• More than 3 million people were tested by NHS test and Trace this reporting week, the highest number ever in a single week
• More than a third of the population in England have now been tested at least once since the NHS test and Trace was launched
• Test turnaround times for most testing routes continue to fall, with 97.6% of in-person test results returned the next day after the test was taken

Last week, the government announced that they have secured with a contract with a British manufacturer for validated lateral flow antigen tests, ensuring supply for UK over coming months. These lateral flow antigen tests produce a result in under 30 minutes and are the first British tests to be validated in the laboratory by PHE.

A second Community Testing Centre, offering rapid Coronavirus tests that provide results within the hour, opened in Barnstaple yesterday (17 February).

The centre has been set up in the car park at the town’s Taw View, Civic Centre, on North Walk road, and will be open 9am to 5pm, seven days a week, with extended hours 7am to 7pm on Mondays and Thursdays.

It will provide lateral flow tests for anyone who leaves the house to work or volunteer, and who comes into contact with others.

The purpose of community testing is to identify people likely to have the virus, so that those testing negative can continue their day while still following public health rules.  Anyone testing positive is instructed to go home and self-isolate.

The tests are for people who may not know they are carrying the virus.  One in three people with coronavirus do not show any symptoms and could be going about their day passing it to others unknowingly.

People who can’t work from home and who are in contact with others regularly are encouraged to take these quick tests twice a week to prevent the potential spread of the virus.

The NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme is progressing well in Devon and is on track to meet the government's target of offering everyone in the top four priority groups a jab by mid-February. 

Anyone over 70 years old or who is clinically extremely vulnerable and has not yet been vaccinated, is urged to get in touch with the NHS and book an appointment online or over telephone by calling 119 for free between 7:00am and 11:00pm (seven days a week) as soon as possible. You don’t need to have received a letter to book an appointment as long as you are in an eligible group.

And don't forget, even after you've had your COVID-19 vaccination, you still need to:

• follow national restrictions
• wash your hands regularly
• cover your face
• keep your distance

Cyber criminals and scammers will take advantage of concerns and confusion around Coronavirus. 

If you're offered a Covid-19 vaccine or track & trace by someone saying they are NHS (by email, text, phone or face-to-face) and they ask for cash or bank details, it's a scam. 

If you're worried or unsure whether you have received a scam via email you should forward to report@phishing.gov.uk or if you think you have received a scam via text you should forward to 7726. 

You should always #TakeFive and stop to think before handing over cash or bank details, no matter who's calling, texting or emailing.

The vaccines provided by the NHS are free to you, don't let a scammer tell you differently.

To get involved in our social media competition and be in the chance of winning this explorer kit, all you have to do is tag us @NorthDevonCouncil and hashtag #ExploreFromYourDoor in any of your social media posts, where you are exploring from your doorstep. 

Final posts must be submitted by the end of half term (Sunday 21 at 8pm) to be in the chance of winning. Winners (2 winners) will be announced and will have their adventure photos posted the following week.

It's estimated that there are around 130,000 unpaid carers in Devon due to the pandemic, although the true number is likely to be higher. And their role, often already exceptionally difficult before the Coronavirus pandemic, has been made a lot more difficult given the restrictions, and the risk to themselves and their families.

If you provide unpaid care to a family member or friend, Devon County Council are giving free PPE to those who need it. You just need to fill in an online request form, and they will be in touch with you to arrange your collection.

Information, support and advice for people who care for others is also available from Devon Carers, a charity commissioned by Devon County Council and NHS Devon. Whether you are looking after an elderly, sick or disabled relative all or some of the time, or just providing a few hours a week emotional support for a friend with a learning difficulty or mental health problem – they are there to help you do it safely, confidently and effectively. Visit their website or call 01392 307720. 

The lockdown measures to tackle Coronavirus means we are all spending lots more time at home and are likely to be spending lots more time online.

There are huge benefits to being online in order to stay connected to family and friends during this period, but many parents and carers may feel concerned about the activities and content their children are accessing.

It is important to have regular conversations about staying safe online and to encourage children to speak to you if they come across something worrying online.

The government have published guidance and resources for parents and carers to help keep children safe from different risks online, including how to talk to your child about a range of online safety issues, setting up home filtering in a child-friendly way and setting up age-appropriate parental controls on digital devices, as well as where to go to get support and advice.

The government has published guidance on what to do before and after you arrive in England, including staying at home or in a quarantine hotel and ordering coronavirus tests.

All passengers, no matter which country they have travelled from, are already required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before departure and must self-isolate on arrival.

And from Monday 15 February, if you arrive in England from a country on the travel ban list (sometimes called the ‘red list’) you’ll need to self-isolate in a quarantine hotel for at least 10 days. Before you travel, you’ll need to book and pay for your hotel room and two mandatory COVID-19 tests to take on day two and day eight of your quarantine stay.

If you’re coming from a country not on the banned travel list, you’ll need to self-isolate at home for at least 10 days and book two mandatory COVID-19 tests to take on day two and day eight of quarantining.

Tough new enforcement measures, including heavy financial penalties and potential jail time have been introduced for non-compliance.