Friday 25 June 2021
 Positive cases of coronavirus in Devon are rising, from 214 cases last week to 472 this week. Case rates overall in the county (58.8 per 100,000) are still below the national average (105.2), although in Exeter (121.8) and Torridge (105.5) case rates are above the national average. Cases are highest and rising most rapidly in those aged between 10 and 30 years old.
In this update:
 Devon's COVID-19 cases rise in young people
The latest Devon data shows a sharp increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the 0 to 19 year old, and 20 to 39 year old age groups.
Cases among the under 19s have risen from 7.87 cases per 100,000 of the population, to 101.1 cases per 100,000. Cases among the 20 to 39 year old age group have risen this month from 11.67 cases per 100,000 to 106.2 cases per 100,000.
The trajectory describes a sharp rise in the two younger age groups, with much less of a rise among the older age groups.
Steve Brown, Devon's Director of Public Health, said:
"The transmission, particularly in the younger age groups, is through social interaction and the concern is that people are meeting with friends, possibly not wearing face coverings or regularly washing their hands, or not keeping socially distanced from each other.
"Remember, this is a young group that has not been vaccinated, and while the vaccine offers protection against becoming seriously ill from having the virus, it also reduces the risk of transmission.
"We are likely to see case numbers continuing to rise over coming weeks, but we can stop that by all doing our part. Please stay alert and don’t let your guard down. Continue to follow the rules and take up the regular twice-weekly lateral flow testing that is very easily accessible now. Just visit our website at devon.cc/testing to find out more."
 Where are COVID-19 infections happening in Devon?
Schools are a good indicator of what's happening in local communities. When there is a rise in cases within the community, there is a rise in cases within schools.
At the moment schools are seeing quite a lot of their pupils off, because they’re self-isolating – most have been identified as being in close contact with someone who has tested positive for having coronavirus, rather than having the virus themselves.
This week one school in Torridge decided, on balance, given the number of pupils not able to attend the classroom, to switch to remote learning for the whole school for a few days. It's staying open for children of key workers and vulnerable children - like all schools did during the lockdowns last year.
Steve Brown, Devon's Director of Public Health, said:
"It’s easy to jump to making a link with schools, but actually we are seeing in most cases that the transmission has happened out of the classroom.
"We know, in supporting schools as we are doing, that they haven't stopped working hard to maintain the measures that they have had in place for many months and are diligently following national restrictions, so we don’t believe that schools are the cause.
"My ask to all young people and their parents is to not allow yourselves to be distracted from what is still a very real pandemic. You might feel we're over it, but we're not and it is down to every one of us to take control and to follow the rules."
Young people are heeding the advice
Many young people are heeding the advice, following the rules – keeping their distance and not socialising with so many people - conscious that their actions impact not only on their own safety, but that of others.
The vaccination programme opened up to people aged 18 years old and over last week, and bookings for first jabs have taken off. More than a million vaccination appointments were booked in just two days - Friday and Saturday last week - after vaccinations were opened up to all over 18s.
In Devon, young adults have come forward in droves to book their first appointments, and several of them shared their experiences after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at the Exeter COVID-19 Vaccination Centre at Greendale Business Park.
They describe how the process was quick and simple, and that by receiving the vaccine, they were helping to save lives.
"It was really painless, I was really surprised," said one. "I’d urge everyone to go get the vaccine, it’s a really simple, easy procedure and we’re saving lives doing it", said another.
 'Grab A Jab' weekend with walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics across Devon
Everyone over the age of 18 years old is now eligible for vaccination against COVID-19 and this weekend some vaccination centres in Devon are offering walk-in clinics for people who haven’t had the vaccine at all and those who haven’t yet had their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The clinics will allow people to have their first jab of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines without booking ahead – so it’s possible to go along with friends or relatives. In fact it’s a perfect opportunity for those who would benefit from the moral support of going as a group.
A recent study by Public Health England found that having both doses of the vaccine significantly increases protection against the more transmissible Delta and Beta variants, so these clinics are also a good opportunity for people who missed their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine or haven’t got round to booking it, to ensure they are fully vaccinated.
Details of the walk-in vaccination clinics are:
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Home Park, Plymouth: Friday 25 June from 8.30am until 7.00pm for second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Saturday 26 June from 8.30am until 7.00pm for first and second does of the Moderna vaccine
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Plymouth Albion: Friday 25 June from 3.00pm until 5.30pm for first doses of the Pfizer vaccine
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Greendale Business Park, Exeter: Friday 25, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 June from 9.00am until 7.00pm for first doses of the Pfizer vaccine and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine
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Barnstaple Leisure Centre: Saturday 26 June from 8.00am until 8.00pm for first doses of the Pfizer vaccine
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Riviera International Centre, Torquay: Saturday 26 June from 9.00am until 12 noon for first doses of the Pfizer vaccine
As demand for these walk-in sessions can't be predicted, please look on the Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) social media channels for short notice announcements if any of these sessions become oversubscribed, to avoid a unnecessary trip.
Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccination programme on the NHS website.
 Devon bids for Community Renewal Funding
We've submitted a programme of bids totalling £12.2 million to a new government funding scheme which aims to support communities and businesses to recover after the coronavirus pandemic.
We're bidding for a share of the £200 million Community Renewal Fund, which has been made available as part of a year-long test in advance of the launch of the government replacement for EU funding, the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Devon’s bid is made up of 16 projects from across the county which have the potential to generate hundreds of jobs, support the creation of new businesses, and help thousands of people to retrain.
Earlier this year we invited organisations to put forward their innovative project ideas to help kickstart the local economy. The aim was to find initiatives which invest in skills and job opportunities, support the growth of local businesses, and help local communities become more resilient and sustainable.
More than £8.5 million of the bid submission is for projects in Mid Devon, Torridge, and West Devon to help address economic and social inequalities in deprived communities hardest hit by the impact of the pandemic.
You can find out more about the schemes which make up the overall bid programme on our website.
 We're baaaaaack at the Devon County Show this year!
The popular Devon County Show will return to Westpoint in Exeter next month for a three-day celebration of everything Devon has to offer.
It was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and this year's ongoing restrictions mean it has been postponed from its usual mid-May date to early July. It has also shifted days to cover more of the weekend, with the gates to the 83-acre showground opening from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 July, rather than the usual Thursday to Saturday, to spread the traditionally busy Saturday crowd over two days.
The organisers have been working closely with East Devon District Council to ensure that the show, which usually attracts around 90,000 visitors, will operate in a COVID-secure way in line with government guidelines.
Visitors to our socially distanced stand (which will be in our usual place on road 8, stand 248) will be able to explore exhibits in a COVID-safe space, spanning a range of themes including the environment, Devon’s climate emergency and business support in Devon.
With eye-opening activities, competitions and expert business advice on offer, as well as free Devon mini cream teas offered by the Made in Devon display, the stand promises to entertain and inform in equal measure.
Find out more about what we've got planned on our website.
COVID-19 community testing at the County Show
Devon County Show organisers have had extra time to plan this year's show, and with expert advice, have put forward an incredible, exciting and COVID-safe programme over the three days.
In addition to our stand, one of our mobile COVID-19 community testing vehicles will also be there every day of the County Show between 9.00am and 5.00pm, to offer free lateral flow device (LFD) tests to visitors.
These are the rapid tests for people without COVID-19 symptoms that provide a result in half an hour. They're to identify people who may be carrying the virus unknowingly, and passing it on to others.
We reported a steady demand for our assisted COVID-19 community testing facilities last week. Our mobile units helped carry out 516 assisted tests in one week and handed out 18,000 tests for people to do themselves at home.
We'd love to see you if you're at the show! Come and find us on road 8, stand 248.
 Download the free HANDi app
Emergency departments across the UK report high numbers of young children coming into hospital, mostly with a mild fever that could be treated at home.
The thinking is that the usual ailments associated with winter - coughs and sniffles - weren't seen so much this winter because people weren't socialising due to COVID-19 restrictions. And now with socialising opening up, some of those winter-type ailments are coming to the fore.
In Devon, the Royal Devon and Exeter (RD&E) Hospital has confirmed that they're seeing more under 18 year olds at their emergency department - although not to the high extent that many other hospitals are seeing. And a proportion of those are for things that can be treated at home.
Emergency departments are still the option for parents in an emergency, or if they remain concerned about a young person's health. But otherwise NHS 111, pharmacies, GPs and the NHS HANDi app should be the first option.
The HANDi app has been developed by paediatric consultants, and provides advice for common childhood conditions. It's free to download to your phone.
More information about HANDi app, including how to download it, is available on the Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) website.
 Some restrictions did lift this week
Although there is a delay on most of the coronavirus restrictions lifting, some did ease this week.
There’s now no legal limit on the number of attendees allowed at weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions, except for the maximum capacity of the venue – to allow for social distancing measures. The same for funerals and commemorative events such as stone setting ceremonies, scattering of ashes or wakes.
But whenever there are gatherings in larger numbers, please remain cautious to minimise the rise of infection. Please refer to the government guidance on meeting friends and family for further information and advice.
Care home residents are now able to nominate five named visitors each, with two visitors able to visit each day, subject to the visiting arrangements for each care home. They can also nominate an essential care giver who will be able to visit them even if the resident is self-isolating. There’s more about care home visiting on the government’s website.
Out-of-school organisations such as Brownies, Scouts, and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions can organise domestic residential visits for children in consistent groups of up to 30 provided organisers comply with government guidance on reducing risk.
Please visit the government's website to stay up to date with what you can and can't do at the moment.
 UK travel update
The government has announced measures to continue to cautiously reopen international travel in a safe and sustainable way.
From 4.00am on Wednesday 30 June, Malta, Madeira, the Balearic Islands, several UK overseas territories and Caribbean islands (including Barbados) will be added to the government's green list, having met the necessary criteria to be reclassified.
Later in the summer it is also hoped that arrivals who are fully vaccinated will not have to quarantine when travelling from amber list countries, although they will still be required to take a pre-departure test and a test on day two, and any positive results will be sequenced to continue to manage the risk of importing COVID-19 variants. Further detail will be set out by the government next month
Until these measures are introduced, all passengers, whether vaccinated or not, must continue to abide by quarantine rules for returning to the UK from an amber list country, and it is recommended that people should not travel to amber list countries at the moment. Individuals who fail to comply with their legal duty to quarantine at home following international travel can be fined £1,000, increasing up to £10,000 for repeat offences.
You can find out more about what you need to do before you travel and when you return to England on the government's website.
 And finally... Today is National Cream Tea Day!
Jam on cream? Cream on jam? All mixed in? We don't mind (actually we do... obviously cream first then jam is the right way!) We just love a cream tea!
Today is National Cream Tea Day! Join the online celebration and the conversation on social: #CreamTeaDay
Tell us how you like to enjoy yours?
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