 5 February 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.
Updates from Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health
Latest situation on coronavirus in Devon
Watch Steve Brown give the latest coronavirus update on our YouTube channel
Coronavirus (COVID-19) case numbers are continuing to fall in Devon, but they are still around the same levels now as they were at the beginning of December.
Cases are highest among the 20 to 39 year old age group.
Watch Steve Brown's update this week on coronavirus in Devon.
Please exercise caution, even after your vaccine
Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health, advises:
"The roll out of the vaccination is indeed excellent news, but caution is still needed.
"Even when you have had the vaccination, you still need to follow the public health measures and continue to take steps to minimise the risk of spreading the virus.
"If you’ve been vaccinated because you work in health or social care, you still need to be tested regularly to ensure that you’re not infectious, even if you show no symptoms."
Community testing to identify asymptomatic workers and carers is launched in Exeter
We are launching a community testing programme to identify positive cases in people who show no symptoms of coronavirus, and are encouraging critical workers and others who are not already receiving regular testing in Exeter to start booking appointments.
The rapid lateral flow tests give results in around 30 minutes.
Around one in three people who have coronavirus do not show symptoms, so these tests are to identify those non-symptomatic carriers of the virus, to require them to self-isolate immediately to prevent them from transmitting it to others.
To book a test, visit Devon County Council’s website http://devon.cc/testing
To understand the process, watch Steve Brown, our Director Public of Health, and Nick Child, Operations Manager, who is managing the County Hall centre.
Watch Steve Brown (pictured) and Nick Child, who are managing the County Hall centre, explain the process.
New appeal to car sharers and people in the workplace to take extra precautions
Devon’s Director of Public Health, Steve Brown, is concerned about the number of cases still arising in workplaces. He said:
“We’re still seeing cases spreading between work colleagues. It’s often not because of the work place practices themselves, it’s more a consequence of social interaction between colleagues while at work. And too often, it’s the virus spreading between colleagues who are car sharing.”
Find out more about when it’s essential to car share and how you can reduce the risk of transmission.
CCG Members briefing - coronavirus vaccination in Devon
Please see the latest coronavirus vaccination briefing for Members from NHS Devon, Devon’s CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group):
You can view current and previous copies on the Provider Engagement Network (PEN) website
Six ways people can get vaccinated in Devon
There are six main ways the coronavirus vaccine is being delivered to local people in eligible groups:
- All four of the county’s main hospitals – in Plymouth, Exeter, Torquay and Barnstaple – are giving the vaccination to priority groups in line with national guidance
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GP practices are working together in groups to set up local vaccination centres. 20 centres are now in operation across the county, serving all 123 of Devon’s GP practices
- GP-led facilities are delivering the vaccine to residents and staff in care homes
- Additional mobile teams are bringing roaming vaccination facilities closer to people in more rural parts of the county
- Large-scale vaccination centres in Exeter and Plymouth are delivering the vaccine to local people
- Three community pharmacies recently began vaccinating people, with more sites to follow.
A list of all the sites is available on the Together for Devon website. It is updated regularly.
Map of coronavirus vaccination and testing sites in Devon
We are developing a new map of site locations. This web page is still being tested.
Beware of coronavirus vaccine scams
Four things local people can do to help the NHS
Four things local people can do to help the NHS vaccinate as many people as possible is being highlighted by Devon CCG. Please share it, so the vital information can reach as many people as possible.
 For the latest vaccination updates and advice, visit the Together for Devon website.
Devon County Council is supporting the national NHS tracing programme
Devon County Council is supporting the national NHS Test and Trace programme, contacting people identified as having tested positive for coronavirus or people who have been in close contact with someone who has. Local councils are helping to support the national tracing team. When attempts to reach a person have proven unsuccessful for 24 hours, those cases are handed to local tracing teams run by councils.
Supporting children and families
Chief Officer for Children’s Services
We welcome Melissa Caslake, our new Chief Officer for Children's Services, who started her role this week (w/b 1 February). She will be responsible for leading our systems and partnerships to improve outcomes for children and young people in Devon. Melissa said:
"I am really pleased to be here and looking forward to a time when I can meet and talk to you in person, but for now please do get in touch if you would like to share anything with me. I am very aware of how hard our teams are working to support our children and I want to thank everyone for their commitment."
Read her message to Children's Services staff in full.
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Drive to combat holiday hunger in Devon continues for February half-term
More than 15,000 children across Devon will be receiving food vouchers over half-term as Devon County Council combats holiday hunger.
Families of children currently receiving free school meals will automatically be sent supermarket vouchers – worth £15 a week for each child – to help them buy food over the week-long holiday, to replace the meals a child would have received during term-time.
Although registration for holiday vouchers for the half-term holiday ended today (Friday 5 February), many families in Devon may see their financial circumstances change due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Families can check if they are eligible for support through the Devon County Council website where they will get an instant decision. Alternatively, contact Devon County Council’s education helpline on 0345 155 1019.
More information about the free school meals holiday voucher scheme is available on Devon County Council’s website.
Make Your Mark 2020 Devon highlights
Led in Devon by Devon Youth Parliament, with support from the Participation Team in Children’s Services, Make Your Mark invited young people aged 11-18 to vote for one of ten topics they consider the most important nationally, as well as what issues are important locally.
This year a total of 3,667 young people in Devon took part in the Make Your Mark ballots; from schools, youth centres and young people independently, all voting online. This is a 2.8% turnout here in Devon.
Councillor James McInnes, Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Schools, said:
"National topics were shortlisted by elected members of the UK youth parliament through internal votes and debates while the local issues were collated with local partners based on issues raised which fell within the jurisdiction of Local Government."
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The top local issues for young people in Devon
The Devon results reflect the national picture, almost mirroring the top five, in both the UK topics and local topics:
1. Domestic Violence (No.1 nationally)
2. Homelessness (No. 2 nationally)
3. Access to training and jobs (No. 3 nationally)
4. Young people’s voice should be heard in creating local services (No. 5 nationally)
5. Childhood obesity and food poverty (No.4 nationally)
6. Leisure and culture (No.7 nationally)
7. Transport (No.9 nationally)
8. End the health postcode lottery (No. 10 nationally)
9. Access to technology and broadband for learning (No. 6 nationally)
10. Improve places to go and things to do for young people (No. 8 nationally).
Councillor McInnes continues:
"Sadly, unlike previous years, Members of the UK Youth Parliament were unable to join together at the House of Commons to debate the top issues and vote for their 2021 Campaign. Instead three topics were chosen as the 2021 national campaigns: Free University; Support Our Mental Health; Take Action on the Climate Emergency."
Read the final report in full.
It's Children's Mental Health Week (1-7 February)
With everything going on currently it's more important than ever that we raise awareness of looking after children's mental health, which is why we're proud to support Children's Mental Health Week.
Children's mental health charity Place2Be is encouraging children to express themselves by doing something fun, to help them feel good. Their free resources and ideas can be adapted for use in school, for home-schooling, online lessons or independent learning.
Concerned about the mental health of a young person aged 11 to 25 years old? Why not try Kooth?
Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community that offers free and confidential mental health support to young people in Devon. Kooth has unveiled its “Don’t Do It Alone” campaign, designed to encourage open conversations around mental health so children and young people know they are not alone with their struggles.
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Workforce Capacity Fund for adult social care
On 18 September 2020, the Government made a commitment in the adult social care COVID-19 winter plan to support local authorities and social care providers to maintain safe staffing levels over the winter period and to continue working with the care sector to ensure there is sufficient workforce capacity across services.
To enable providers to meet these workforce challenges, on 16 January the Government announced an extra £120 million funding to support local authorities to manage workforce pressures.
Devon will receive £1,787,766. Read more about how the funding can be used.
Care homes and frontline social care workforce vaccinations are on target
The good news from adult social care and health is that we have nearly completed vaccinating all our care homes. Here's an update, from 4 February 2021:
- 96% of all DCC care homes for older people (283) were vaccinated by the target date of Sunday 24 January, with plans in place to vaccinate the small number remaining.
- We are also on track to complete vaccination of the remaining care homes for people with learning disabilities, mental health and physical disabilities by mid-February 2021.
- Work continues to vaccinate the over-70s age group who are housebound, in the same time period.
- By Sunday 7 February, we will have vaccinated 75% of Devon's 18,000 frontline social care workforce, the vast majority of which work in the independent sector.
- Unpaid carers are identified within cohort 6 of the JCVI guidance and we expect to be moving to vaccinate this cohort in the coming weeks. Work is underway to identify those eligible.
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Services, emphasises that while this is excellent news, people should continue to follow Government guidance:
"Even though you have been vaccinated, to protect yourself, your family, friends and colleagues, you still need to follow the current guidance both inside and outside of work."
Dr Paul Johnson Clinical Chair of the CCG reiterated it's important to remember to act like you have COVID-19, even after you’ve been vaccinated as you may still transmit the virus. Watch his video update recorded on 29 January.
Devon’s care workers deserve to be ‘recognised and better paid’
Devon’s care workers need to be recognised now for their vital contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic by being better valued and rewarded, according to Devon County Council’s (DCC) Cabinet Member for Adult Health and Social Care, Councillor Andrew Leadbetter:
"We all owe care workers a huge debt. More care workers are needed to provide care to older people and those with disabilities or mental health needs."
There are currently approximately 1,500 permanent care vacancies in Devon, and many other additional temporary vacancies due to COVID-19.
And Cllr Leadbetter says that unless the Government pledges more money to increase wages and improve opportunities for training and development, they will continue to be under-valued and Devon’s capacity to sustain vital care services will be put at risk.
Mental health first aid training provides better support to rural businesses
The farmers’ charity, Farming Community Network, reported last year that mental health accounted for nearly half of all calls to their support helpline. They said that coronavirus was one of the main causes of stress and anxiety among the farming community.
In Devon, our Trading Standards officers have been running free online webinar events - the next one is Tuesday 23 February - bringing together support for organisations and rural groups to promote mental health and wellbeing specifically for the farming community.
It's part of a wider project aiming to help rural businesses by highlighting the stigma surrounding mental health, and to help make people aware of support that is available to them.
Vaccine awareness for Black, Asian, minority ethnic and faith groups in Devon
There are concerns that Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people and people of certain faiths are less likely to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. We are looking to raise awareness around the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine and the benefits of having it, to ensure that people from Black, Asian, minority ethnic and faith communities are safe and protected against the virus.
Celebrities unite to dispel vaccine myths
A group of celebrities, including actors Adil Ray and Meera Syal, cricketeer Moeen Ali, comedian Romesh Ranganathan, politician Sadiq Khan and presenter Konnie Huq have released a video appealing to Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities in the UK to help address hesitancy around the COVID-19 vaccine. You can watch it on YouTube.
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Funding available to help communities
Grants of up to £700 are available 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.
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said:
“It’s been a difficult year for everyone and it’s important that we continue to help communities support the vulnerable. There is some excellent work going on to maintain people’s physical and mental wellbeing while they are isolated.
“We hope that the COVID-19 Fund will provide rapid and flexible financial support to better enable community groups to tackle some of the issues they face safely and in the ways that work best for them.”
For more information about applying, the application form and the terms and conditions visit Devon County Council's website.
Celebrating Windrush in Devon: Spring 2021 Programme
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.
Events are usually in the early evening and you need to join using the Zoom links in this Spring 2021 Spring Programme. Coming up:
Find my NHS number
A new service is now live to help find people find their NHS number. Although you do not need to know your NHS number to use NHS services, it can be useful to have it.
This service is for anyone living in England who has forgotten or does not know their NHS number. This service can also be used on behalf of someone else where the name, date of birth and registered home postcode is known. You can opt for the number to be sent to you by text, email or letter.
Taking notice of what's on your doorstep #ExploreFromYourDoor
We are part of a new joint Team Devon campaign called #ExploreFromYourDoor.
Take time to view the world from a different perspective as you go outside from your doorstep - walk or cycle and see things you wouldn’t normally notice in a car - look up at buildings, trees and appreciate the ever changing sky.
- Where will you discover? Our Explore Devon website is filled with some amazing walks, trails and sites to visit during lockdown on foot, bike or horseback; just remember to stay local for exercise.
- Get outside safely and search by activity and location using GetOutside from Ordnance Survey. Their website brings together current advice from the Government, local authorities and other outdoor organisations to help you decide where to go and what to do.
- There’s more history on your doorstep than you realise. Use our public rights of way website and interactive map to plan a route.
- You can also find more cycle routes and trails, as well as other useful travel information at Travel Devon.
We live in a beautiful part of the world. We would love to see what you have discovered, use the hashtag #ExploreFromYourDoor on social media to get involved.
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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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