Confirmed cases of the Delta variant continue to increase in the South West, and in Teignbridge the number has risen from 56 to 89, reinforcing the importance of continuing to follow the current guidelines to help stop the spread.
The good news though is that in the latest study, COVID-19 infection rates for double vaccinated under-65s are three times lower than in unvaccinated under-65s. The effect of the vaccination underlines the importance of people taking up their jabs when they're due.
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Responding to Monday’s Prime Ministerial press conference, Devon’s Director of Public Health Devon, Steve Brown is encouraging people to continue taking steps to minimise risk to themselves and others.
“The Prime Minister has given us an early indication of his direction of travel, announcing the intended move away from legal restrictions that limit numbers of people meeting, how close we can be to other people from outside our households, and that end the requirement for us to wear face coverings.
“I echo Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer’s clarification and confirmation that he will however continue wearing a mask, particularly at this point where the epidemic is clearly significant and rising.”
The Government this week also updated its COVID-19 Response: Summer 2021 Roadmap setting out its plans to lift the remaining COVID-19 restrictions in England.
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- The end of the one metre plus rule on social distancing
- It will no longer be a legal requirement to wear face coverings in any setting, including on public transport, although guidance will suggest where you might choose to do so or necessary to work from home
- There will be no limits on the number of people you can meet
- There will be no limits on the number of people who can attend life events, like weddings and funerals – and no restrictions on communal worship and singing
- Legal requirements on how businesses operate will be removed and all businesses will be able to reopen
- The cap on named care home visitor numbers will be lifted
- There will be no COVID-19 certificates required as a condition of entry to any venue or event, although businesses and events can make use of certification
- The vaccine dose interval for under-40s will be reduced from 12 to eight weeks, so that everyone over-18 should be fully vaccinated by mid-September
- Plans to offer the most vulnerable to COVID-19 a booster vaccination from September
All adults urged to get second dose after eight weeks
People in Devon are being urged to bring forward their second Covid-19 vaccination to reduce the interval between doses to eight weeks.
They can either rebook their appointment or attend one of the many walk-in clinics being held around Devon.
All adults are now eligible to have the second dose of their Covid-19 vaccination eight weeks after the first.
The Government has recently brought forward a second dose for those under 40. This means that all adults will have had the opportunity to get a full course of vaccine by mid-September.
Details of walk-in clinics are being regularly shared on NHS Devon CCG’s social media pages. You can also find your nearest walk-in clinic here
Booked appointments can be made through the National Booking Service or by calling 119. If you attend a walk-in session and have a booked appointment for a second dose, please remember to cancel it.
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Expanding ways to communicate with our residents
We have just joined NextDoor and are on a number of other social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn so that we can engage with you, our residents, through as many ways as possible.
We read all the posts on all these channels and will do our best to direct questions to the right people and respond within two working days. We have a social media policy which you can view, which outlines how we will behave and how we’d ask you to behave in return – for more information please visit our website.
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Managing development in and around villages
As we near the halfway stage in our local plan sites options consultation, our focus this week has been on what it means for village development.
Stopping inappropriate unplanned development in locations from being permitted through the planning appeal process is especially important for many of our village and small town communities.
That’s why possible site options for development identified in the consultation which can take larger numbers of houses are mainly around the district’s towns, maximising opportunities for access to services, employment, public transport, walking and cycling.
But if we are going to resist unplanned development that erodes the character of village communities, it is important that some sites are identified in those areas, not least because a limited amount of development may support existing local services.
Those possible sites are in or around villages where there are some existing facilities, including as a minimum, a primary school, and the numbers of properties the consultation suggests could be built in each village tend to relate to the services available there.
Some development within villages will provide important local opportunities for housing and neighbourhood facilities without overburdening them.
You can read more in an article on our website. And if you want to comment on any of the site included in the consultation make sure you go to teignbridge.gov.uk/localplanreview and complete the online survey.
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Additional RNLI patrolled beaches
From this weekend the RNLI is extending the number of beaches with a lifeguard service, reflecting the increase in beach users as we move into the height of summer.
Beaches local to Teignbridge which have been added include Bigbury-on-Sea, Hope Cove, Slapton Sands (Monument), Blackpool Sands and Teignmouth South. RNLI lifeguards will patrol daily between 10am-6pm and will be on hand to advise beach users on safety issues.
Steve Instance, RNLI’s Water Safety Lead for the South West says: “‘With the addition of another 19 RNLI lifeguarded beaches, bringing the total to over 90, it gives people in the South West a wide range of options to always choose a lifeguarded beach. If you’re heading in the water always swim between the red and yellow flags. The area between the flags is actively patrolled by the lifeguards and is the safest for swimming and body-boarding".
If you spot anyone in danger in the water alert the lifeguards or call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
A full list of RNLI lifeguarded beaches can be found here: rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches Image courtesy of RNLI/Dean Wright
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Expanding activities
The Alice Cross Community Centre in Teignmouth is expanding activities as COVID rules are reduced and its July newsletter is now available setting out what’s on.
New groups starting this month include Tai Chi, Yoga, IT for the terrified, Grief Support sessions. The Centre will be open on Friday mornings from 10am for coffee and chat or just somewhere to come and relax and socialise.
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New SEND website
Devon has launched a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) website, designed for children and young people with SEND and their families to help them find the right information about education, health and care support available in the local area to help them achieve their goals.
Local NHS under pressure
People are being urged by the NHS to only go to their local emergency department in immediately life-threatening cases and for other needs to check symptoms online using the NHS App, the NHS website or 111 online. Parents are encouraged to download the Handiapp for information on childhood illnesses
High numbers of emergency attendances, combined with the need for some health and care staff, or their children, to self-isolate and the impact of Covid-19 admissions are affecting services.
To help ease the pressure, people are urged to use the most appropriate service rather than just contact their GP:
Pharmacy: local pharmacists can provide health advice and help with minor illnesses like colds, rashes, sunburn, hay fever and diarrhoea.
Mental Health: call the Devon and Torbay– 0808 196 8708 24/7 mental health line if you, or someone you know, is struggling with their mental wellbeing
111 First: available 24/7 to provide advice, treatment and care. Just ring 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk and the service will provide advice and refer you to another service if you need it.
Minor injury units: Emergency Departments are for life-threatening emergencies. There is a network of minor injury units in Devon which can provide the treatment.
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Good luck England from Team Teignbridge
We’re flying the St George’s Flag from our offices this weekend to show our support for England’s football team and wish them the best of luck for Sunday’s Euro 2020 cup final against Italy.
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Help for businesses preparing for rule changes
To help South West food business owners get ready for food labelling law changes coming into effect on 1 October, Trading Standards and Environmental Health Officers are holding free webinars to explain what is changing with live question and answer sessions.
The changes to the law affecting pre-packed food for direct sale affect businesses which make or prepare fresh food for consumers and package (bag, wrap or box) foods for display or offer.
Businesses can book a place on the 15 July Allergen Awareness Webinar
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