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15 January 2021
 This week saw the highest rate of cases we have ever had.
Our rate per 100,000 population is now 305.6. Only a month ago it was 68, which shows how quickly things can change.
Plymouth is in a better position than most areas. We currently have less than half the national average number of cases but we still have a very significant problem here in the city.
There are large numbers of people who are very poorly and, with more people having to isolate, this is having a knock-on effect on our city, our hospital and our care homes.
We need to get infection rates down and that’s something we can all help with. The new lockdown measures will help and it is vital that everyone stays at home as much as possible. We must do everything we can to keep contact with others down, as well as continue to wash our hands frequently and wear face coverings.
With one in three people with the virus not showing any symptoms, coupled with a far more transmissible variant of the virus, we need to make sure we keep our distance from others as much as possible.
If you have to go out, for essential shopping or exercise for example, act as if you have the virus and everyone else also has the infection – this really will help prevent the spread.
There is some positive news, with the vaccination programme well underway here in Plymouth. Our NHS colleagues are working flat out to get as many people vaccinated as supplies allow.
Those groups at highest risk of serious illness are being prioritised, in line with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommendations. This covers staff and residents of care homes for older people, those over 80 and health and social care workers first, before moving to the over-75s, then the over-70s and clinically extremely vulnerable adults of any age.
But while this is great news, we need to face the fact that the next few weeks and months are still going to be very tough for everyone. The NHS is under huge pressure and while we hope the lockdown will help us turn a corner in the number of cases, it will be some time before we are all vaccinated. We cannot let our guard down.
We’ve been shortlisted for a national award celebrating local authority ‘unsung heroes’ who are championing the arts against all odds.
The Box – our fantastic new museum, gallery and archive – has been nominated for Best Arts Project in this year’s Hearts for the Arts Awards, organised by the National Campaign for the Arts.
The venue opened in September and has completely transformed the former City Museum and Art Gallery, Central Library and St Luke’s Church buildings.
The shortlisting panel was impressed by ‘the commitment of all those who have worked on the project’ and ‘the Council’s acknowledgement of the value of culture in placemaking and the wide range of partnerships that were established'.
The winners will be announced on 14 February.
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Getting outside for exercise has taken on added importance in recent weeks, with many residents finding lovely walks on their doorsteps that they never even knew existed.
With that in mind, we're asking our green estate team to use their considerable knowledge of all things nature in Plymouth to tell their stories of their favourite places to be.
First up is our green estate manager Chris, who tells us all about Woodland Woods.
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A Plymouth man has been ordered to pay £3,600 in fines and costs after we took him to court for fly-tipping offences and not having a scrap metal licence.
Daniel Goldstone pleaded guilty to four offences regarding not keeping records of waste and collecting scrap metal without a licence.
He was also found guilty of depositing controlled waste, or knowingly causing or permitting controlled waste to be deposited. He was given a 12-month community order, including 15 rehabilitation days and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Our officers found a fridge-freezer, fish tank, black bin bags and a cardboard box dumped in a layby on the B3362 between Tuell Down and Lamerton, near Dartmoor. They traced the waste back to Goldstone, who had been paid to dispose of waste from a residential address.
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 Beware of scam text messages claiming to be from the NHS, inviting you for a COVID-19 vaccine.
The NHS may invite you for a vaccine by text but they'll NEVER ask for bank details.
Check website addresses and the number of any text you receive.
Call 0800 587 5030 or use the Crimestoppers website to report a suspect message.
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