Simon Ward
East Midlands Today Reporter

Nottingham students Sam Baker and Sam Higgins say they have had their plans for this evening's night out cancelled.

Mr Baker, 19, said he still hopes to "make the most" of this weekend before any additional restrictions are put on the city.

He said: "I was supposed to go to Bierkeller but it's been postponed so I might go to Wetherspoons or something like that.

"Saturday I won't go out and next weekend I doubt I'll go out.

"Definitely tonight because obviously it's the last weekend so I might as well make the most of it really."

Mr Higgins, 19, said: "Obviously not much is really happening at the weekend now and pubs are closing at 10 so I might just go out for a few drinks."

Talking about the prospect of extra restrictions in the city, he said: "It's probably good for the virus but not good for us students because we want to make the most out of uni life."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Staff at the University of Nottingham are being asked to volunteer for a helpline for students affected by Covid-19.

They would also take calls from the families of students who are often leaving home for the first time.

Many have been made to self-isolate in their rooms in halls of residence just days after arriving following a spike in cases.

Image source, PA Media

The University of Nottingham said it needed about 90 people a day to deal with the volume of calls and is asking staff from all levels and departments to help.

It admitted those taking part would need to "deprioritise" normal duties.

As well as the call centre, the university is looking for volunteers to staff halls of residence as a "visible point of contact".

Campaign group University Staff and Students called the move "truly shocking".

A university spokesman said it was not unusual for extra staff to work on taking calls at busy times and all extra hours would be taken back in lieu.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Nottingham's director of public health has said it would be better if they knew what coronavirus measures were going to be brought in, so action could be taken.

The government has faced criticism for not announcing restrictions immediately as the city was confirmed as having the highest Covid-19 rate in the UK.

Image source, PA

Alison Challenger said the government is aware of her worries about the delay.

"We continue to be communicating with national and regional colleagues on what is happening," she said.

"And certainly they know our concerns and they are supporting and understanding our concerns.

"Ideally we would want to know what those measures are now so that we can act when that legislation is in place."

But she felt the situation pointed in one direction.

She said: "It is certain we will have extra measures put in place but it is likely with a city rate as high as it is that they could be particularly stringent."

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Julie and Herol Pinnock, from Mapperley, are worried about how accurate the figures are, and want to know why the government is delaying putting new restrictions in place.

Sixty-year-old Julie said she's worried the influx of students may have contributed to the rise, while Herol, 65, said politicians "should do something about it straight away".

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Michael Taylor has come into town from Newark to get his car serviced.

The 69-year-old said he's due to go on holiday to Yorkshire next Friday, but doesn't know if it'll be allowed to go ahead.

If it's cancelled, it will be his third holiday cancelled because of coronavirus, and he said it's a matter of concern.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Kathryn Embree, a third year student at the University of Nottingham, said: "The thing with students is that because they are considerably lower risk, or at least view themselves as such, they are taking it seriously but are not as stressed about getting ill."

Image source, Kathryn Embree

Ms Embree felt it was unfair students were being blamed for the rise in infections.

"I've been pleasantly surprised about how good students have been if they think they have symptoms," she said.

"I don't think it is students' and young people's fault that the cases are so high.

"When I have gone into town of an evening and at the weekend, it has been complete chaos and the chaos has been across the board."

Liam Barnes
BBC News

The number of positive coronavirus cases at HMP Lowdham Grange now stands at 215.

A total of 43 staff and 172 prisoners have now tested positive, rising from 84 about a week ago.

The jail's director has previously said "every measure possible" was being taken to combat the virus at the Category B prison.

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel Wainwright
BBC England Data Unit

Although cases are rising all over the country, the increase in a single week in Nottingham is huge.

There were 2,294 confirmed cases of coronavirus recorded in the city in the week to 5 October - about 328 a day and up from 407 for the whole of the week before.

This means 689 positive tests for every 100,000 people in just one week.

The worst affected areas are those around the city's universities.

Data for the week to 4 October shows 546 cases recorded in the University Park, Lenton Abbey and Jubilee Campus area of the city and 223 in Arboretum, Forest and Trent University.

Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News

The director of public health in Nottingham has said that three quarters of the 2,294 new positive cases in the city in the past seven days have been among people aged 18 to 22.

Rates have risen across the city, but are steepest in areas with high student populations.

Asked whether she was worried students might return home during reading weeks and take the illness with them, Alison Challenger urged them to use common sense and avoid mixing with people who are more vulnerable.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Rosa Hodgkinson is a second year geography student at the University of Nottingham and lives in Lenton.

She said most students are "taking [coronavirus] seriously" and shouldn't be blamed for the rise in infection rates.

With all her course being taught online, the 19-year-old said socialising is even more important to stop feelings of isolation, and while acknowledging there's "clearly a breaking point where everyone needs to put [their] life on hold", she said lockdowns can only last for so long.

"It would be foolish not to recognise the risks," she said. "I think it's very easy to blame us but we're just doing what the government has told us to do. The government has put us here, left us on our own and is threatening to keep us here for Christmas."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has previously said he "very much" hopes students would not be asked to stay in their university towns at Christmas.

BBC Radio Nottingham

Bringing Nottingham's high rate of coronavirus cases under control will be a "complex" task, according to virologist Jonathan Ball.

While agreeing the city's rate of positive cases is at "a staggering number", he said a second wave was always to be expected, though the "rapidity" of the rise has "caught people unawares".

Prof Ball - who works at the University of Nottingham, which has seen a spike in cases - said it was "positive" to see students and nearby residents could easily get tested at walk-in centres on campus.

Answering questions on BBC Radio Nottingham's breakfast show, he said there was a need to make sure any restrictions "are going to have an impact", but said allowing mixing between different households will "give the virus an increased chance".

Image source, Submitted

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Catherine Smith, from Colwick Park, said she wouldn’t have come into town if not for an appointment she had to make.

The 61-year-old said it was "about time the government acted" to slow the rising rate of infection, and questions why it's "hanging back" on imposing restrictions.

She said she would have been happy meeting friends outdoors, but with the rates as they are she has decided against even that to keep her mum safe.

Image source, bbc

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Fiona Fern, 35, from Radford, has spent the morning getting her Christmas shopping done because of the uncertainty.

She asked: "Is it because all the students are back or are they just testing more?

"My best friend said she doesn't understand why there are no restrictions in place.

"But I'm of the opposite opinion, we don't need to lock everything down, the people who need to should but the rest of us need to carry on."

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Annette Clay has run the High Street Flower Barrow in the city centre for 42 years.

She said the news of the high coronavirus levels had already started damaging business.

She added: "It's changed since Tuesday, footfall is down 60% - it frightens the older people away.

"They should have left the students at home until Christmas - I've watched them (and school kids) walking past here congregating in 15s and 20s."

David Pittam
BBC News Online

I have been speaking to people in Nottingham city centre to get their views on the area's high infection rate.

Emma Yeah, 33, said: "I heard we'd been requested to stop mixing [by the councils] so that's what I did.

"I was supposed to have a friend round last night but I cancelled on them.

"I trust the council more than the government. I'm really scared of coronavirus.

"I just don't understand how it's got so bad here although it's not a surprise with all the students back."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Sherwood MP and chief whip Mark Spencer said the final details of the new three-tier system were still being worked on to make sure it was "absolutely right".

He said it would have "similar measures to what we have seen in the past".

Image source, PA Media

But he refused to confirm whether Nottingham, which has the highest Covid-19 rate in the UK, will be in level three of the new restrictions.

He said: "That hasn't been established, we'll have to see where the numbers look later in the week.

"Clearly there has to be action of some sort but it is about walking that middle line between keeping as many of us safe but also making sure we don't crash the economy and put millions of people out of work.

"And that's a very difficult line to tread."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Nottingham council leader David Mellen has told BBC Breakfast the city has been left in confusion by the government.

He said: "We knew about these high numbers in the beginning of the week and yet we have to wait until the middle of next week, it seems, for any government-announced restrictions.

"We have not waited for the government and myself and the leader of the county council, along with district council leaders, have agreed we should put out this message.

"But it's not got the power a government restriction would have, so it leaves Nottingham hanging really - and that's not good enough for the people that I represent."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Chief government whip and Sherwood MP Mark Spencer told BBC Radio Nottingham there would be an announcement in Parliament "next week".

He defended the delay in introducing restrictions for Nottinghamshire, which will be subject to a vote, and in the meantime he urged people to "take responsibility for yourself".

Image source, Reuters

He said: "It takes time to organise these rules and make sure they are enforceable and deliverable and they are at the right level.

"You can't just make a law up, you have to go through a process which is fairly long-winded to make sure you can deliver that.

"What is frustrating for lots of people is lots of people in society are making sacrifices and there is a very small group of people who are ignoring the common sense approach to this.

"They are mixing in households, they are acting inappropriately, drinking too much and not observing social distancing.

"And that is giving the rest of us a bit of a challenge."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Nottingham North MP and shadow minister for public health Alex Norris told BBC Radio 5 Live the government's handling of the issue was "chaotic".

He said: "Nottingham has gone from below average two weeks ago to the number one infection rate in the country.

"That says we need action and we need action today and instead we are going to wait until next Wednesday for it.

Image source, PA Media

"The thing is Nottingham is the best night out in the country and the people of Nottingham know that well.

"And I'm really worried that tonight and Saturday night, such busy nights, people are going to try and get one last hurrah in.

"We ask them to not do this - but that will be the cost of slow action.

"My understanding for why that's happening is the government is going to change the [restriction] system next week.

"So they wanted to mop up the remaining [hotspots] in the new system.

"Well, frankly that won't do."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

The government has backed local guidance from authorities which urges people not to mix indoors with other households.

On Wednesday, Nottinghamshire County Council joined Nottingham City Council in asking residents to not mix with people outside of their bubble.

This includes in the home and at leisure and hospitality venues.

The Department of Health and Social Care is now urging people to follow council advice for households ahead of any official announcement.

Image source, PA Media

A government spokesperson said: "We are seeing coronavirus cases rise across the country, but rates are increasing more rapidly in Nottingham and the surrounding county than other parts of England.

"It is vital everyone in the area follows the advice of the local authority, practises social distancing, wears a face covering where required, and gets tested if they have symptoms.

"We are constantly monitoring the data across Nottinghamshire, and in light of rising cases we are working hard with local leaders and public health experts to agree how best we can suppress the virus at a local level, and the local authority has our full backing and support."