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12 February 2021
 It took a while for COVID-19 cases to start to fall in Plymouth but once they did the number reduced quickly.
Rates are currently 63 per 100,000, having fallen from a peak of 330. This compares really well to the England figure of 175. We are also seeing a reduction in the number of people who are being admitted to hospital.
This is positive news but we need to remember that these rates are still high and the infection is widespread.
Looking at the breakdown by age, it is working age adults who have the highest rates. We are a city with many businesses legitimately working during the lockdown so you might expect to see this pattern.
Obviously viruses do mutate and it is no surprise that COVID-19 does too. We know the Kent strain is more easily transmitted and that is how it has become widespread across the country, including in Plymouth.
The situation is being monitored closely but the current advice is that we are doing the right things to control this new variant. However we need to keep on following ‘hands, face, space’ measures and the lockdown rules.
We will be living under considerable restrictions for the immediate future and although that will be difficult we are in a very different place in this wave, knowing that the number of people being protected by vaccination is increasing day by day.
New swimming pontoons could be moored off Tinside by early summer, thanks to a grant worth £625,000 from the Getting Building Fund.
They are to be installed as part of a raft of goodies to help the city make waves as the UK’s first National Marine Park.
Other work is on the cards for the Hoe foreshore, including physical improvements to the waterfront, steps and public slipways, as well as electric vehicle boat charging points to improve key access points to the water.
The project is worth over £1,150,000 and includes digital infrastructure to enable Plymouth to host the exciting SailGP event, which is due to hit the waters here in July. The remaining sum is being match-funded by the Council.
The National Marine Park is all about getting more people to enjoy the Sound – either on it or in it – and practical improvements mean more of us can enjoy and feel safe in Plymouth’s waters.
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That's the simple message from our refuse collectors after a crew escaped serious injury when an old laptop battery ignited in their lorry.
One of the loaders smelt smoke coming from the back of the truck and called the fire service, who were luckily able to get there quickly and deal with things before any lasting damage was done.
Batteries of all kinds, from AAAs right up to car batteries, should not be put in any household bin.
Read our full story and find out how to safely dispose of your old batteries.
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Our plans to make Plymouth greener are getting into gear with brand new electric vehicle charging points across the city.
Charge points have now been installed in our Elphinstone, Crownhill and Plymstock Broadway car parks. They are pay-as-you-go and operated through a dedicated app that can be downloaded onto your smartphone.
The Plympton Mudge Way, Guildhall and North Hill car parks are also on the list to have charge points installed.
The rollout is one of a number of projects funded through our successful bid to the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund. It is also a key part of our plan to become carbon neutral by 2030, which we’ve set out in the Plymouth Climate Emergency Action Plan 2019.
Electric vehicles produce much lower local emissions, helping to improve the air quality in Plymouth.
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Kinterbury Creek is the focus of our latest blog on Plymouth's hidden gems.
If you've been following this weekly feature, you will know that we're showcasing some of the less well-known places to exercise and enjoy nature in the city.
We know parks and play areas and popular spots like the Hoe and the Waterfront can get a bit too crowded at the moment.
So check out what our green estates team have to say about some of those places that could be on your doorstep but not fully explored.
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From Monday 15 February we will no longer be accepting applications for the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) for businesses.
As expected, there has been huge demand for this funding and we’ve received almost 1,400 applications since 1 February.
Our team will now be processing and reviewing applications and prioritising grants carefully, with a focus on paying priority sectors first before looking at what support may be available for others.
If you have already applied for the ARG, please be patient and wait for us to contact you – we are working as fast as we can. We'll provide further updates on this soon.
For more information on business grants and how to apply see the Invest Plymouth website.
February is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration that aims to help us learn and better understand the issues the LGBT+ community may face.
To mark the event we’ve compiled a list of activities and resources across the city that celebrate the history and experiences of Plymouth’s LGBT+ communities.
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