Look After Each Other

It's been a difficult two years since Covid began and I'd like to thank the Borough's residents for their ongoing kindness and support of each other during this time. It really is what has kept us all going as a community. As the legal Covid restrictions come to an end, we still need to look out for each other and allow people to do things in their own time. There are still vulnerable people who are at risk so if you have Covid symptoms please stay at home. Continue as you have throughout, by supporting our local residents and businesses and help them to go from strength to strength. Cllr Neil Jory, Leader of West Devon Borough Council

Devon's Director of Public Health

The Public Health Director, Steve Brown, gave some good advice to the public to continue to look out for one another after the Prime Minister's announcement on the end of legal Covid restrictions for people with coronavirus to self-isolate from today. continue to look out for each other do what you can to reduce risk, especially for the most vulnerable  be respectful of other people’s concerns and personal situations if you test positive for coronavirus, or show symptoms of having it, including a high temperature or cough, stay at home and avoid contact with others The same as you would for any other infectious illness, such as flu, vomiting or diarrhoea

Living with Covid: What Has Changed?

The Government has published its plan for living with COVID.

From Today - Thursday 24 February:

• people who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be legally required to self-isolate, but will still be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days 
• routine contact tracing will end, so fully-vaccinated close contacts and those under 18 years old will no longer be legally required to test daily for seven days or advised to self-isolate
• workers will no longer be required to tell their employer if they need to self-isolate
• the £500 self-isolation support payment for people on low incomes who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be available 
• COVID-19 provisions for increased statutory sick pay will apply for a further month. 

From Tomorrow - Friday 1 April:

• free mass symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for the general public will end, and will instead be targeted towards the most vulnerable 

• people with COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to exercise personal responsibility when deciding whether to stay at home - until then they are still advised to do so 
• current government guidance on COVID-19 passports will end and it will no longer recommend venues use the NHS COVID Pass 

Covid Testing

Access to free COVID-19 testing for lateral flow device (LFD) testing for people with no symptoms and PCR testing for people with symptoms will change from tomorrow.

Free access to all types of COVID-19 testing will end, but with some exceptions. 

Social care staff and vulnerable people most at risk will still have access to free tests. Those considered to be 'at-risk' are still to be agreed, but it's thought to be those people eligible for antiviral treatments aimed at preventing hospitalisation.

For the rest of the public, tests will need to be paid for privately.

Booster for Vulnerable Groups

Vulnerable adults over 75 years old and the most vulnerable over 12 year olds will be offered an extra booster vaccine this spring.

The additional dose will help to protect against these vulnerable groups against severe reactions to Covid. 

Fourth doses, eligible six months after the last vaccine, is available to: 

• adults aged 75 years old +
• older adults residents in care homes 
• young adults aged 12 years old and over who are immunosuppressed or have weakened immune systems 

This is only a precautionary measure from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and does not mean there is any current danger.

Covid Support and Information

For Covid information, support and advice from West Devon Borough Council, please click the link below.