- Millions of Americans are travelling home to celebrate Thanksgiving, despite warnings from health officials amid a surge of Covid-19
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has told Americans to stay at home and celebrate only with those they live with
- Hard-hit regions have reimposed restrictions with El Paso, Texas announcing a night-time curfew
- People across the UK are being urged to think carefully before they take advantage of the relaxation of restrictions on Christmas
- Government adviser Prof Andrew Hayward says family gatherings are a "recipe for regret" for people
- UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak says the UK's "economic emergency" has "only just begun" as he sets out spending plan
- The number of unemployed people in the UK is expected to surge to 2.6 million by mid 2021
- Nearly 60 million cases have been confirmed globally with around 1.4 million deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University
Good morning and welcome as we begin Wednesday's live coverage of coronavirus developments. Stay with us for all the latest updates. Here's a look at the latest UK headlines:
- Leaders of the four UK nations have warned people to be cautious of the risk of spreading coronavirus when rules are relaxed over Christmas
- A government scientific adviser has said the move could create a "recipe for regret" for people
- Up to three households will be able to meet during a five-day festive period as part of a plan announced on Tuesday evening
- Meanwhile, we're expecting a major update from the government on the UK economy as Chancellor Rishi Sunak prepares a spending review, a sort of "mini-Budget", that will include details on public sector pay and NHS funding
- Our political editor Laura Kuenssberg predicts the cold reality of the pandemic will be "laid bare"
- A report into the UK's purchasing of personal protective equipment has found a lack of preparedness meant price rises earlier this year cost taxpayers about £10bn
The Papers: '12 rules of Christmas' and Sunak's 'New Deal'
Wednesday's front pages are dominated by the announcement of special Christmas rules allowing families to meet up in the UK next month.
"Season's meetings" is the headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror as it reports on the easing of the coronavirus rules over Christmas.
The Daily Mail says the UK will "unite for festive cheer" - but points out that care home residents over the age of 65 won't be allowed to join their families.
Read our full review of today's papers here.
Thanksgiving travel and other world headlines
And here's a look at some of the top stories making the news around the world:- France is to begin easing restrictions from this weekend after President Emmanuel Macron said the peak of the second wave of virus infections had passed. People will be able to share "moments with the family" over the Christmas period, he said
- Millions of Americans are already travelling home to celebrate Thanksgiving, despite warnings from health officials amid a significant wave of coronavirus cases and deaths. Thanksgiving, traditionally a large family get-together that rivals Christmas in size, is on Thursday
- Tens of thousands of prisoners in California have defrauded the authorities of up to $1bn (£750m) in pandemic employment relief, an anti-fraud taskforce says. Unlike other US states, California did not cross-check the names of applicants seeking Covid-19 benefits
Warning over UK's Christmas mixing plan
The decision to allow up to three households to mix over five days at Christmas in the UK has prompted a government science adviser to warn the policy could make things worse.Prof Andrew Hayward, director of the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, and a member of the government's Sage committee, told BBC Newsnight that allowing families to meet up over Christmas amounted to "throwing fuel on the Covid fire".
He said it would "definitely lead to increase[d] transmission and likely lead to third wave of infections with hospitals being overrun, and more unnecessary deaths."
Prof Hayward said while you cannot ban Christmas, he called for clearer messaging to families about the "dangers" of socialising and inter-generational mixing.
Explained: What is UK's new Christmas plan?
Christmas coronavirus restrictions are to be eased next month, allowing people to mix with a slightly wider circle of family and friends. But what are the details of the plan?Across the UK, people will be able to form "bubbles" of three households over a five day period.
Between 23 and 27 December, the three households will be allowed to form a temporary "Christmas bubble". They can mix indoors and stay overnight.
Northern Ireland has been granted a longer window of 22 to 28 December, to allow time to travel between the nations.
Bubbles will be allowed to meet each other:
- In each other's homes
- At a place of worship
- In an outdoor public space, or garden
We have more about the rules here.