Here we are, three days into step two of the government roadmap and while some of us remain cautious, others will be throwing all caution to the wind.
Let's take a moment to consider that if we want to be going back inside pubs, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, exercise classes etc by 17 May we still need to abide by the current restrictions in place and keep wearing face masks, social distancing and hand washing.
 High streets in Ilfracombe, South Molton, Barnstaple and Braunton have opened their doors for business following the third national lockdown. Our staff, alongside local businesses and town councils, have been busy putting measures in place to ensure residents and visitors can return and enjoy the retail and outdoor hospitality opportunities on offer in a safe way.
This includes a clean-up operation in a number of towns, safety signage, hand sanitising stations and the return of 'place makers' in Barnstaple (people whose job it is to answer questions and provide a friendly reminder to the public and businesses to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines to help keep everyone safe). The Live Love Local campaign has continued to call on residents to support their local businesses, even during lockdown, and is now getting behind North Devon's businesses as they prepare to reopen once again.
We want to remind residents and visitors that everyone has a responsibility to continue taking steps to help lower the rate of infection and protect our communities from the virus. This includes sticking to social distancing rules, wearing a face covering unless exempt, using cards rather than cash to pay where possible and washing hands regularly. By doing so, residents can continue to support their local businesses and enjoy town centres safely.
 General markets began again on Monday 12 April and will run every Monday to Saturday between 9am and 4pm.
The market offers a range of items for shoppers from fruit and veg, clothes, toys, and tools. Come on in and see what our fantastic traders have to offer!
Over-45s are now being offered the Covid vaccine after the government announced that all over-50s in the UK have been offered the first dose.
The government will now begin phase two of the programme, which targets adults aged 40-49.
The next group after over-40s will be adults aged 30-39, and then all adults aged 18-29.
The government has pledged that all UK adults will be offered their first dose by the end of July.
If you are aged 45+ and have still not been invited for your vaccination, please use the link below to book yours now on the NHS website.
Every adult in Devon is being encouraged to take a rapid, lateral flow test for coronavirus twice a week, and now they can do so in a variety of ways including through testing centres, workplaces, pharmacies, or home delivery.
The tests are fast and convenient, and results are usually available within the hour.
Rapid lateral flow tests are for people who show no symptoms of coronavirus – the new and continuous cough, high temperature, or change to their usual sense of taste or smell.
People with these symptoms should immediately self-isolate and arrange a PCR test via the NHS.
Regular testing of people who show no symptoms of having coronavirus is essential to help stop the spread of the virus. One in three people with COVID-19 don't show symptoms, so regular testing helps identify those who are likely to have the virus, unknowingly.
If they are negative, they can carry on with their day while still adhering to the public health measures, including maintaining social distance, wearing face coverings when indoors in public places, and washing their hands regularly.
A positive lateral flow test result means that the person is likely to have the virus, and they will be instructed to self-isolate and to arrange a confirmatory PCR test via the NHS.
The service will stop in each community, at a specific location, twice a week on given days – please check devon.cc/testing for times, locations and dates near you.
Alternatively, people can collect home test kits from any of the council’s mobile testing sites, so that they can take the lateral flow tests at home. Staff at the mobile testing sites can show you how to take the test if you’re not sure how to use the test kit.
Home test kits can also be ordered from the NHS to be delivered to people’s home address, and they are available from NHS testing locations and pharmacies that are part of the Pharmacy Collect scheme.
Additionally some workplaces are offering testing to their employees either on-site or at home – and if you own a businesses with more than ten employees it is not too late to register.
Carers, personal assistants and front line social care staff can also order and collect testing kits at the same time as their PPE supplies.
Those who leave their home to work or volunteer and come into contact with people in the community, for instance carers and emergency service staff, are particularly encouraged to use the service.
 Our face to face offices at Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and South Molton are now open on the following days:
Lynton House
Commercial Road
Barnstaple
EX31 1DG
Opening times:
Monday 9am-1pm
Wednesday 9am-1pm
Friday 9am-1pm
The Ilfracombe Centre
44 High Street
Ilfracombe
EX34 9QB
Opening times:
Monday 9am-1pm
Wednesday 9am-1pm
Friday 9am-1pm
The Amory Centre
125 East Street
South Molton
Devon
EX36 3BU
The Amory Centre is open. Our advisor is there on:
Tuesdays 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
Thursdays 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
Fridays 9am-midday and 1pm-3pm
 North Devon Leisure Centre and Ilfracombe Pool and Gym are also open again now for swimming and gym use, while exercise classes will hopefully start again after 17 May.
Tarka Tennis is also open again for bookings for Tennis Courts and the artificial grass pitch
 The next stage in the roadmap for easing restrictions will come no earlier than 17 May, where we will hopefully see indoor hospitality, entertainment and attractions re-open, such as our theatres and museum.
 Have you noticed tourists arriving already? At the moment, only campsites and self-contained accommodation are open but with it looking increasingly unlikely people are going to be able to travel abroad this year, we are expecting many more to arrive, especially once hotels and B&Bs are able to open as well.
Even though more people on the roads and flocking to tourist areas will cause some disruption, let's welcome them, along with the money and jobs they bring to our economy.
In the meantime, we can all stick to the lesser known beauty spots that only locals know about until they return home again!
 Just a reminder to please be considerate of other people as restrictions are eased and the weather gets nicer, particularly with things like bonfires, outdoor parties and loud music, or inconsiderate parking.
It's fine to do all these things, just not in a way that causes a problem to others, we all need to respect each other, especially during these difficult times.
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme 4 (SEISS 4) grant, worth up to £7,500, is on its way. For the first time up to 600,000 recent starter self-employed are due grants too.
SEISS 4 is the first grant that will look at 2019/20 tax returns.Eligibility criteria for this grant are largely unchanged, with one exception - 2019/20 tax returns will be included, so many who started businesses after around Oct 2018, who were previously excluded, may get one.
For more information, Money Saving Expert has a comprehensive guide.
 Central Government has recently released guidance for the administration of the Restart Grants effective from the 1 April 2021. The Government has mandated that the council undertakes extensive pre-payments checks prior to the payment of ALL Restart grants.
This applies to all previous grant recipients, consequently we will not be able to process Restart Grants as quickly as we have done with previous Business Support Grants, and please be aware that we may require additional information/documentation from you that hasn't been requested previously.
We will post updates on our website and social media outlets; in the meantime please refrain from contacting us to enquire about progress as our staff resources are being entirely focused on making the grant application process available.
We are working towards having the application process available later in April.
 For up to date information on cases across Devon, visit the Devon County Council Coronavirus dashboard:
Avoid misinformation on Coronavirus - only follow advice from official, trusted sources.
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