Friday 6 November 2020
In this update:
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New national lockdown restrictions
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Rising case numbers in working age population
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Councils ready to support clinically extremely vulnerable
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Improve your wellbeing with Learn Devon’s Mindfulness Challenge
- Financial support available if you need it
- Changes to some of our services during lockdown
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Guidance issued for Remembrance Sunday activities
 Please follow national lockdown restrictions
When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), and in doing so protect the NHS and save lives.
That's why new national lockdown restrictions now apply in England, including staying at home, not gathering with people you don't live with and closing certain businesses.
During this time it is important that you stay at home as much as possible. You can only leave your home for food, medicine, exercise, education and work if you can not work from home. You can no longer mix with any household unless they are part of your support bubble, or childcare bubble or meeting one other person in a public space for exercise.
When outside make sure you follow government guidance by washing hands regularly, wearing a face covering in enclosed public spaces and stay 2m apart from anyone who you do not live with.
Guidance on the new national restrictions, including what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available can be found on the government's website.
Information on what this means for local residents, businesses and our services can be found on our website.
'Act now to stop the virus in its tracks'
"Local people and businesses made huge sacrifices during the first lockdown and this really helped to keep the number of COVID-19 cases and related deaths down in the county,” she said.
"Residents, shops, businesses, educational establishments and care homes all did a fantastic job to limit the impact of the first wave and this undoubtedly kept the number of positive cases lower in Devon.
"People and communities also came together brilliantly to support one another and look out for the vulnerable and those that might need extra help to stay safe.
"We now need to come together again with one more big effort to help stop the second wave of the virus in its tracks."
The latest data shows the numbers of cases in the county are increasing, following the pattern in the rest of England.
"Whilst the number of cases is still below the national average, the time to act is now,” she said.
"I am calling on everyone to follow the new lockdown rules, to limit their contact with others, and to follow the basic rules – social distancing, face coverings and hand hygiene – at all times."
Rising case numbers in working age population
Evidence suggests that in cases linked to a specific workplace, the spread has often been linked to locations where colleagues meet socially - in staff rooms, kitchens, or other shared communal areas that are 'down-time' spaces.
"Lockdown rules will force a change with some continuing to be allowed to work and others staying at home," said Dr Pearson, Director of Public Health Devon.
"The rules also ask us to avoid socialising together in most cases with pubs and restaurants being asked to close.
"But if at work and mixing with others we have to take extra care at all times.
"And that includes those ‘take-a-break’ moments with friends and colleagues, where it’s all too easy for our attention to lapse.
"We should also take extra care in other informal social settings such as in the playground when dropping the children to school.
"So please, keep alert to risk at all times. Follow the rules, use common sense and keep yourself and your family safe by not dropping your guard."
Councils ready to support most clinically vulnerable
34,000 people were identified in Devon during the last lockdown as being clinically extremely vulnerable based on their long-term health conditions, and many spent several months with little, if any, interaction outside of their households.
We, and charities and community groups, worked hard to ensure that those who needed support received help - including food deliveries and shopping, and lifts to medical appointments.
The government has written to people identified as being clinically extremely vulnerable this week, and all the Devon councils have put in place a support programme for those who need additional help to comply with the new national lockdown guidance.
Dr Virginia Pearson, Director of Public Health Devon, said:
"I know that this pandemic has been a very worrying time for everyone, and that many who were clinically extremely vulnerable last time and asked to ‘shield’, found lockdown to be a very difficult time."
"Therefore, please contact others for help if you need it, and stay in touch with family and friends during this time – but do this digitally as much as possible, to keep that important social distance. Remember that your mental wellbeing is as important as your physical health."
 Improve your wellbeing with Learn Devon’s Mindfulness Challenge
The five-day challenge, which launches on Monday 16 November, features a series of short videos that provide you with useful techniques and tips to help your mind and wellbeing. Each day will focus on different ways to help with focus, concentration, relaxation, coping with anxiety, as well as stretches for desk workers.
If you sign up for the challenge, you'll receive an email each morning with a link to the day’s video that you can watch on-demand, in your own time.
 Schools, colleges and universities remain open
Schools, colleges and universities will remain open to all pupils and students during the lockdown this time. It remains very important for children and young people to attend, to support their wellbeing and education and help working parents and guardians.
Senior clinicians still advise that school is the best place for children to be, and so they should continue to go to school. Schools have implemented a range of protective measures to help keep pupils and staff safe.
Parents and carers are encouraged to observe social distancing when dropping children off and picking them up from school, and are being reminded that households should not be mixing by walking in groups on the school run. Children should also not be dropped off or collected by people from different households unless they are part of your support bubble.
 Financial support is available if you need it
The government is extending the Job Retention Scheme (furlough) until March 2021. This means that workers in any part of the UK can retain their job, even if their employer cannot afford to pay them, and be paid at least 80 per cent of their salary up to £2,500 a month.
If your income has changed and you're struggling to pay for basic household essentials, we've also made money available via local District Councils to provide small emergency grants to people in financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.
There's more information about what to do if you're employed and cannot work, on the government's website.
If you’re self-employed and getting less work or no work because of coronavirus (COVID-19), there is also support available, such as the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
In addition, business premises forced to close in England are to receive grants worth up to £3,000 per month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant. You can find out more about coronavirus financial support for your business on the government's website.
Self-isolation is one of the most important things for controlling the transmission of coronavirus. The government has now launched a Test and Trace Support payment of £500 so that those on low incomes are able to self-isolate without worrying about their finances.
 Changes to some of our services during lockdown
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and especially now during this second lockdown period, our priorities are to continue to provide essential services, to keep vulnerable residents as safe as possible and to do what we can to support local businesses.
Our services will continue to be delivered, albeit in slightly different ways, as they have over the last few months:
Guidance issued for Remembrance Sunday activities
They published guidance for organisers, setting out conditions including that events should be outdoors, be short and focus on wreath laying, and that attendees should be kept to a minimum and observe social distancing.
Of course during the new national lockdown, we are asked to make only essential journeys out of the house, so while members of the public are permitted to stop and watch a Remembrance Sunday event as spectators, organisers are asked to discourage the public from attending, mindful of the risk especially to veterans and other vulnerable attendees taking part.
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