pete Mizen, assistant director for HM Coastguard, said: “The rules are very simple and can be found on the government website.

"Stay at home. The risk of spreading coronavirus is huge and while you might be okay, the person you give it to may not.

"And if you get into trouble and have to call 999 and ask for the coastguard, you’re then putting frontline emergency responders at risk of Covid-19 too."

Mr Mizen said beaches were not lifeguarded meaning there was extra risk to beachgoers and to emergency responders.

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online

Image source, Landal Gwel an Mor

A resort in Cornwall is providing free accommodation to doctors and nurses working at the Duchy's main hospital.

The Landal Gwel an Mor resort in Portreath is 12 miles from the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske Truro.

The resort said doctors and nurses started moving in early this week, with the majority opting to leave their own homes to protect vulnerable family members.Matt Way, director of the resort, which has 114 lodges, said: “We felt compelled to do something proactive and positive, working as quickly as we could to help, this dire situation.

"With us sitting on empty lodges, we decided we needed to look into how we could support our local efforts, so offering accommodation to nurses and doctors at Treliske was the obvious answer.”

He said they had worked with the NHS around safety and cleaning procedures and the communal areas would remain closed.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Cornwall tourism chiefs have urged "patience and understanding" by visitors trying to get refunds for abandoned visits amid the coronavirus crisis.

Image source, Creative Commons

The government has advised people not to travel on holiday amid restrictions on movement.

"We have tremendous sympathy for our visitors who have had their holidays and breaks in Cornwall cancelled as a result of the current crisis," said Visit Cornwall.

"We feel for them... and we fully understand their worries and concerns regarding their deposits and booking payments."

Visit Cornwall, as well as "hundreds of tourism businesses" were "being bombarded with emails and calls from concerned customers".

Tourist destinations were facing laying off or furloughing staff as well as having no income themselves and no guarantee that their insurers would pay out due to the forced closure, it said.

In some cases businesses were "pushed" to say they would not refund.

Visit Cornwall asked people to "allow businesses reasonable time to cope with this situation".

It said "everyone" was "trying their best to resolve matters as quickly as possible".

"Put simply, businesses are struggling and almost all are in a position of ‘can’t pay’ and not necessarily ‘won’t pay’."

Customers are also asked to check with their personal travel insurance provider.

Charley Adams
BBC News Online

Image source, Luke Horrell

If children in Torquay would like to see Spider-Man, he might be running past your house later.

At 18:30 Spider-Man will be running around the Sherwell Valley area to try and cheer up local children.

Luke Horrell said he was thinking about all the children stuck in their houses and remembered he had a Spider-Man outfit he used for his son's birthday.

"It just came to me that I could run around Torquay, maybe different areas each time and give the kids something to look forward to.

"Kids that don't have much, seeing me run past for a second might just put a smile on their face - that's the reason behind it."

He will start at Sherwell Valley Road, then head up Cockington Lane, through Frobisher Green, along Drake Avenue and back to where he started.

Hamish Marshall
BBC Spotlight

Small businesses and self-employed people are speaking out and asking for help from the government to support them during the coronavirus pandemic.

Currently, the government has not revealed how it will support people who work for themselves.

Image source, Ian Stone

Ian Stone, a personal trainer based in Exeter said the only workouts he can do now are for his children as they are at home due to schools closing.

He has appealed to the government saying self-employed people could do with "a bit more help".

The social distancing rules mean that he cannot work with any other clients.

Mike Ackland has run a dog walking business in Exmouth with his wife for 15 years.

"There are people that I know, people that I actually work with, trade with...who literally do not have the ability to put food on the table" he said.

"You've got to get money to the self-employed".

The chancellor has promised help for the self-employed after coming under repeated pressure to help them.

Image source, Mike Ackland

Ed Oldfield
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Holidaymakers are being asked to enjoy Torbay online only until the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Image source, Ed Oldfield

"We love to shout about everything that’s great on the English Riviera, but for the first time we’re asking you not to visit," said tourism officials.

"The government has advised against all but essential travel, so in the interest of public safety, please stay at home and postpone any planned trips to our beautiful Bay."

In the meantime people could enjoy a virtual version of Torbay online via social media, on Facebook, , externalInstagram, external and Twitter, external, where pictures are posted regularly.

Events cancelled in Torbay so far include the The English Riviera Bike Festival, VE Day Commemoration and Service in May and the English Riviera Airshow in June.

BBC News England

Image source, Getty Images

Vets have been asked by the NHS to provide animal ventilators to help tackle an anticipated shortage of the machines for coronavirus patients.

There are an estimated 300-400 animal ventilators currently in use in the UK.

Those designed for animals larger than a dog but smaller than a horse would be suitable for treating people, experts said.

The government said it was "asking the veterinary community to help the country and the NHS".

Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Staff from "non-critical" services at Devon County Council are being redeployed to help social care and social work teams.

Image source, Devon County Council

Care Direct, which is the route for adults into Devon County Council’s social work services, has seen telephone calls rise sharply over the last few weeks.

The council said people who receive regular visits from care workers are being told their care providers are working hard to continue scheduled visits.

But some visits may have to be prioritised over others, and the duration of some visits might need to be a little shorter if the care worker has more clients to see.

A spokesman said: “The council is working closely with care providers of residential and home care, to ensure that services are able to continue with as little disruption as possible.

"It’s also working with Devon Carers to make sure that unpaid carers, many of whom are aged 70 and over, are receiving the support they need."

Ed Oldfield
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Police in Devon are warning parents to make sure their children stay at home and comply with coronavirus rules.

Image source, LDRS

A statement on the Paignton Police Facebook page, external advises parents they are accountable for their children’s health, education and activities.

It also warns they will be liable for fines if youngsters breach government instructions.

Insp Howard Brugge, of the Paignton and Brixham Neighbourhood Policing Team, said the guidance was to "save lives, the lives of the elderly and vulnerable" and the "majority of people are indeed doing their best to comply with the government guidance".

Miles Davis
BBC News Online

Image source, RNLI

The RNLi has suspended lifeguard patrols at beaches around Devon and Cornwall due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A spokesperson said: "Following the Government’s instruction as of 23 March for people to stay at home and avoid gathering outdoors, the RNLI has made the decision to immediately pause the rollout of lifeguard patrols onto beaches."

The RNLI said it hoped to bring the service back "when the situation changes".

Twitter

Tavistock Police are still finding people making "unnecessary journeys" the force has said, although "on the whole" government restrictions are being complied with.

BBC Radio Devon

Second home owners coming down to Bigbury-on-Sea in south Devon have been told to turn round by the parish council.

Image source, Creative Commons

"I've seen people with boats strapped to the roofs of their cars, people are wearing shorts and stocking up at the local shop," said parish council chair Beth Huntley.

"The pubs are shut, the bars are shut, the takeaways are shut, it's boring, pack up and go back home," she said.

"Our coastal communities are largely older and vulnerable residents and we are trying to protect them.

"Please do not bring death down the motorway."

She said the beach at Bigbury-on-Sea, where about 63% of properties are holiday lets or second homes, was almost empty this morning, "so people seem to be heeding the government's advice".

Adam Durbin
BBC News Online

The national governing body for surfing in England has advised surfers to avoid riding the waves during the lockdown, external.

Surfing England said surfers should "stay at home" to avoid putting themselves and others at risk with "non-essential travel".

The organisation said: "There may be a lucky few who can walk out their door and jump into the sea, but for the vast majority of us who need to travel to the beach, it should now be considered off limits.

"This is a tough call to make, but one we should all respect as we collectively fight the spread of Covid 19."

Under the new government restrictions outside exercise should only be done once a day, either on your own or with the people you share a house with.

The tourism ban triggered by the coronavirus outbreak will leave Cornwall’s retail sector in tatters, costing the local economy up to £2.4 billion this year, business leaders have warned.

Tourism bosses in the South West peninsular and other popular holiday destinations joined politicians in taking the unprecedented step last week of urging travellers and day-trippers to stay away amid concerns over the spread of Covid-19.

Kim Conchie, chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said: "Tourism is 25%-28% of gross value added of Cornwall, and the visitor economy could be as much as £2.4 billion over the year. If people aren’t allowed to come, that money will be lost."

BBC Radio Cornwall

A kind anonymous note was posted through the letterbox of a restaurant on Sunday since it was forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The card sent to The Seaview Inn in Falmouth also contained £100 towards the cook's wages.

Boris Johnson said all cafes, pubs and restaurants had to close by Friday, except for takeaway food, to tackle coronavirus.

Within the card it said: "Thinking of you at this difficult time - that last evening must have been tough.

"Don't know how best to support a much-loved local establishment, but here's some £ towards the cook's wages as a small gesture.

"We all need you to hang in there and come back as strong and fab as ever when the crisis is over."

BBC News

The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus, Clarence House has confirmed.

Prince Charles, 71, is displaying mild symptoms "but otherwise remains in good health", a spokesman said.

The Duchess of Cornwall has also been tested but does not have the virus.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

Musician Simon Dobson from Plymouth has, like many people, found that his workload has dried up over the next few weeks.

With a bit of time on his hands, he decided to write a series of compositions, where he plays all of the trumpet parts, that reflect the changing mood of the country, and the upsides and downsides of self-isolation...

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

Image source, Truro Golf Club

Truro Golf Club has closed its club house due to government guidelines on coronavirus and is offering about 100 free car park spaces to staff and visitors from the Royal Cornwall Hospital nearby.

A spokesman for the club said: "Hopefully this helps a little in these very testing times and thanks goes to all the NHS staff doing an amazing job."