Devon sees rise in cases, a smaller, shorter Christmas is safer and the vaccination roll out continues

Devon is to remain in Tier 2 for the time being, the government has confirmed.

It has reviewed the three-tier structure and decided that because of our circumstances – including the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, the demographic of those case numbers and pressure on NHS services – we will stay in Tier 2 until the next review at the end of the year. 

This means that everyone must continue to: 

• Not mix with other households indoors

• Stick to the rule of six outdoors 
• Work from home if possible
• Reduce the number of journeys we make

Pubs and restaurants must shut at 11.00pm, and only serve alcohol with a substantial meal. Spectators are allowed at sports events and live performances, but in limited numbers. Personal care businesses, including hairdressers, can remain open if they follow COVID-secure guidance. 

Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon (Designate) said: "I do not believe that we are ready yet to relax our restrictions to the lower tier, especially as we head into Christmas, and the likelihood - although I would advise people think really hard about doing so - of families and friends meeting up in Christmas bubble arrangements."

The Leader of Devon County Council, John Hart, also said that remaining in Tier 2 is the right decision. He added: "But, if we are to accept these restrictions continuing into the New Year, the government must act swiftly with more support for local businesses."

You can read the full story on our News Centre.

Tier restrictions are being relaxed between Wednesday 23 and Sunday 27 December to allow families to get together, but just because we can, doesn't mean we must.

Steve Brown, the Director of Public Health Devon (Designate) is asking everyone in Devon to think hard about any plans we might have to travel to see others this Christmas. 

He's urging caution because of the risk of meeting face to face, and indoors with others, especially to older and vulnerable people. He said: 

"With more of the country now assigned to the highest level, Tier 3 restrictions, there is even more of a case now for people to think hard about their plans for Christmas. 

“I urge you to consider whether your journeys to visit others this Christmas are necessary, or if, for this year at least, you could just stay at home in order to minimise risk. 

“Undoubtedly, groups of people getting together, especially indoors, increases the risk of the virus spreading. 

“If we are not all very careful, there will be a very high price to pay in January, if case numbers rise again. 

“If you are planning to visit others, or others are planning to visit you, please consider the risk, especially to those who are old or vulnerable.” 

• Is your visit necessary this Christmas? Could it be postponed to later in the new year? 
• If you have to visit someone, or people are visiting you, can you stagger it to avoid lots of you sharing the same space for a long time, or arrange to see people but for a shorter period? 
• What can you do to minimise risk to yourselves and others? For example, stop unnecessary social contact with anyone from outside your household for at least five days before you meet other households for your Christmas bubble. Try to be outdoors more as being outside in the open air is better than being indoors. But if you do meet indoors open the window to allow ventilation, avoid sharing cutlery and try to avoid close contact with people outside your household. 
• Are hugs appropriate during a pandemic? Probably not. So why risk it, especially for people who are already vulnerable to being serious ill if they catch coronavirus. 

The Prime Minister has urged people to exercise caution over the festive period to ensure we can keep coronavirus infections under control.

The government has since updated its guidance for the Christmas period. Although the relaxation of restrictions between the Wednesday 23 and Sunday 27 December still apply, the government is asking people to take personal responsibility over the festive period. They're also asking everyone to stop all unnecessary social contact from today (Friday 18 December) until you meet with your Christmas bubble.

The latest government guidance includes:

• advice for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable 
• advice if you are a care home resident  
• advice about travel and overnight stays with your Christmas bubble 
• advice for after meeting your Christmas bubble  

We've updated the guidance on our website for people who will be visiting friends and loved ones in care homes this Christmas. 

Visiting is really important to people's wellbeing, and care homes are doing all they can to facilitate visits safely. 

The best thing to do is check with the care home first, to make sure everything's OK to visit, and to understand what the process is. 

Homes have rapid tests for visitors now, but it's important to follow other infection prevention measures as well. The home will tell you about those, and any guidance that they'll want you to follow about physical contact with the person you're visiting. 

If you are planning to visit a friend or loved one in a care home this Christmas, please have a look at the updated guidance on our website. 

More than 137,000 people in the UK have received the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the first week of the largest vaccination programme in British history.

In Devon, vaccinations have been taking place at eight GP-led centres across the county this week. And the NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group has just announced a further six of these centres will open in the coming days, meaning people in more areas of Devon will begin receiving the coronavirus vaccination next week, which is great news.

The latest centres to start appointments bring the total number to 14, with more due to open soon to ensure everyone who is eligible can receive a vaccine. GP practices are working in groups to set up the local vaccination centres, with the 14 centres serving 85 of the county’s surgeries.

There's some useful information on the Travel Devon website about how to get to your vaccination appointment if you are unable to drive yourself or get a lift from a friend or family member. It includes a summary of bus services for each vaccination location and details of how to contact the network of voluntary organisations which operate across Devon to support those unable to use public transport.

With people in Tier 2 encouraged to work from home and asked to reduce the number of journeys they make wherever possible, it's perhaps unsurprising to see cars left parked for longer outside homes on residential streets. 

Last year we launched a parking pilot, in recognition that in some locations, it's really difficult for care and health workers to find parking spaces when they're visiting people at home. 

Care and health workers told us that parking on yellow lines would make it easier for them to do their job, so that's what we did. We introduced a permit to allow them to do that in some circumstances. 

Since then, we've issued more than 9,000 permits to care givers, social services and NHS providers working across Devon. 

It was just a pilot, but last week we decided that because it had gone so well, and it's clearly helping care professionals to do their jobs more easily and care for people in our communities, we'd make it permanent, from this coming Spring. And we're making it better, by extending the period that the person can park there for if they can't find any other parking.