THE last 24 hours have seen some key moments in the coronavirus pandemic.
The UK recorded its highest number of new, daily Covid cases to date with 53,135 cases reported in the 24 hours leading up to 9am yesterday.
But, this morning, the government announced that a Covid-19 vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca has been approved for use in the UK, paving the way for a mass rollout.
The UK has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine – enough to vaccinate 50 million people.
Today in Brighton and Hove, the city entered its fifth day in Tier 4, the highest level of coronavirus restrictions in place in the UK.
The heightened measures came into effect on Boxing Day after a sudden announcement three days before in which the government detailed its plans to contain a new, more transmissible strain of Covid-19 which had been observed in the south east of England.
These updated rules meant that businesses and venues such as non-essential retail sites, hotels, gyms, cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and more had to close.
Walking through the city centre this morning, the streets were quiet with few cars on the road and a small number of people walking along the pavements.
There were a smattering of runners and cyclists making their way along the seafront.
This comes after hundreds of people were pictured strolling along Hove promenade over the weekend to make the most of a break in Storm Bella.
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty encouraged people to stay at home to "save lives" after it was announced that the city would be placed in Tier 4.
He said: “Once we go into Tier 4 on Boxing Day, the message is clear, you must not leave or be outside of your home except for specific purposes such as essential food and household shopping, essential work that cannot be done at home and medical appointments.
“Going into Tier 4 – Stay at Home will be hard for many of us. But staying at home means saving lives and preventing the spread of the pandemic while the vaccine roll out picks up pace. So it’s vital we look out for each other and play our part."
There is currently no limit on spending time outdoors with members of the same household, however.
Government guidance states: "People can exercise outdoors or visit some public outdoor places, such as parks, the countryside accessible to the public, public gardens or outdoor sports facilities.
"You can continue to do unlimited exercise alone, or in a public outdoor place with your household, support bubble, or with one other person if you maintain social distancing."
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