Devon is to remain under Tier 2 Covid restrictions, following the health secretary's announcement this morning (Thursday, December 17).

It means the restrictions imposed on December 2 will remain in place.

Read more about Tier 2 here The tier two rules being enforced in East Devon

But other areas of England have been placed under tougher measures, after being moved from Tier 2 to Tier 3.

These areas are Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey (except Waverley), the rest of Hertfordshire, Peterborough, Hastings and Rother on the Kent border of East Sussex; and Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant in Hampshire.

Bristol and North Somerset have been moved from Tier 3 to Tier 2, and Herefordshire has become a Tier 1 area, meaning six people from different households can meet indoors again.

The changes take effect from this Saturday, December 19.

Visit the Government's coronavirus guidance for full details of what each tier system means.

Announcing the latest measures, the health secretary Matt Hancock said 'we mustn't blow it now', and urged people to exercise personal responsibility over Christmas, when the tier rules will be relaxed.

What are we allowed to do over Christmas?

Between 23 and 27 December, the three households in a 'Christmas bubble' can mix indoors and stay overnight.

Members of these groups can meet in each other's homes, at places of worship, and in outdoor public space.

Meetings with people outside the bubble must take place within the guidelines of the area concerned.

After December 27, the existing tier guidelines will come back into force.

The tier systems are reviewed every 14 days, so there will be another announcement at the end of this month.