Thursday 20 August 2020
In this update:
 Growth Support Kickstart Grant Scheme
Small businesses and the tourism sector across Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay will be able to apply for grants of up to £3,000 through the Growth Support Kickstart Grant Scheme.
The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP) has been awarded a £771,164 share of government funding to help with the economic recovery in the region.
The aim of the fund is to support as many businesses as possible, with grants being issued on a first come first served basis through the completion of a simple application form.
It is hoped the fund will be open for applications before the end of the month. In the meantime, to help businesses prepare, an 'Information and Guidance' document and FAQs have been published on the South West Local Enterprise Partnership's Kickstart grant website and businesses are encouraged to read this.
The funding is due to be administered by The European Regional Development Funded (ERDF) Heart of the South West Growth Support Programme.
You can read the full story on our website.
 Car sharers advised to take precautions
Our Deputy Director of Public Health has issued guidance to commuters and other car sharers as they head back to work or are out and about.
The best travel options are walking and cycling, rather than sitting in an enclosed space with other people, but if you do need to drive or share a lift with people from other households, please take some sensible precautions:
- share the transport with the same people each time
- keep to small groups of people at any one time
- everyone in the car should wear face coverings
- try to keep as much distance as possible between each other
- travel side by side or behind other people where possible, and try not to face them
- open windows to allow air to circulate
- everyone should remember to wash their hands properly before and after their journey.
 Second stage of Self Employment Income Support Scheme opens
The second stage of the government's Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) opened for applications earlier this week.
Anyone whose self-employed business has been adversely affected by coronavirus since 14 July is eligible for the scheme and will be able to claim a second payment of up to £6,570.
More information, including how to apply, is available on the government website.
 Could you be 'Proud to Care' for Devon?
Congratulations to everyone who got their GCSE results today!
If you're wondering what to do next, how about a career in health and social care?
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of health and social care workers more than ever, but certain sectors are experiencing workforce shortages.
We've joined forces with NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to launch a new 'Proud to Care Devon' campaign to encourage young people to consider roles in health and social care.
Find out about possible careers in Devon on our Proud to Care Devon website.
 GCSE results: your questions answered
Thousands of students across Devon got their GCSE results today - it's been a particularly challenging year learning remotely over the last few months so you should all be proud of yourselves - well done!
The government's Department for Education has published a special blog on their website to answer some key questions.
 Self-isolation period extended to 10 days
Coronavirus is most infectious just before and for the first few days after symptoms begin, so it's very important that if you develop symptoms you self-isolate and get a free test immediately.
The self-isolation period has been extended from 7 days to 10 days for those with coronavirus symptoms or who have tested positive for coronavirus.
If you've been in close contact with someone who tested positive you must self-isolate for 14 days
If you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms get a free test immediately.
 Advice for travelling abroad
With the summer holidays now in full swing, many of us will be travelling abroad for our break. You can stay up-to-date with the latest government news on travel corridors (this is the list of countries and territories you can travel to from England and may not have to self-isolate) on the government website, as well as sign up for email updates.
There is also lots of information on the website about how to self-isolate if you need to when you return.
 Do you need support?
If you need support because of the coronavirus pandemic, for example, you're out of work, you need food or you want to take care of your mental health, log on to the government's website to find out what help and advice you can get from the government and other organisations. You can use it for yourself or someone else.
You can find support with:
- what to do if you’re feeling unsafe where you live, or if you’re worried about someone else
- paying bills, rent, or your mortgage
- getting food
- being made redundant or unemployed, or not having any work
- what to do if you’re worried about going in to work
- having somewhere to live
- mental health and wellbeing, including information for children.
 Stronger enforcement measures
The government has announced a series of tough new enforcement measures targeting the most serious breaches of social distancing restrictions.
In the coming weeks, fines for repeatedly not wearing face coverings where mandated will be significantly increased. The fines will double at each offence, up to a maximum value of £3,200. The guidance on face coverings has been updated to reflect this.
On the spot fines for hosting or facilitating illegal gatherings of more than 30 people will also be introduced. The guidance for the public on meeting people outside of their household has been updated in line with this announcement.
Don't get caught out, make sure you understand what you can and can't do and what restrictions are in place to help stop the spread of coronavirus and keep everyone safe. Keep up to date with the government's FAQs on their website.
 Sign up to take part in vaccine trials
The government is encouraging more people to join the thousands of volunteers and sign up to the NHS COVID-19 Vaccine Research Registry.
Over 100,000 people have volunteered so far to take part in COVID-19 vaccine trials, helping to speed up efforts to discover a safe and effective vaccine.
To enable large-scale vaccine studies to take place across the UK, the aim is to get as many people as possible signed up to the registry by October.
You can sign up via the NHS website.
 What you can do to help stop the spread
We all have a role to play in reducing the transmission of coronavirus, especially as the number of cases of coronavirus is still very low in Devon, and we want to keep it that way.
The government has published a useful guide to what actions you can take to reduce your chance of catching coronavirus or passing it on to others.
It includes advice on social distancing, hand washing and wearing a face covering.
They're asking everyone to read it and think about each point carefully and plan how you will follow this guidance in your daily life. You can find the guidance on the government's website.
 Doctors welcome COVID-friendly cancer treatments
Doctors in Devon have welcomed the announcement this week that ‘COVID-friendly’ cancer treatments will be expanded and extended through a £160 million initiative.
The funding will pay for drugs that treat patients without having such a big impact on their immune system or offer other benefits such as fewer hospital visits.
You can read the full story on the NHS website.
 Antibody testing programme publishes results
New research suggests that 6% of the population in England (that's around 3.4 million people) have been infected with coronavirus.
Over 100,000 volunteers have taken part in the world’s largest home antibody testing programme for coronavirus, which tracked the spread of infection across England following the first peak of the pandemic.
Those taking part tested themselves at home using a finger prick test between 20 June and 13 July to check if they have antibodies against the virus which causes COVID-19.
You can read more about the study and the results on the government's website.
 Share your experience of Lockdown Blues
You're invited to share your experiences of the isolating impact of the coronavirus pandemic as part of a major new project designed to collect stories of loneliness and community.
The Lockdown Blues is an online scrapbook for anyone who wants to contribute their thoughts, feelings, or reflections on loneliness in any format – whether through poems, songs, paintings, stories, sketches, videos, letters or a few brief notes.
It has been designed by three researchers at the University of Exeter to promote empathy and creativity, with the hope that reading, writing, and creating may help visitors to the website feel less alone. It will also act as a public record, so that people’s experiences of difficulty during this important time aren’t forgotten or overlooked.
Anyone can easily submit their contributions and share their thoughts with others. Contributions can be anonymous and in any format. You can also contribute via social media using the hashtag #lonelycovid. The website also provides details of charities, services and community groups in the South West if you feel in need of support, or just want to meet new people.
Visit the Lockdown Blues website for more information.
 And finally... Don't forget to check our website
As residents, businesses, visitors and communities we are in this together - we all need to keep following the guidance to help everyone stay safe and well.
Our website provides advice and support for people living in or working in Devon and our visitors. It includes:
- what you need to know to help prevent the spread of coronavirus
- what Devon is doing to prepare for an increase in cases
- information about what to do if there is a local incident or wider outbreak.
It's regularly updated with all the latest information and advice, so make sure you have a look and stay up to date.
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