22 January 2021
Public: coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Devon on our website
Please pass this onto district, borough, parish and town councillors as appropriate. The bulletin can be shared as a link by clicking the 'View it as a Web page' link at the top. Find previous bulletins on our web page.
Do it for Devon
Stick with us and keep following the guidance to keep everyone safe and well.
We need the support of local residents and visitors to keep following the lockdown guidelines and you must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. If you do need to leave home, please remember advice and guidance around social distancing, washing hands and hand sanitising regularly, wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces, and avoiding busy places.
Keep it up as hope on the horizon
In his latest message, Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health says:
“Hope is on the horizon but for now, please stay home as much as you can and be extra careful when you need to go out.
“The steep rise in Covid cases we have seen since Christmas now looks like it’s beginning to level off in Devon and our numbers are stabilising.
“That is down to each and every person sticking to the spirit of the lockdown rules as much as they can to break the chain of transmission.
“Most people across Devon have responded really well yet again and I can only thank and applaud them as I know how difficult and dark a time this is for many.
“But even though the tide looks like it might be beginning to turn I encourage everyone to keep it up, stay focused and to each do our bit for a little while longer."
Parking arrangements at County Hall for new community testing site
From Monday 25 January, some of the car parking areas at County Hall will no longer be available for staff, Members or visitors. This is because we are opening a community COVID-19 testing site with both walk-in and drive-through facilities.
The car park area to the rear of Bellair, the cobbled area usually used for Members parking, and the area to the rear of the Council Chamber will be required for the lateral flow testing centre facilities and parking will be restricted in those areas.
We are asking all Members to please refrain from parking in these areas if you do visit County Hall.
The testing facilities will be on-site for a minimum of six weeks, we are sorry for the inconvenience but hope you will understand and support us in our work to help protect Devon residents and prevent the spread of the virus.
More details about the community testing programme will be released as soon as we have them, and staff groups who are eligible for testing will be contacted soon by their managers with more information on how to book their slots.
More community testing sites around Devon will open in February and we’ll share information on that in the coming weeks.
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CCG Members briefing - Coronavirus vaccination in Devon
Please see the latest Coronavirus vaccination briefing for Members from NHS Devon CCG, Devon’s Clinical Commissioning Group:
Every GP practice in Devon is offering vaccination appointments to eligible patients as four more centres open their doors
Four more GP-led vaccination centres opened in Devon last week, meaning every practice in the county is now offering appointments to eligible patients.
Patients in priority groups have been contacted to book appointments at new centres starting at:
- Culm Valley Integrated Centre for Health, Cullompton
- Lords Meadow Leisure Centre, Crediton
- Sherborne House, Newton Abbot
- St Thomas Health Centre, Exeter
Culm Valley began seeing patients last Friday (15 January) while the other three started appointments the next day.
Patients are being reminded not to contact their practice about a vaccination but to wait until they are called.
GP practices are working in groups to set up the local vaccination centres, with the four new sites bringing the total across Devon to 20 centres, serving all the county’s surgeries.
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COVID-19 vaccination staff update
Frontline social care staff across Devon, both those employed within DCC, but also importantly those staff working in the independent sector are now being contacted and starting to be vaccinated across the county in line with their Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI priority (2).
This is a huge and complex rollout and we are doing all we can to make sure all eligible frontline staff are vaccinated as soon as possible to protect vulnerable service users and our workforce and to support business continuity.
The vaccinations are largely taking place in the four hospital hubs (Royal Devon & Exeter; North Devon District; Derriford and Torbay hospitals) serving Devon but other vaccination centres may be used in the future.
A joint webinar for Devon, Plymouth and Torbay is being held next week to support the vaccination rollout to social care staff.
Please remember there is no need to contact your local NHS organisation or GP to be vaccinated, they will contact you when it’s your turn.
Members - helping you through lockdown 3.0
Reminder of support
The third national lockdown will affect us all in different ways, and with the shorter days and darker nights we need to do all we can to look after our own health and wellbeing.
For many people who already struggle with their mental health this lockdown might be particularly hard and that’s why we’d like to remind Members of the support which is out there and how it can really make a difference.
Support for people and families
Every Mind Matters: Make inside feel better
It is always important to look after your mental health and wellbeing but with current lockdown restrictions meaning we are spending more time at home and away from friends and family, it's now more important than ever.
The NHS Every Mind Matters website provides expert advice, practical tips and information about how to look after your mental health and wellbeing and 'make inside feel better'.
It includes a COVID-19 hub, as well as practical tips and videos from experts on dealing with stress and anxiety, boosting your mood, sleeping better and what you can do to help others – including advice for parents and for children and young people.
They are also offering access to a free NHS Mind Plan which will provide you with useful tips about how to deal with stress and anxiety, improve sleep and boost your mood.
New codeword scheme launched to help combat domestic abuse
Victims of domestic abuse can now access much-needed support from pharmacies across the country through the new Home Office 'Ask for ANI' scheme. ‘ANI’ stands for Action Needed Immediately but also phonetically sounds like the name Annie.
If a pharmacy has the ‘Ask for ANI’ logo displayed, it means they’re ready to help. Anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse and needs immediate help can ask for ‘ANI’ and the pharmacy will offer a private space, provide a phone and ask if you need support from the police or other domestic abuse support services.
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Together for Devon
Together for Devon is a partnership of health and social care organisations working together with local communities across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to improve people’s health, wellbeing and care. Their website contains general information on vaccination including FAQs.
Wellbeing support for Devon's businesses
Running a business is stressful at the best of times. Running a business during a pandemic is even harder. Listening Ear is a new service for Devon businesses that offers people a safe space to chat about those challenges on the telephone.
The service is run by Devon Communities Together and is a place for people to share their feelings and experiences about running a business in these uncertain times.
COVID-19 Fund to help communities
Reminder
We have launched the third round of COVID-19 Funding to help provide valuable funding to organisations working in communities that have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
Grants of up to £700 are available. The funding aims to help voluntary and community groups tackle the social and economic impacts of the virus outbreak and help those who are most vulnerable in their communities.
Marking Holocaust Memorial Day – Wednesday 27 January 2021
Windrush community presentation: Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago
Devon Development Education run regular events celebrating Windrush communities in Devon. Their events are often fun and informative and we highly recommend them as a way of understanding Devon's diverse communities.
Thursday 28 January at 6.00 pm Jaydon Pavey Errington will give a presentation on Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago including lively Caribbean music.
Join via Zoom using this link Meeting ID: 986 5490 5010 Passcode: 648256
Avian Influenza update
On top of the current coronavirus pandemic, an outbreak of Avian Influenza (also known as ‘bird flu’) was confirmed last year with restrictions being introduced for both commercial and domestic bird keepers to prevent the spread of the disease.
Due to the excellent turnout of officers the exercise was completed in one day and APHA has since expressed their thanks and gratitude to Trading Standards for their support.
Libraries Unlimited choose and collect service resumes
The lifeline choose and collect service has resumed to support the health and wellbeing of our communities
Please act responsibly when using public rights of way
With more people using Devon’s public rights of way and multi-use trails for their daily exercise during lockdown, we have received anecdotal evidence of increasing complaints about livestock being disturbed by dogs.
They say the world is closed today
This week, Adopt South West shared a poem called 'They say the world is closed today', which was sent to them by a mum of two young adopted children, in the hope that it helps lift people's spirits during this current lockdown.
We love that this poem is spreading such a positive message, despite the tough times that everyone is experiencing at the moment.
By pulling together across the Council, with our partners and our communities, we are doing everything we can to help us all through this incredibly difficult time. Thank you to you and your community and stay safe and well.
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