Coronavirus (Covid-19) update - 11 June 2021
Please find below our latest Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents and businesses with information we hope will be of interest to you.
In this issue...
- Summer is here! How to look after yourself in hot weather
- Pride month
- Deadline for Restart Grants is soon
- Climate conversations
Summer is here! South-west hots up for G7 summit
Temperatures are set to sore this weekend, and the world's leaders attending the G7 conference in Cornwall will be seeing the south-west at its sunny best.
And while many a hot topic will be on the discussion table indoors, among them no doubt coronavirus, the higher temperatures, indoors and out, carry health risks that can be amplified during the pandemic, particularly for those spending more time at home because of self-isolating.
Social distancing measures have also reduced the opportunities for people to check on vulnerable friends and neighbours and some people may avoid seeking emergency healthcare when needed because of fears of catching coronavirus.
The NHS website has lots of useful information about how to look after yourself and others during hot weather, and keep an eye on the Met Office website for up-to-date weather forecasts.
Pride month
June is Pride month, it is a month dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ communities all around the world. We now mark this by flying the Pride flag at both Blackdown House and Exmouth Town Hall.
June is the month chosen to celebrate pride as it was the month of the Stonewall riots, the protests that changed gay rights for a lot of people in America and beyond.
It's about people coming together in love and friendship, to show how far gay rights have come, even if in some places there's still some work to be done.
Pride month is about teaching tolerance, education in pride history and continuing to move forward in equality.
It calls for people to remember how damaging homophobia was and still can be.
It's all about being proud of who you are no matter who you love.
Councillor Joe Whibley, East Devon District Council’s ward member for Exmouth Town said:
“Last year, I was delighted to be involved with a motion which ensured EDDC moved into line with other local councils in celebrating the contribution that the LGBTQ+ community, of which I am a proud member, makes to every aspect of life in our beautiful district. Flying the flag is an important example of raising awareness and visibility, celebrating difference and ultimately making discrimination and hate a thing of the past.”
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An ‘incredible’ achievement: join the millions already vaccinated
 More than 1.3 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been given locally in the six months since 81-year-old Kathleen Viney became the first person to have the vaccination in Devon.
Between 8 December and 30 May, 769,059 people in Devon received a first vaccine dose and 553,204 second doses have been given as part of the fastest vaccination programme in British history.
The milestone comes in the week that people aged 25 to 29 became eligible to book their vaccination, along with other eligible groups; including frontline health and care workers and people at higher risk from Covid-19.
Appointments can be booked online or by calling 119. Please ensure you have confirmed your booking and cancel it if you are unable to attend.
Doctors in Devon remind their patients “We are here for you”
 Devon’s GPs practices have been working tirelessly over the last year, managing the pandemic response and delivery of the NHS COVOD-19 vaccination programme. But they want to remind people that GP practices are open and patients should get in touch when they need to.
Over the last 12 months in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay there have been:
- More than 4 million face to face appointments in general practice over the last year
- More than 2 million telephone consultations
- More than 500,000 online consultations
While the number reduced last year, almost 60% of the appointments with GP practices are now face to face in the county.
Before contacting your GP, you can look up your symptoms online using the NHS App, the NHS choices website or 111 online. Alternatively, you can seek help from your local pharmacist who are trained experts and have a range of over the counter medicines for a range of minor ailments.
 Restart grant closes 30 June
Businesses which are registered for business rates in the non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care or gym sectors can apply for a Restart Grant.
If you want to stay up to date with the latest news about grants for East Devon businesses, or other news about business opportunities, funding and training, you must subscribe to East Devon Business news
East Devon District Council also produce regular newsletters and news on different topics, in the last week we have issued the following which may be of interest:
Latest newsletters:
Over the next fortnight the following East Devon District Council meetings are taking place. Any public meetings held online, or held in the Council Chamber between 10 May 2021 to the date that social distancing ceases (currently scheduled as 21 June 2021) will be streamed live to the Council’s YouTube channel, and in the event of difficulties these will be streamed on our Facebook page instead.
Monday 14 June
Tuesday 22 June
Have your say on proposed changes to Public Space Protection Orders for Exmouth
 East Devon District Council has launched a public consultation to invite comments on proposed changes to the Exmouth PSPO, which restricts certain activities linked to anti-social behaviour:
- Possessing an intoxicating substance including alcohol
- Urination and defecation within a street or public place
- Aggressive requests for money
- Intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress
The PSPO does not ban alcohol at proposed locations, but is a tool for the police and authorised council staff to be able to deal with people who may be deemed as behaving in an anti-social way.
East Devon District Council is proposing to extend the areas covered by the PSPO due to increasing instances of alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour across the town.
The existing PSPO has been in place since May 2020, covering:
- The Strand and surrounding area;
- Magnolia Centre and surrounding area;
- Station car park and surrounding area;
- Manor Gardens;
- The Plantation and surrounding area.
Views are now sought on proposals to extend the PSPO onto Exmouth beach to the mean low tide mark, as well as some surrounding areas.
The consultation is due to end at 5pm on Sunday 20th June 2021
 Have you signed up yet for our Green Waste service?
 Our green waste collections are proving to be ever popular with 16,000 users of the service and more joining every day.
We are able to hold the price to £48/year again in 2021, to give residents value for money.
Make your gardening easier and save trips to the recycling centre, by having your green waste collected at the kerb-side.
All the green waste we collect from households is composted in East Devon and used as a natural soil conditioner by East Devon farms; part of our local green economy.
For further information regarding our green waste collection service, please visit our website
 Climate Conversations
Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) and East Devon District Council launched their new climate campaign - Climate Conversations on World Ocean Day. The programme opens with a major multi-site new exhibition of the work of artist Mike Perry at THG in Honiton, Ocean in Exmouth and a coordinating roadshow of Climate Conversations activities and events from THG's Creative Cabin.
Mike Perry led a captivating Q&A session from the Creative Cabin in the THG garden. The artist shared his research and discussed his practice through works in his exhibition, highlighting degradation of ecosystems on land and in our oceans.
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 Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
Mike Perry Land/Sea (multi-site exhibition)
Until 14 August 2021
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell St, Honiton EX14 1LX thelmahulbert.com
Ocean, Queens Drive, Exmouth EX8 2AY oceanexmouth.co.uk
 Ocean, Exmouth
Exciting new events announced at the launch of Climate Conversations programme
 Visit our very own piece of the ocean the Jurassic Coast Heritage Site
 Photo courtesy of Derek Carter
This Tuesday was World Ocean Day, an annual celebration on 8 June of ocean conservation action. As well as caring for our coastal nature reserves, did you know that we look after substantial parts of the South West Coast Path in East Devon?
The long distance trail now receives 8.6 million visits per year and covers 630 miles, the East Devon section spans approximately 26 miles and runs from Exmouth to Lyme Regis, forming part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
The Wild East Devon team look after large parts on behalf of Devon CC, including the popular walk along the River Otter in Budleigh Salterton, and the stunning Underhook between Beer and Branscombe.
Ranger Dave leads on the work undertaken by us on the path and has recently included:
- Regular path clearing during the summer months
- Maintaining viewpoints
- Upgrading steps and gates
- Ensuring the route continues to be well signed
- Helping the South West Coast Path to retain its position as the UK's favourite walk
More info here: South West Coast Path - East Devon
To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter
 Trusted sources of advice and information
Please make sure that you only follow advice from trusted, official sources:
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 25 June 2021.
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