Wednesday 16 March 2022
 “Five simple things I would encourage people to do”, says Director of Public Health Devon
With no legal requirement now to self-isolate when you have symptoms of coronavirus, or test positive for it; and with free testing for most people about to end this month, we've heard many people say that they are a little uncertain about what they should be doing to keep themselves and others safe.
This week, Steve Brown, Devon's Director of Public Health Devon, urged people to stay at home if they feel unwell.
He said it because we're seeing an increase in coronavirus cases again. The latest data shows a 63.4 per cent increase in cases in a seven day period.
So Public Health Devon's Director has set out five simple actions that he'd encourage everyone to do to protect themselves and others.
You can read what those five things are on the news page of our website.
 Care home managers ask visitors to work with them to help reduce coronavirus infections
Two in every five of the county's 316 care homes currently have more than two linked cases, an outbreak, of coronavirus among their residents and/or staff.
Care home managers are asking visitors to work with them, to help enforce infection control measures that protect vulnerable residents, and staff.
Care homes are doing all they can to continue providing safe visiting for residents, and this week, Lucy Bull, a Director of the Devon Care Home Collaborative, said regular visitors are helping by following visitor procedures.
Whilst restrictions elsewhere are lowered, it's vital that we all stay safe," she said.
"If you are planning to visit a care home, make sure you call ahead to check their procedures. And if you don't feel well on the day of your visit, please don't visit! You may just prevent a loved one becoming ill or even putting the care home into outbreak."
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, warns that although national restrictions are largely gone, local care homes are still following strict measures, and visitors will be asked to respect them.
He also asked people not to visit if they're feeling unwell, especially if they have a high temperature or cough.
You can read more about what measures may be in place in care homes, and what visitors could expect to see when visiting, on the news page of our website.
 Dedicate a Devon primrose to a social care worker for the Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection
The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, and particularly those working to protect Devon’s most vulnerable residents.
Now, as the second anniversary of the first lockdown approaches, the Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection, tomorrow, (Thursday 17 March), gives us the opportunity to honour the vital work the social care sector has done to keep people safe and well, and to remember the people working in social care who we have sadly lost during the pandemic.
People in Devon are encouraged to take part in the day by displaying the county’s flower, the primrose, as either a tribute to a lost loved one, a thank you to a care worker who has provided vital support to you or someone you know, or a well done to a colleague who worked hard to help keep the people they support safe during the pandemic.
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