Coronavirus (Covid-19) update -
5 January 2021
Following the announcement by the Prime Minister on Monday evening this is a special Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents and businesses with information we hope will be of interest to you.
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 22 January 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 this link to the update on our website.
A message from the Leader of East Devon District Council
With each day that passes it becomes clearer that although we live in a relatively isolated part of the country, Covid-19 will infect local people and in many cases take their lives. I urge the people of East Devon to rally together just as they did last March and make every effort to stay at home, clean hands immaculately, and keep a distance from others.
Paul Arnott
East Devon District Council Member for the Coly Valley ward
(Leader, EDDC)
National lockdown: What you can and cannot do
The Prime Minister has announced a national lockdown which will last until at least February half-term. People have been instructed to stay at home to control the virus, protect the NHS and save lives.
The decision follows a rapid rise in infections, hospital admissions and case rates across the country which has been attributed to a new variant of Covid-19, believed to be between 50 and 70 per cent more infectious.
From today, people will only be allowed to leave their homes for the following reasons:
- Shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person.
- Go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home.
- Exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
- Meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one.
- Seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse).
- Attend education or childcare - for those eligible.
The council’s offices at Honiton and Exmouth remain closed to the public, but you can call us on 01404 515616 to talk to an officer.
In the meantime, our website at www.eastdevon.gov.uk is regularly being updated with the latest information for residents, communities and businesses.
We will send out messages to our local media to be included in publications and we are regularly sending out updates through our social media - @eastdevon on Twitter, East Devon District Council on Facebook and eastdevondistrictcouncil on Instagram.
Lockdown grants: Extra £4.6billion to help support businesses and protect jobs
Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, across the country, are to receive a one-off grant worth up to £9,000, the Chancellor has announced.
Rishi Sunak revealed the news today (Tuesday, January 5) after the Prime Minister ordered non-essential businesses to close until at least February half-term.
An additional £594million discretionary fund has also been made available to support other impacted businesses.
Please do not contact us about this additional support as we are waiting guidance from Government. To see updates about grants as they become available, East Devon businesses should visit eastdevon.gov.uk/business-grants regularly to see the latest information and check their eligibility.
In addition, please sign up to the East Devon business email update to receive the latest news about grants.
The East Devon District Council Coronavirus Community Support Hub is here to help
If you, or a friend or family member are clinically extremely vulnerable, or in need of help and support during the Coronavirus restrictions, we have information on our website to help, if you are:
- Feeling isolated
- Unable to access food or other services
- Not sure on where to go for help and advice
or give us a call on our special helpline which is 01395 571500 for more help.
We are available to help from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Housing repairs service
The council’s housing repairs service for tenants will operate normally with full social distancing and PPE guidelines in place.
LED Leisure Centres and facilities update
Leisure East Devon (LED) facilities across the district have closed. LED hope to support as many members as possible through live-streaming exercise classes. You can find the LED timetable at www.ledleisure.co.uk/live-streaming and for more information, please go to the LED Facebook page or website at www.ledleisure.co.uk
Parks, Gardens, Play Areas, Beach Huts, Events, Outdoor Gyms, Skate Parks and Multi-purpose Games Areas
District council parks, gardens, and play areas remain open although the council is following government guidance and closing outdoor gyms, skate parks and multi-use games areas.
Sports pitch bookings and events on council land have been cancelled and people who rent district council beach huts all year round at Exmouth chalets and Beer are not able to use them and will receive a letter shortly.
Public Toilets
Nineteen public toilets across the district, which are being cleaned daily to strict Covid-19 guidelines, remain open during the lockdown period, from 8am to 7pm each day. Please see our website for more information about our toilet facilities at www.eastdevon.gov.uk/environmental-maintenance/public-toilets/
Recycling and Waste
Recycling and Waste Service
The council’s recycling and waste service will continue as normal, but due to high Christmas catch up tonnages and staff isolating due to the virus, services are being affected. If your recycling has not been collected, please leave your containers out for one or two days as we attempt to catch up. After this please take them back in and place any extra out in carrier bags on your next collection day. If your refuse has been missed please report this to us online and we will collect it as soon as possible.
Household Recycling Centres
Devon County Council have confirmed that household recycling centres will remain open during the new lockdown period. Reuse shops at the recycling centres are closed.
Cardboard collections
As residents may do more shopping online as non-essential shops have closed, the council is expecting to collect more cardboard from the kerbside. As always, the crews will collect as much as they can but may have to leave some materials if very large quantities are put out. Please store your card and put it out gradually over the next collection days.
Households with Coronavirus
Households are reminded that if they have coronavirus, their recycling and waste needs to be handled carefully before being put out for collection to help prevent further spread of the virus.
Service updates
Visit our updates page on our website at https://eastdevon.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/recycling-and-waste-information/waste-and-recycling-updates/ for more detailed information.
Thelma Hulbert Gallery and Manor Pavilion Theatre
The Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton remains closed and has an online presence at www.thelmahulbert.com. The council-owned Manor Pavilion Theatre in Sidmouth is also closed.
Wild East Devon update
In response to the new lockdown in England for January we have made the difficult decision to enact the following temporary changes to our operations across our nature reserves. The below is now in place until Sunday 31 January.
- Our ten nature reserves remain open. Residents of East Devon can still use the green, open spaces while observing social distancing measures. We ask all visitors to our reserves to take extra care when making contact with surfaces such as gates.
- No events will take place in January. We had not planned to run any during January, although we hope to run family outdoor events in February Half Term. Visit our event pages here for up-to-date listings.
- We have paused volunteer activities on our sites. Recruitment of new volunteers is also suspended, but we have waiting lists for each of our roles. To add your name, please email wild@eastdevon.gov.uk
- We will be adding daily content to our social media platforms @wildeastdevon so you can stay in the loop with what we’re up to. We’ll be adding daily local walks ideas as part of a #walkwildeastdevon campaign throughout January.
- The toilets at Seaton Wetlands will remain open with a more regular cleaning schedule.
- The Discovery Hut at Seaton Wetlands remains closed until further notice.
- Our Tramper Hire service at Seaton Wetlands is suspended until further notice.
We have suspended moderate and above risk activities to ensure no avoidable call on our amazing emergency services, which means inconveniences such as temporary closures to some permissive paths may be in effect.
These measures will be under review by the team and any change will be communicated to all involved as the situation develops.
Thank you for your support of the team up to now, please stay safe and await further updates from us with regards to each aspect of Wild East Devon.
The Wild East Devon Team
New Year, new you?
For many, the past year has been hard, with people realising how precious their health is. Let’s feel better in 2021!
No matter how much you do, physical activity is good for your body and mind. Adults should aim to be be active every day. Some is good – more is better still.
A daily brisk walk can boost your energy, lift your mood and make everyday activities easier.
Search for free tools and support to help you make healthy changes.
Staying away from home overnight
You cannot leave your home or the place where you are living for holidays or overnight stays unless you have a reasonable excuse for doing so. This means that holidays in the UK and abroad are not allowed.
This includes staying in a second home or caravan, if that is not your primary residence.
This also includes staying with anyone who you don’t live with unless they’re in your support bubble.
You are allowed to stay overnight away from your home if you:
• are visiting your support bubble
• are unable to return to your main residence
• need accommodation while moving house
• need accommodation to attend a funeral or related commemorative event
• require accommodation for work purposes or to provide voluntary services
• are a child requiring accommodation for school or care
• are homeless, seeking asylum, a vulnerable person seeking refuge, or if escaping harm (including domestic abuse)
• are an elite athlete or their support staff or parent, if the athlete is under 18 and it is necessary to be outside of the home for training or competition
If you are already on holiday, you should return to your home as soon as practical.
Guest accommodation providers such as hotels, B&Bs and caravan parks may remain open for the specific reasons set out in law, including where guests are unable to return to their main residence, use that guest accommodation as their main residence, need accommodation while moving house, are self-isolating as required by law, or would otherwise be made homeless as a result of the accommodation closing. A full list of reasons can be found in the guidance on closing certain businesses and venues in England.
Accommodation providers are also encouraged to work cooperatively with local authorities to provide accommodation to vulnerable groups, including the homeless.
Trusted sources of advice and information
Please make sure that you only follow advice from trusted, official sources:
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