It’s tempting isn’t it to project forward, and speculate on easing the national lockdown to regain some level of normality. But right now, amidst talk of ‘peaks’, it’s vital that we keep on with the social distancing currently in place as we move into the weekend. 

It’s thanks to the way we’ve changed our behaviour and complied with these measures that the infection rate in Devon is slower and lower than in other parts of the country. 

We know it’s getting tough but stay at home, exercise locally. Go out only if you need to, and respect social distancing if you do. 

It’s also important that we continue looking out for each other, particularly the vulnerable and isolated in our communities. Let’s stand together and give our support to all those experiencing real hardship or difficulty. 

We will carry on keeping you updated with the latest information and advice from our services, the NHS and government via our website and this update. Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up. 

Since we launched our appeal last week, hundreds of you have kindly donated the community equipment that you no longer use, such as walking frames, perching and shower stools and commodes. Thank you!

We've now received almost 500 items, and we’ve already started to re-use them (after testing and cleaning them) to help other people to remain independent at home. 

We've had a lot of the smaller items, which is great, but larger items of equipment are also particularly sought after. So if you have, but no longer need, items such as pressure relieving mattresses, mobile hoists and profiling beds, then please let us know by calling Millbrook Care on 0330 124 4491 and we'll arrange a free collection.

We're all doing our bit to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), and many of you will be key workers helping to keep the country running during the outbreak. No doubt you want to do your job without reprisal or abuse. 

This week a new campaign has launched, #unacceptable. Unfortunately, it follows incidents of verbal abuse, being coughed and sneezed at and physical attacks on key workers in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. That includes our care workers caring for people, and highways officers fixing roads. 

Our Leader, Councillor John Hart, said: "This kind of behaviour is appalling and totally unacceptable. Most of us are grateful and supportive of our key workers including council staff who are out there every day doing their best to look after the most vulnerable and keep things going." 

So let's be kind to our key workers, please!

Social Work England has issued an urgent appeal to bring social workers back to the frontline to support the local response to coronavirus (COVID-19). 

A temporary register of returning professionals is now live, paving the way for people to return to practice during this national emergency to support individuals and local communities in great need. 

To find out more, and to express your interest in returning to social work, please visit the Social Work Together website. 

Here in Devon we've been campaigning to help recruit people to the health and care sector for a number of years.  

Our campaign, Proud to Care Devon, is having a tremendous positive impact to boost jobs and raise the profile of social care, and since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak we've focused attention on recruiting and training new Healthcare Assistants.

Now the government has launched a national campaign 'Care for Others. Make a Difference', to encourage people to consider careers in social care. 

It's offering a rapid online induction training, and it's asking care providers and recruitment agencies to advertise their social care vacancies on their Every Day is Different website.

To find out more about health and social care jobs available in Devon specifically, please visit the Proud to Care website.

Ramadan began yesterday (Thursday) and we are wishing Ramadan Mubarak to all Devon Muslims.

Traditionally it's a time for communal prayer, spiritual reflection, meals with extended family and friends to break daily fasts.  It concludes with the community celebration of Eid-Al Fitr. 

While staying at home throughout the holy month this year will be challenging, it is necessary to protect the NHS and save lives. 

The message from health experts and Muslim leaders is that staying at home during Ramadan will play an important part in the nation’s effort to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect family, friends, the wider community, and the most vulnerable.

Public Health England has published some advice and guidance on keeping yourself and loved ones safe and well during Ramadan this year.

To help support all Devon families during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Devon Children and Families Partnership has pulled together a list of useful information, advice and guidance from a range of online sources that you should find useful.   

It includes how to look after your family’s mental health and wellbeing  and how to protect children from online exploitation, domestic violence and sexual abuse.  

While we know that staying at home is the best way to prevent spread of the coronavirus, (COVID-19) we should also give thought to our body's need for sunlight and vitamin D. 

Too little of it isn't good for our bones, teeth and muscles, and can cause complications later in life. 

So do try to see some sunlight, while respecting the guidance on social distancing.  (That doesn't mean going to the park for a sunbathe, by the way!)  Or perhaps consider taking a vitamin D supplement each day to keep bones and muscles healthy. 

We all think that we're into the swing of this now, and perhaps some of that early advice about handwashing is slipping to our distant memory. 

Yet handwashing still remains one of the best ways to protect yourself against catching coronavirus (COVID-19) and reduce its spread.

So let's hear it for soap and water!  Here's that guidance again, and let's use it.