you're watching bbc news at nine with me, annita mcveigh — the headlines... millions more people in england wake up to the strictest level of restrictions — tier 4 — meaning they will have to mark the new year at home. some secondary school pupils in england face a delayed return to school, with mandatory remote learning for pupils who aren't in years 11 or 13. it comes ahead of a government roll—out of mass testing in schools. on monday of next week, all secondary schools are going to be getting a drop of tests, all the equipment that they need to set up. all the ppe that they need. a bill to implement the brexit deal has passed through parliament and takes effect at 11 o'clock tonight — when the uk will stop following eu rules.

formula 1 world champion lewis hamilton receives a knighthood in the queen's new year's honours — alongside members of the public recognised for their efforts this year. in half an hour i'll be looking back on some remarkable breakthroughs, from vaccine discoveries to a new era of private space flight. that's a year in science, with me, rebecca morelle. millions of people across the uk are being urged not to celebrate the new year with anyone outside their household, as the new variant of coronavirus continues to spread rapidly. some 20 million more people have now moved into the top tier 4 restrictions in england and have

been told to "stay at home". borisjohnson said the tougher measures were vital to save lives. nhs leaders have urged people not to hold new year's eve parties tonight — saying that "covid loves a crowd". john mcmanus reports. hidden behind scaffolding and mostly silent since 2017, tonight, big ben will temporarily return to normal service as it rings in 2021. big ben chimes but there's no such reprieve for much of england, where the new year will start on a sombre note with millions more people moving into the highest coronavirus tier from today. it means they must now try to stay at home, with household mixing banned and nonessential shops and services closed. it's a tough ask, especially at this time of year. i must ask you to follow the rules where you live tomorrow night and see

in the new year safely at home. that means not meeting up with friends or family indoors unless they're in the same household or support bubble, and avoiding large gatherings of any kind. the latest figures for the whole of the uk show more than 50,000 new infections recorded in the latest 2a hours, with 981 new deaths reported on wednesday. you can see, unfortunately, it is a pretty grim and depressing picture at the moment. the situation in the uk is precarious in many parts already, particularly the south—east and london. areas that are now under the tightest restrictions now include leicester, the north—east and greater manchester. in total, just under 80% of the population in england. shropshire, devon and cornwall are amongst those moving up into tier 3. with no region now in tier 2,

only 2,000 residents on the isles of scilly remain in tier1. millions of people in northern ireland, wales and scotland are already living under the toughest restrictions. for those facing tier 4 for the first time, there's some unhappiness. i'm in shock. it is completely ridiculous, how they keep locking us in and locking us out and going back and forth. they need to be more organised in what they do and figure out what's going on. it's not ideal for us but i think that it's important and people need to follow, because there are more important things like the hospitals and patients who are suffering. well, i haven't had the university experience, for one. and ijust turned 18 so i can't really do the normal things an 18—year—old does. but, i mean, it's fine. rising case numbers and a feared further rise after christmas are driving the new restrictions, but it will be sometime before we know which direction the virus will take in 2021. john mcmanus, bbc news.

0ur news correspondent luxmy gopal is in burnley for us. burnley is waking up in tier 4, i know you have been chatting to people today. what has the reaction been? absolutely, annita. people across lancashire, among millions of others in england, waking up under tier 4 restrictions, the highest level of restrictions. here in burnley, like many other places up and down england, businesses here had to react in a very short time to the announcement yesterday, and many of them had a matter of hours to shut up shop under the new tier 4 rules that came into force today. under those rules, nonessential shops must close, along with indoor entertainment venues, indoorsports facilities such as gyms and hairdressers, and nail bars, and

beauty salons. i spoke to the owners ofa beauty salons. i spoke to the owners of a barbers shop earlier who were saying that, because they had so many people booked in, with it being new year's eve, they had so many people booked in today that they did a bit of last—minute calling around yesterday to try to fit them in yesterday, the last day of trading. they opened until 11 o'clock at night putting customers in. they said it was like groundhog day. they have been through it before and having to go through it again is devastating, although not surprising given what has happened with infection rates. burnley has the highest level of infection rates in lancashire, about 466 cases per 100,000 people. health bosses in lancashire say it is a critical time in the pandemic and they are urging people to follow the rules, and stick to the rules, despite whatever plans for new year's eve they might have had. of course, as well as the closure of certain businesses, under the tier 4 rules you must stay at home and stay in your tier 4 area, apart from certain exceptions,

including for education, work or childcare reasons. and you are not to meet up with anyone outside your household or support bubble indoors. you can meet one person outside your household support bubble, but that has to be outdoors in a public space. so, people here in burnley and why do lancashire, along with around three quarters of the population of england, are seeing in the new year with some of the same restrictions and business uncertainty that have characterised much of 2020. luxmy, thank you very much. the highly anticipated 0xford—astrazeneca vaccine was approved for use yesterday, bringing with it a change in strategy in how the uk aims to innoculate the population. like the pfizerjab, the oxford vaccine is most effective after two doses — but protection is provided after the first dose. the medicines regulator has changed its advice that people should have their second dose three weeks after the first — now gps and hospitals must prioritise getting the most people possible their first jab. the second can be administered up to 3 months later.

joining me now to talk about the change in strategy is professor robin shattock, head of immunity at imperial college london. good to have you with us. we heard at that downing street news conference yesterday the desire with this change in strategy to get the most benefit, for the most people, in the shortest period of time. is that approach the right one, in your opinion? well, it's the approach that has been taken by the committee on vaccines and immunisations. the reason for this approach is that they have looked at the date and they have looked at the date and they can see that a single dose has they can see that a single dose has the potential to prevent hospitalisation, even though it may not necessarily prevent infection, mild or asymptomatic infection. so, by getting as many people do have a first dose, it is hoped that it will dramatically reduce the numbers of

people ending up in hospital, which will be essential for the nhs to be able to cope more appropriately. that, i think, able to cope more appropriately. that, ithink, is able to cope more appropriately. that, i think, is worth hammering home. the whole point of this strategy is not necessarily to prevent someone strategy is not necessarily to prevent someone getting coronavirus, and people will be encouraged to ta ke and people will be encouraged to take the measures they have been asked to take all the way through this year, but it is about if somebody does get the virus, the effects of that are minimised, one hopes? yes, absolutely. it's to try to minimise the huge numbers of people that are ending up in hospital. it is important that people get the second dose in order to have long—term immunity. so, it isa to have long—term immunity. so, it is a short—term fix. it's not a long—term fix. you need two doses do have prolonged levels of immune response against this particular virus. 0na response against this particular virus. on a public health measure, it could have a significant impact on reducing the burden on the nhs. we were told at that news conference yesterday not to get too hung up on percentages, when it came to talking

about the efficacy of vaccines. it's been interesting to hear. i'm just going to quote pfizer bion tech, saying that they only assessed boxing on a two dose regimen, people we re boxing on a two dose regimen, people were given thejob boxing on a two dose regimen, people were given the job three weeks apart. —— thejab. were given the job three weeks apart. —— the jab. although partial protection appears to begin as early as 12 days after the first dose, two doses of the vaccine are required to provide the maximum protection against the disease, and efficacy of 95%. it is saying if you separate out the vaccines over a period of more than three weeks, you can't guarantee the efficacy that it has promised. do you have concerns about that? it's important to recognise that? it's important to recognise that these vaccines are not the same. you can't make the same

judgment call on different types of vaccine. the pfizer and moderna vaccines, they get a small response after the first dose and it is full after the first dose and it is full after the first dose and it is full after the second. the astrazeneca 0xford vaccine is based on a viral vector. the majority of the responses after the first dose. and you actually get a relatively modest boost with the second dose. that is why it could perhaps be used in different fashions. if you had your first jab of the different fashions. if you had your firstjab of the pfizer vaccine, you might be disappointed not to be getting it within the three week timeframe, the second jab? i'm not sure the roll—out of single doses is really... the majority will be applied to the astrazeneca, rather than the pfizer vaccine. this is a response to the crisis in front of us. .

response to the crisis in front of us. . so it is really important that these vaccinations are rolled out as quickly as possible. do you have any concerns about the ability of the production process to keep up with the command? that will be the rate—limiting factor. we hope it will not be too much of a delay, but it represents one of the huge challenges we face in terms of getting as many people in the uk are vaccinated as quickly as possible. it's not going to happen as quickly as people might hope. certainly, this approach, particularly with the astrazeneca vaccine, giving a first dose, it may give some breathing space as we start to then catch up with the second dose of that particular vaccine. 0k, thank you very much for your time today. most secondary school pupils in england will return to the classroom after the christmas break, later than planned. years 11 and 13 can resume face—to—face teaching one week late

on the 11th january, while all other year groups will return the following week. but, teaching unions have criticised the government's plans, with one labelling it a "last minute mess". 0ur political correspondent jonathan blakejoins us now. good morning to you. ijust want to begin with vaccines. we have been talking about that subject. there is a petition to get teachers and teaching staff, other school staff, vaccinated as quickly as possible. what is the government saying about where those people might come in the priority list for vaccination? so far, the government has said that teachers, along with other key workers in the military and emergency services staff, for example, may be placed in a priority list under the second phase of the administration of the vaccine, or vaccines, as there are available now in the uk. it is being given first of all, as we know, to those in care homes. after that, the most elderly

in society, working down the age groups until the over 50s. it is certainly under consideration, but not confirmed, that teachers or other key workers would be eligible for the vaccine before anyone else. as you say, many among unions, among others, are calling for that to happen. teachers, along with other school staff. there is a petition, gathering 150000 and more signatures, saying that teachers specifically should be placed on the priority list. let's move on to the thing that gavin williamson, the education secretary, was focusing on interviews earlier this morning, the testing programme in schools. what did he have to say about that? do schools feel that they are actually ready to implement the mass testing of pupils and staff? there was some clarity from gavin williamson in his statement to mps yesterday for students, teachers, parents, all waiting eagerly to hear what the return to school will look like at the beginning of january.

return to school will look like at the beginning ofjanuary. he confirmed that most secondary schools would stay closed to most people is one extra two weeks, up until the 18th of january. mandatory remote learning will be a place on the 11th of january, when students who have exams this coming year in year 11 and 13 would return to school. primary schools as well also staying closed in many cases, for a while longer. the reason for that, to attempt to cut the transmission rate in the meantime, but also to allow schools to prepare for, as you say, a mass testing programme which the government wants to put in place so the government wants to put in place so that secondary school age children are regularly tested for coronavirus in an attempt to keep cases down. gavin williamson explained more about how he hopes that will happen on bbc breakfast this morning. on monday and next week, all secondary schools are going to be getting a drop of tests. all the equipment they need to set up, all the ppe that they need in order to have the staff.

and, on top of that, those schools that are really having difficulty, aren't able to get this set up with the resources that are being provided, we are very grateful to the armed forces, 1500 service personnel, for those schools that are really having difficulty, aren't able to follow the guidance and the instructions, and use the equipment that has been provided, and the money that's been offered to them, to be able to help them get that massed testing programme set out in their school. so, support of the armed forces, but still criticism of how this mass testing programme has been handled for schools. 0ne testing programme has been handled for schools. one a teaching union described this as a last—minute mess, and labour saying it is further proof that the government has lost control of its response to the pandemic. thank you very much.

borisjohnson's trade deal with the european union has become law. the bill has cleared parliament, after being approved by mps and peers. 0vernight it was given royal assent by the queen. the deal takes effect at 11pm — when the uk will stop following eu rules. here's our political correspondent, chris mason. this was the moment, late into the night, when the brexit trade deal became the law of the land. her majesty has signified her royal assent to the following act — european union future relationship act 2020. the final confirmation that at 11 o'clock tonight, after four and a half years of argument since the referendum, the uk will begin a new relationship with the european union. if you're thinking, hasn't all this happened already, didn't we leave injanuary, well, yes, legally, brexit did happen 11 months ago. but in practical terms,

it happens tonight as the uk leaves the eu's single market and the customs union. after all the noise, the turbulence, flag—waving, the megaphones, the resignations, the elections of the last few years, the debate here in the last few days, with the overwhelming support for the government's deal, has felt something like a fire blanket, smothering many of the past flames of anger. plenty, of course, are still hugely passionate about brexit one way or another. the snp opposed the deal, among others, and this won't be the last time you ever hear the b word. but things may, just may, be a little quieter from now on. chris mason, bbc news at westminster. we can speak now to our business editor, simon jack.

simon, i'm sure as chris was alluding to, it will not be the last time we hear the b word, brexit. but will it be quieter? that was the question he put out the end of the package, will things be quieter now and what will the day one challenges be after we finish the transition phase at 11pm tonight? well, i think ever since the deal was struck a week ago on christmas eve, you heard a huge sigh of relief from businesses. that was the catastrophic outcome, that we had no—deal. so that was warmly welcomed. it does not mean everything will be the same. it is going to be very, very different from tomorrow. principally because businesses which have been used to dropping stuff in berlinjust like they can in birmingham, they will have a mountain of paperwork to get stuff into the eu. they will have to sign customs declarations, 220

million additional declarations every year, at a cost to british business of £7 billion. that figure is hmrc‘s own figure. so, a big challenge. we are going to waive some of the restrictions, and some of the paperwork for stuff coming the other way from the eu into the uk. hopefully we are not going to see the kind of port congestion we saw that was covid related about a week ago. but the big fear for government, hauliers and hmrc is that there are many small businesses out there that trade with the eu that haven't had to master the paperwork and haven't had to do it since 1992. they are not on top of it, and if they get to the border of the paperwork is not ready, they will be turned back. so everyone will be turned back. so everyone will be turned back. so everyone will be watching very carefully, as to just how well the delicate mechanism of the ports, and we saw how delicate it was a week ago, how well that works. luckily, these new procedures come in over a weekend, you've got a bank holiday. there was

plenty of stock and everything in the uk, because people had stocked up the uk, because people had stocked upfor the uk, because people had stocked up for christmas and stockpiled ahead of the brexit vote. what happens at weeks tier 13 injanuary is going to be very interesting to see. in particular, the thing i would look out for is how many eu companies are going to want to send drivers and their trucks, which are not paid by the hour, by the mile and thejob, not paid by the hour, by the mile and the job, if they fear there is going to be a problem getting them back. because that would be a big cost to them. so, everybody is looking at that in the next few days. that's going to be the big watch. when boris johnson talked about this deal representing the uk having its cake and eating it, what do you make of that comment?” having its cake and eating it, what do you make of that comment? i think that is... look, the thing is, there isa that is... look, the thing is, there is a lot to talk about, freedom, independence, sovereign nation again, but within this deal there is what is called a rebalancing mechanism. we have freedom to change

oui’ mechanism. we have freedom to change our rules. but if the eu feel that the rules that we are changing of the rules that we are changing of the uk companies an unfair advantage, they can raise a red flag and it goes to a tribunal. the truth is, if the freedoms are going to be used, the eu will be watching like a hawk to see exactly how far we are deviating from their standards. i think the idea we can go and do what we wa nt think the idea we can go and do what we want and the eu plays no future role in the way we run our country on business, that is not true, basically. there is going to be an awful lot of surveillance on both sides. if the eu think that we have done something which gives us an unfair competitive advantage, and they raise this objection, then you do have the chance that tariffs could be introduced in some areas. but they would look at what is the nature of the fowl that has been committed, how serious is the foul,

what is the appropriate response. in the old days, the previous deal was that there would be automatic, unilateral tariffs. but it doesn't mean we are free of eu scrutiny on the way that we run a country or business. and for some in the erg, thatis business. and for some in the erg, that is a real difficulty. i think they will be looking to save the sta rts they will be looking to save the starts sticking it ‘s oar in, they might say, this deal isn't working and we should reconsider. we are not done yet. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's katherine downes. news of sporting honours to begin? good morning. we start with the new year's honours list, and another big day for lewis hamilton at the end of a really big year. first, he equalled michael schumacher‘s record of seven formula 1 world titles, then he was named bbc sports personality of the year. he's now been knighted. earlier this year, hamilton said he's onlyjust starting and wants to use his profile to campaign for change on human rights, diversity and environmentalism.

it's fantastic, the way it calls out to all the young kids. he's going to ignite a whole army, i should think, of hamilton wannabe emulators. he deserves his knighthood. i think he has always been an exceptional talent. but it's incredible, what he's achieved this year. it's not been a good year most of us on the planet, but it's been a pretty good yearfor planet, but it's been a pretty good year for lewis. a really lovely end to the year too for rob burrow, who's been made an mbe. a rugby league star with the leeds rhinos for so many years and now living with motor—neurone disease, he's been honoured for sevices to rugby, and his campaign to raise awareness of the disease. there are plenty more honours for sporting names, including forformer footballerjimmy greaves. he won the world cup with england in 1966 and has been made an mbe. fellow winner ron flowers is also made an mbe. there's an 0be for

promoter barry hearn. here he is with ronnie 0'sullivan. he's been honoured for services to sport for a long career in boxing, snooker, darts and fooball. i'm an old—fashioned englishman, so to get to something like this in the post, it is a wonderful pat on the back. and i'm deeply honoured to receive this. it's been the best thing that has come into my life for a long, long time. i'm really, really chuffed. the exeter chiefs director of rugby, rob baxter, has been made an 0be. he led them to an absolutely brilliant year, winning the premiership and their first ever european title. captain joe simmonds is also made an mbe. as is the former british number one tennis player anne keothavong. she's currently the captain of the british billiejean king cup team. that's the tournament that used to be known as the fed cup. and formerjockey bob champion has been made a cbe. he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the late 1970s but recovered to win the grand national in 1981. he's since gone on to raise millions towards cancer research.

to the premier league, and burnley have a new owner. the american investment group alk capital has completed its takeover of the club by buying an 84% stake. alk managing director alan pace has replaced mike garlick as club chairman, and he says the takeover marks a new era for burnley. the premier league says it hasn't even discussed the idea of pausing the season after a rise in coronavirus cases at clubs. new cases at fulham meant that their game against tottenham was postponed last nightjust three hours before kick off. premier league bosses say they're confident that their coronavirus protocols will allow fixtures to be played as planned. 0ne match did go ahead last night, but it was a bit of a damp squib. champions liverpool held to a goalless draw by newcastle. jurgen klopp's side finish the year top of the premier league table. rangers also finish the year top of the scottish premiership. they're 16 points clear of celtic after beating st mirren 2—0. boss steven gerrard will be hoping that 2021 brings them their first league title in ten years.

that's all the sport for now. i'll be back tomorrow on new year's day. have a very happy new year. australia will be one of the few countries this year celebrating new year's eve with its annual fireworks display in sydney, but the majority of the city's residents have been told to watch from home. this is sydney harbor where a shortened fireworks event will light up skies from midnight. the city has just recorded 10 new coronavirus cases. half of the new cases are linked to a growing cluster from sydney's northern beaches suburbs, after months of next to no locally transmitted cases. the outbreak has prompted the states of south australia, victoria and western australia to close borders to some other states. a woolly rhino from the ice age has been unearthed in the russian arctic. believed to have lived up

to 50,000 years ago, most of its internal organs are still intact. scientists say the rhino was between three and four years old when it died, probably from drowning. discoveries of preserved animals have become more frequent in northern russia as global warming has melted the permafrost. coming up after the weather... i'll be looking back on some remarkable breakthroughs, from vaccine discoveries to a new era for private space flight. that's a year in science with me, rebecca morelle. and what a year in signs it has been. —— science. now it's time for a look at the weather with matt taylor. a bit on the chilly side. these are the temperatures at nine o'clock. still at —5 in the likes of thirsk and lincoln. widespread frost and icy conditions around, still out there on the roads and pavements. for some, still some snow as well.

let me show you the radar picture where the snow is falling. we have some snow flurries are not resting on, north—west wales, through wales and down towards devon and cornwall, to the aa 30 in cornwall. notjust on the hills, down to lower levels. some of that will start to turn back to rain as we go through the day, due to temperature starting to rise a little bit. rain and sleet, preceded by some snow into northern ireland later on, and then rain to the afternoon. showers continue through wales on the south—west, but across wales and england, on the far west of scotland, a dry and bright afternoon with some sunshine, some lingering fog patches through these midlands, east anglia on the south—east, which could reform tonight. tonight, as we see out 2020, snow showers in scotland, rain and sleet into the north midlands and sleet into the north midlands and wales through the night, into tomorrow morning. it's going to be another cold, frosty night and another cold, frosty night and another ac start to tomorrow

morning. from south—western gwent, wales, through to northern england, continuing to see cloud tomorrow. 0ne continuing to see cloud tomorrow. one or two showers, particularly in the morning. most will have a dry start to 2021. over the days that follow, it will stay cold, maybe not as cold as it has been. but be prepared. there will be a stronger win for england and wales and it will bring in rain at times. a bit of hill snow, nothing too significant. if you want to sunshine, it will be in western areas, particularly western scotland. that is how the weather shapes up for the end of this year, the start of next. from me, happy hogmanay.