Coronavirus (Covid-19) update - 23 July 2021
Please find below our latest Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents and businesses with information we hope will be of interest to you.
In this issue...
- Tips for easing back to normality
- Lifting restrictions
- Don't lose your voice at future elections
- THG's Creative Cabin recognised in national awards
- Wild Exmouth Summer events now live
- Manor Pavilion reopens with sparkling summer play season
Tips for easing back into 'normality'
Lockdown has been difficult for many of us, for lots of different reasons. In full lockdown things might have felt more certain or predictable, as the rules were clearer. But now that lockdown restrictions are easing things might feel less clear, and there may be new challenges.
The charity Mind has lots of helpful advice about recognising and managing your feelings about the restrictions lifting.
Most legal restrictions to control COVID-19 have been lifted at step 4. This means that:
- You do not need to stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with. There are also no limits on the number of people you can meet.
- However, in order to minimise risk at a time of high prevalence, you should limit the close contact you have with those you do not usually live with, and increase close contact gradually. This includes minimising the number, proximity and duration of social contacts.
- You should meet outdoors where possible and let fresh air into homes or other enclosed spaces.
- The Government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can. However, the Government expects and recommends a gradual return over the summer.
- The requirement to wear face coverings in law has been lifted. However, the Government expects and recommends that people wear face coverings in crowded areas such as public transport.
- There are no longer limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and other life events (including receptions and celebrations). There is no requirement for table service at life events, or restrictions on singing or dancing. You should follow guidance for weddings and funerals to reduce risk and protect yourself and others.
- There are no longer restrictions on group sizes for attending communal worship.
- COVID-19 has not gone away, so it’s important to remember the actions you can take to keep yourself and others safe. Everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious.
Although most legal restrictions have been lifted at step 4, and many people have been vaccinated, it is still possible to catch and spread COVID-19, even if you are fully vaccinated, and we are still in the third wave of this pandemic in the UK.
Following this guidance will help you stay safe and protect others by controlling the spread. Every action to help reduce the spread will reduce any further resurgence of the virus in the coming months.
Thank you to our front-line StreetScene and Recycling and Waste collection teams
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This week has been a scorcher and whilst we have all been learning to cope in these very warm climes, we wanted to say a special thank you to all of our front-line staff for working out in these extreme temperatures.
We are extremely grateful for you keeping our district clean and tidy and despite having reduced numbers at the moment, you are all still doing an amazing job - thank you!
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Ambulance service experiences busiest week in its history
 South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urging people to use its service sensibly – after experiencing its busiest week on record for the second time so far this month.
SWASFT responded to 23,088 incidents during the seven days up until Sunday, which is equivalent to one incident every 26 seconds.
Ahead of what is expected to be a very busy school summer holiday period in the South West, SWASFT says it must continue to prioritise speaking to and treating the most seriously injured and unwell patients.
To allow it to prioritise patients effectively, the Trust is asking everyone who uses its service to do so sensibly. People should only to call 999 in a genuine, life-threatening emergency, for example:
- Chest pain / breathing difficulties / heart attack
- Stroke
- Severe bleeding
- Severe allergic reactions
- Severe burns or scalds
- Serious head injuries
- Major trauma such as a road traffic accident or a fall from height.
They should not ring back to ask for an estimated arrival time, and should only call back if the patient’s condition worsens or they no longer need an ambulance.
The Trust is also encouraging people to look after themselves and others during this period of very warm and dry weather. They are advised to drink plenty of water, limit their exposure to direct sunlight, and check on those who are vulnerable.
People going out on daytrips or visiting the region are asked to bring their regular medication, as well as essentials such as sunscreen, antiseptic remedies and paracetamol.
 Check your voter registration details
Received a letter from us about registering to vote? Every year, we check that everyone who is eligible to vote in our area is registered. Follow the simple steps on the letter and let us know you’re registered.
You can also register to vote online at www.gov.uk/registertovote. It takes about 5 minutes and you will need your national insurance number to complete the application.
Less than a week to tell us if you have a planet positive idea that needs funding?
 We’ve teamed up with Crowdfunder to #BackTheFuture and support individuals, community groups and organisations that are helping to tackle the climate emergency in Devon head-on and inspiring others to do the same.
There's a total of £30,000 match funding on offer for planet positive initiatives in Devon, all you need to do is tell us about your idea and you could be in with a chance of getting a share of it for your project.
But be quick, the deadline for entries is Thursday 29 July at 7pm.
Ten successful projects will then be chosen to receive expert help to crowdfund their idea and get a share of the match funding.
Find out more on the Crowdfunder website.
Complete a survey on Indoor Air Quality
Can you help Sandy Jones who works for East Devon District Council and is a PhD student at the University of Plymouth investigate the association of construction, indoor air quality and health.
The University of Plymouth, in partnership with East Devon District Council is conducting research about the indoor air quality of our homes and how it could affect our health.
Indoor air pollution is dust, dirt or gases in the air inside a building such as your home or workplace that harms us if we breathe it in. The quality of the air we breathe indoors is affected by many things, such as how we heat our homes, how we cook, poor ventilation, damp, presence of chemicals in cleaning and personal care products and the existence of some specific building materials.
We would welcome your participation by answering this survey. The information you supply will form part of a larger project to understand air quality in homes. It will also help shape the Council’s future housing policies.
Please feel free to forward this invitation to your family and friends.
Shake Up Your Summer!
 This summer, Public Health England, with support from Sport England, have once again teamed up with Disney to help get kids active throughout the holidays by playing 10 Minute Shake Up games.
This year the games are inspired by some of their favourite characters from Disney Frozen, Disney and Pixar Toy Story and, excitingly for the first time ever, Marvel!
 If you want to stay up to date with the latest news about grants for East Devon businesses, or other news about business opportunities, funding and training, you must subscribe to East Devon Business news
East Devon District Council also produce regular newsletters and news on different topics, in the last week we have issued the following which may be of interest:
Latest newsletters
Date for the Diary: Cranbrook Cycling Festival
15 August, 10am-2pm, at the Younghayes Centre
Come along and learn about cycling. There will be lots to see and do for all the family, including Whizz Kids Little Wheels Ride Circuit. If you’re aged 16+ you can sign up for a guided free electric bike ride – there are even 2 bikes which can carry 2 toddlers.
 l to r. Caitlin Davey, Hannah Manley, Denise Cross, Julie Green and Steve Cross
More than £1,000 has been raised for a charity that helps provide support for people suffering with life-limiting illnesses.
Julie Green, Jacky Collins (who both work for the District Council) and Carrie would like to thank everyone who sponsored them for their 10 mile walk in memory of Janine Collins. Janine's parents Denise and Steve Cross met the walkers as they crossed the finish line.
The intrepid walkers have almost doubled their original fundraising target of £500 with at last count £1,065 raised for local charity Hospiscare.
Housing Adviser Hannah Manley and Streetscene Business Support Officer Caitlin Davey walked six miles in and around Exmouth with Twilight with a Twist to raise money for Hospiscare.
Hannah said: "For me personally, this charity is very close to my heart. They provided incredible support for our family after my mum Tracy known to many at East Devon was diagnosed with Chloangiocarcinoma Liver Cancer in February of 2018. She very sadly passed away in November of 2020 surrounded by her closest friends and family. They were even there after mum passed away for any support we needed with grieving for mum.
"Together, our family, friends and colleagues amazingly raised over £1,700 for Hospiscare at the end of last year and we could not have been more grateful to everyone for their generous donations.
"Caitlin and I are also walking part way with my mum's best friend of 20years, Julie Webb & her daughter Sophia, who has been like a sister to me from the day we met. They've chosen to walk for 13miles, they're much fitter than me I might add!
"Any donations will be greatfully received, as small as £1, every penny helps!"
Over the next fortnight the following East Devon District Council meetings are taking place.
Monday 26 July
Tuesday 27 July
Wednesday 28 July
Thursday 29 July
Wednesday 4 August
Any public meetings held will be (whenever possible) streamed live to the Council’s YouTube channel, and in the event of difficulties these will be streamed on our Facebook page instead.
 The Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth has launched its Summer Play Season of 6 irresistible plays across 12 weeks. All current Covid protocols are in place.
Award-winning producer, Paul Taylor Mills, has masterminded a high quality programme of comedy, thrillers and farce, packed with laughs, twists and turns at every moment.
The play season runs throughout the summer from 14 July to 18 September.
For the season finale, for the very first time, Paul Taylor Mills will be presenting the musical murder mystery: CLUE, based on the popular board game. This musical is now a theatre sensation and an interactive entertainment for audiences of all ages. Is it going to be Miss Scarlett in the Drawing Room with the candlestick?
The ending is decided by the audience and the musical murder mystery has 216 possible endings!
 Job vacancies: Drivers urgently needed
Our Recycling and Waste contractors Suez are also looking for experienced LGV Drivers to join their team.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact James Gatter at Suez on 01395 234500.
Driver / Loader
Contract type - Permanent
Working Pattern - Full time
Location based - East Devon, Exeter
Hours per week - 41.25
Salary - £11.52 per hour + bonus
 THG's Creative Cabin recognised in national awards
THG's Creative Cabin has been awarded Highly Commended in the Pandemic Pivot category of the 2021 Museums + Heritage Awards.
Category winners and shortlistees highly commended by the judges received glowing acclaim during the livestreamed event hosted by journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed.
The 2021 Awards marked the achievements of organisations and individuals who had evidenced remarkable levels of ambition and resilience throughout the pandemic.
The Creative Cabin will be out and about across East Devon this summer with activities, projects, talks, films, performances and workshops which creatively explore our relationship to nature and the climate emergency.
Next key event:
29 July: Artist Talk and Climate Conversations event, Exmouth
5 - 6pm meet local groups and share your views on East Devon District Council’s Climate Emergency Plan
6 - 8 pm (6.00 - 6.30pm gallery tour / 6.30 - 8.00 pm in-conversation) - join us for an insightful conversation with exhibiting artist, Mike Perry, and guest speaker: curator Ben Borthwick. They will be reflecting on the themes in Perry's current exhibition: Mike Perry Land/Sea.
Stay in touch with THG exhibitions and workshops follow them on:   
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 Wild Exmouth Summer 2021 events now live!
 We’ve now finalised our events running throughout this summer as part of our Wild Exmouth project so you can book your place now.
We have a varied and exciting range of events happening in Exmouth this summer, including Storytelling by renowned performer Clive Pig, Natural Crafts, Tai Chi, Family Yoga and much more!
To view our events and to book your space, visit : Wild East Devon Events - East Devon
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 6 August 2021.
Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up.
You can also can share this update on social media and in any online groups you're part of by using the view it as a web page link at the top of the page.
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