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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 current Government guidelines. Please remember to follow social distancing advice, wash and sanitise hands regularly, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces (unless exempt), and avoid busy places.
#RespectProtectEnjoy #DoItForDevon
Friday 11 June 2021
Potential G7 disruption and cyber security awareness
With the G7 Summit taking place in Cornwall this week, there is heightened press and public interest in our local area. This could lead to unwanted attention from cybercriminals, who may choose to target Devon County Council and other local organisations, with the aim of causing disruption or seeking financial gain.
With this in mind, please remain vigilant and ensure you report any examples of suspicious activity. In particular, please ensure you check that all emails, texts, calls and other forms of communication are legitimate, before interacting with them.
Our Data Protection and Cyber Security Team have also sent out information about a small number of phishing emails that are escaping email filtering controls and reaching DCC mailboxes.
You can safely view examples of real-life phishing messages with tips on spotting them in the Phish Tank and we have also included a set of tips below that can help with identifying phishing messages.
If the answer to any of the below questions is yes, this could indicate that the communication is suspicious:
- Is the greeting generic (e.g. Dear customer, or FAO accounts dept)?
- Is the sender’s email address different to the display name (e.g. the display name shows ‘IT Support’ but the email address is ‘abc@gmail.com’)?
- Is it unexpected?
- Does it request you to take action urgently (e.g. please respond immediately to avoid your account being disabled, or please pay this invoice now)?
- Is it offering you something you were not expecting (e.g. log in now to receive your tax refund or you have inherited money)?
- Does it contain an attachment that you weren’t expecting?
- Does it appear to have come from a person or organisation you have previously communicated with, but this particular message has a different style or tone? (Be aware that some criminals will use email trails found in compromised accounts, in an attempt to convince recipients that the message is from someone they trust).
- Does it contain any links? (You can preview the web address of a link by hovering your mouse pointer over it or long pressing on a touchscreen device. If the address doesn’t match what you’d expect, don’t open it).
- Is the spelling or grammar poor?
- If a logo or other branding is included, is this distorted or poor quality?
If you receive a message that has any of the characteristics listed above, please take steps to check it is authentic before taking any action. Never respond to a suspicious message.
Important - for Devon County Council Members:
If you receive a message which you are certain is a phishing attempt, forward this to spam@mr1.devon.gov.uk or ict.spam-mailbox@devon.gov.uk. Please note that the emails sent to this mailbox will not routinely receive a response, however they will be used for intelligence purposes with the aim of reducing the number of unwanted emails delivered to our mailboxes.
If you do interact with a message and subsequently believe it may have been a phishing attack, please contact the ICT Service Desk immediately. This is vital to ensure that any undesirable consequences can be dealt with swiftly, preventing a wider attack.
For more information, please see the Cyber Security Awareness guide. You can also contact the Data Protection and Cyber Security team with any queries relating to Cyber Security through the askDTBS portal, or by emailing keepdevonsdatasafe@devon.gov.uk.
CCG Members' briefing - coronavirus vaccination in Devon
The NHS invited around three million people aged between 25 and 29 to book their COVID-19 vaccination earlier this week.
Please see below for 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.
Funding secured to support Devon's economic recovery
We've secured funding to support some of the local economies hardest hit during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and help Devon's strong recovery.
We're part of the Devon and Torbay One Public Estate Partnership (along with Exeter City Council, Torbay Council and Torridge District Council) which has received £330,000 of One Public Estate (OPE) funding and £2,017,568 from the Land Release Fund.
The OPE funding will benefit Transforming Torbay and the Marsh Barton Delivery Framework, while the Land Release Fund, which supports small-scale infrastructure works, has been awarded to Brunswick Wharf in Bideford, Clifton Hill in Exeter and Vaughan Road in Exeter.
The funding will help to deliver initiatives that will create economic growth by unlocking land for new homes and jobs; providing new opportunities to save on running costs, generating income funding, or transforming services. You can find out more about the projects that will benefit from the funding on our website.
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We also successfully bid for £640,000 from The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP) to grow our award-winning network of work hubs. They provide flexible term, value for money office space, equipped with modern facilities and are ideal for small businesses that may have started from home but are looking to grow into larger accommodation.
New work hubs are being established in Great Torrington, Newton Abbot, and Teignmouth to provide co-working and office space, while the existing hub in Tavistock will also be expanded.
Our work hubs play an important role in supporting local communities and stimulating the local economy by providing flexible and versatile spaces which help businesses to grow and create local jobs. And with more people working from home even after normality returns, these facilities will be an asset to local businesses, workers and entrepreneurs and will help to create to high quality jobs and attract new businesses to Devon.
For more information and guidance, and to download an application form, visit the Devon Work Hubs website.
We can meet with people we don’t live with indoors in groups of up to six from any number of households, or a group of any size from just two households. But socialising outdoors is always the safest option where possible, and we can meet outside in groups of up to 30 people. If you are having visitors or visiting others, make sure you let fresh air in.
Enjoy Euro 2020, but do so safely, says Public Health Devon
The long awaited and much talked about Euro 2020 football tournament starts today (Friday 11 June). There will be 51 matches over 31 days at 11 venues including London and Glasgow.
The games that kept their 2020 badge and title, have been postponed until this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. And yet amid the excitement, we’re still very much in the midst of that same pandemic, with case numbers across the country rising as the latest and more transmissible Delta strain becomes dominant.
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, words of caution are:
"While case numbers are comparatively low in Devon for the moment, positive cases across the country are rising.
"Euro 2020 will be a time of much emotion for football fans. And for those perhaps not sat watching it on TV at home, you may be travelling to friends and family to watch games or even to Wembley or Hampden Park to see the matches.
“My message is simple. Enjoy the tournament, but do so safely.”
The rules inside and out
- You can watch football inside pubs across the UK, but remember that in England, only up to six people from six households or two households of any size can meet indoors
- In England, up to 30 people can meet outside, including in a pub garden, but check if the place you're visiting has any restrictions due to the size of their outside space
- Follow the rules if you're inviting people back to yours to watch the game too. Up to six people from multiple houses or any number from just two households can gather indoors, and up to 30 people outdoors
- Use personal judgement when it comes to hugging close friends. Public Health advise to be careful.
Visit our news website for more advice about enjoying Euro 2020 safely.
 Don't delay the second COVID-19 vaccine dose
The NHS is urging people that are contacted to bring forward their second COVID-19 jab to rebook as soon as possible.
Last month the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that everyone aged 50 years old and above or with underlying health conditions should have their second vaccine dose brought forward from 12 to eight weeks as part of the Government's plans to tackle rising cases of the Delta variant of concern.
People who used the National Booking Service will receive a text message prompting them to cancel their existing second appointment and rebook an earlier one. There are currently plenty of appointments available and new appointments are being added regularly, so please keep checking.
Those not in vaccination priority groups one to nine will continue to get their first dose, with their second dose at 12 weeks in line with the current vaccine strategy.
 Healthy meal boxes delivered to families with young children across Devon
Thousands of meal boxes have again been delivered to families with young children during the recent half-term holiday, in an initiative to help those who are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ofsted focused visit update
Devon County Council's Children’s Social Care were the subject of a two day focused visit by Ofsted on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 May 2021. The visit was not a formal inspection, but a snapshot of the progress made since the full inspection in January 2020.
A narrative summary of their evaluation will be formally published on Thursday 15 July 2021, including analysis of nine areas of practice with families, and surrounding leadership and governance.
Inspectors found that Children’s Social Care are still at the early stages of improvement. They identified that while areas of concern highlighted in the previous inspection are showing real signs of improvement, due to sustained investment and focused activity, this has not yet translated into a whole system approach benefiting all children whenever they need help.
This visit provided Children's Social Care with a clear steer on priorities for improvement; the core component is creating a working culture that is ambitious about outcomes for children, professionally curious and reflective at every level of the organisation. Underpinning this, the visit highlighted recruitment and retention challenges as a significant contributory factor to the pace of change. The Senior Management Team are incorporating the findings into the improvement work, and reflecting on the learning to create cultural change as well as to address specific issues.
 Making our carers visible and feel valued during Carers Week 2021
It's Carers Week this week (7 - 13 June) and this year's theme is making carers feel visible and valued. Along with NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Devon Carers, we are shining a light on it to encourage people who are carers for friends and family to recognise themselves as unpaid carers, and to come forward for help.
New figures suggest that there are now more than 130,000 people in Devon who are carers, the figure having risen by half again because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Worryingly though, just 21,000 of that number – roughly only one in every six – are accessing vital information and support that is available to them.
We supported the week as an organisation and you can find out more details about what went on, as well as how to check if you are a carer on Inside Devon.
We value the contribution of carers and seek to support employees who have a caring role.
Devon charity to receive the highest award for voluntary work during the pandemic
Westbank Neighbourhood Friends in Exeter is to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, for outstanding work throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The charity helps to keep vulnerable or frail adults out of hospital, or to have shorter hospital stays. They match volunteers with people who need assistance, so that they’re able to get out of hospital and back home as soon as possible.
During the pandemic, their volunteers provided support to over 2,030 patients across the Exeter, East and Mid Devon area. It meant in some cases that people didn’t need to go into hospital, and for others, they were able to get home sooner because they’d received help from the volunteers to get things ready for their return.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award for voluntary groups in the UK. Westbank Neighbourhood Friends will receive the award and certificate from the Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon, later this summer. And two of the Neighbourhood Friends volunteers plan to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace next year.
Nina Parnell, Westbank Head of Volunteering and Community Support, said:
“We are incredibly proud that our Neighbourhood Friends project has been recognised with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, and pay tribute to the dedication, hard work and commitment of our truly deserving team of volunteers.”
More information on the recipients and the award can be found online.
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What do under 30s need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine roll-out has reached young adults, with those aged 25 years old and over now invited to book their vaccination appointments.
People can't choose which COVID-19 vaccine they get, but they will be allocated one based partly on their age. Those under 40 years old or pregnant, will get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, but if they've already had one Oxford-AstraZeneca jab with no after effects, they should have a second dose.
Younger people may think that they’re less likely to be seriously ill if they catch coronavirus because of their age and general good health, compared say to older and more vulnerable people. And that may be true. But they should still have the vaccine. They might still catch coronavirus, and studies are now suggesting that those who have been vaccinated are less likely to transmit the virus to other people.
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the NHS website.
Type 2 Diabetes and COVID-19
Are you at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes? Would you like to reduce the risks associated with COVID-19? Rapid access to the Diabetes Prevention Programme is being rolled out following research that revealed those living with diabetes face significantly higher risks from COVID-19.
Anyone can now self-check their risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes by using Diabetes UK’s ‘know your risk’ tool.
If the score indicates you are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, you will be directed to join the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Programme.
The programme is free, and currently delivered with remote Zoom sessions or a digital-only option to support you in eating healthily, become more active and increase general well-being.
Read Deborah’s story ‘Finding out you’re at risk of Type 2 Diabetes can change your life’ to find out more about the programme.
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Devon Delivers for business success
Our beautiful county is being showcased as a great place to do business as part of a campaign to attract companies to Devon.
We're supporting the Devon Delivers initiative, which aims to encourage businesses to relocate to the county, and it has launched a new video and website to highlight what makes Devon such an attractive prospect.
As Devon looks to make a strong economic recovery post-pandemic, the new Devon Delivers website provides a gateway to all the relevant information needed by companies that may be considering expanding or relocating.
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 We've teamed up with Crowdfunder to help fund projects in Devon that are passionate about tackling the climate emergency.
We've been asking for three carbon cutting projects that can play a part in tackling climate change in Devon. The chosen projects will take part in a 24-hour crowdfunding challenge next month to raise as much money as possible for their cause, as well as win funding from us.
The final will be broadcast on YouTube on Thursday 8 July 2021.
Find out more on the Crowdfunder website.
Think.Report.Talk: Scam Awareness Fortnight starts next week (Monday 14 June to Sunday 27 June)
Scam Awareness Fortnight is a national campaign run by Citizen's Advice, and supported by our Trading Standards Service in Devon, which helps spread awareness about how to spot potential scams and how to report them when you do.
During the coronavirus pandemic, protecting people against scams has become more important than ever and it's vital people have the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves and others from scams.
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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