Friday 9 July 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 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
Restrictions are easing which makes it even more important to #DoItForDevon
#Euros2020 is certainly shaping up to be a tournament to remember!
If heading to the pub to watch the England game:
 Continue to follow COVID guidance
Check in with the NHS Covid-19 app
Avoid mixing with other tables
Drink responsibly, and respect bar staff and emergency service workers at all times
COVID-19 restrictions set to end
The Prime Minster has announced that COVID-19 restrictions are set to end in England and life will soon return to close to normal, with people's judgement being key in learning to live with the virus.
Step four of the government's roadmap out of lockdown is expected to start on Monday 19 July, subject to a final review of the data on Monday 12 July.
The news comes as a sufficiently high proportion of the population are vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccine has significantly weakened the link between infections, severe disease and death. The government say this means that the country can learn to live with coronavirus without the need for the stringent economic and social restrictions which have been in place since March 2020.
But the pandemic is not over. Cases are currently rising, as are hospitalisations and, sadly, deaths, and they will rise further as society reopens. So we are being asked to remain vigilant, make informed decisions and act carefully and proportionately to manage the risks to ourselves and others.
This new phase in the government's response to the pandemic moves away from restrictions on everyone’s day-to-day lives and towards managing COVID-19 by advising people on how to protect themselves and others, alongside targeted interventions to reduce risk.
You can read the COVID-19 Response: Summer 2021 guidance in full on the government's website.
 What you need to know now
Catch up with our special edition of ConnectMe which went out on Tuesday 6 July and includes:
- What's likely to change on Monday 19 July
- Director of Public Health Devon encourages people to not put themselves at unnecessary risk
- How can I help keep myself and others safe?
- People are still encouraged to wear face coverings
- What about testing, tracing and self-isolating?
- Why is social distancing coming to an end?
- Changes to working from home
- COVID-19 restrictions in schools to be lifted
How can I show personal responsibility?
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon explains:
“We’re moving to a new chapter in the management of the pandemic, where we are no longer instructed by regulation to follow rules, and instead we are encouraged to be personally responsible for our own actions.”
But what does personal or social responsibility look like, and how do I show it?
Self-isolation to be eased for fully vaccinated adults and under 18 year olds
As part of step 4 of the government’s COVID-19 roadmap, people who have had both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
The new rules will come into effect from Monday 16 August, if the government takes a decision to move into step 4 (due to be announced on Monday 12 July).
To ensure young people can make the most of their education as restrictions continue to ease, the government also plans to exempt those aged under 18 years old from self-isolation if they are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
Introducing this exemption in August will enable even more people to have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, significantly reducing the risk of severe illness and providing the fullest protection possible for people across the country.
Young people and double vaccinated individuals identified as close contacts will continue to be advised to take a PCR test, to detect the virus and variants of concern. Anyone who tests positive following the PCR test will still be legally required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status.
Members' Area
Don't forget your new Members' Area - SharePoint site is your one-stop-shop to access resources to aid you in your role as a Devon County Councillor. Key documents from the Council's various service areas, including induction resources, are posted in the Document library, and the Who's who? highlights the best person for you to contact for an efficient resolution.
As part of #Thank You Day...
There was a message of thanks on behalf of Team Devon from John Hart, Chairman of the Local Outbreak Management Board and Leader of Devon County Council, as part of Thank You Day on 4 July.
Read the message in full on Devon news centre.
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CCG Members' briefing - coronavirus vaccination in Devon
Please see below for the latest coronavirus vaccination briefing for Members from NHS Devon, Devon’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG):
You can view current and previous copies on the Provider Engagement Network (PEN) website.
 Confused about the types of COVID-19 tests available?
If you DO have symptoms you should book a PCR test at an NHS site. If you don't have symptoms, take twice-weekly rapid lateral flow tests to pick up asymptomatic cases.
Find out more.
 Making it easier to get vaccinated
A third COVID-19 ‘booster’ jab to be offered to most vulnerable and those over 50 years old
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that the government plan to offer COVID-19 booster vaccinations from September 2021, in order to prolong the protection that the vaccines provide.
It will be offered to people who are vulnerable and those over 50 years old, at the same time as the annual flu jab, and delivered in two stages:
Firstly to:
- people aged 16 years old and over who are immunosuppressed
- elderly people living in residential care homes
- everyone 70 years old and over
- 16 year olds and over who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable
- frontline health and social care workers
The second stage of the booster jab will go to:
- everyone over 50 years old
- everyone aged 16 to 49 years old who are in a flu or COVID-19 'at-risk' group
- all adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
The latest analysis from Public Health England (PHE) and the University of Cambridge suggests that the COVID-19 vaccines have so far prevented an estimated 7.2 million infections and 27,000 deaths in England alone.
If you are over 18 years old and haven't had your COVID-19 vaccination yet, you can book an appointment via the NHS website or by calling 119.
 Hospitality employees urged to get COVID-19 jab
People working within the hospitality industry are being urged to take up the offer of having the COVID-19 vaccination following outbreaks in other parts of the country among young people working in hospitality settings.
Now that all adults are eligible for the vaccination and with cases of the more transmissible Delta variant rising locally, Visit Devon and the NHS are advising businesses to support their staff to take up the vaccination to ensure a safe working environment, give visitors confidence during their stay in Devon, and of course lessen the spread of coronavirus.
The campaign is backed by Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines MBE, who has two hospitality businesses in Devon (Lympstone Manor and Mickey's Beach Bar and Restaurant) and employs a number of young adults who have recently become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.
He said:
"As one of the sectors that has been most effected by coronavirus, it is imperative that our employees get vaccinated to protect their colleagues and our guests to stop the spread of coronavirus."
Visit Devon's Director, Sally Everton, said:
"Visit Devon represents tourism and hospitality businesses across the county, promoting the area to domestic and international tourists.
"The last 15 months have been incredibly tough for the hospitality industry and staffing remains a constant pressure. Our businesses can't afford to have further closures due to COVID-19 outbreaks among staff.
"We urge everyone working within our local hospitality businesses to have the vaccine to protect themselves, their colleagues, their customers and the businesses themselves. We're also asking employers to support their staff to have the vaccine, either by having time off for the jab itself or if they feel unwell due to side effects."
You can book your vaccine appointment online via the NHS website or by calling 119.
Tell us what you think!
Devon County Council’s new website for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
We have launched our brand new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) website, designed for children and young people with SEND and their families.
It will help them find the right information about education, health and care support available to them in the local area to help them achieve their goals in life.
The new website has been developed alongside parents and carers, those working with children and young people and young people themselves to make sure families can easily find the information that matters most.
We want to hear from you
Please share the website with your networks and colleagues and encourage them to leave feedback via the feedback button on the bottom right of each web page. If you would like to read or share more information about how the website has been developed, you’ll find it here.
Do you want to know more?
We have shared the new website via our Facebook and Twitter channels if you would like to uplift the posts to your own networks. Or follow us on those social media channels to hear more about SEND related activity across the county.
Sign up for our SEND Improvement Board newsletter to stay up to date with SEND news.
Find out more about the website launch on our Devon news centre.
Holiday Activities and Food Programme
England footballer Marcus Rashford has written to almost 17,000 Devon families encouraging them to let their children take part in a summer holiday programme. The Holiday Activities and Food Programme is a Department for Education national project which will be overseen locally by Devon County Council.
Families who are entitled to benefit-related free school meals for children aged 5-16 years old can take part in the programme at no cost and schools in the county have distributed the letter to those who qualify. Some of the activities will also be open to other children whose families wish to pay for them to take part.
Each local programme will provide delicious, hot, healthy meals, allowing children to get active, help them learn new things, make friends and have fun. We've been working with a range of schools and voluntary and community groups across Devon to provide activities which include a variety of sports, arts and crafts, drama, cooking, water sports, forest school and circus skills.
A full list of what’s on can be found on our Education and Families website.
 The Tour of Britain is returning to Devon this year on Monday 6 September
The Tour of Britain is the UK’s leading professional cycling event and the biggest free to watch spectator event in the country.
This year’s Devon Stage will start in Sherford, South Hams before covering 115 miles (185 km) of the county, including crossing Dartmoor, and then finishing in Exeter on Queen Street.
The route will see over 100 of the world’s top cyclists travel through numerous villages as well as the towns of Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge, Yelverton, Tavistock, Princetown and Moretonhampstead before the big finish in Exeter.
You can watch this truly inspiring sporting event, right on your doorstep.
Find out more including estimated timings.
Devon launches Natural Capital Challenge Fund
A new Natural Capital Challenge Fund has been launched by Devon County Council to help the Devon economy to build back better and encourage the green sector in the county.
This is the latest initiative brought forward by the County Council as part of its overall economic recovery programme, supporting the response set out in Team Devon’s Economic Recovery Prospectus.
With two coastlines, two national parks and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Devon’s environment is a key asset and the pilot funding scheme will aim to capitalise upon this to develop the county’s green economy aspirations.
A total funding pot of £300,000 is available to provide one off grant support for Devon-based businesses, social enterprises, charities, and community groups to create employment and training opportunities in the natural capital economy.
Top climate scientist tells Citizen’s Assembly: ‘We must act now…”
The devastation inflicted on future generations and the environment if we don’t act to reduce carbon emissions now, was laid bare at Devon’s Climate Assembly by one of the UK’s top climate scientists.
Professor Richard Betts MBE, of the Met Office and Exeter University, is a Lead Author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and led the Technical Report for the UK’s 3rd Climate Change Risk Assessment.
He gave a ‘sobering’ analysis on what would happen if countries didn’t achieve net-zero by the middle of this century – and global warming continued to be unchecked.
The presentation was part of the first weekend of the Devon Citizens Assembly – a vital part of the Devon Carbon Plan process.
New bus timetable booklets out now
The latest bus timetable information in Devon is now available in handy booklets.
It’s the first time since the pandemic that Devon County Council has printed the timetables, covering all of the districts across Devon and all service operators.
The information in the printed booklets is the most up-to-date available, but service times can change.
The guides also remain available online as e-books on the Travel Devon website.
Find out more and order printed copies.
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Race Equality Audit
Devon County Council is currently undertaking a Race Equality Audit in which we are exploring the extent to which the organisation is responsive to the needs of Black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities and staff. This includes exploring what it means to be anti-racist as individual community leaders.
Find out more about becoming anti-racist with the following resources:
In addition, Members often ask for guidance on acceptable language and how to avoid ‘saying the wrong thing’. It’s important that we do not avoid discussions about racial inequalities and racism for fear of offending. This acceptable language guide is available to all Members via Inside Devon.
Connecting Devon and Somerset calls for flexible government approach for hard to reach areas
Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) is calling for a flexible approach from government to improve broadband connectivity in very hard to reach areas in order to avoid the risk of communities “being left behind”.
In its response to the government’s consultation on the issue, CDS states that a mix of large contractual delivery, in parallel with support for community solutions through voucher schemes, is needed to tackle the challenges of delivering broadband to the most rural communities.
CDS has delivered superfast access to over 300,000 homes and businesses – that is more than any other broadband programme in England. A further 80,000 are scheduled for coverage under CDS’ Superfast contracts, Gainshare, and community schemes which are either underway or have been approved.
The full consultation response can be viewed on the Connecting Devon and Somerset website.
Braving it and shaving it!
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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