Friday 24 July 2020
In this update:
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New powers to help us respond quicker to cases
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Care homes start to open carefully to visitors
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Face coverings to be worn in enclosed public places
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Eid al Adha guidance for our Muslim communities
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One in five targeted by COVID scammers
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31 August deadline for 30 hours funded childcare
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Support available for farmers
New powers to help us respond quicker to cases
Last weekend new powers for local authorities to be able to close specific premises, cancel events and close public spaces in response to local coronavirus outbreaks came into force.
Previously, a similar process to shut down something in response to public health concerns required going to a magistrates’ court which can take a number of days to agree and enforce.
There are a range of measures that can be used to halt the spread of coronavirus, and several steps that could taken before a situation requires a localised closure. However these new powers mean that we can act quickly to manage a situation if necessary, in order to prevent infection.
It's part of the government's framework for how national and local decision makers will work together to help prevent, contain and manage coronavirus outbreaks.
You can find out more about our plan for helping prevent coronavirus outbreaks in Devon on our website.
 Care homes start to open carefully to visitors
Care homes were advised to temporarily halt visits in the early weeks of the pandemic to prevent vulnerable residents and staff from catching the virus.
Many residents, although staying in touch remotely via telephone or social media, haven't had face-to-face contact with family members for months. So news this week that care homes can carefully start opening their doors, albeit still in a restricted way, will no doubt be welcomed by many who have missed seeing their loved ones in person.
The new national visiting guidance requires our Director of Public Health, Dr Virginia Pearson, to assess arrangements here in Devon by carefully weighing up the situation in each individual care home, while considering the context in the local community.
"Currently our COVID-19 incidence, and therefore risk levels in Devon, are very low.
"We know that care home providers are continuing to follow all of the current public health requirements, and we'll work closely with them around these new visiting arrangements."
To limit risk of infection where visits go ahead, the government would like to restrict visits to one regular visitor per resident, as much as possible.
Visitors will be encouraged to wear face coverings and to wash their hands thoroughly before and after putting on and taking off their face covering; and to wear other appropriate personal protective equipment depending on the need of their visit, such as gloves or aprons.
Care homes will also consider whether visits could take place in communal gardens or outdoor areas, where ever possible.
Face coverings to be worn in enclosed public space
It's Friday the 24 July, and if you’ve not already heard, face coverings must be worn in shops, supermarkets, shopping centres and transport hubs, from today.
It's the law, so from now on you'll need to wear something like a mask, scarf or bandanna that fully covers your nose and mouth in enclosed public spaces.
Even when buying food and drink to take away from cafes and shops. But if you're sat in to eat or drink, you can take it off.
It's important because the risk of transmission is so much higher indoors, so please let's all do our bit. I wear a face covering to protect you. You wear a face covering to protect me. It's simple.
It helps fight spread of the virus, and besides, it enables further easing of national restrictions.
When using a face covering, the government strongly advises that you:
- make sure it covers your nose and mouth fully
- wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before putting it on or taking it off
- avoid touching the front of it or taking it off and putting it back on again a lot in quick succession
- wash it regularly and store it in a plastic bag in between washing or wearing
- avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth while wearing it
- not share your face covering with others
There are some exemptions, so if you see anyone not wearing one, there may be good reason.
Face coverings are not mandatory for:
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Children under 11 years old
- People with disabilities or certain health conditions, such as respiratory or cognitive impairments that make it difficult for them to wear a face covering
- Children under 3 years old should not wear face coverings as the could cause choking or suffocation
If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, you might feel more comfortable using an exemption card to show that you don't have to wear one. You can download one to print or save to your smartphone from the government's website. It's up to you though, you don't have to carry one and you shouldn't be routinely asked to provide any written evidence of your exemption.
 Eid al Adha guidance for our Muslim communities
Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on 31 July (dependent on moon sightings) and is traditionally a time for congregational prayers and coming together with family and friends.
But with coronavirus still a threat to our communities, this year will be a little different.
Places of worship have now reopened for services and gatherings of more than 30 people are allowed in mosques that are strictly compliant with the government's COVID-19 secure guidance.
Mosques will have carried out a risk assessment to determine the number of people that can take part in a service and worshippers attending a service should stick to social distancing guidelines and follow any rules that have been set out.
When meeting with family and friends it's important to remember to socially distance and only gather indoors with members of up to two households or outdoors in groups of up to six people if you're from different households.
The Muslim Council of Britain has worked with the British Islamic Medical Association to produce advice on how you can celebrate Eid al-Adha safely and in accordance with public health guidance in England. You can download a copy on their website.
 More about the ‘tracing’ in the NHS Test and Trace
We all know the symptoms - a continuous cough, a high temperature, loss or change in taste or smell - and if you have any of these you must be tested for coronavirus as soon as possible.
You can have a test kit delivered to your home or arrange a test at a testing centre.
Results usually take up to 48 hours to come back.
If your results are negative and you no longer have the symptoms, brilliant, you can stop self-isolating.
If your results are positive, you and members of your household must self-isolate and you'll be sent a link to the NHS Test and Trace website to create a confidential account in which you can record contact details for people you've been in close contact with recently.
If you've not got internet access, you'll receive a call from a contact tracer, and they'll ask you details over the phone.
It's important that you know that the details you give will be kept totally confidential. Those people also won't be told the identity of the person who's given their details.
Contract tracers will contact the people identified and advise them to self-isolate.
 One in five targeted by COVID scammers
Some 22 percent of people in the study believed that emails, texts, phone calls and other contacts they’d received from what appeared to be legitimate companies mentioning COVID-19, were in fact fraudulent.
Despite suspecting them to be scams, nearly half of those surveyed didn’t report it, the most common reason being they weren’t sure who to report such scams to.
Janet Quinn, Lead Scams Officer - Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards service said:
"We've seen a number of different scams over the last few months from scammers trying to make money out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"These people just want to take money from you and they use all the tricks in the book to try to do so, often targeting those members of the public they see as the most vulnerable.
 It’s getting busier out there. Please Share this Space
A reminder to “Share this Space” has been issued to everyone using Devon’s roads and paths this summer.
With roads and walking and cycling routes getting busier again, as more people return to work and more visitors travel to Devon, we're urging everyone to take extra care.
Cyclists are asked to please pass walkers slowly and carefully, letting people know you’re there and giving them space.
Dog walkers on shared paths are asked to keep dogs under close control on a short lead.
Pedestrians are asked to check for traffic if they are stepping into the road to maintain a social distance.
Drivers and motorcyclists are asked to be considerate and to give vulnerable road users such as cyclists and horse-riders extra space (two metres if possible) when passing them.
And be aware of the possibility of pedestrians stepping into the road for social distancing.
We've published films, animations and graphics on our Share this Space webpage, so that you can help us spread the message via your own social media channels.
 31 August deadline for 30 hours funded childcare
If your income has changed due to coronavirus – perhaps you’ve lost income, or maybe you’re working additional hours – you may be wondering whether you still qualify for the 30 hours of funded childcare per week.
The government has announced temporary changes to the eligibility rules so that parents are not disadvantaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
If you are a working parent and have a 3 or 4-year-old child, and your income has changed, you could still be eligible for 30 hours of early learning and childcare per week from September.
All eligible parents are encouraged to apply for, and reconfirm, their 30 hours and tax-free childcare entitlements, even if they have not been using their entitlement due to the coronavirus pandemic and the closure of childcare settings during lockdown.
 Even more libraries reopening next week!
These join the list of libraries that have already reopened since the coronavirus lockdown eased, which include those in Braunton, Chudleigh, Honiton, Crediton, Dartmouth, Exmouth, Ilfracombe, Okehampton, Sidmouth, St Thomas (Exeter), South Molton and Tavistock.
Brixham library is also open and Torquay library will reopen next week.
 Support available for farmers
A free event aimed at supporting farmers who have found the coronavirus pandemic particularly difficult to deal with mentally, will take place next Friday (31 July), between 6.00pm and 8.00pm
It’s been organised by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards to help tackle the stigma surrounding mental health.
Barnados launches new service to support at-risk children
Barnados has launched a new service this week to support vulnerable children and young people who are exposed to even more risk during the coronavirus pandemic.
It's called See, Hear, Respond. It's government-funded and brings together a coalition of national and local charities to identify and support vulnerable young people.
The aim is to provide early intervention before children reach a threshold for significant harm, where statutory services become involved.
If you think that a child is in immediate risk of harm, call 999. If you have concerns about a child’s health or wellbeing, you can report it anonymously to Devon’s Multi- Agency Safeguarding Hub on 0345 155 1071 or email mashsecure@devon.gov.uk
 Contacting the Police this summer
This summer we are expecting even more people than usual to visit the region, and Devon & Cornwall Police say this may cause a considerable increase in demand on their contact centres.
So they're asking that if you need to contact them, please 'ClickB4UCall'.
Devon & Cornwall Police offer a range of online services which can be used to report any non-emergency crimes and incidents including Report Crime Online, WebChat and Email 101.
If you have a question, but not sure who can help, then make AskNED – their non-emergency directory - the first place you look to find the answer.
AskNED has hundreds of answers to the most commonly asked questions and provides you with the information about who can help and how to contact them.
You can find your nearest Police Enquiry Office on the Devon & Cornwall Police website.
In an emergency ALWAYS dial 999.
 Leisure facilities can reopen tomorrow
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools can open their doors again tomorrow, Saturday 25 July, but it won't be business as usual.
They will be following strict new guidelines in order to keep their customers and staff safe, such as introducing timed bookings, spacing equipment two metres apart, enhanced cleaning and sanitising and encouraging people to change and shower at home.
Many gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools in Devon are run by district councils, so check your local district council's website to see what's reopening in your area and the special measures they have in place before you visit.
Help Us Help You South West Survey
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many health and care services have needed to be delivered differently. You may, for example, have accessed the health service online or over the telephone.
The NHS would like to know what you think about these new ways of working to help them understand how they can best meet people’s needs in future.
If you have ten to fifteen minutes, please complete this survey, and share your views about your experience of accessing health services differently.
The information you provide will be used by health and care organisations and commissioners at NHS England and NHS Improvement in the South West to help understand what suits different people best in different parts of our region.
The survey is open until 31 July, 2020. A report with the results of the survey will be published on the NHS England and NHS Improvement South West website and shared with participating health and care organisations and those who provide their email addresses.
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