Coronavirus (Covid-19) update - 29 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.
NHS Test and Trace service goes live
The new NHS Test and Trace service has launched across England. The service will help identify, contain and control coronavirus, reduce the spread of the virus and save lives.
Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to share information about their recent interactions.
Read more to find out about this new service.
Date of next East Devon virtual council meetings
An update on our beach huts
Our beach huts remain closed currently in line with government guidelines and the monitoring of other local authorities. While other hospitality and tourism businesses remain closed, we don’t feel it would be responsible for us to open beach huts across the district as it risks sending the wrong message. In addition to this there are some genuine concerns regarding the maintaining of social distancing when beach huts are occupied, with people entering and exiting their huts but also for those sat outside of them. We will continue monitoring the situation closely and look at re-opening for business as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience in these difficult times.
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Bulky Waste (large household items) Collections return
From 1st June we are able to make bulky household item collections.
In order to protect our collection crews we ask customers to adhere to the following for every bulky household collection:
• All bulky household collections will be made from outside of the property
• Items should be left outside of the property for at least 72 hours before the collection is due
• Social distancing is maintained between our collection staff and residents during the collection
Thank you for your help in protecting our crews.
Collections can be booked by calling our Customer Service Centre on 01395 571515
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 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 9am to 5pm.
What’s happening in Whimple - An update from Katie from Whimple Volunteers.
“It all started with a Facebook post back in March, asking people to look out for their neighbours, or ask for help if anyone needed it. We quite quickly realised though that the most vulnerable in our community probably wouldn't see a Facebook post. It was suggested that we needed to do a letterdrop to ensure that every house in Whimple was covered. A Facebook group was set up, which now has 120 members and is very active. We got together a group of volunteers from this Facebook page to cover all the houses in the village. Within a few days the majority houses in Whimple received details of their local volunteer so anyone self-isolating knew who to contact if they needed help.
Read more about another amazing support group helping its community.
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Business Update
Sign up to our weekly business update to make sure you read the latest on the new ‘Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund’ for small businesses and when it will be launched in East Devon. Simply visit our website, add your email address and choose the ‘business’ topic. You can read this week’s edition by clicking on the link.
East Devon businesses can learn how to adapt their business by signing up to our free webinars starting on 2nd June, through the East Devon Business Continuity Programme. These sessions provide useful guidance to reshaping your business for it to survive and thrive, so don’t miss out!
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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 7 – ‘Song of the Cave’ Fourthland
Fourthland (Eva Knutsdotter Vikstrom and Isik Sayarer) is an artist collective. Working with diverse communities, the works they produce seek connectivity and an enhanced social and environmental consciousness.
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. Every Wednesday, May to June.
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Creative ideas for babies and toddlers
Tape Collage - THG brings their monthly Early Years Session online again with a fun idea from artist Laurel Coxon, who runs the sessions.
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Wild East Devon update
Wild East Devon cancellations extended
In response to the latest changes to government lockdown restrictions including a continuation of social distancing measures, we will be extending our cancellation of public engagement and volunteering sessions to Wednesday 1 July at the earliest.
This means that all our public events, volunteering sessions, projects and school visits scheduled for June are now cancelled.
At Seaton Wetlands, the car park will remain open and visiting is allowed. Please adhere to social distancing when coming near to other visitors. We’ve also taken the decision to not open any hides, toilet or visitor facilities for the time being. While this will be disappointing and may make visiting difficult for some, it’s important we remain focused on keeping our sites safe for people and wildlife. For now, this means staying in the great outdoors and not using any of our buildings.
While we encourage people to stay at alert when visiting our sites, we have also been suggesting some activities that can be done closer to home. These video guides can be found across our social media platforms @wildeastdevon and on our website.
We will be assessing what, if any, engagement activities will take in July and if any of our closed facilities can reopen safely. We will keep all our measures under review and communicate updates when we have them.
The Wild East Devon Team
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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:
Keep in touch!
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At times like this it's really important to stay up to date with the latest information, advice and guidance. It’s not often that we email everyone we know, but since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown we’ve been regularly sending you this Residents update so we can keep as many people as possible informed about changes to essential services and how to access support.
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