Coronavirus news - live: Three households can mix at Christmas in five-day loosening of rules across UK

A Cobra meeting between the UK Government and devolved administrations is expected to take place Tuesday afternoon to hash out a plan that will allow families to come together over the Christmas season. 

The Government’s meeting with leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is expected to focus on a four-nation approach to relax coronavirus restrictions over the festive period. 

Speaking ahead of the expected meeting, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: “We have been clear of our desire to try and agree a four-nations approach which will allow families to meet up over the Christmas period."

Boris Johnson is expected to reveal on Thursday which tiers parts of England will fall into under the new three-tier system set to come into effect once the current coronavirus lockdown ends on 2 December.  

Under the tier system, each area is split into medium risk (tier 1), high (tier 2) and very high (tier 3) and given a respective set of rules aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus to follow.  

This time, however, the restrictions are expected to be tougher than the previous tiered system. 

Read on for an analysis on which tier regions are likely to fall under:

Up to seven out of 10 vehicles blew past the speed limit on 30mph roads during the first coronavirus lockdown, new figures show.  

According to Department for Transport data, the percentage of vehicles speeding beyond the limit reached 73 per cent on April 12, compared with 53 per cent on the same date in 2019.

The figure did not sink lower than 60 per cent between 21 and 25 March.

The trend unfolded as traffic dropped as much as 77 per cent below the levels seen before the pandemic was declared in March.

As the traffic decline came to around 25 per cent below normal in mid-June, however, the proportion of vehicles speeding on 30mph roads began to drop.

England has recorded an additional 353 hospital deaths related to coronavirus, NHS England data reveals. 

The confirmed deaths bring the total toll reported in hospitals up to 38, 865. 

Patients were aged between 10 and 100, according to PA. 

All except nine, aged between 31 and 90, had known underlying health conditions.

Fourteen other deaths were also reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

Scotland will not be making any further changes to its coronavirus restrictions this week, despite a decline in case numbers, Nicola Sturgeon has said. 

East Lothian was moved from a Level 3 to Level 2 tier under the Scottish government’s five-tier system, but the First Minister said that would likely be the only change made this week.

Current coronavirus restrictions, Ms Sturgeon acknowledged “are having an impact”. However, she said that overall, coronavirus case numbers can "fluctuate on a day-to-day basis".

Ms Sturgeon said she hoped a “common framework” could be reached across the UK to allow families to safely come together around the Christmas season.

"I know everyone has a desire to see loved ones over the festive period," she said.

"However, there is also a very real and a very legitimate anxiety that doing so could put those we love at risk, set back our progress as a country and result in unnecessary deaths and suffering."

Any easing of restrictions, the First Minister said, "will be temporary, it will be limited and it will be accompanied by advice on the precautions we should all take to minimise risk."

Women aged between 50 and 60 have been found to be at the highest risk of developing long Covid symptoms after catching the virus, research has suggested. 

In a recent study conducted by King’s College London, researchers found that women in this age bracket were eight times more likely than 18- to 30-year-olds to endure long-term coronavirus symptoms.

Here, Women’s Correspondent Maya Oppenheim hears from women on what their experience with long Covid has been like: 

More than 50 Conservative MPs are calling on the independent body that determines their salaries to impose a pay for all parliamentarians freeze next year. 

In a letter addressed to Richard Lloyd, the interim chairman of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, MPs rejected a recommendation from Ipsa that would see their pay rise by £3,300.

In light of the economic uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, they said that parliamentarians should do their part to “shoulder the burden” by accepting an income freeze, according to PA Media.

The letter, which was reportedly co-ordinated by Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland Dehenna Davison, has been backed by at least 52 Tory MPs.

“This year has been a year like no other with the whole nation making huge sacrifices to control the coronavirus, protect the NHS, and save lives,” they said.

"At the centre of this have been our doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other essential workers. Their work has kept people safe, kept our children educated, and kept our country running.

"To support people's jobs and livelihoods, the Government has introduced unprecedented measures, totalling £200 billion.

“But at such a time, where the Government may be asking for restraint elsewhere, we believe it is neither appropriate nor justifiable to be awarding MPs pay rises.”

Easing restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus during the Christmas season “will lead to more spreading of coronavirus,” Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

Mr Drakeford did not appear to rule out an easing of restrictions, but said any that any relaxation of rules would need to be carried out “responsibly”. 

The Welsh Labour leader offered his warning ahead of a Cobra meeting expected to take place Tuesday afternoon to discuss a relaxation of rules for the Christmas period. 

Addressing the Welsh Parliament, Mr Drakeford said already, some of the gains achieved by the country’s 17-day firebreak lockdown were “already being reversed”.

A further 608 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus, the government has said, with the new total representing the highest daily jump since May.

The new number brings the total toll in the UK to 55,838.

Read more here:

People without Covid-19 symptoms could be tested for the virus under a new scheme in the parts of Scotland placed under the tightest restrictions.

On Tuesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the Scottish Government is working to hash out the details with the 11 local authorities that have been placed under Level 4 measures.

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government is looking to "develop and deliver targeted geographical testing in a number of communities".

More details are expected to be announced to Holyrood on Wednesday.