Friday 18 February 2022
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.
Keep up to date with the latest government coronavirus guidance.
#RespectProtectEnjoy #DoItForDevon
 Storm Eunice: ‘extremely strong winds’ on Friday and over this weekend
Widespread disruption continues across Devon today (Friday 18 February) as the south west is battered by gale force winds caused by Storm Eunice.
North Devon is facing 'Red Warning' winds of up to 80 miles per hour inland and 90 miles per hour in coastal areas, while an Amber Alert is currently in place until 6.00pm on Saturday for the rest of the county, with strong winds set to last over the weekend.
We've drafted in extra staff to our Network Operations Control Centre and extra highways teams are ready to respond. Teams of tree surgeons are on standby to clear any fallen trees on the county’s roads.
The Met Office website has some useful information about what you can do to prepare for the storm, stay safe and protect your property.
We're advising people to only go out during Storm Eunice if absolutely necessary due to unsafe conditions, so please delay your journey if you can.
If you do absolutely have to travel, slow down, allow extra time and drive according to the conditions.
Please read our Storm Eunice ConnectMe bulletin sent yesterday (Thursday 17 February) for further information about disruption to services, bridge closures, school closures and recycling centre closures.
Power cut? Call 105
If you have a power cut, call 105 free of charge to be put through to your local network operator who can give you help and advice.
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.
 Digital COVID Pass now available to children aged 12 to 15 years old
The NHS COVID Pass service is now available to 12 to 15 year olds, accessible via the nhs.uk website for those aged 12 years old and over, and the NHS App for those aged 13 years old and over. This is an addition to the letter service via 119 that was launched in December last year.
Both the digital and letter NHS COVID Pass are widely accepted for international travel. It provides a record of all COVID-19 vaccinations received, with the COVID Pass showing evidence of recovery for 180 days following a positive test.
Make sure you check the entry requirements of the country you are visiting as requirements for testing and vaccination can vary from country to country.
 Holiday food support continues for February half-term
Families of nearly 19,000 children in Devon have been sent supermarket vouchers this February half-term thanks to one off government funding we've used to continue our drive to combat holiday hunger in the county.
The financial challenges faced by some families due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can be intensified during school holidays because of increased costs such as food and reduced incomes due to childcare.
Securing additional one off funding means the scheme is able to operate again over the upcoming February half-term break and Easter holiday, with vouchers worth £15 per child per week automatically sent to families of children currently receiving free school meals to help them buy food.
Families are urged to check their vouchers and redeem them as soon as possible before they expire, and get in touch with our free school meals team if you were expecting to receive a voucher but didn’t. Please email freeschoolmeals@devon.gov.uk or call 0345 155 1019.
If you didn’t previously qualify for free school meals but your income has recently reduced or stopped, please apply online through our website to check if you are eligible for this support as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can call our education helpline on 0345 155 1019.
More information about the free school meals holiday voucher scheme is available on our website.
COVID-19 vaccination to be offered to all children aged five to 11 years old in England
The Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, this week accepted the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)’s advice to open up the offer of COVID-19 vaccines to all children aged 5 to 11 years old in England. Until now, only children that age who are clinically vulnerable have been offered the jab.
The JCVI advice follows a review by independent medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which has approved the Pfizer paediatric vaccine as safe and effective for children aged five to 11 years old.
The Health Secretary said that children without underlying health conditions are at low risk of serious illness from COVID-19, and that the priority remains for the NHS to offer vaccines and boosters to adults and vulnerable young people.
The NHS will now prepare to make this latest 'non-urgent' offer to all children during April. Parents and carers will be asked to give their consent.
 Voting in the Youth Parliament elections gets underway
Young people across Devon aged 11-18 years old are being asked what matters most to them and who they want to represent their views on their behalf.
Elections for the Devon UK Youth Parliament are underway, with young people aged 11-18 years old voting for their preferred candidate in each of four constituencies across the county.
You can learn more about all the candidates by checking out their campaign videos.
Young people can vote at participating schools and youth centres. And if their school or local youth centre isn’t registered as a polling station, they can email ukyouthparliament@devon.gov.uk to obtain a code that will allow them to vote online.
Voting will close on Thursday 3 March, with the new Youth Parliament team set to be announced later in the month.
Young people are also being asked their views on the nation’s most pressing issues, in a consultation running alongside Devon’s UK Youth Parliament elections. The consultation, called Make Your Mark, and the discussions and topics coming from it, will also help shape the work of the Devon UK Youth Parliament team.
Watch carer, Bernice, explains why it's important for other carers to have the COVID-19 vaccine
Carers urged to come forward for vaccine
Bernice, from Plymouth, cares for her husband. She's one of thousands of people in Devon who care for a loved one or friend.
But her ability to provide care for her husband first requires her to look after herself. After all, if you're a carer and you're unwell, who's going to look after the person you're caring for?
The same is true with the COVID-19 vaccinations and booster. Taking precautions that help keep you safe, means you're well enough to help someone else. And any temporary side effect of the jab is far outweighed by the benefit of not becoming seriously unwell with coronavirus.
Bernice is urging every carer to have their vaccinations and booster. She’s described her experience, and why she feels all carers should get vaccinated.
As a carer, you’re eligible for priority treatment. The government has provided a letter for carers to take to their vaccination appointment. That means you will be fast tracked through any queue, so that you can return to your caring role as quickly as possible.
You can receive a copy of that letter from Devon Carers. Contact their helpline on 03456 434 435 or email info@devoncarers.org.uk.
If you need help to organise your vaccination, including arranging an appointment at a time to suit you, fast tracking your appointment to get you home more quickly or arranging transport so you can get there and back, please contact the Devon Vaccine Support Team by email or call 01752 398836.
The government's proposals for health and care integration
The health and care system is approaching a number of significant changes, some that are known and have been planned for some time, others that are proposed and are being debated across Parliament.
The latest of these proposals comes through the anticipated Integration white paper Health and social care integration: joining up care for people, places and populations.
This paper fills in some of the gaps of the Health and Social Care Bill and proposes governance arrangements for better integration across primary care, community health, adult social care, acute, mental health, public health and housing services which relate to health and social care.
North Devon Link Centres update
As agreed by Cabinet in December, we continue to work with North Devon Link Centre staff, service users, local councillors and local community and voluntary sector representatives to establish outreach mental health services and identify which of the existing services can be delivered by local community providers. We want to make sure these services are developed with full involvement and therefore Devon County Council will be running some co-production training for this project.
Risk assessments are currently taking place on the Bideford, Barnstaple and Ilfracombe Link Service buildings to see how they can re-open in a way that will keep staff and people using the services safe. North Devon Link Centre staff are continuing to support people by telephone and if appropriate face-to-face, supporting the North Devon Social Work Team.
 Booster bookings open to severely immunosuppressed adults
The national online booking system is open for booster bookings for people aged 16 years old and over who are severely immunosuppressed.
This group includes people having treatment for conditions such as cancer, or those with long-term chronic conditions that put them at greater risk if they were to get coronavirus.
It’s a group previously invited to go for a third vaccination, to supplement their first and second jabs.
Now, those who had their third vaccination at least three months ago, are invited to come forward for their booster vaccination - their fourth jab.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS Medical Director, said:
"It is incredibly important that those who are most at risk from coronavirus continue to come forward for their doses whether it's a fourth dose or booster vaccine when their treatment allows. Getting the vaccine is the best way to prevent the likelihood of becoming seriously unwell from coronavirus, and is all the more important if you have a weakened immune system in helping ensure you are protected."
 Devon Work Hubs network expanded
The award-winning Devon Work Hubs network has expanded with the opening of three new hubs across the county and expansion of a fourth.
We have secured funding from the Heart of the South West LEP Getting Building Fund, which has now enabled three new Work Hubs to open in Great Torrington, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth. The extension of the Tavistock Enterprise Hub is also complete.
A further two Work Hubs are due to open in Ilfracombe and High Bickington in the coming months.
There are now 19 unique and flexible coworking spaces in the Devon Work Hubs network. The hubs enable freelancers and small businesses to adopt modern working patterns, by providing access to a variety of meeting rooms, hot desks and office spaces.
 Lowest Council Tax rise for seven years planned in Devon
Council taxpayers in Devon will be asked for an extra 87p a week to help fund vital services for the most vulnerable children and adults.
Our Cabinet is proposing a council tax rise of 2.99 per cent next year – the lowest since 2015.
But there will still be increases of over 10 per cent in spending on both Children’s Services and Adult Services and Health to keep up with a rocketing rise in demand.
Councillors are proposing to take £22.9 million from their emergency reserves to help support the much needed services and there will be savings of £30 million.
 Fairtrade Fortnight
Take part in Fairtrade Fortnight from Monday 21 February to Sunday 6 March 2022.
Learn more about how we are celebrating 13 Years of Fairtrade County status in Devon on Inside Devon.
 In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight: Transatlantic slavery and Devon is a major exhibition at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) exploring the museum’s and Devon’s links with centuries of trading enslaved African people across the Atlantic.
Find out about the In Plain Sight exhibit on the RAMM website.
Members' Area
Don't forget your 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 to help answer any queries you may have.
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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