Coronavirus: live updates on Covid-19 in the South West
WATCH: Infectious diseases expert Dr Bharat Pankhania answering some of the big question around coronavirus and its impact on life in the West Country
Monday 16 March 18:08
Holidaymakers from Cambridge in Stroud say they are desperate to get home after being put into precautionary quarantine while abroad.
Andrew Roe and Karen Line travelled to the Azores last week.
Upon arrival they were met by authorities who told them, they were going to be put into quarantine for 14 days.
Monday 16 March 17:05
Taunton Racecourse has announced races at the venue are to be held behind closed doors over coronavirus concerns.
In a statement the racecourse said:
While racing without a crowd will impact the racecourse financially, the more pressing need is to agree a programme that is sustainable in the light of possible staff absences, including critical roles, which protects industry staff and supports the wider effort to free up critical public services and to try and maintain some level of economic activity.
Who will be allowed into the racecourse?
Access to the racecourse will be strictly limited to essential participants only i.e. jockeys,trainers, racecourse staff, stable grooms and officials. The fixture will continue to be televised on Racing TV. Owners will be limited to an admission of just 2 of people per horse.
No other people will be allowed to enter the racecourse.
Monday 16 March 16:47
The University of Bath has announced that face to face teaching for undergraduates and those taking taught graduate courses will cease from tomorrow [17 March] until after the Easter break.
The move is a precautionary measure. Teaching will be reconfigured so that it can be delivered online. The details and timing of this will be announced by Departments.
No decision has yet been taken about teaching and assessment, and timescales for this, after Easter.
However, the university says plans for teaching and assessments to be provided remotely in case this is required are being developed.
However, the campus has not completely closed.
The Library, Sports Training Village (STV), shops, catering outlets and research facilities will remain operational.
International and UK students will continue to live on campus.
Further information on large scale events is expected to be issued in due course.
Monday 16 March 16:25
Mill Ford School in Plymouth has closed today [March 16] as a precaution after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus, the city council have announced.
The school has taken advice from Public Health England and Plymouth’s Director of Public Health and is undergoing a deep clean before it reopens on Tuesday.
The advice is that the school can reopen once the deep clean has taken place and that with standard hygiene measures in place, the risk to the others in the school community is not high.
The school has a nurse who will be speaking to anyone who has had contact with the staff member and any parents who have specific concerns.
Monday 16 March 16:10
Brittany Ferries will soon be suspending sailings on its Plymouth-Roscoff route until at least the 26th of March.
The last crossing will leave Plymouth on Wednesday at 3pm.
The firm's Plymouth- Santander service has already been suspended until 12th of April.
Monday 16 March 14:01
Salisbury Hospital has confirmed a man who had tested positive for COVID-19 and had underlying health conditions has died.
Monday 16 March 13:19
All Easyjet flights from Exeter and Newquay airports to Spain are to be cancelled from tomorrow [March 17].
It's in response to the Spanish government's decision to 'lock down' the country.
Ryanair is also reducing the number of fights it operates to Spain. Airlines bosses say there will be a number of rescue flights today to get people home. The advice is to check the airline's websites.
Monday 16 March 11:47
This week's Cornwall Music Festival has been cancelled due to concerns over coronavirus.
The festival was due to run from Today [March 16] to Saturday and attracts hundreds of competitors and spectators to Truro Methodist Church
Monday 16 March 11:29
St Luke's Hospice have announced fundraising event, Men's Day Out, due to take place on March 28 has been postponed.
The hospice say its a precautionary measure in reaction to the confirmed cases of coronavirus in Plymouth.
The event will be rearranged to take place on a Saturday later in the year, the hospice say.
Men's Day out was set to raise a record amount of funding to help the hospice care for terminally ill people at end of life
Sunday 15 March 17:30
It's also been confirmed that a student from Exeter University has tested positive. In a statement the university say the student was tested abroad and has been off-campus for the past three days.
The statement also says it's supporting the student, but is not taking any further action.
Sunday 15 March 13:56
A man in his fifties with underlying health conditions has died after testing positive for coronavirus in Bristol, its been confirmed.
More here.
Sunday 15 March 12:00
Bath Half Marathon has gone ahead, despite concerns from several people about the spread of coronavirus. [](https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2020-03-15/nearly-1-000-runners-boycotting-bath-half-marathon-in-wake-of-coronavirus-join-virtual-race-online/)Nearly 1,000 runners not taking part in the race have joined a 'virtual' running group on Facebook instead.
Elsewhere, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital has confirmed four people there have tested positive for the virus. One of those has been sent home to self-isolate.
Saturday 14 March 09:00
Organisers of the World Pilot Gig Championships confirm that this year's event will not go ahead in May.
An announcement was posted on its official Facebook page.
Friday 13 March 11:15
The EFL Board announces that all football matches scheduled for this weekend until April 3 will be postponed.
This includes the Championship, League One and League Two, as well as all Academy and youth team fixtures.
The board took the decision after increasing numbers of cases affecting club players and staff.
Check out how many confirmed cases there are in your area with our interactive map above
Thursday 12 March 14:15
Public Health England has revised its South West figures, stating there are now 42 cases of coronavirus.
The number of cases has changed as more information becomes available.
They have most likely been recategorised to another local authority.
There are still 57 positive cases which need 'to be determined', meaning their region is still unknown.
Thursday 12 March 13:00
A student at the University of Bristol has tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from abroad.
Bristol City Council and the University of Bristol have confirmed the case and say they will be 'tracing and advising contacts according to national guidance and protocol'.
Wednesday 11 March
Public Health England confirmed yesterday (March 11) that there are now 44 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the South West.
How are cases categorised?
All cases are broken down by local authority, which doesn't always mean it's by the wider county.
This is why cases in Plymouth and Torbay are stated as well as Devon.
It also explains why Cornwall isn't broken down further.
They are broken down by local authority as follows:
Stats accurate as of March 11.
Bristol 3
Cornwall 5
Devon 13
Dorset 0
Gloucestershire 4
Somerset 2
South Gloucestershire 1
Swindon 2
Torbay 7
Wiltshire 4
The total number in the UK has now risen to 456. The Department of Health says it's the largest day-on-day increase in coronavirus cases - a jump from 373 cases at the same point on Tuesday [March 10]. It comes on the day the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a pandemic.
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The rise in cases comes as Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out plans for the health service in his Budget and pledged security and support for those who are sick and unable to work due to the spread of Covid-19.