Covid 19 News -9-04-2021-Devon news

Further easing of restrictions on Monday 12 April Earlier this week the government agreed that the next phase of easing the COVID-19 restrictions will go ahead as per their roadmap. That means from Monday 12 April, we will be able to do a little bit more.  Non-essential retail can open, including personal care premises such as hairdressers, beauty and nail salons.Hospitality venues will be able to open for outdoor table-service, with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcohol, and no curfew, but you'll still need to remain seated. Indoor leisure and sports facilities can reopen for individual exercise, or exercise with your household or support bubble.Overnight stays away from home in England will be permitted and self-contained accommodation can also reopen so long as they are used by members of the same household or support bubble.Public buildings, such as libraries and community centres can reopen.  Most outdoor attractions including zoos, theme parks, and drive-in performances (such as cinemas and concerts) can reopen and some smaller outdoor events such as fetes, literary fairs, and fairgrounds will be able to take place.Care home residents will be able to nominate two named individuals for regular indoor visits.All children will be able to attend any indoor children's activity, including sport, regardless of circumstance.Parent and child groups of up to 15 people (not counting children aged under five years old) can restart indoors. Funerals can continue with up to 30 attendees. Weddings, outdoor receptions, and commemorative events will be able to take place with up to 15 attendees (in premises that are permitted to open). People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise domestic travel. International holidays are still illegal. Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon said: “With restrictions lifting, it is important that we continue to do all we can to control the coronavirus and keep the case levels low in Devon. "So please be sensible and remember to continue with the hands, face, space and fresh air. “Remember that social distancing rules still apply, as does the wearing of face coverings indoors in public places.  "And while up to six people or two households of any size can meet, they can still only do so outside for now, so you must not socialise indoors with anyone you do not live with, or who is not in a support bubble with you."  Rapid coronavirus tests now available across Devon  Every adult in Devon is now being encouraged to take a quick COVID-19 test twice a week to help stop the virus spreading. These type of tests, known as rapid lateral flow device (LFD) tests, are for people who don't show any symptoms of having coronavirus. One in three people with coronavirus do not experience any symptoms and may be spreading the virus unwittingly. Rapid testing detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately. They are easy, quick and convenient, and the results are usually available to you within the hour.  There are lots of ways that you can get one of these tests in Devon, including: being tested at one of our many mobile rapid testing sites collecting home test kits from any of our mobile rapid testing sites collecting home test kits from NHS testing locations and pharmacies that are part of the Pharmacy Collect Scheme having home test kits from the NHS delivered to your home  Businesses can order them too, for their employees, and carers, personal assistants and frontline social care staff can order and collect testing kits at the same time as their PPE supplies.  If the test is negative, you can carry on with your day while still following the public health guidance about social distancing and wearing face coverings.  If the test is positive, you need to self-isolate immediately and arrange a confirmatory PCR test via the NHS.  Remember, these rapid lateral flow tests are to be taken regularly if you do not have any symptoms of coronavirus. If you do develop and symptoms, you should immediately self-isolate and arrange a PCR test via the NHS.  Face coverings in secondary schools and colleges to remain in place  The government has confirmed that face coverings should continue to be worn in secondary school and college classrooms when students return after the Easter break.  It is expected that face coverings will no longer be required to be worn in classrooms, or by students in other communal areas, at Step 3 of the roadmap, which will be no earlier than Monday 17 May.  Those who are currently exempt from wearing face coverings, including pupils or staff who are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expression to communicate, will remain so.   Care home residents can have two named visitors From Monday 12 April, care home residents can name up to two people who can come for regular indoor visits, either together or separately.  Welcoming anyone into care homes inevitably brings risk of COVID-19 transmission. However, these risks can be managed and should be balanced against the importance of visiting and the benefits it brings to care home residents and their families. Visitors should be tested using rapid lateral flow tests before every visit, must wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow all other infection control measures (which the care home will guide them on) during visits. Visitors and residents are advised to keep physical contact to a minimum, for example they may want to hold hands, but closer contact such as hugging increases the risk of transmission. It is not a condition of visiting that the visitor or the resident should have been vaccinated. However, it is strongly recommended that all visitors and residents take up the opportunity to be vaccinated when they are invited to do so through the national programme. Care homes can also continue to offer visits to other friends or family members through arrangements such as outdoor visiting, rooms with substantial screens, visiting pods, or from behind windows Each care home is unique and will have developed suitable plans and processes to protect residents, visitors and staff, so please speak to them directly to find out more about visiting your loved ones safely.   Confidential advice and support via ChatHealth We know that during these unsettling times parents, carers and young people may be worried about their health and wellbeing and unsure about how they can get the help they need. Our local school nurses and health visitors are on hand with advice and support via a free and confidential text chat service called ChatHealth. If you have a young person aged 11-19 years old in your household, please let them know they can talk to a Devon school nurse in confidence about a range of things including COVID-19, emotional health, relationships, bullying, self-harm, healthy eating, smoking, drugs, or any other concerns by texting 07520 631 722 between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday including during the school holidays. ChatHealth is also available for parents and carers in Devon who have concerns about a child in their care or family health worries. Our health visitors can be contacted for confidential advice and support on mental health, child health and development, adjusting to parenting, sleep and feeding routines and family health by texting 07520 631 721 between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) Both services aim to reply to all messages within one working day and you should get an immediate response to confirm your text has been received. Texts will not be seen outside of normal working hours so if you, or someone you know, needs help before you hear back from the team, contact your GP, NHS 111 or dial 999 if it is an emergency.