Coronavirus (Covid-19) update - 7 May 2020
Welcome to the weekly Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents. We are working to keep you informed through this email update and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pages on our website, which have all our latest information, and links to the Government, the NHS and our community.
Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up.
You can also can share this update on social media and in any online groups you're part of by using this link to the update on our website.
This week's message from East Devon's Leader and Chief Executive
On Friday we will commemorate and remember all of those who sacrificed so much for us all 75 years ago. We hope that from your home or work place at 3pm tomorrow you will join us in toasting and saluting all of those who played their role as the nation remembers VE Day in 1945.
We would also like to thank everyone across East Devon who have so far been respecting the lock down guidance, but we must ask you again to please keep up the good work and to continue to stay at home in your primary residence, in your home county this weekend. Doing this will prevent the spread of coronavirus, it will protect your health and the health of loved ones and it will save lives.
According to the Office for National Statistics, from March 1st to April 17 there have sadly been 11 deaths from COVID-19 in the East Devon district and our sincere condolences to the family and friends of those who have lost loved ones.
Therefore please don’t be tempted to break the rules this bank holiday weekend, please keep local and take your daily exercise close to your home.
We are fortunate to have many parks and open spaces, which are now open again, bar a number of small parks which we feel will be difficult for the public to maintain robust social distancing within. However, parks should be used for essential exercise and not for sunbathing, picnics, barbeques or sports – doing this puts everyone’s health at risk. As you will be aware, the Prime Minister is due to address the nation on Sunday regarding the lockdown and if any of the current advice changes we will bring this to you next week.
Lastly our Green Waste service will recommence on Monday 11th May. We thank you all for your patience and forbearance during this challenging time.
Stay Safe and Stay Well
Together #WeareDevon
Best wishes
Cllr Ben Ingham and Mark Williams
Green Waste Service is resuming
 Following the recent disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, East Devon District Council is now able to resume its green waste collections from 11 May 2020.
The council will endeavour to collect all green waste on its customers’ normal schedule dates, but is asking residents’ for their support and understanding for any missed collections, as the service is operating with reduced staff numbers.
Some collections will start the following week as it’s a two-weekly cycle. Customers are advised to check their collection date for the correct week either via the ‘When is my bin collected’ page on the East Devon website, or via the East Devon app and Alexa.
Read more about the resumed service.
Changes to Recycling and Waste Collection days
Due to the Bank Holiday on Friday 8th May, scheduled recycling and waste collections will be on one day later on Saturday 9th May
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Devon Recycling Centres to reopen for essential use only
Devon County Council is reopening its recycling centres for essential use only from Monday 11 May.
The government has defined ‘essential use’ as waste that ‘cannot be stored without causing a risk of injury, health or harm to the resident or other members of their household.’
Residents are urged to follow government guidance and only travel to recycling centres if the waste presents a hazard and ‘cannot be legally and responsibly disposed of in other ways.’
For more information about what to do with your waste and recycling during the Covid 19 pandemic, visit the recycling website.
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 In a world without a lockdown, the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe would have been a very significant occasion – even the May bank holiday was moved to recognise this.
There would have been large gatherings and street parties to recognise one of the most important days in British history, but now the occasion will have to be marked from afar.
Instead, in line with the latest expert medical and scientific advice from Public Health England and guidance on mass gatherings, the public is being encourage to celebrate VE Day at home #StayHomeSavelives.
Read more for ideas and tips on how to commemorate the anniversary this weekend.
 Community Hub update
Since it was set up on 30 March our Coronavirus Community Hub Hotline has received on average 50 calls per day since opening. It is supporting people with finding help for food deliveries and picking up prescriptions.
Individuals or organisations can now request or offer community support by filling out one of our online forms. You can search by postcode on the East Devon District Council Coronavirus Community Support Hub to find your local group or organisation providing support at this time.
Call the Community Hub hotline now on 01395 571500 if you, or a group you know, needs help or you would like to volunteer. The line is open normally Monday to Friday (not Bank Holiday Friday) 9am to 5pm.
 East Devon District Council has made £46,000 of funding available to projects related to providing food to residents of East Devon who are in food poverty during the Coronavirus situation.
Grants of between £500 and £2,500 are available. You can find out more about the Coronavirus Community Food Fund on the East Devon website.
Membury Support Group
Each week we thought it would be interesting, useful and encouraging to let you know more about what the fantastic communities of East Devon are doing to help support their residents during these difficult times. Last week we featured Broadclyst Parish Council’s excellent community effort, this week we’ve got a message from Membury Support Group who are also doing some great things:
“It seems an age ago now but in fact it is just over a month ago, on 16 March, when a number of us from Membury Parish Council, Membury Merrymakers, Membury Village Hall Trustees and other volunteers gathered in the hall to discuss what we could do to support each residents of our parish through Coronavirus.
By the end of the week, we had set up a telephone support helpline manned every day of the week and sent out a communication round the village.
Read more to find out another amazing support scheme.
Business Update
This week’s important update describes the free webinars we’re providing for businesses in response to the coronavirus pandemic. So far, more than £37m has been paid to local businesses in grants to support them at this difficult time. A new top-up fund has been announced by Government and we’re currently waiting for details of this. Read about the new fund for dairy farmers, a hardship fund for people in financial difficulty, postponement of business rates revaluation, help for self-employed people and much, much more.
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Stay up to date by subscribing to our business update, add your email address and choose the ‘business’ topic.
Thelma Hulbert Gallery update
Thelma Hulbert Gallery’s doors may be closed but they are staying connected online, sharing art practices and workshops to help keep our spirits up.
NATURE SHORT 4 ‘Tetrapods Returned’ : Jo Lathwood & Paul Blakemore
These remarkable tetrapods were created by artist Jo Lathwood for last September’s exhibition ‘Well Trodden Wrong Ways’. The exhibition investigated East Devon’s Jurassic Coast. Jo sculpted the tetrapods from local stone found along the Jurassic coast. The film created by her collaborator, photographer Paul Blakemore, shows the final stage of their journey as they are returned to the sea from where they came.
Part of Culture + Climate 2020 in partnership with East Devon AONB, NATURE SHORTS is an online series showcasing art practices which inspire, build creativity and deepen our connection with nature especially during isolation. Watch out for the next NATURE SHORT on Wednesday 13 May!
Kids Activities
To replace their popular ‘Early Years Creative Session’, THG has been sharing ideas online to entertain and inspire little ones:
Crafting with Play Dough
Sensory Rummage Box
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Wild East Devon update
Wildlife is not under lockdown!
Wildlife is undoubtedly benefitting on our natures reserves from this period of social lockdown. Otter activity on Seaton Wetlands has increased from evidence of footprints and spraint on site. Their constant presence is controlling the mink population which in turn means water vole numbers are doing very well and territorial signs are present on virtually every suitable piece of pond, ditch or riverside throughout the site.
Read more for this week's update.
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Our Wild Exmouth project has seen a big increase in support for our ‘My Patch for Nature’ campaign with the lockdown keeping people at home. This scheme gives residents of the town free wildflower seeds to help establish places for nature across people’s gardens, a community nature reserve! All pledges are then added to a google map to show how the network is taking root. If you live in Exmouth and want to take part go to the web pages for the sign up form.
Check out @wildeastdevon to get the latest.
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 You can still contact your GP, 111 online or call 111 for help. If you are told to go to hospital, you must go. The NHS will give you the care you need www.nhs.uk
Trusted sources of advice and information
Please make sure that you only follow advice from trusted, official sources:
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