 19 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.
Latest message from Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health
Case numbers falling generally in Devon but highest among 20 to 39 year olds
Click to watch on YouTube
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, focuses his message this week on Devon’s younger working age population – the 20 to 39 year olds.
COVID-19 cases generally are continuing to fall across Devon, but that fall has slowed and we are seeing a levelling off of cases.
Rates are currently highest among the 20 to 39 year old age group.
Steve Brown says:
“We’re seeing the larger proportion of people testing positive in that younger working age group,
“So I want to remind people not to be complacent. Not just when you’re in work, but also travelling to and from work.”
Listen to Steve Brown’s message this week.
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
 Map of coronavirus test and vaccination sites in Devon
A new map of coronavirus test and vaccination sites in Devon has launched and is available on the Coronavirus advice in Devon webpage.
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 deliver vaccinations at local vaccination centres
- 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
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Community pharmacies are vaccinating people, with more sites to follow.
Please note: Visits to coronavirus test or vaccination sites should only be made if people have a pre-booked appointment or have been invited for vaccination.
 Community testing available in Barnstaple
A second Community Testing Centre, offering rapid coronavirus tests that provide results within the hour, opened on Wednesday 17 February. The centre is located in Barnstaple's Taw View car park, Civic Centre, on North Walk road, and is open 9.00am to 5.00pm, seven days a week, with extended hours 7.00am to 7.00pm on Mondays and Thursdays.
It will provide lateral flow tests for anyone who leaves the house to work or volunteer, and who comes into contact with others.
The rapid lateral flow tests give results in around 30 minutes.
Testing sites are open now at County Hall in Exeter and the Barnstaple site. More are planned in locations including Newton Abbot, Tiverton, Honiton, Exmouth, Axminster, Okehampton, Tavistock and Ivybridge. Most will be fixed sites, but some will be mobile facilities that can reach rural parts of the county.
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, said:
“If you leave the house to work or volunteer and your work or role involves contact with other people, we encourage you to take these quick and simple tests twice a week to identify whether you are carrying the virus and potentially giving it to others.
“Your results are back with you within the hour. If you test positive, you’ll be asked to self-isolate for ten days. If you’re negative, you can continue your day while still adhering to public health rules – keep your social distance, wear a face covering when indoors in a public space, and wash your hands regularly.”
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
Extra 1.7 million people advised to shield
The Government is advising an extra 1.7 million people to shield after a new model has identified them as being at high risk from coronavirus, and therefore classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.
This new model takes into account extra factors rather than just health, including ethnicity, deprivation (by postcode) and weight to work out a person's risk of becoming seriously ill if they were to catch COVID-19. It also considers age, underlying health issues and prescribed medications.
An estimated 1.7 million people will be contacted by the NHS over the next few weeks and added to the 2.3 million people already on the shielded patient list, who have been asked to shield until 31 March.
Patients will be informed by a letter sent by the NHS and Department of Health and Social Care over the next few days. A letter has also been sent to GPs which sets out the implication that this has for these patients, including how they should be prioritised urgently for vaccination if they haven’t already had one.
Of the 1.7 million people being added to the shielding list, over 800,000 adults will now be prioritised to receive a vaccine as part of the current vaccination cohorts. The other 900,000 have already received an offer of a vaccination because they were over 70.
The Government’s shielding guidelines strongly advise clinically extremely vulnerable people to stay at home at all times, apart from going out to exercise or to attend a medical appointment.
They should also try to stay 2m (6ft) away from other people within their household, especially if they display symptoms of the virus or have been advised to self-isolate. People on the list are still advised to shield even if they have had two doses of the vaccine.
Supporting children and families
Social Worker Recruitment in Children’s Services
We have launched a new recruitment campaign for children’s social workers in Devon, since our previous update. This has included improved terms and conditions, recognising the need to invest in our staff for the future and in line with our improvement priorities. Jobs are currently being advertised on the Devon Jobs recruitment website and more information about working for Devon Children's Social Care can be found on the Working for Devon website.
We are also investing in working restoratively, so that social workers build good relationships with families to create change and get the best outcomes for children. Restorative Practice is our way of being, with one another, with children and families, and our partner agencies, which puts relationships at the heart of everything we do.
The principles of restorative practice, putting relationships at the heart of our work, also include recognising that difference is an asset, curiosity is a skill, collaboration is crucial and we offer both challenge and support. Members can find more details about this practice on our DCC SharePoint website (restricted access).
We have also encouraged our experienced social workers to apply for Advanced Social Worker roles in recognition of their skills and expertise and as part of our retention strategy. Further information will be provided soon.
Nursery workers are not currently eligible for vaccination
The vast majority of people working in school and early years settings are not classed as a frontline health or social care worker in the guidance published by the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI).
To qualify under this criteria people need to be providing face-to-face care or support to children or adults who are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and therefore likely to become seriously ill or need to go to hospital if they get COVID-19.
In most cases people who are eligible (those who provide face-to-face care or support children or adults who are extremely vulnerable) should be contacted directly by their employer and given a letter to say they are eligible.
Free PPE and support for unpaid carers
It's estimated that there are around 130,000 unpaid carers in Devon due to the pandemic, although the true number is likely to be higher. Since last summer, we've been supplying carers with Personal Protective Equipment, (PPE), to help them carry out their caring safely.
Lots of people are carers to their husbands, wives or partners within their home, and many are carers to people outside their home for their parents and other relatives, friends, and neighbours. So carers have needed to stay vigilant and extra careful when visiting people in other houses - careful not to catch coronavirus themselves, and careful not to spread it.
If you know of someone who provides unpaid care to a family member or friend, we want to make sure that they are doing so safely. Free PPE is available to help them do that.
Use the online request form and we'll be in touch to arrange collection from the nearest store.
Information, support and advice for people who care for others is also available from Devon Carers, a charity commissioned by Devon County Council and NHS Devon. Visit their website or call 01392 307720.
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Roll-out of testing for personal assistants
NHS Test and Trace has announced that it is making weekly COVID-19 testing available to personal assistants working in adult social care in England. Read the full Personal Assistant testing guidance.
Celebrating success
The COVID-19 vaccination programme in Devon care homes has been a great success. The vaccination plays a vital role in keeping residents and staff safe from severe illness.
If you didn't know already, our Provider Engagement Network collates good news stories across health and social care provision in Devon.
Concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine?
There has been a wealth of material produced to help promote vaccination take up. Our Provider Engagement Network has highlighted promotional materials, which they think are most effective in addressing concerns about vaccination with the following audiences: people concerned about pregnancy and fertility, people from minority ethnic communities and people concerned with overall vaccine safety.
More hardship cash for struggling Devon residents
A new hardship fund is being set up for local people struggling with their finances as a result of the pandemic, with £600,000 in the County Council budget for 2021/22 to support those who need short-term emergency assistance.
The new cash will be split across Devon’s eight district councils, with each one responsible for considering applications and administering grants in their locality.
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.
For more information about applying, the application form and the terms and conditions visit Devon County Council's website.
Free online events to help business owners with their wellbeing
Dr Louise MacAllister of Devon Communities Together says:
"Running a business is stressful at the best of times. Running a business during a pandemic is even harder,"
We and Devon Communities Together launched a project this year that gives business owners in Devon the chance to talk informally to an experienced volunteer about the pressures of trying to keep a business afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s called ‘Listening Ear’. It doesn’t provide business advice as such, but it does give people the time to talk to volunteers – many of whom have run their own businesses - and to focus on themselves and their mental wellbeing.
There are free online events in February and March, with expert guest speakers talking about support opportunities and other ways to help people shape their business.
Books, reading, community and connection
New parents and carers who may be feeling isolated or struggling with their mental health during the coronavirus pandemic are being invited to join their local library's new 'Reading Friends' scheme.
Libraries Unlimited, the charity which runs Devon and Torbay’s library services, is promoting the use of books and reading to help mental health.
Anyone wanting to join the Reading Friends Group or find out more should email readingfriendsgroup@librariesunlimited.org.uk
 Celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight with a live Caribbean cook-along!
It's Fairtrade Fortnight 2021 from Monday 22 February to Sunday 7 March. Every year, individuals, companies and groups across the UK come together to share the stories of the people who grow our food and drinks, celebrate the farmers and workers, promoting a living wage and fair trade.
Chef Euten Lindsay, of Caribbean Fusion in Plymouth, will lead a live cook-along demonstration in conversation with Sandhya Dave as part of this nation-wide festival.
Fairtrade Connections Arts Festival in Fairtrade Fortnight
Caribbean Cook Along - Monday 22 February 4.30pm - 6.00pm
The event is free. Please book a place via Eventbrite here.
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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