Friday 20 August 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 Devon safe. While cases are high, everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious. This is why the government is keeping key protections in place
#RespectProtectEnjoy #DoItForDevon
For months, we've been operating a fleet of mobile testing units that deliver lateral flow tests for people who have no symptoms of coronavirus, in towns across the county.
We've now partnered-up with the local NHS to use our mobile testing vehicles to deliver vaccinations, as well as lateral flow tests, to targeted areas - where there is low vaccine uptake for example, or to target specific groups in the community, and on Thursday 19 August 2021, they were in Kingsbridge.
The testing team was joined by a GP, who provided the clinical lead role; a vaccination administrator; and a data recorder to make sure it was properly documented.
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, said:
“The COVID-19 vaccines are proven to help reduce the likelihood of becoming seriously unwell, needing hospital treatment or dying of coronavirus-related illness. It also helps reduce the risk of transmission for people who have the virus. So it’s really important that people have the vaccine when it’s offered to them.
“Take-up of the vaccine in Devon has been very good, but there are still pockets where it's below average. We and the local NHS are working together to take the vaccine to those areas to improve take-up. Our mobile testing units are the perfect vehicles, literally, to get the vaccine to harder to reach audiences.”
Following on from the pilot run in Kingsbridge this week, we are planning stops in Exeter for early next month. Keep an eye on our social media channels to find out more.
As hundreds of people return to Devon following days at the Boardmasters festival, we’ve been asked what the impact festivals and large events are having on local coronavirus case rates in Devon.
Festivals, and any large gatherings where there are a lot of people crowded together, are environments that bring with them heightened risk of transmission. And when audiences to those gatherings include younger people, who are not all vaccinated, then the risk of transmission again is greater.
The same is true though of any event or setting where there’s socialising. It’s not just festivals. So, perhaps it should not surprise us that the highest levels of positive cases in Devon now are in the 15 to 19 year old age group, and that socialising is the main driver for that trend.
With the weeks of summer ahead, if you know of people heading to festivals, or an event or gathering where there will be crowds, or you’ve just returned from one, here’s some guidance.
Please disseminate this information throughout your communities.
Council leaders across Devon, including our Leader, Cllr John Hart, have told the Government they want to be one of the first counties to take advantage of a new offer to devolve more powers from London.
Members' masterclasses
Over the summer the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee has hosted four bite-sized masterclasses to support the committee and its new Members to understand some key areas of health and care ahead of the first Committee meeting in September.
The masterclasses have been recorded to enable Members to watch the sessions back again and also to give those Members who were not able to attend the opportunity to see the presentations, listen to the discussions and find out a bit more about the requirements, challenges and responses in health and care.
The masterclass sessions were on:
- Safeguarding adults
- Community health and social care teams
- The health and care workforce
- Integrated Care Systems and Local Care Partnerships
Members can find the recording on your Members' Area SharePoint site.
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.
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.
Why is Exeter's case rate so high?
Devon's coronavirus case rate is still a touch above the national average, but the number of cases in Exeter in particular are among the highest in the country.
Steve Brown, our Director of Public Health Devon, was asked a lot last week about why Exeter's case rate is so high.
"Cases are across people of all ages, but predominantly among younger working age people and late teens - so 16 to 44 year olds," explains Steve.
"The data doesn't point to there being any particular outbreak of size in an particular locations.
"Neither is there any evidence to suggest the rise is attributable to holiday makers to Devon."
Find out what steps you can take to reduce the risk of catching the virus on our News Centre.
Self-isolation rules have changed
Since Monday 16 August, the rules have changed for people who have received both their vaccinations against coronavirus, and people aged under 18.
They will no longer need to self-isolate if they've been identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
Before Monday 16 August, it was a legal requirement to self-isolate for anyone contacted by Test and Trace teams, because they've been in close proximity with someone who has since tested positive for COVID-19.
But from Monday, people who are double vaccinated and those under 18 are now exempt from that legal requirement.
They will however still be advised to take a PCR test, and if that's positive, they'll be legally required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status.
Click this image to share the tweet from NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group
New social media campaign encourages young people to get vaccinated
As we are starting to see an increase of young people admitted to hospital with COVID-19, the best thing we can do right now is to urge young people to get vaccinated.
'We are all in this together' – is the message from people across Devon in a new social media and poster campaign targeting young people. Among them is Lara Drake, who’s 25. Lara takes medication for a condition she has, and it can make her more vulnerable to COVID-19. She said:
“Having the vaccine can reduce your risk of getting seriously unwell if you were to catch Covid-19, but it can also help to protect your friends.
“There are plenty of young people around with invisible illnesses, and while it’s important to help protect older people, it’s also about young people who you might not know could be more at risk.”
The “Together for Devon” social media campaign launches this week and features people from across Devon giving their reasons for having the vaccine.
Posters will be distributed to businesses and local authorities throughout Devon to encourage those who haven’t yet taken up the offer to have the COVID-19 vaccine.
16 and 17 year olds invited for vaccine
People aged over 17 and nine months can make an appointment online with the National Booking System or by calling 119, or they can attend one of the many walk-in clinics running every day.
People aged 16 to 17 years and 9 months can either wait to be invited by their GP for an appointment, or attend a walk-in session.
Young people will be given the Pfizer vaccine, in line with the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
Devon's care sector urgently needs your help
Our health and care system in Devon is at full stretch, and the sustained pressure on the care workforce means that staff are struggling to cope. Like many employers, care providers are struggling with the impact coronavirus is having on staff who are self-isolating.
It has now reached a point where vulnerable people in Devon are at risk of not receiving the care they need when they need it, and family members and friends are finding themselves becoming unpaid carers for others, because there aren't enough paid care staff available.
So we're calling for over 1,000 more people to join the care workforce, and for families and communities to do all they can to help ease the pressure. We put out an appeal earlier this week.
Councillor James McInnes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for adult health and social care, said:
"Care providers can only provide care to vulnerable people if the workforce is there, and with coronavirus impacting on care staff, just as it is everywhere, we quite simply do not have enough care workers in Devon at the moment.
"We are bringing in care workers from outside Devon, but that’s not a long-term or fair solution, given that their own communities may also be in need of care workers. The situation is becoming unsustainable."
We desperately need people to fill care roles across Devon:
- 300 people in Exeter
- 300 people across North Devon and Torridge
- 300 people across Teignbridge and South Hams
- 150 people in East Devon
- 150 people in Mid Devon
- 100 people in West Devon
We need people who are compassionate, can communicate well and are ready to commit themselves to the rewarding range of roles on offer. If you have those skills we can train and support you and offer you the role that will suit you best.
Please register your interest via the Proud to Care website, leaving your name, contact details and a postcode, and our recruitment team will get back to you.
Or you can search for the latest care job vacancies, apprenticeships and training opportunities in the care sector in Devon.
Double vaccinations to be required before entering care homes
New government regulations will come into force on Thursday 11 November 2021, requiring anyone who works or volunteers in a care home to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus, unless exempt.
The regulations also apply to anyone entering a care home, with noted exceptions that include residents, visitors, children, emergency workers, and people considered to be nearing the end of their life.
That means the regulations will apply to any professional that enters care home settings, such as plumbers, electricians, as well as hairdressers, chiropodists, painters and decorators.
With regulations coming into force on Thursday 11 November, it means that care home workers, agency staff, volunteers and anyone who wants to enter care homes, who haven't already been double vaccinated, will need to have had their first dose by 16 September at the latest.
Vaccinations can be booked online through the national booking service or by ringing 119.
It's also possible to visit a walk-in centre without the need to book in advance. Find your nearest centre.
Equipment amnesty announced due to supply chain pressures
Supply chain pressures are leading to a shortage of vital equipment such as mobility and toileting aids, hoists and hospital beds that help vulnerable people in Devon to live independently at home. Continued high levels of coronavirus cases world-wide have been causing disruption to outbound supplies, especially from Asia where many items are manufactured and shipped from.
In addition, recent lockdowns and COVID-19 risks mean manufacturing factories are working on reduced capacity, increasing supplier lead-in times on many equipment lines.
With no sign of the situation improving soon, Millbrook Healthcare Ltd, Devon County Council and NHS Devon CCG, are calling an ‘equipment amnesty’, asking people who no longer need their community equipment, to return it free of charge.
The amnesty will run from Monday 9 to Monday 30 August. People should call 0330 124 8214 to arrange a collection.
Devon Carers update
National research indicates that 81% of carers are caring more intensively now than before the pandemic, and 80% of carers who needed a break have been unable to take one. This reflects what carers in Devon are telling us.
In greater numbers than ever, carers have worked harder to keep the people they care for safe and well; where they needed to, they helped them get their vaccination, and then when invited, they got their own vaccinations as well to continue to keep them safe. In doing this, we acknowledge that carers have been critical to the vaccination programme and helping communities and society open back up.
James McInnes, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said:
"Carers are a huge priority for me, one of the two pillars of social care alongside care workers. I want our services to be the best we can achieve to help carers stay well, and resilient. I am so proud that the Council was part of the partnership that won the Health Services Journal Award for the Hospital Services provided by Devon Carers and I want to see more success like that.
"Alongside carers, I am also giving priority to making sure we have enough of, and the right care workers, to provide the services so needed by people in Devon, and to provide the replacement care many unpaid carers need to be able to take a break."
Read more about Devon Carers in their latest magazine.
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Click to watch Devon learners meet via a video link to celebrate their results with their tutors.
Increased number of Learn Devon GCSE adult learners celebrate their achievements
The number of GCSE adult learners across the county gaining GCSE qualifications has increased this year, despite another year of disruption caused by the pandemic.
110 learners attained their GCSE qualifications with Learn Devon this year, up by 15% from the previous academic year.
Read the full story on our News Centre.
Volunteers are making a difference - can you join them?
More than 2,400 volunteers have clocked up over 68,000 hours supporting the COVID-19 vaccine rollout from vaccination centres in Plymouth and Exeter.
Meteorologist Helen Almond (above, right) says she was inspired to volunteer because some of her family have been working for the NHS through the pandemic:
"I felt there wasn't a lot I could do as a regular person, but when the opportunity to volunteer came up it seemed like it was a chance to do something to help in a small way."
With many people going back to work, the NHS is looking for more volunteer marshals and stewards to help out at Greendale near Exeter and Home Park in Plymouth. And from September, older age groups and frontline health and care workers will be offered booster jabs, so vaccination centres will continue to need volunteers.
Exeter COVID-19 Vaccination Centre at Greendale operates 12 hours a day, seven days per week with volunteers able to sign up to work four hour shifts, with shifts available from 8.00am to midday, midday to 4.00pm and 4.00pm to 8.00pm.
If you'd like to volunteer, and you're aged 16 or over, you can fill in a simple application form on the 'Our Plymouth' website, which is the regional volunteering organisation that is coordinating the volunteers for all Mass Vaccination Centres in Devon.
Brush up on your oral health knowledge with free education training
We have commissioned the Oral Health Improvement Team to improve the oral health of children and cared for adults in Devon.
Good oral health is vital to general health and wellbeing and education is key to achieving improved oral health in the long-term. Tooth decay is largely preventable yet it remains a serious problem nationwide. Public Health England data shows that in 2015, a quarter of five-year-olds experienced tooth decay in England, and the vast majority went untreated. As well as this, over half of adults in the UK have one or more teeth that are decayed or damaged.
Oral Health Improvement Practitioners, Sarah Thrush and Lucie Colbourne-Laight, supported by their secretary Toyah Saunders, use a ‘train the trainer’ approach, training anyone who is in a position to pass on prevention messages to children and adults.
The team concentrate on delivering key prevention messages and addressing how to overcome poor oral health in young children, adults and older people. The Oral Health Improvement team arrange oral health education training throughout much of Devon, more specifically the North, East and Mid-Devon locations. Their oral health training seeks to provide invaluable information to equip care and support staff to carry out their job, armed with the correct knowledge to do so.
The training delivered is free and is also bespoke to the needs of the setting – the team will work around the setting’s requirements to ensure that the content is as relevant to them as can be.
Do you know of any professionals or organisations who can benefit from this free training?
The team can be contacted to find out more information or to book a session via their email: ndht.ohesds@nhs.net or telephone 01392 405705.
(Pictured: Sarah Thrush, Toyah Saunders and Lucie Colbourne-Laight - Oral Health Improvement team for Devon).
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Totnes Pride 2021 is coming soon, 2-4 September
Tickets for Totnes Pride 2021 'Resist - reach out - rise up' are now available. Events are free and being held online and face-to-face. The line up is diverse, exciting and jam-packed, and is being held over three days, 2-4 September 2021.
Tickets are limited so make sure you sign up and book now!
Events include talks, workshops and discussions about racism, homelessness, mental health, gender and self-compassion plus drumming, crafts and a brand new Proud2Be living libraries event.
Open to LGBTQ+ people and allies.
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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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