Friday 12 June 2020
This week we've taken a step forward again in our road to a safe recovery. We’ve seen more children returning to schools; some of us can form a 'support bubble' with another household from tomorrow, and from Monday, shops selling non-essential products can reopen. These are important steps, but they must also be steps that we take with care.
Listening to colleagues in health and social care today, they were reminding us about how important those earlier messages still are, even though restrictions are easing:
- Stay at home as much as possible
- If you do go out, follow all the guidance on social distancing and limit the number of people who you come into contact with
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Wear a face covering if you are in an enclosed public space and you're likely to be with other people
- Don't go out if you're not feeling well. Check your symptoms
- Carry on washing your hands properly with soap
These messages may be old now, but still important and worth remembering and repeating as we take each step.
In this update:
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Support bubbles
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High demand for primary places across Devon
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Retail shops to reopen safely from Monday
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Pub serves up its support for community
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Team Devon working together for our communities
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Helping people return to work or education safely
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A big thank you to unpaid Carers
- Don't feed the beast!
 Support bubbles
Many people have been cut off from family and friends during the lockdown, leaving them feeling lonely and isolated.
So it's good news that from tomorrow (Saturday 13 June) adults who live alone or single parents with young children can form a 'support bubble' with one other household.
This means they will be able to spend time together inside each others’ homes, including overnight, without needing to stay 2 metres apart.
The 'support bubble' should only be with one other household, and if someone in the bubble develops coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, all members will need to stay at home to self isolate and get tested.
Unfortunately the government has said they cannot advise anyone who is shielding to form a support bubble at this stage. It's hard, but they are keeping this advice under close review.
If you live alone or you're a single parent and you're not in a bubble, then you should only see people outdoors in groups of less than six and you stay at least two metres apart.
 High demand for primary places across Devon
More than twice as many primary children are attending school in Devon as nationally.
22.6 per cent of all primary-aged children are in school in Devon compared to 11 per cent nationally.
44 per cent of those offered a place in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 have taken it up so far, and numbers continue to increase.
Our Cabinet member for schools, Cllr James McInnes, says the figures are a tribute to the hard work of schools to introduce safety measures and reassure parents to give them the confidence to send their children back.
 High street shops to reopen safely from Monday
Shops in Devon selling non-essential goods will be able to reopen from Monday 15 June provided that they've taken all necessary steps to keep staff and customers as safe as possible.
Shoppers should expect restrictions, including limited numbers of customers allowed inside at any one time. Large items, such as sofas or armchairs will have protective coverings, and retailers will be frequently checking and cleaning objects and surfaces.
Shop owners should be displaying a notice in their window or outside their store to show their employees and customers that they've followed the guidance.
The latest guidance also recommends people to wear a face covering when in enclosed public spaces, like shops or public transport, where social distancing may not be possible, and where you're likely to come into contact with other people.
In fact, from Monday 15 June, you must wear a face covering on public transport, but be prepared to remove it if asked by police or staff for the purposes of identification.
If you've not already got a face covering, Public Health England has some guidance about making one.
 Helping people return to work or education safely
While people are being encouraged to walk and cycle to work, mopeds and other powered two wheelers are expected to become an increasingly attractive option for longer distance commuting.
We financially support Devon Wheels 2 Work, which provides the loan of a moped, along with insurance and safety equipment, to people in need of help getting to work, education or training, without the worry of using public transport.
The company is preparing for increased demand. "We hope that we can take the stress and worry out of the daily commute through our scheme," says Director, Craig Carey-Clinch.
The scheme is available to anyone aged 16+, living, working or attending college in Devon, East and North Cornwall, or Somerset.
To apply, or for more information, email admin@devonwheels2work.co.uk or visit the Devon Wheels 2 Work website or call 07970480807.
 Team Devon working together for our communities
Devon certainly knows how to pull together. Throughout the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we’ve worked quickly to ensure our residents, communities and businesses are well informed, supported, and protected.
As we move slowly into this next phase - with restrictions starting to ease further and plans being made for how Devon will recover from the lockdown, we must continue to work together and build on the effort everyone has made so far to keep ourselves and others safe and well.
We've made an infographic to show some of the things we have done as a Local Resilience Forum during the Coronavirus lockdown.
 Pub serves up its support for community
Local pubs are often the hub of the community, and that's certainly true of The Drewe Arms in Drewsteignton, which has been supporting local people on Dartmoor throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
We gave them some funding, and over the past few months they've used it to make sure that people have access to food.
They bought ingredients and packaging with the grant, and they've been making and freezing home-made meals for local members of the community.
Landlord, Gary, even set up a freezer and mini-food bank at the entrance to the church as a collection point for people to help themselves.
Others have added to the food available in the church porch.
"The funding was very welcome, it really helped," said Gary. “However, while the grant came to me, it was used to benefit the whole district because everything was bought locally."
 A big thank you to unpaid Carers
It's Carers Week this week - a time to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities.
It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.
This year, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support.
Now, more than ever, it’s important that we make sure the thousands of unpaid carers in Devon have the information, support and understanding they need.
For anyone caring in our community, we want you to know - we see you.
If you’re a carer, providing unpaid care to a family member or friend, visit the Devon Carers website or call 03456 434 435.
 Changes announced this week to furloughing
The government announced a couple of changes this week to the furlough and Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Parents on statutory maternity and paternity leave who return to work in the coming months after a long period of absence, will be allowed to be furloughed. There are conditions though, so please read their announcement.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been helping employers with furloughing. That scheme will close to new entrants at the end of this month, but has been extended to October so that from the beginning of next month, furloughed employees will be allowed to return to work part-time.
 The unsung heroes supporting doctors and nurses
Devon and Cornwall’s hospital laboratories have played a vital role throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This week their efforts were highlighted as part of Biomedical Science Day.
Since the outbreak began they've set up the infrastructure to process hundreds of COVID-19 swab tests every day; delivered thousands of COVID-19 antibody tests and provided point of care testing in extended intensive care units and community sites, closer to patients.
 Cash seized from loan sharks to fund community projects
The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has left many people struggling financially and some feel that there is nowhere else to turn but to loan sharks.
The Stop Loan Sharks project is working hard to offer immediate and practical help and support to victims of loan sharks.
They have set up a new online chat service to help victims of illegal money lending, alongside the existing 24/7 helpline, 0300 555 2222. You can also report a loan shark in confidence on their website.
The project also has a 'Community Fund' which is open for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups to bid for up to £5,000 towards their project. The pot of money is made up of money seized from convicted loan sharks. The closing date for current applications is 31 August 2020. Find out more about the funding and apply on their website.
 Do you know what you can and can't do?
As the lockdown restrictions continue to ease, we all want to make sure we keep up with the changes and know exactly what we are allowed to do and when.
There's a really useful 'frequently asked questions' page on the government's website that is regularly updated with what you can and can't do.
It covers everything from gatherings and outdoor activities, to going to work, public transport, schools and childcare and how the police will enforce the restrictions.
They've also published guidance on staying safe outside your home and guidance on social distancing rules.
 Don't feed the beast!
When shared, misleading or false information can take on a life of its own and have some serious consequences. It can lead to health scares, false accusations and potentially damaging hoax stories.
Recently there has been a lot of this kind of false information about coronavirus (COVID-19). It’s not always easy to spot, so the government is encouraging everyone to stop and think before they like, comment or share online.
Use the SHARE checklist to identify when information might be false and make sure that you’re not contributing to the spread of harmful content about coronavirus (COVID-19). Don't feed the beast!
 And finally... a little reminder
The weather looks like it's going to be a little cold and wet this weekend, but please don't be tempted to move your social gatherings indoors if it rains.
The risks of passing on coronavirus (COVID-19) are significantly higher indoors, which is why gathering inside other people's homes is still not allowed.
Breaking the restrictions could undo all the effort we've made so far to control the virus and save lives.
The number of cases in Devon remains one of the lowest in the country, let's all do our bit to keep it that way.
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