Latest Coronavirus updates

The Government has announced that NHS Test and Trace and Public Health England (PHE) will extend its partnership with councils to reach more people testing positive and their contacts to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Local areas will be provided with dedicated ring-fenced teams from the national service. These teams of NHS Test and Trace contact tracers will focus their work on specific areas, alongside the relevant local public health officials.

You can read more on GOV.UK

NHS trusts in Somerset have been allocated nearly £2million to upgrade their facilities ahead of winter.

Health leaders in Somerset have welcomed the announcement, which comes as Somerset experiences increasing levels of demand for local urgent and emergency care services.

Social enterprises in Devon and Somerset have praised a partnership that has supported them during the Covid-19 pandemic and now they are encouraging others to sign up.

The Enhance Social Enterprise Network Devon and Somerset was created to support the development of social enterprises across Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset following funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

You can read more here

On Friday 14 August at 8am you can join the County Council’s social media shout out in support of our local businesses. Many local businesses have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which is why we are running our campaign Love Somerset, Buy Local to support local small and micro businesses in Somerset. This is in addition to the government’s current Shop Local campaign.

Join the shout out and voice your support:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SomersetCouncil

Facebook: www.facebook.com/somersetcountycouncil

Instagram: www.instagram.com/somersetcouncil

Commuters planning to car share as they head back to work are being advised to follow the golden rules to keep them and their passengers protected from coronavirus.

People should limit sharing their car to people within their household or social bubble. But if that’s impossible they should:

• share the transport with the same people each time
• keep to small groups of people at any one time
• open windows to allow air to circulate
• travel side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them, where possible
• try to keep as much distance as possible between each other

The driver should wear a face covering and ask their passengers to follow suit.

Good hygiene remains all-important – the vehicle should be cleaned between journeys, using standard cleaning products, with door handles and other areas people may touch cleaned thoroughly.

At the start and end of each journey, remember to wash hands for at least 20 seconds if possible, or use a hand sanitiser.

We have become the first council in the South West to sign up to UNISON’s ‘Stop the Spread’ pledge, a key initiative by the UK’s biggest trade union to support care workers in the fight against coronavirus.

The pledge introduces a series of measures designed to protect care workers and reduce the spread of the virus in care homes.

The commitments in the pledge include key safety measures, such as priority testing for social care workers and providing lifesaving personal protective equipment. The pledge will also provide key workers in the frontline fight against coronavirus with important employment protections. These include the provision of full pay during self-isolation and leave on full pay for workers caring for a dependent with COVID-19.

The pledge was developed to recognise that social care workers have been at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus, often placing their lives at risk by simply going to work.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics reveal that care workers are twice as likely to die from coronavirus than NHS workers.

A-level and GCSE exam results are out very soon – this Thursday (13 August) for A-levels, and Thursday 20 August for GCSEs.

The exams and assessments were cancelled this year due to coronavirus (COVID-19) but most students will still receive grades in time to progress to further study or employment.

Somerset media outlets were contacted in July with suggestions about how to manage coverage with COVID-19 restrictions in place.

The number of pupils able to attend school at any one time to collect their results will be limited and staggered across the day. Having collected their results pupils will be asked to leave the school site as quickly as possible.

Find out how the results will be calculated, plus information about options available if students don’t get the grades they wanted.

The list of countries and territories with coronavirus-related restrictions on travel has been updated.

People arriving in England from Andorra, Belgium and The Bahamas from 8 August 2020 will need to self-isolate for 2 weeks as the countries are removed from the travel exemptions list.

Brunei and Malaysia have been added to the government’s travel corridor list following a decrease in confirmed cases of coronavirus. You can check the latest travel corridors list.

The Distance Aware initiative has been recently endorsed by the Department of Health and Social Care. This was set up to enable individuals and organisations to politely prompt ongoing distancing and respect of individual social space. Badge and poster templates are available to download from the site.

With a hot weekend predicted, Somerset residents and visitors are being urged to follow the guidance to keep themselves, their family and friends and the county safe from coronavirus.

Temperatures are predicted to peak on Saturday and Sunday – and into early next week – reaching the low 30s. And that could risk people forgetting that coronavirus remains a threat.

Current guidance for England continues to limit social gatherings. You can meet in social gatherings of up to two households (including your support bubble) indoors and outdoors, while up to six people from different households can meet outdoors only.

Businesses and venues can host larger groups, provided they comply with the COVID-19 Secure Guidance.

You can read more detailed guidance here

As temperatures rise, we have put together some top tips on coping in the hot weather this weekend and into next week. Please keep an eye out for yourself, vulnerable family and friends and neighbours.

Wearing face coverings and PPE in hot conditions can be uncomfortable but is no less important and must still be worn correctly. Drink plenty of water and take breaks to cool down, in safety, if necessary.

You can read more on our Somerset County Council Newsroom

Emergency measures to support the reopening of high streets in Somerset were rolled out across the county in June to free up space in high streets as retail businesses reopened and shoppers returned.

Holyrood Street, Chard was pedestrianised to support reopening of non-essential retail businesses.

After reviewing footfall and listening to feedback from both shoppers and businesses, Somerset’s Covid-19 Active Travel group has made the decision to reopen Holyrood Street from today – Friday 7 August.

You can read more here

The Cabinet Office has produced optional cards and badges which can be carried by someone to show they may have difficulties or concerns in maintaining social distancing. They can be used to signal to others around them that they need to pay attention and be given space. There are versions to print and one that can be used on your mobile phone.

All ‘please give me space’ assets can be found here

The guidance designed to assist people planning to get married or form a civil partnership in England has been updated. This now reflects the additional requirements on face coverings and the implications for wedding receptions, following the Prime Minister’s roadmap announcement last week. The easing of restrictions on small wedding receptions will now not take place until 15 August, at the earliest.

You can read more here

With a hot weekend predicted, Somerset residents and visitors are being urged to follow the guidance to keep themselves, their family and friends and the county safe from coronavirus.

Temperatures are predicted to peak on Saturday and Sunday – and into early next week – reaching the low 30s. And that could risk people forgetting that coronavirus remains a threat.

Current guidance for England continues to limit social gatherings. You can meet in social gatherings of up to two households (including your support bubble) indoors and outdoors, while up to six people from different households can meet outdoors only.

Business and venues can host larger groups, provided they comply with the COVID-19 Secure Guidance. More detailed guidance

People attending events need to keep themselves safe:

Top tips to keep you and your family safe:

• Keep your distance from people outside your household and try and stay two metres apart at all times (or one metre plus if this not possible).
• Continue to wash your hands well and regularly for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitiser when outside your home and avoid touching your face.
• Avoid crowded spaces and plan ahead when you can to avoid travelling on public transport at peak times.
• Wearing a face covering is now compulsory on public transport and in other enclosed public spaces, such as shops.
• If you do go out socially, have fun but be sensible; show respect for others, follow the advice, and don’t do anything that puts you or other people at risk.
• If you do have symptoms – a new, continuous cough, high temperature, a loss or change in sense of smell and taste – you must self-isolate and arrange to have a test.

There’s still plenty of scope to enjoy a day trip or staycation, a meal out in a favourite eatery, a country walk, or cycle ride.

Emergency measures to support the reopening of high streets in Somerset were rolled out across the county in June to free up space in high streets as retail businesses reopened and shoppers returned. Holyrood Street, Chard was pedestrianised to support reopening of non-essential retail businesses.
After reviewing footfall and listening to feedback from both shoppers and businesses, Somerset’s Covid-19 Active Travel group has made the decision to reopen Holyrood Street from Friday 7 August.

The Active Travel Cell is constantly reviewing the situation to support local businesses to operate in the safest way possible.

The public are still encouraged to stay safe by continuing to adhere to social distancing by keeping 2m apart and by wearing a face covering on public transport and in shops and other enclosed public spaces.

Somerset’s Covid-19 Active Travel group includes representatives from Somerset County Council, Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset West and Taunton Council, South Somerset District Council, Avon and Somerset Police and Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP).

Having been allocated an initial £120,000 from the Department for Transport in emergency funding for the temporary measures, the group is committed to working with communities to help create better spaces for people walking and cycling around Somerset, particularly with further funding expected in phase 2.

All feedback that has been received for this and all temporary schemes will be incorporated where possible into future plans to improve the pedestrian experience.

Families who benefit from government funded childcare support were given a boost today as the Government announced that they would not lose out due to COVID-19.

Working parents or carers, who are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare or 30 Hours Free Childcare but have temporarily fallen below the minimum income requirement as a result of the pandemic, will continue to receive financial support until 31 October.

Somerset’s Local Outbreak Management Plan, setting out how the County Council and partners, will prevent and react to local coronavirus outbreaks, has been formally endorsed.

The COVID-19 Engagement Board held its first meeting on Friday 31 July where members considered and backed the plan and its approach. The Board heard that Somerset cases continue to remain low compared to other parts of the country, but Coronavirus is proving to be a disease around clusters and outbreaks, demonstrating the importance of local leadership in preventing and managing the spread.

The virtual meeting was chaired by County Council Leader David Fothergill and members include Somerset’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, district councils and Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens.

The plan sets out how the County Council and partners will actively engage with Somerset residents, businesses, visitors and communities to keep cases down and reduce further spread if outbreaks occur.

It was drawn up after all local authorities were tasked with producing Local Outbreak Management Plans by the end of June as the focus moved away from national lockdowns to a more local response.

Somerset’s Local Outbreak Management Plan

Some measures to ease restrictions in England, which were due to come into force on 1 August, have now been put back until at least 15 August. Further detail on what you can and can’t do is available here

The guidance on face coverings was updated last week to reflect changes on when face coverings should be worn.

From 8 August, the list of places where members of the public will have to wear a face covering will be expanded to include:

• funeral directors
• premises providing professional, legal or financial services
• cinemas
• theatres
• bingo halls
• concert halls
• museums, galleries, aquariums, indoor zoos or visitor farms, or other indoor tourist, heritage or cultural sites.
• nail, beauty, hair salons and barbers – other than where necessary to remove for treatments
• massage parlours
• public areas in hotels and hostels
• places of worship
• libraries and public reading rooms
• community centres
• social clubs
• tattoo and piercing parlours
• indoor entertainment venues (amusement arcades, funfairs, adventure activities, for example laser quest, go-karting, escape rooms, heritage sites)
• storage and distribution facilities
• veterinary services
• auction houses

The Government recommends face coverings are worn in these settings now, but this will not be mandatory until 8 August.

The public are also strongly encouraged to wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where they may come into contact with people they do not normally meet.

Face coverings are not required in restaurants with table service, bars, and pubs

Somerset’s five local authorities are undertaking a joint business survey to assess the impacts of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the economy.

Prepared with input from stakeholders across the county, including the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses, the survey will provide vital intelligence to help support local business response and recovery work. The survey can be accessed here.

More than 5,000 eateries in the South West have signed up to the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out that went live yesterday and will continue throughout August. The figure only relates to businesses with fewer than 26 outlets and excludes the large chains.

The deal offers diners the chance to benefit from a 50% discount, up to a maximum of £10 per person, on food and non-alcoholic drinks, any Monday to Wednesday. No voucher is required. Diners can take advantage of the offer as many times as they like during the month.

Stickers and posters are in the windows of restaurants, cafes, bars and other eateries, and customers who want to take advantage of the scheme are advised to look out for the logo.

You can search online for premises within a five-mile radius of your base that have signed up to the scheme here.

From today (1 August), the government’s shielding programme will pause, unless the transmission of COVID-19 in the community starts to rise significantly. This means the support from the National Shielding Service, including free food parcels and medicine deliveries will stop.

However, supermarket priority delivery slots will remain and in Somerset the Coronavirus Support Helpline number, 0300 790 6275, will also continue to provide help and support 7 days a week between 8am and 6pm.

This helpline, set up by the five councils in Somerset at the start of the pandemic, makes it easier for people to access any local authority help they may need, including emotional support.

Since March, communities have rallied round, with volunteers helping those who have most needed help. Many of those charities, local groups and volunteers, are still there and still able to help. Spark Somerset has been bringing volunteers together and has advice. Corona helpers are another valuable source of help. People can also contact their village agent for support.

For many of us, easing the strictest lockdown has been a gradual process, and most people will now be relatively used to our new normality of social distancing and face coverings. But many residents who have been shielding, and haven’t really left their homes since March, may be feeling a little uneasy about the end of this period.

Venturing back out and being around other people, for example at the shops, with face coverings and one-way systems, is a daunting prospect and the transition could be as difficult as the sudden lockdown was in March. And just as it took a while to adjust back then, it will take a while to adjust now as shielding lifts.

Take it at your own pace, share any concerns or anxieties with those closest to you and remember that the friends and neighbours that have helped you over the last few months are still your friends and neighbours even after the shielding ends and they are still there for you.

NHS Volunteer Responders will carry on delivering the groceries you buy and prescriptions if you need it. You can call them on 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm).

There is also support available to help people who are feeling anxious about leaving the house. You can access this online on the NHS website.

So, for those who have been shielding and are worried about venturing-forth from this weekend, please know that you are not alone, and support is available. And for the rest of us now going about our slightly less restricted lives, please continue to look out for those we know who have been shielding – they may need your continued reassurance as they become as independent again as possible.

You can read more about the changes on GOV.UK

Some measures to ease restrictions in England, due to come into force on 1 August, have now been put back until at least 15 August:

• Indoor venues such as casino, ice rinks and bowling alleys, which were due to reopen, will remain closed
• Live indoor theatre and concerts, which were due to resume with socially distanced audiences, will not take place
• Pilot sporting events allowing limited numbers of spectators will not go ahead
• Wedding receptions with up to 30 guests cannot yet happen

You can read more on GOV.UK

It is now law in England to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces such as shops and supermarkets.

The government is adding museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship to the list of places where face coverings should be worn in England. It is currently a recommendation but will become law on 8 August.

It has been compulsory to wear them in shops since 24 July. Face coverings are also mandatory on public transport.

However, there are exemptions for those who may have health issues or are too young. Some people who are exempt may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.

You can print off a card here

NHS Test and Trace is launching a new campaign to encourage everyone to get a free test as soon as they get symptoms, alongside a new business plan to expand testing capacity and prepare the nation for winter.

You can read more about the campaign on GOV.UK

Many local businesses have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which is why we’ve launched a campaign to support local small and micro businesses in Somerset. We’ll be sharing on our social media pages for three weeks a selection of the great products and services that Somerset businesses offer and encouraging residents and visitors to buy locally to get Somerset on the road to recovery!

Join our campaign to help businesses thrive and grow:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somersetcountycouncil/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SomersetCouncil

People who test positive for coronavirus or show symptoms in the UK must now self-isolate for at least 10 days, rather than seven. And people who show symptoms should arrange to be tested. Until now, people showing key symptoms – a new continuous cough, a temperature or loss of taste or smell – have had to self-isolate for at least a week.

The Somerset Coronavirus Appeal, launched by local charity Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) in late March of this year, has grown to over £1 million thanks to generous contributions by local individuals, charitable trusts and businesses, as well as funding from the national appeal, run by The National Emergencies Trust (NET).

Any group wanting to apply for the funding should visit the SCF website where they can find guidance on the process: www.somersetcf.org.uk/coronavirus

During the first ‘emergency’ phase of the appeal, the money raised was awarded to local charities and community organisations supporting those in most urgent need during the early days of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Faced with the uncertainties of lockdown during a pandemic, there are not too many 21-year-olds who would think about taking on two young foster children.

But Rachel is different from most young people and has spent the past two months being an emergency foster carer to a two-year-old boy and his year-old sister.

And the experience – with all its challenges in unprecedented times – has been hugely positive for Rachel and her family.

She is Somerset’s youngest foster carer – and is following in family footsteps as her parents started fostering aged 22 and were thought to be the youngest in the country to do so at the time.

Rachel, from the Mendip area, had just graduated with a degree in social work when coronavirus emerged. She had planned to foster children at some point in her life as she was brought up by parents who fostered throughout her childhood.

But the pandemic brought her plans forward when she heard that emergency, short-term foster carers were needed.

“I grew up in a fostering family, so I have been aware all my life,” Rachel said. “Our house was always busy, full of life and I knew I wanted to foster. It came as a bit of a shock going from being a student to a foster carer for two young children.

“But it’s been so rewarding, watching them grow and develop in a safe environment. There has been some tricky behaviour at times, but they are the sweetest children.”

Rachel still lives in the family home with her parents and younger brother so has plenty of support – and helping hands – and it means she can also have some moments to herself to keep in touch with friends.

The process of being approved as a short-term foster carer was streamlined during the health crisis to make sure children could still get the placements they needed.

“It was very intense, but our social worker was so enthusiastic and kind,” said Rachel. “There was a lot that needed to be done in a short time. But I was so impressed by the support and professionalism of everyone involved.”

Most of the process happened virtually but there was a face-to-face home visit as part of her assessment. She was put in touch with a “buddy” – an experienced foster carer who lives nearby and is part of a support group.

Lockdown restrictions meant that many child-friendly activities – trips to playgrounds and parks – had to be put on hold. But Rachel built a mini assault course in the garden for the two-year-old to enjoy and the siblings love going out for walks.

Ever-resourceful, Rachel ordered in paints and craft materials to make sure there were things to do when the weather turned – and that’s been a huge success.

She is determined to carry on with fostering and is going through the process of being approved as a permanent foster carer.

“I would definitely encourage others to come forward. Growing up in a family that fostered has been such a positive part of my life and has really made me who I am today. It influenced my degree and career choice and has really broadened my knowledge.”

Foster carers need a spare room in their home and must be at least 21 years old, with no upper age limit and, most of all, they need to want to make a difference for children. They receive a weekly fee and an allowance for the children’s needs.

Fostering in Somerset would love to hear from anyone interested in fostering as a short-term foster carer or on a more long-term basis. To find out more, visit the Fostering in Somerset website or call 0800 587 9900 and speak to our friendly team, follow us on Facebook @fosteringinsomerset or Twitter @fostersomerset

Most people are familiar with independent retail – small, often boutique-style shops which offer specialist products and services – but what about independent care? In Somerset, bespoke, independent care is an emerging part of the care market, where Micro-providers – a growing network of self-employed care and support workers – have been supporting almost 4,000 people across the county. Read more

Parents in Somerset are being urged to claim Child Benefit, even if they have not yet been able to register the birth of their new-borns, to ensure they don’t miss out.

Claims can only be backdated by up to three months. Usually, to claim Child Benefit parents must register their child’s birth first. However, with many local register offices operating at reduced capacity and some parents unable to go to their local register office because of COVID-19, HMRC announced in April that parents can claim Child Benefit without having to register their child’s birth first during the pandemic.

First time parents will need to fill in Child Benefit claim form CH2 and send it to the Child Benefit Office. If they haven’t registered the birth because of COVID-19, they should add a note with their claim.

If they already claim Child Benefit, they can complete the form or add their new-born’s details over the phone on 0300 200 3100. They will need their National Insurance number or Child Benefit number.

Somerset, Devon and Torbay Trading Standards are holding an online event to promote mental health and wellbeing in the farming community on Friday 31 July.

The ongoing Covid-19 crisis and increasing industry pressures mean that the region’s farmers are under pressure more than ever. This has led to increased incidents of mental illness within the industry.

Those interested in attending this online event can book their place on the Evenbrite bookings page. The event is on Friday 31 July from between 6pm and 8pm.

Public Health England (PHE) has launched the Better Health campaign to support people to live healthier lives and reduce their risk of serious illness, including COVID-19.

The campaign – unveiled as part of the government’s new Obesity Strategy – encourages adults to introduce changes that will help them work towards a healthier weight, with a suite of free tools and apps supporting people to eat better, drink less alcohol and get active. This includes a new app for the free 12-week NHS Weight Loss Plan, helping people make healthier food choices and learn skills to prevent weight gain.

The discount scheme goes live in August and you can now check which premises near you have signed up to the Government scheme. Look out for the logo, too – it means diners that eat-in will benefit from a 50% discount, up to a maximum of £10 per person, on food and non-alcoholic drinks, any Monday to Wednesday in August – and no voucher is required. Diners can take advantage of the offer as many times as they like during the month.
The postcode checker will list outlets within a five-mile radius.

Eateries in Somerset are being encouraged to sign up to the “Eat out to help out” initiative that goes live in August. It’s not just restaurants that are eligible – the scheme is open to all establishments that sell food for consumption on the premises such as hotels, leisure centres and office canteens.

Eligible establishments can register now, and businesses are encouraged to sign up early, so they are ready to use the scheme when it starts on 3 August.

Businesses using the scheme will offer a 50% reduction, up to a maximum of £10 per person, to all diners who eat and/or drink-in on Mondays to Wednesdays throughout August. Alcohol is excluded from the offer.

Somerset’s five local authorities are undertaking a joint business survey to assess the impacts of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the economy. It went live today and can be found here: www.somerset.gov.uk/businessrecoverysurvey

Prepared with input from stakeholders across the county, including the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses, the survey will provide vital intelligence to help support local business response and recovery work.

Government guidance on wearing face coverings has been issued. The guidance covers when face coverings must be worn, where they can be removed enforcement and exemptions.

In England, you must wear a face covering by law in the following settings:

• public transport
• indoor transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)
• shops and supermarkets (places which are open to the public and that wholly
or mainly offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)
• indoor shopping centres
• banks, building societies, and post offices (including credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses) Some people who are exempt may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign. You can print off a card here.

You are expected to wear a face covering immediately before entering any of the listed settings and must keep it on until you leave.

You are also strongly encouraged to wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.

Face coverings are also needed in NHS settings, including hospitals and primary or community care settings, such as GP surgeries. They are advised to be worn in care homes. Individual settings may have their own policies and require you to take other measures. You can read the full guidance here.

The Department for Education guidance on childcare services, early years settings, and childminding services during the coronavirus outbreak has been updated. The guidance now reflects that early years settings can return to normal group sizes and includes updated information about autumn funding, wraparound care, managing requests for site visits for new admissions in September, data collection changes, and reporting to Ofsted.

New guidance on visits to care homes has been published by the Department of Health and Social Care. The first priority must remain preventing infections in care homes and this means that visiting policy should still be restricted with alternatives sought wherever possible. However, as the rate of community transmission has reduced, care homes can now develop a policy for limited visits, following the advice set out in this guidance.

Somerset Head Teachers have issued a resounding message to pupils across the county – “School is the best place for you, we can’t wait to see you back”.

As education leaders prepare for the return of all pupils from September, work has already begun to ensure parents and pupils are reassured and feel positive about the coming autumn term following months of home educating for many pupils during the coronavirus crisis.

In the spirit of the time five Heads came together to issue a special message to pupils on behalf of all Somerset Head Teachers to reassure them and prepare them for September when conversations can finally be enjoyed face to face once again between staff and pupils.

Mathew Vella, Head of St Michael’s Academy in Yeovil, who took part in the video, said: “As Head Teachers we can assure parents that we will be looking after each and every one of our pupils – we’ve got their backs.”

Emma Wilkes, Head Teacher of Oakfield Academy in Frome also took part, along with Mark Ruffett, Head of Selworthy School in Taunton, and Natalie Hanna, Head of Mendip School in Prestleigh, and Morwenna Dunstan, Head Teacher at St Mary’s CofE School in Bridgwater.

“It might look a bit different in schools at first, and it might feel a bit strange after being away for so long – that’s why we wanted to say a few words of reassurance,” said Morwenna Dunstan.

“We’ve been doing everything we can to make sure it’s safe for when children return.”

Emma Wilkes said: “It’s really important for children to be back – it’s not just about learning. Being in school is best for children’s health and wellbeing, it’s great to be with their friends again and it’s vital to re-establish routines.”

Most schools will have been in touch or will be contacting parents shortly to explain how settings and the school day will need to be adapted to ensure the safety of pupils and staff.

You can see the video here https://youtu.be/m9x3cifSkMQ or on @SomersetCouncil on Twitter.

Hundreds of people have been making use of the new Somerset Libraries order-and-collect service which is now set to expand to other libraries.

The service allows people to use an online request form to receive a selection of up to 10 books, DVDs or Talking Books which staff pick out for customers, based on the types of authors or genres that are of interest to them.

The service now operates from Taunton, Frome, Yeovil, Minehead and Bridgwater libraries. From the 27 July, this will be extended to Wells, Dulverton and Ilminster and from the 3 August, Burnham-on-Sea, Williton, Wincanton and Shepton Mallet will also be happy to welcome customers to hand them the pre-ordered selection of books. South Petherton Community Library will be doing the same from 4 August.

Somerset residents have also been making use of the popular public computers which are also available in libraries that are open. Computers need to be pre-booked and are available for one-hour slots, with time built in for cleaning.

The mobile library will also be back on the road from Tuesday 21 July and details of where and when the stops are can be found on the Somerset Libraries website pages.

Customers can return any items currently on loan to any libraries that are open, but customers are being encouraged not to make an unnecessary journey to do this. All current loans that would have been due back during the lockdown period have been extended to the end of August, and any overdue charges that customers might have incurred as a result of library closures due to COVID-19 have been waived. It is hoped that all Somerset libraries, with the possible exception of a few community-managed libraries, will be open again by mid-August.

The order-and collect request form is available on the Somerset Libraries website or by contacting librariesmail@somerset.gov.uk. Somerset Libraries are also contactable by phone on 0300 123 2224.

Full details of which libraries are re-opening, including their hours of opening and services available, can be found on the Somerset Libraries website and their social media pages – search for Somerset Libraries UK on Facebook, @SomersetLib on Twitter and Somerset Libraries on Instagram.

In normal times GCSE and A level results days are a great opportunity to celebrate with your help and it’s a tradition we and all our schools value.

But this year of course these occasions will be very different due to the guidance education sites must follow as a result of the COVID 19 virus.

The number of pupils able to attend school at any one time to collect their results will be limited and staggered across the day.  Having collected their results pupils will be asked to leave the school site as quickly as possible.

In line with Government guidance schools will be limiting the number of external visitors to their sites – the usual coverage simply will not be possible.

But clearly we want our students to be able to celebrate their success and be seen to do so. It may be possible to make specific arrangements for access to a school to enable photographs to be taken but this will need to be carefully planned.

Please contact your local school to see what, if any arrangements can be made, but please bear in mind social distancing requirements when taking photographs.

Alternatively, schools may be able to supply images and quotes as well as key information. Once again, please start making arrangements early to avoid disappointment.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Children in Somerset have the technical support to help ensure the impact of coronavirus on their education is minimised thanks to a dedicated team delivering innovation in online learning.

Back in March at the start of lockdown the county’s e-Learning and Information Management (eLIM) team, which supports Somerset County Council’s schools with online learning and technology, took on the mammoth task of virtually overnight, providing staff and thousands of pupils in more than 165 schools with a huge array of digital education assistance.

The team of three, which is part of Somerset’s Support Services for Education, works with schools to develop innovative, engaging and safe use of technology.

They have provided a wealth of technical and practical support, including:
• Advice and guidance to support children learning at home safely using platforms such as Google Classroom.
• Software and operating systems.
• Use of video both recorded and livestreamed to facilitate teaching.
• ‘Blended learning’ – a blend of teaching and learning using in-school and online methods.
• A new to Somerset; safer, kinder social media platform pilot – GoBubble – so far 23 schools have signed up.
• Various online safety initiatives and tools to support staff.
• A customisable computing curriculum for all primary schools.
• Specialist advice on data protection

The increase in the use of technology and the expectation of the Government that schools will need to continue to offer online learning throughout the coming year means the team will continue to play a key role at the centre of education provision.

From 24 July in England, it will be mandatory to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets, as well as on public transport.

Exemptions include young children, people with breathing difficulties and people living with a disability. Measures can be taken if people do not comply with this law. Transport operators can deny service or direct someone to wear a face covering.

To support businesses to know the exact steps they need to take if a customer, visitor or staff member has suspected or confirmed Coronavirus, the Council have produced a range of ‘checklist’ leaflets.

Available to download here, there are leaflets and posters for businesses, accommodation providers and visitors to Somerset. All set out the importance of self-isolating if anyone starts to develop symptoms, ensuring a test has been arranged (using accommodation postcode if visiting Somerset) and Public Health England have been contacted on 0300 303 8162.

Please share these with any Somerset business to help us get the word out.

It’s vital key workers in health and essential services along with other parents across Somerset can access childcare provision this summer.

And Somerset County Council has been working hard with providers to ensure as many families as possible can find the places they need. This summer there will be a range of support available for children and young people aged 0-16 from the usual providers as well as activities and clubs.

Provision is varied from childcare providers opening in the summer to holiday playschemes that offer different activities, including sports, crafts and drama. It’s vital that parents plan ahead and book in advance given the demand on places.

Many of our registered childcare providers are open over the summer holidays so to find your nearest provider please go to our Local Offer website  and search the marketplace by entering your postcode.

For families that cannot find appropriate childcare or activities, Somerset County Council also provides a Childcare Finder Service. The Childcare Finder Service can signpost parents to provision available within their required search area or the nearest suitable provision.

Some great summer clubs/activities include:
• YMCA Daycamps – a packed weekly holiday programme at two Somerset locations with all sorts of outdoor activities. Find out more
• Holy Trinity School in Taunton is running two summer clubs with wide ranging activities in both Taunton and Chard
• Somerset’s Support Services for Education is offering comprehensive summer provision and some great outdoor activities at its Kilve and Charterhouse Centres

For parents and grandparents who are looking for helpful resources to entertain children at home and outside, there are a wealth of online resources, including

The BBC online holiday activities
eParenting summer activities for kids 2020
Activity Village – www.activityvillage.co.uk
More resources available in this article on www.somersetnewsroom.com

A couple of other essential links for parents are:
Government information on options for paying for childcare
Information on childcare element of universal credit

Somerset County Council will present online the work that they are doing with partners to help local businesses stay safe, recover and grow as the county eases further out of lockdown.  The Council and partners are hosting a live webinar next Wednesday (22 July), free of charge at 7pm and open to any Somerset business to join.

Somerset’s Director of Public Health, Trudi Grant, will advise businesses on how to stay safe and the steps to take if a business has a suspected or confirmed Coronavirus customer or staff member.

Business leads, including Cllr David Hall, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Somerset’s economy and Paul Hickson, Assistant Director of the Council’s Economy team will also discuss the measures the Council and partners have put in place to support businesses recover, prosper and grow in these challenging times.

The discussions will include Somerset’s business recovery plan, the projects it contains as well as an update on travel schemes enacted by partners during the COVID-19 pandemic, delivered by Strategic Manager for Traffic Management, Bev Norman.

During the webinar, there will be an opportunity to ask questions to the panel on any public health or business Coronavirus related matter.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday 22 July 2020 at 7pm to 8pm and can be accessed here. If a business has a question, feel free to raise on the night or send in advance to communications@somerset.gov.uk.

To further support businesses, the Council and partners have produced leaflets and posters to inform companies, their employees and customers what to do when a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 is reported.

There is also a specific leaflet for accommodation providers on what to do if a Somerset visitor is suspected or tests positive.

These are all available to download

Somerset’s Local Outbreak Management Plan is available and if you need Coronavirus help, advice and support, contact the Coronavirus helpline on 0300 790 6275.

Somerset’s Lord Lieutenant Annie Maw has issued a personal message for others who have been shielding to protect themselves from the coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs Maw has herself been advised to shield after she broke her back in an accident 18 years ago.

In a video message posted on Somerset County Council’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, she explains how she is the link between the royal household and the people of Somerset, “Because they like to know what we are doing and the good things people have done in the County”. The video message comes as guidance to people currently advised to shield from coronavirus has changed*.

The Lord Lieutenant gives her praise to the people of Somerset and credits their compliance to Government guidance in keeping Somerset’s positive case numbers low.

On the question of how she felt when she was identified as someone who must shield to protect herself from the virus, she said: “As someone with paraplegia because I broke my back 18 years ago, I have had to come to terms already once with a serious situation regarding my health.

“I don’t think perhaps I found it as difficult as some people would, but I do comprehend how shocking it must have been for a lot of people to have to keep out of the public’s way to make sure they didn’t make contact with that virus”.

In her video she says: “Now the constraints have been relaxed a bit, we have a new set of challenges. I personally feel nervous and unsure – I haven’t left my house and garden for 115 days but I know it’s something I must do and it’s all part of the next step that we must all face together”.

She says that, as people begin to adjust to a little bit more freedom, some of the backup that we have been used to will be less available, but reminds the public that the NHS volunteer support scheme will continue to operate to provide help for things like transport to medical appointments and the collection of prescriptions and essential items even after 31 July.

Mrs Maw also gives advice on where to go if you are feeling anxious about the next few months as guidance begins to be eased.

She ends her message by saying she is “Confident” that as a community, we are sensible and will still be careful in our choices to keep ourselves and others safe.

Watch her video message

Members of the public are urged to have their say on temporary walking and cycling measures in Somerset.

A number of temporary measures, including pedestrianised high streets, introduced to encourage social distancing and positively support the safe movement of pedestrians and cyclists, have now been in operation for around 4 weeks. Feedback and information on the success of these schemes is being gathered through online app, ‘Commonplace’.

So far feedback on new temporary schemes has been mostly positive with many town centres busy after the lockdown and pedestrianised roads helping ease crowding outside shops.

Help inform future schemes by adding your feedback and comments

Working in partnership with Town Councils, the schemes have been rolled out by Somerset’s Covid-19 Active Travel group, which includes representatives from Somerset County Council, Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset West and Taunton Council, South Somerset District Council, Avon and Somerset Police and Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP).

Having been allocated an initial £120,000 from the Department for Transport in emergency funding for the temporary measures, the group is committed to working with communities to help create better spaces for people walking and cycling around Somerset, particularly with further funding expected in phase 2*.

Using the smart interactive online mapping tool ‘Commonplace’, users can flag up areas where changes could make a positive difference to walking and cycling.

The phased reopening of Somerset’s libraries is continuing next week with a collection service introduced from even more buildings.

Library buildings in Frome, Yeovil, Minehead and Bridgwater will open for the order-and-collect service from Monday 13 July, with members able to choose up to 10 books for collection.

Customers can use a Reading Request form and receive a selection of hand-picked books, DVDs or talking books, based on the types of authors or genres that are of interest to them.

The order-and-collect service enables customers to request library books either by email, website or telephone, and the selection of books, talking books, and DVDs will be available for collection at a convenient time for people to pick up. No hire charges or overdue charges will be applied.

Internet access will be available in libraries that are open, but it will be primarily for users who don’t have home internet access and require essential services. Computers will need to be pre-booked and will be available for one-hour slots. Each computer and workstation will be thoroughly cleaned between bookings and there will be at least a 2m distance between desks.

Customers can return any items currently on loan to any libraries that are open, but customers are being encouraged not to make an unnecessary journey to do this. All current loans that would have been due back during the lockdown period have been extended to the end of August, and any overdue charges that customers might have incurred as a result of library closures due to COVID-19 have been waived. It is hoped that all Somerset libraries, with the possible exception of a few community-managed libraries, will be open again by mid-August.

The Somerset Mobile Library Service is also back on the road and the Home Library Service, delivered in partnership with the Royal Voluntary Service, has started to deliver books to people unable to leave their homes.

The Reading Request form for the order-and-collect service is available via the Somerset Libraries website or by contacting librariesmail@somerset.gov.uk. Somerset Libraries are also contactable by phone on 0300 123 2224.

Full details of which libraries are re-opening, including their hours of opening and services available, can be found on the Somerset Libraries website and their social media pages – search for Somerset Libraries UK on Facebook, @SomersetLib on Twitter and Somerset Libraries on Instagram.

Somerset is once again pulling together to ensure food is delivered to the most vulnerable families in the county during the summer holidays.

Free school meals vouchers will be available for eligible children during the break following a recent Government announcement, and Somerset County Council is working with partner agencies and volunteers to support families who live too far from anywhere that will take the vouchers.

Families of children who are eligible for free school meals are entitled to the vouchers under the scheme, which was designed in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The vouchers ensure those children continue to get a healthy lunch even if they can’t attend school. They are distributed by schools and can be spent in local supermarkets. The scheme has been extended to cover the summer holidays.

Most families can reach the supermarkets that are part the scheme but in some remote areas of Somerset it might not be possible due to distance and lack of transport.

You can read more on our Somerset Newsroom

The Government has announced a series of measures to support the economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Headlines include:

• a one-off payment of £1,000 to UK employers for every furloughed employee who remains continuously employed through to the end of January 2021

• a new Kickstart Scheme – a £2 billion fund to create 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment

• an additional £111 million this year for traineeships in England, to fund work placements and training for 16 to 24 year olds

• a new payment of £2,000 to employers in England for each new apprentice they hire aged under 25, and a £1,500 payment for each new apprentice they hire aged 25+ from 1 August 2020 to 31 January 2021

• a reduced (5%) rate of VAT will apply to supplies of food and non-alcoholic drinks from restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés for example

• Stamp duty reduced to zero on properties from £125,000 to £500,000

You can find out more on GOV.UK

Somerset’s County Ticket student travel scheme has been suspended for the next academic year due to the continuing impact of coronavirus.

Until the pandemic, students over the age of 16 could buy an annual County Ticket to use on public transport.

But, as social distancing measures are likely to continue on public transport, and with a potential reduction in the level of college attendance required from September 2020, students would be unlikely to get the best value travel from the annual pre-paid County Ticket.

You can find out more on our Somerset Newsroom

Young people, parents and carers can now ‘chat health’ with school nurses or health visitors thanks to a simple new text messaging service.

Somerset’s Public Health Nursing service has boosted its health and wellbeing advice with the launch of ‘ChatHealth’, an award-winning digital NHS approved platform.

Read more on our Somerset Newsroom

Libraries are starting to reopen in Somerset as the service begins a phased return. The first Library to welcome people back was Taunton where doors opened yesterday (Monday 6 July).

The first day saw a steady stream of customers who came in to return books, pick up their ‘Order-and-Collect’ items and/or use a public computer. After just one day, it is clear that the ‘Order-and-Collect’ service has been enthusiastically received by library members, with orders and messages coming in fast.

As many more shops and other venues start to re-open in the town, we expect to see the numbers grow but we have also been promoting the new library offer with focused local communications (including regular radio broadcasts on Tone FM), social media posts, press releases and posters/flyers and we will work with community agents and partners to help spread the word.

The library pages on the website are also regularly updated to explain the new ‘Order-and-Collect’ service and which other libraries are planned to re-open soon.

We are continuing to develop the digital offer with engaging content across the social media platforms, increased investment in the e-Resources and a rapidly growing following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can read more on our Somerset Newsroom

Yoga and mental health will be the topics on the airwaves for our wellbeing slot on BBC Somerset tomorrow night. We’ll be looking at great ways to relax using these techniques. The frequencies to tune in are 95.5FM, 1566AM, DAB, or listen at www.bbc.co.uk/bbcsomerset and on the BBC Sounds app.

The latest edition of Your Somerset is hitting doorsteps across the county and available to download now. It’s full of information about how the Council is, and will continue to, support the county during the current health pandemic. This edition also showcases how the County Council and the District Councils have been working together to help our residents, and what that partnership might look like in the future. If you don’t receive a copy you can also access one online.

Guidance on advice for guest accommodation providers now allowed to open has been updated to provide more detail. This guidance for Hotels and Other Guest Accommodation sets out how to open businesses safely while minimising the risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19). Accommodation providers may also need to refer to guidance for Restaurants, Pubs, Bars and Takeaway Services, guidance for Small Marriages and Civil Partnerships, and guidance for Outdoor Playgrounds and Gyms, depending on the facilities and services available at their sites.

Passengers returning to or visiting England from certain destinations including Germany, France, Spain and Italy, will no longer need to self-isolate on arrival from 10 July 2020. All passengers, except those on a small list of exemptions, will still be required to provide contact information on arrival in the UK.

Read more on GOV.UK

The government has updated its guidance for people who are shielding taking into account that coronavirus COVID-19 infection rates have decreased significantly over the last few weeks. This guidance remains advisory.

People who are shielding remain vulnerable and should continue to take precautions but may now choose to leave their home, as long as they are able to maintain strict social distancing.

You can read more on GOV.UK

The advice for the public in England on using green spaces, and the guidance on seeing people, have been updated to reflect changes from 4 July.

You can find guidance on green spaces here and guidance on meeting people here

This weekend will see further coronavirus restrictions eased with a host of re-openings making life seem a little nearer to normal.

Pubs, restaurants, some leisure facilities and tourist attractions can reopen from tomorrow (Saturday) as long as they keep to national public health guidelines.

Holiday accommodation sites can also reopen, and with visitors able to stay overnight, the expectation is that the county will see a significant rise in road traffic.

Other re-openings happening from 4 July, provided they can be done so safely, include children’s playgrounds and outdoor gyms; museums and galleries; funfairs and theme parks; places of worship.

Saturday is also Independents’ Day when everyone is encouraged to support local, independent shops – so many have continued to provide vital services during lockdown.

In England, two households of any size will be able to meet indoors or outside, including overnight stays. The two households must maintain social distancing throughout, unless they are part of the same support bubble.

Indoor meetings of more than two households are not recommended because of the higher risk of infection.

But it is vital everyone remembers the public health guidance about hand washing and social distancing so that Somerset stays a safe place to live in, work in and to visit.

The county has low levels of Covid-19 throughout the pandemic, and everyone – residents and visitors – must make sure this continues. Do remember when visiting favourite places and local businesses to keep your distance, wash hands frequently and wear a face covering on public transport and when you are in a busy indoor space where social distancing may be more difficult.

Please also remember if you start to develop any symptoms, you MUST self-isolate.

You can find useful guidance here:
https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/07/03/staying-alert-and-staying-safe-from-4-july/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do-after-4-july

A significant policing plan will be in place this weekend as the night-time economy reopens for the first time in three months. Licenced premises, such as pubs and restaurants, will be able to open from Saturday providing they adhere to certain restrictions set out by the government.

A dedicated command structure will be operating throughout the weekend to ensure we keep our communities safe and respond quickly to any emerging issues or crimes.

You can find out more on the Avon and Somerset police website

Communities that depend on tourism will receive a boost from a new £10 million Kick-starting Tourism Package, the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Simon Clarke MP has today (3 July 2020) announced. The funding will give small businesses in tourist destinations grants of up to £5,000 to help them adapt their businesses following the coronavirus pandemic. The money will be allocated to the Growth Hubs for grants.

Read more on GOV.UK

Businesses now have the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work part time. Employers can decide the hours and shift patterns of their employees – with the government continuing to pay 80 per cent of salaries for the hours they do not work.

You can find more information on GOV.UK

As part of the phased reopening of library buildings later this month, a new ‘personal shopper’ service is being introduced.

Somerset County Council will launch the service in Taunton Library on 6 July. Subject to a review, it will then be introduced in Bridgwater, Frome, Minehead and Yeovil on 13 July. It is hoped all remaining libraries will be able to open again during August.

The personal shopper service enables customers to request library books either by email, website or telephone, using a new borrower request form. By providing staff with a few key details about what you are looking for, a hand-picked selection of books, audiobooks, and DVDs will be available for collection at a convenient time for you. No hire charges or fines will be applied in the interim.

When libraries open, internet access will be available in some, but it will be primarily for users who don’t have home internet access and require essential services.

Somerset’s Rights of Way volunteer community is back active and working with a few adjustments as lockdown continues to ease – and there are plenty of opportunities available to be part of it. Somerset County Council has five volunteering roles in the Rights of Way team, and all can be flexibly adapted to suit your circumstances. Volunteering is a fantastic way to gain new skills, meet new people and give back to the local community.

The guidance for the public, providers of outdoor sport facilities, elite athletes, personal trainers and coaches on the phased return of sport and recreation has been updated to include new guidance from 4 July 2020. From 4 July outdoor gyms and playgrounds can open, as can food or drink facilities inside a clubhouse. Indoor facilities, such as changing rooms, should be kept closed, apart from toilets and throughways. Outdoor and indoor swimming pools will also remain closed to the public.

Guidance is now available for those managing community centres, village halls and other community facilities on safely re-opening multi-purpose buildings. The government will allow community centres and other multi-use community facilities to open on 4 July.

Somerset County Council and partners released further detail today on how they will prevent and react to localised Coronavirus outbreaks.

Somerset cases continue to remain low compared to other parts of the country, but Coronavirus is proving to be a disease around clusters and outbreaks.

To date, almost 70 outbreaks (defined as two or more confirmed cases associated with a specific setting and symptom onset dates within 14 days) have occurred across Somerset predominantly in care homes. Local outbreaks have reduced considerably from a peak earlier in the year.

As the national alert level is reduced and lockdown measures further eased – and if the public do not strictly adhere to protection measures – there are likely to be more localised outbreaks across the County.

All Local Authorities were tasked with producing Local Outbreak Management Plan by the end of this month (June) now the emphasis has moved away from national lockdowns to a local response.

The Plan sets out how Somerset County Council and partners will actively engage with Somerset residents, businesses, visitors and communities to keep cases down and reduce further spread if outbreaks occur. The Plan will be overseen by a new Somerset Local Outbreak Engagement Board, chaired by Council Leader David Fothergill.

You can read more here

All ‘business as usual’ items are now being accepted across Somerset Waste Partnership’s recycling centres.

All 16 sites can now take cardboard, as well as commercial waste and other waste you pay to dispose of – including tyres, gas bottles, soil and hardcore, vehicle parts,plasterboard and asbestos (card payment only).

Find out more on the SWP website

The NHS is rolling out extra support for pregnant Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) women, as new research shows heightened risks facing women from minority groups.

Recent analysis shows Black pregnant women are eight times more likely to be admitted to hospital with Covid-19, while Asian women are four times as likely.

Urgent action is being taken by the NHS in England to protect expectant mums, including increasing uptake of important Vitamin D and undertaking outreach in neighbourhoods and communities in their area.

You can read more on the NHS England website

Theory tests will restart in England on Saturday 4 July. The tests will take place with social distancing measures in place to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Car driving tests will restart in England on Wednesday 22 July, which will give learner drivers time to have refresher lessons and practice before taking their test.

You can find out more here

Mandatory MOT testing will be reintroduced from 1 August 2020 as COVID-19 restrictions are slowly lifted. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, drivers were granted a 6-month exemption from MOT testing in March to help slow the spread of the virus. However, as restrictions are eased when safe to do so, all drivers whose car, motorcycle or van is due for an MOT test from 1 August will be required to get a test certificate to continue driving their vehicle.

You can read more here

Latest Somerset County Council information on coronavirus

NHS information on coronavirus

Q&A from Public Health England on coronavirus

FAQ from the Cabinet Office

The new Wessex Water Foundation, a multi-million pound initiative launched by the water and sewerage company, will focus on supporting people hit hardest by the Covid-19 crisis in its first year. The Foundation is providing dedicated funding for projects across the Wessex Water region in partnership with Somerset Community Foundation, as well as Wiltshire, Dorset and Quartet Community Foundations, and is already prioritising those worst affected by the pandemic.

It’s been a challenging time for families over recent months and if you’re a parent of a three- or four-year-old you may be thinking ahead about how you can access childcare now or during the summer so you can go back to work.

There are Government initiatives which will support families to reduce the cost of childcare. Find out more at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk where you can use an online calculator to see what offers best suit your family.

If your child is aged between three and four you can claim up to a maximum of 15 hours per week of funded early education during term time. You also have the option to spread your entitlement across the year and use fewer hours a week over more weeks of the year. This allows you to use some funded hours in the Summer holidays.

If you’re a working parent and meet the criteria, your entitlement increases to 30 hours – there are links below to explain how this all works.

• For an overview of entitlement visit here.
• If you are a working parent and your child’s third birthday falls between 1 April – 31 August, you can apply now for a 30 hours funded place to start in September 2020. Find out more
• Find out about temporary changes that may affect you if you’re applying for, or already getting tax-free childcare or 30 hours funded childcare during the coronavirus pandemic.

Please contact the Children and Families Team at Somerset Direct if you have any further questions on 0300 123 2224.

A new interactive online mapping tool has been launched so people can have their say on temporary walking and cycling measures in Somerset.
A number of temporary measures, including pedestrianised high streets, have been introduced to encourage social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic and positively support the safe movement of pedestrians and cyclists.

Working in partnership with Town Councils, the schemes are being put in place by Somerset’s Covid-19 Active Travel group, which includes representatives from Somerset County Council, Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset West and Taunton Council, South Somerset District Council, Avon and Somerset Police and Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP).

The group has now developed an interactive mapping tool with Commonplace that enables members of the community to flag up areas of concern in a specific area where changes could make a positive difference. Comments will be reviewed, and temporary measures may be put in place or adjusted where appropriate.

A further easing of Coronavirus restrictions will take effect from 4 July. From that date, pubs and restaurants across Somerset will be allowed to open both indoors and outdoors as long as they enforce safety guidelines including table service only.

Other businesses allowed to reopen will be:
• Hotels, bed and breakfasts, campsites and caravan parks
• Hair salons and barbers, but with visors worn
• Playgrounds, museums, galleries, theme parks, outdoor gyms and arcades, libraries, social clubs and community centres

However, nightclubs, spas, indoor soft play areas, bowling alleys, water parks, indoor gyms, nail bars, swimming pools and water parks will not be able to reopen at this stage.

From 4 July, people will still be asked to keep to the two-metre social distancing where possible.

Where this is not possible, people must keep apart by one-metre-plus while taking measures such as wearing face coverings and not sitting face-to-face to reduce the risk of transmission.

The Government has set out a roadmap for the clinically extremely vulnerable on the future of the shielding programme.

For now, the guidance remains the same – stay at home and only go outside to exercise or to spend time outdoors with a member of your household, or with one other person from another household if you live alone. The guidance will change on 6 July, however, and again on 1 August, based on clinical evidence.

Shielding and other advice to the clinically extremely vulnerable has been and remains advisory.

Somerset Skills Bank, run by Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) in partnership with Spark Somerset, is an initiative that aims to encourage volunteers to donate their time and expert skills to support local charities. If you’re looking to develop new skills and experience, or have recently been furloughed and would like to use your free time to volunteer in Somerset, this could be just what you’re looking for.

The dairy response fund has opened for applications from eligible dairy farmers in England in need of support following the coronavirus outbreak. The deadline for applications will be 14 August.

The first time you will be able to make claims for days in July will be 1 July. From this date employers can bring furloughed employees back to work for any amount of time and any work pattern, while still being able to claim the grant for the hours not worked. However, only employees who have successfully claimed a previous grant for will be eligible for more grants under the scheme. This means they must have previously been furloughed for at least three consecutive weeks taking place any time between 1 March and 30 June 2020.

Somerset Language Connect is a new project aimed at bringing together learners from minority ethnic communities across Somerset, who would like to improve their conversational English, with learning partners who aim to support them. The scheme is completely free of charge and is run by Somerset Diverse Communities, a part of CCS, and is supported by the Somerset Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund.

Birth registrations are making a phased return in Somerset and North Somerset following the gradual easing of coronavirus restrictions.

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our online booking system. Please check this page later in the week for further updates.

The service had to be put on hold in March at the start of the nationwide pandemic lockdown due to Government instructions. But now parents can book appointments to register the birth of babies born before 31 March 2020. People can book appointments in Taunton for births that took place in Somerset, and in Weston-super-Mare for births in North Somerset and Bristol, providing the parent(s) is a North Somerset resident.

The number of appointments will be limited at first as safety measures must be put in place in buildings to protect the public and members of the registration service staff.

With the service suspended for many weeks, there is a large number of births to be registered and parents of babies born after 1 April are asked to stay patient for now until more offices are open.

Further updates will follow – please check our website where you can also find useful information on what documents are needed for registration, who can register a birth and a handy information sheet.

Please use the online system for booking an appointment wherever possible.

If you have an urgent need to register your baby, for example for a passport requirement for booked travel, please phone the registration team on 01823 282251.

The registration service web pages also provide information on registering a death – now available by phone – and details of the Somerset Bereavement Support Partnership.

Please check for updates and information on marriages and civil partnerships. Updates are also posted here

Somerset Libraries are planning the phased re-opening of library buildings with the aim to start welcoming people back as early as possible in July.

It won’t be business as usual straight away, however, and Somerset County Council’s library buildings will look and feel quite different, as some processes temporarily change.

Social distancing measures will be in place and a ‘personal shopper’ service will be available as customers will not initially be able to browse. Staff will be available to select items for customers based on popular titles, specific interests and favourite authors.

The Somerset Mobile Library Service should also be back on the road later in the year.

You can read more on our Somerset Newsroom

Visitors to Somerset Waste Partnership’s recycling centres will find ‘shop-style’ social distancing arrangements in place over the next week. Floor markings and other extra signs are being introduced to all 16 sites in the coming days. The set-up will be similar to that seen in supermarkets and other shops, with visitors expected to take responsibility for keeping themselves and others safe.

You can find the latest information on sites and services here

The Government has announced that self-employed parents, whose trading profits dipped in 2018/19 because they took time out to have children, will be able to claim for a payment under the self-employed income support scheme (SEISS).

The updated eligibility criteria has been reflected in the SEISS guidance and fact sheets. More details of the change for self-employed parents will be set out by the start of July in published guidance.

Take action on COVID-19 is the theme for this year’s Men’s Health Week. Below are some useful resources and opportunities for everyone to share to promote men’s health:

National

Men’s Health Forum – special COVID19 resources

CALM – COVID Blocker enjoy a moment of calm.

Samaritans – different ways they can help. Phone 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.org

Mental Health and Money Advice – Helping you understand, manage and improve your mental health and money issues.

Lions Barbers Collective – discuss men’s mental health and see their new film.

NHS Apps Library – wellbeing

Local

Mindline – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week friendly emotional support helpline. Phone: 01823 276 892

Citizen Advice Somerset – advice for money worries, employment and benefits.

Bereavement support service – local to Somerset. Phone: 0800 304 7412

Men’s Shed’s – find nearest Shed and read Shedders newsletter, Shoulder to Shoulder.

Somerset Man Vs Fat Football

Somerset Active Sports Partnership

Spark Somerset – for information about grassroots men’s health activity.

Keep Healthy, Happy and Safe – help and resources from Public Health during COVID 19 pandemic.

Let Public Health know what you have been up to on social media using the #stayhealthyinsomerset

As lockdown eases further, many high street shops are reopening this week. If you have to queue outside a shop, please maintain social distancing and stay 2 metres apart from others – where this isn’t possible you must stick to a minimum of 1 metre as of 4 July. If you can, please try to avoid peak times.

It’s vital you continue to follow hygiene advice – wash your hands thoroughly, use hand sanitiser and wear a face covering in enclosed spaces such as shops. Please treat shop staff – and your fellow shoppers – with consideration.

Businesses should show that their premises are COVID-19 secure by displaying notices. There’s a poster available to download here 

The NHS test and trace service will help to control the rate of reproduction (R), reduce the spread of the infection and save lives.

The NHS test and trace service:

– ensures that anyone who develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can quickly be tested to find out if they have the virus, and includes targeted asymptomatic testing of NHS and social care staff and care home residents

– helps trace close recent contacts of anyone who tests positive for coronavirus and, if necessary, notifies them that they must self-isolate at home to help stop the spread of the virus.

You can find more information here

You must wear a face covering at all times on public transport or when attending a hospital as a visitor or outpatient. Hospitals will be able to provide a face covering in emergencies.

If you can, you should also wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing isn’t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet. This is most relevant for short periods indoors in crowded areas.

You can find out more here

A cloth face covering should cover your mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably. It can be as simple as a scarf or bandana that ties behind the head. Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before putting it on and after taking it off. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth at all times and store used face coverings in a plastic bag until you have an opportunity to wash them.

You can read more on how to wear and make a face covering on GOV.UK

Emergency measures to support the reopening of high streets in Somerset are being rolled out at pace across the county.

From Monday 15 June, lockdown restrictions are being relaxed with many non-essential retail businesses allowed to reopen.

The Government is advising that people should avoid using public transport where possible and opt for walking and cycling instead. To support this, the five Local Authorities in Somerset have been working with the police and other partners to identify a list of priority areas which can be quickly funded through the £120,000 Active Travel fund.

Visit our Somerset Newsroom for a for full list of temporary road closures and other measures which will help free up space in high streets. These will be reviewed and adapted to make sure they are effective.

As shops and high streets begin to reopen, people are reminded to stay safe by maintaining social distancing by keeping 2 metres apart and by wearing a face covering in shops and other enclosed public spaces. From Monday 15 June, you must also wear a face covering on public transport.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, and/or high temperature, and/or loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste – anosmia), you and your household must isolate at home. Wearing a face covering does not change this. You should arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19.

A free programme of webinars and short courses to help small businesses across Somerset keep trading during the Covid-19 restrictions by moving some of or all their operations online. The 30 digital sessions programme is the first of its kind in the country, delivered by the Heart of the South West Digital Skills Partnership (HotSW DSP) and runs throughout June and July for any business in Somerset with fewer than 250 employees.

The full programme of webinars and courses can be found here.

As we approach the weekend, here’s a useful reminder of what you can and can’t do during the coronavirus outbreak.

These frequently asked questions have been updated to reflect the latest announcements.

The Royal Voluntary Service has launched a national lockdown activity programme for older people. The programme is designed to bring people together to enjoy activities at the same time, to keep active and interested, and to have fun. You can find more information about the programme, its recent activities and how to access it here.

Outdoor attractions can reopen from Monday 15 June as long as they follow social distancing rules. They must not reopen indoor exhibitions, such as reptile houses, and must ensure amenities including cafes are take-away only.

Attractions where people stay in their cars, such as safari parks and drive-in cinemas, will also be allowed to reopen.

The Government has announced that single adult households who live alone, or with dependent children, can form a “support bubble”. This comes into effect from Saturday 13 June.

All those in a support bubble will be able to spend time together inside each other’s homes, including overnight, without needing to stay 2 metres apart. You can find more guidance about meeting up here.

Free packs of personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in emergencies will be supplied to Early Years providers in Somerset thanks to the County Council.

Early Years staff use gloves and aprons in the ordinary course of their work and will continue to do so as normal.

Current Government guidance is that an adult in a school or Early Years setting only needs to wear the higher level PPE while they are supervising a child showing coronavirus symptoms where they cannot maintain a 2-metre distance from them until they can go home.

The packs for childminders include two face masks and a reusable visor/goggles; individual Early Years settings will receive five masks, four reusable visors/goggles and hand sanitiser. The County Council is contacting Early Years providers with details and advice.

Careful planning and sourcing have made sure that Somerset County Council has enough stocks of PPE to provide day nurseries and childminders, pre-schools and playgroups with emergency packs, similar to those provided for schools that are opening classes to year groups.

Since the initial outbreak of coronavirus, the County Council has worked tirelessly to source PPE for a range of users including schools, care homes, supported living settings, GP surgeries, dentists, at-home care providers, micro-providers, and County Council key workers.

So far, more than 4 million items of PPE have been safely delivered to a centralised point from where they are distributed to users.

The items include 1.7 million face masks, 1.5 million pairs of gloves, 726,000 aprons, 86,000 face shields, and more than 21,000 litres of hand sanitiser. More stock deliveries are expected to maintain supplies.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust issued a statement today regarding an issue affecting COVID-19 test results for some inpatients at Musgrove Park Hospital.

The full text can be read here

Show your business is COVID-19 secure by displaying notices in the workplace which you can download here.

They will show employees, customers and other visitors that your business has followed the ‘back to work safety’ guidance.

You can also download more assets for use on print and digital channels here.

The Environment Agency is urging households to play their part in preventing waste crime during the coronavirus pandemic. There are some easy steps the public can take to take to avoid unwittingly contributing to waste crime. You can find more details here.

A major road improvement scheme to upgrade the busy Toneway Creech Castle junction in Taunton is set to be postponed until next year to support the economy as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. Somerset County Council originally planned to begin work in April 2020 but this was temporarily paused due to the start of lockdown and uncertainty over materials, sub-contractors and key utilities work.

Now, following discussions with the business community, it is proposed to postpone the scheme for another 12 to 18 months. This is to help support the local economy during the recovery by minimising any temporary disruption on a key route into Taunton.

You can read the more on our Somerset Newsroom

Last chance to submit a new claim for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Employers who plan to furlough an employee for the first time must have done so by tomorrow – Wednesday 10 June. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will be closed to new entrants from 30 June. The final date when an employer can furlough an employee for the first time will be 10 June, so that the minimum three-week furlough period can be completed by 30 June. Employers will have until 31 July to make any claims in respect of the period to 30 June.

More details on the scheme and how to apply is available on GOV.UK 

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that all staff in hospitals in England will be provided with surgical masks which they will be expected to wear from 15 June. NHS staff already wear face masks in clinical areas within 2 metres of a patient, but the new guidance applies to everyone working in all areas of the hospital.

Members of the public are strongly urged to attend hospital wearing a face covering, but a face mask will be provided in emergencies. DHSC is working with the social care sector to implement a similar approach.

You can find out more on GOV.UK 

It has been confirmed that from Monday 15 June places of worship will be permitted to re-open for individual prayer in line with social distancing guidelines.

Places of worship still have discretion over when they consider it safe to open and may decide to remain closed or reopen at a slower pace if they wish.

You can find out more on GOV.UK

Health and care organisations from across Somerset have joined together to remind people to follow Government social distancing rules to minimise the increase of positive cases of coronavirus across communities.

The warning comes as new figures show the rate of transmission of the virus – known as the “R value” for the south west has increased to 1.0.

Louise Woolway, Deputy Director of Public Health said the increase highlights the importance of following all government guidelines to cut the spread of the virus and to protect the NHS: “Although Somerset continues to have low overall numbers of positive coronavirus cases compared to other parts of the country, this is a stark reminder that the virus is still active in our local communities and has not gone away,” she said.

Somerset County Council’s Director of Children’s Services Julian Wooster explained that advice to school head teachers was constantly reviewed and thanked them for their support.

“Heads, teachers and other education staff have worked hard over the past couple of months to keep children safe and now to expand lessons in primary schools. We are keeping a very watchful eye on all the data. This new transmission rate figure is just one part of the picture here in Somerset but an important one and none of us can afford to relax and ignore the guidelines.”

You can read more on our Somerset Newsroom

Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service is warning residents to be aware of scammers looking to exploit the new NHS Test and Trace service.

The government system, which launched last week, is designed to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by quickly testing people with symptoms and either phoning, texting or emailing whoever they have had close contact with to tell them to isolate for 14 days.

Read the full story on our Somerset Newsroom

Somerset’s recycling sites will accept more materials from next week. From Monday 8 June, all 16 sites will take plastic pots, tubs and trays; waste wood (man-made or natural); small household electrical items (such as toasters); and paint.

This is as well as the other materials already being accepted as the service moves back towards business as usual after sites were closed due to COVID-19.

You can find out more on the SWP site

The government will work with operators to make it mandatory for passengers to wear face coverings when using public transport in England. Face coverings are not the same as face masks. It is important that people do not use medical grade masks to ensure these remain available for frontline staff. You can find out more on GOV.UK.

Somerset has been allocated £120,000 in emergency funding for temporary measures to encourage walking and cycling.

The Department for Transport has now confirmed details of the first £45m from its £250m emergency active travel fund*.

The five local authorities in Somerset have been working with the police and other partners to identify a list of priority action areas (“quick wins”).

A number of ideas have been put forward which meet the government guidance to prioritise social distancing and public health.

However, the limited amount of funding confirmed so far cannot be used for major infrastructure changes – only for temporary measures (barriers, cones and so on) which are cheaper to deliver but can be costly to maintain.

The multi-agency group will now be working with partners and local representatives to target the funding at areas which require immediate action and can be delivered quickly.

Types of measures being considered may include:

• Restrictions to motorised traffic on some roads
• Widening footways
• Creating cycle lanes
• Providing better walking/cycle route information

These measures may not be universally supported, even on a temporary basis, and it will be important to understand the implications on the ground via a series of implementation plans. These will assess key impacts such as access and maintenance issues.

Delivering these schemes at pace will be a challenge but all five local authorities are committed to seizing the opportunity and working with local councils to enable positive changes to the nature of our towns to encourage more walking and cycling.

From 15 June ‘non-essential’ businesses can reopen, but they will have to do so within the current guidelines.

Better Business for All is a partnership of local authorities, businesses, regulators and Trading Standards services. They’ve created a single and free resource to provide guidance and advice to businesses. The toolkit is available online.

For the latest COVID-19 support and guidance for businesses, and information on Government schemes, please visit the Growth Hub website.

If you, or someone you know, is vulnerable or shielding due to being in the high-risk group for coronavirus, you could benefit from being on Wessex Water’s Priority Services Register. Energy companies offer a similar service.

For more information and to sign up, visit wessexwater.co.uk/priorityservices or call 0345 600 3 600 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; Saturday, 8am to 2pm).

Anyone in Somerset needing information, advice, and support – or just a friendly chat – can now use Facebook Live to join people across the county for daily Talking Café events.

Typically running from local venues, Talking Cafes were set up in June 2017 as a collaboration between Somerset County Council, Community Council for Somerset and a range of community organisations to help enable people find and connect to support in their local community as part of the Community Connect initiative.

Social distancing measures meant that these events had to be temporarily suspended, but they have now been relaunched digitally on Facebook Live, the social network’s live video platform.

With live sessions taking place every day from 11am, the events have proven to be a lifeline to more vulnerable members of the community, many of whom will have had limited social contact since lockdown began.

A range of topics are discussed – from help and advice for staying safe, information about important services such as housing, finance, adult social care and children’s services, to light-hearted chat – and the events have proved very popular, with between 50-70 people attending the live sessions, and hundreds watching later.

The sessions are run daily from the Talking Café Facebook page (@talkingcafesomerset) by Community and Village Agents, who help local people find the help, information, and support they need

As part of a vital community service commissioned by the Council, the Community Council for Somerset`s Community and Village Agents have played a vital role in the coronavirus response, working with community groups and volunteers to deliver a whopping 47,963 community activities across the county. Ranging from food and medication deliveries, sharing advice on benefits and paying bills, to helping provide hot meals to those in need, the Agents have been a lifeline for some of the county’s most vulnerable people.

In addition to joining the daily Talking Café Facebook live sessions, those seeking help, information, and advice can visit the Community Connect website.

The further easing of coronavirus restrictions came into force yesterday. Find out more about what you can and can’t do.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme has been extended until the end of October, with the final grant claim made in August 2020.

Furloughed workers will continue to get 80 per cent of pay until the end of October. However, employers will have to start sharing the cost of the Job Retention Scheme.

From August they will have to pay National Insurance and pension contributions, and then 10 per cent of pay from September, rising to 20 per cent in October.

It’s National Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) and Somerset County Council and partners are celebrating all the amazing work volunteers do, not just during the coronavirus emergency, but all year round.

Many people stepped forward to support local community groups and organisations during the COVID-19 outbreak – a heart-warming response – and the Council wants to thank everyone who has made a huge difference in these unsettling times.

There are all kinds of things volunteers have been doing within their local communities – from collecting medical prescriptions, delivering food to walking dogs whose owners are shielding.

There are also many people who have been using their professional skills to make a difference. Somerset County Council staff stepped forward to support other key services such as registration services, adult social care and delivering essential Protective Personal Equipment (PPE).

If not now, then when? Crisis must bring change, says Council Leader

The Leader of Somerset County Council is urging action to secure the future of social care in the wake of COVID-19.

Councillor David Fothergill has written to the Secretary of State saying that social care nationwide is at a ‘watershed’, with Coronavirus exposing its fragile state after decades of funding that has failed to match increasing demand. The plea comes 12 months after the first Panorama ‘Crisis in care’ documentaries were broadcast to an audience of millions. Filmed with Somerset’s Adult Social Care teams it generated national headlines in May last year and pushed the issue to the top of the political and public agenda.

You can read more on our Somerset Newsroom

All 16 recycling sites in Somerset will be returning to standard summer opening hours from Monday 1 June.

Opening hours information will be updated on the Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) website from Monday morning. SWP will also be ending the odds and even number plate access system for all sites from Monday.

SWP is continuing its plea for people to only come if it is really necessary, and to expect long queues as the number of unloading bays has been reduced to allow social distancing.

Healthcare providers in Somerset are working together to offer support to ensure that patients with the most urgent needs continue to receive the care that they need, following the announcement that Weston General Hospital has temporarily stopped accepting new patients.

Dr Alex Murray, GP and Clinical Director for Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group said “We fully understand that this announcement may cause concern for people living locally, patients and carers who use services at Weston hospital and those with family and friends who are patients or staff. We would like to reassure you that NHS services in Somerset are here for you and your family when you need them. You can continue to access healthcare advice or urgent treatment in a range of ways.

“Both Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital, as well as all of our General Practices, remain open and continue to follow strict infection control guidelines to protect staff, patients and visitors.

“We are working closely with health and social care organisations across Somerset to monitor the demand on our services and have put in place a range of services that help patients to be discharged from hospital as soon as they are medically fit to do so, and where possible to keep them out of hospital in the first place.”

“There are a number of ways that you can access medical advice or treatment; contact your local community pharmacy for advice on minor ailments and medication enquiries. For immediate information and advice call NHS 111, or visit: www.nhs.uk. GP practices can be contacted as usual by phone or online for healthcare advice, guidance and treatment.”

The nearest Somerset Minor Injury Unit to the Weston area is located in Bridgwater Community Hospital and is open from 8am until 9pm today.  If you need medical treatment or advice for a minor injury you can call: 01278 436555 or visit the unit.

Full details on the locations and opening hours of all Minor Injury Units in Somerset.

For urgent and emergency care, please call 999 as usual, or attend the hospital accident and emergency departments in Taunton and Yeovil.

On-street parking patrols are due to restart in Somerset on Monday (1 June) following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

With more pupils returning to schools and some businesses starting to reopen, Somerset County Council’s civil enforcement officers will return to help keep roads clear and traffic moving.

At first, they will serve penalty notices on vehicles parked on double yellow lines, in places with loading restrictions, bus stops and dropped kerbs in public areas – all locations where no vehicles should be parked.

For the first seven days, penalties will not be served where parking is permitted, such as resident bays, pay and display locations, limited waiting bays and single yellow lines (at times). The vehicle may have been left correctly and the driver may have, for example, self-isolated. A warning letter will be left on these vehicles asking that it is immediately removed to avoid receiving penalties in future.

Councillor John Woodman, Cabinet member for highways and transport at Somerset County Council, said: “During the lockdown, most parking enforcement officers have been redeployed to other roles supporting the community, such as delivering PPE or managing queuing traffic at the reopened household waste recycling centres or testing centres.

“Their efforts are greatly appreciated, and I would like to thank them as they begin to resume their normal duties.”

Requests for residents’ paper permits have been on hold since the start of the UK lockdown but preparations are now being made to issue them. The expiry date will be extended to make sure people receive a full 12-month period. All annual virtual resident permits are being extended for two months to cover the period of suspension and ensure everyone receives a full 12 months’ value.

Please check with your district council for information on car parks in your local area.

The new NHS Test and Trace service launched today across England. The service will help identify, contain and control coronavirus, reduce the spread of the virus and save lives.

From today, anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to share information about their recent interactions. This could include household members, people with whom they have been in direct contact, or within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes.

Find out more about how it works here

Employers can find out what equipment, services or supplies are taxable if their employees are working from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19) on GOV.UK

The shops and branches section of the Covid Secure at Work guidance has been updated for market stalls and car showrooms wishing to make their work premises as safe as possible for a June 1 reopening. You can find out more on our Coronavirus – back to work government guidelines page

Vital public health messages are going mobile in Somerset as we use our fleet of highways vehicles to spread the word about some of the best ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

From this week, around 29 Council vans will be seen around the Yeovil, Taunton, Minehead, Glastonbury and Bridgwater areas sporting important public health messages.

The three messages they will be displaying are

• Catch it bin it kill it
• Stay safe save lives: Somerset’s landscapes will still be here
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds: protect yourself, keep your family safe

This is a pilot scheme which could be extended to more vans and more areas in the future.

Councillor Clare Paul, Cabinet Member for Public Health & Well-being and Climate Change at Somerset County Council said today: “This is just another way to make sure these vital messages get across.

“Of course, we are using many other platforms including social media, but this is a great way to get these messages out there in front of people’s eyes.

“Long term we are considering using advertising on our fleet of highways vehicles as an income generator for the Council. But I can’t think of a better way to pilot the project.”

The banners can be removed, stored and re-used again in the future if needed. But for now watch out – they may be coming to a street near you!

Information and resources on how to stay Healthy Happy and Safe,

Somerset residents are urged to continue to follow Public Health guidance after new COVID-19 data released shows the infection rate in the County remains low compared to other areas.

As of 27 May 2020, the Office of National Statistics show there were 672 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Somerset with 147 individuals sadly losing their lives to the disease.

We publish a weekly dashboard of COVID related health information for Somerset.

An important part of managing an epidemic is continuing to track and monitor it very closely and the Public Health team keep a close eye on several factors including the number of cases and the estimated R value (Reproductive value).

The R value tells us whether an epidemic is getting bigger or smaller. If the R value is bigger than one, we can assume every person who is infected with COVID is going on to infect more than one additional person. This means the epidemic will grow. An R value of less than one means the epidemic is getting smaller.

The current national estimate places the R value for the South West as being below one and there is no reason to suggest the value for Somerset is any different.

It is important that the R value is not looked at in isolation as it does not tell us the size of the epidemic, just whether it is getting bigger or smaller. In Somerset the number of cases remains relatively low compared to other parts of the UK. At this stage of the epidemic it is very important that Somerset residents continue to follow national guidance and do their bit to reduce the rate of infection.

Trudi Grant, Director of Public Health said: “At this stage of the epidemic and as we start to take small, measured forward steps it is very important that everyone continues to stick to three key things
1) continue to practice physical distancing
2) make sure we all regularly and thoroughly wash our hands
3) self-isolate immediately if you develop any symptoms of the disease

“It is extremely important that if any individual develops the symptoms of the disease, which include a fever, new and continuous cough, or a loss of taste or smell, that their whole household also isolates for 14 days following the onset of symptoms.

Although in Somerset we have a low number of cases and the R value suggests the epidemic is decreasing we must continue to remain vigilant and all play our part.”

Our Public Health team urges everyone to follow national guidance to ensure the pandemic continues to decrease.

People experiencing domestic abuse are now able to access local support through Somerset pharmacies thanks to a joint local initiative.
Somerset County Council, the Clinical Commissioning Group and the Local Pharmaceutical Council have been working with pharmacies across the county to arrange for their consulting rooms to be available as a safe place, where anybody concerned about domestic abuse can go to get information about local domestic abuse support services.

Avon and Somerset Police supported the initiative by tasking their PCSOs to deliver the literature to pharmacies throughout the county.
The arrangement is running in line with a similar national scheme launched by the charity Hestia which has seen safe places set up in Boots pharmacies across the country.

The project is part of the Council’s continued commitment to finding ways of informing the public that domestic abuse services are, and will continue to be open, during the pandemic, and reaching out to victims of abuse who are facing increased challenges contacting services whilst being forced to self-isolate with their abuser.

Small businesses and employers across the UK who have paid Statutory Sick Pay to staff taking coronavirus-related leave will be able to claim back the money from today. Businesses with fewer than 250 employees can find out how to make a claim.

Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic? The Government is looking to honour people for their contribution to the crisis response.

You can use this form to nominate someone who lives in the UK whose contribution could include

• frontline work supporting the most vulnerable members of society and those who have caught COVID-19
• providing critical care to COVID-19 patients
• developing innovations to support the vulnerable and those with COVID-19
• going to extraordinary lengths to keep critical services going
• volunteering in the community or for service organisations in support of those affected by COVID-19

Send in your completed nomination form

As we move into the Government’s new phased approach to adjusting lockdown measures, we must make sure we continue to protect our health and care services and look after those who are most vulnerable in our community.

Therefore, it is really important to remember that those who are showing any of the symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, must continue to self-isolate at home for seven days, or longer if the symptoms persist. Household members are also reminded of the need to self-isolate for 14 days at this time. Last week there was an important update to the list of symptoms of COVID 19. If you lose or have a change in your sense of taste or smell, have a high temperature, or new and persistent dry cough, you need to self-isolate for at least 7 days, even if other symptoms do not appear. If your symptoms start to worsen, please make sure you use the 111 service to obtain the right medical advice.

Testing is now available to anyone who is experiencing symptoms and can be accessed here.

Ten sites will be open this Bank Holiday Monday, 9am to 6pm: All except Castle Cary, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Dulverton, Minehead and Somerton which remain closed.

The remaining five sites currently still closed in response to coronavirus – Cheddar, Crewkerne, Castle Cary, Minehead and Somerton – will reopen from Tuesday, 26 May initially operating temporary hours.

Visits should still only be made if it’s really necessary, and people should expect significant queues as the number of unloading bays has been halved to allow social distancing.

From Tuesday, waste oil (cooking or engine oil in disposable containers, max 5-litres) and metal will now be accepted. Other restrictions remain in place, including the ‘odd or even number plate’ access system. For more detail, including the temporary timetable for all recycling sites visit the Somerset Waste Partnership website

As we enter the Bank Holiday weekend, we’re urging people to remember the social distancing guidelines and be respectful of local communities if travelling for their daily exercise.

We will also be standing up a limited number of parking enforcement officers in some busy areas to encourage people to park responsibly.

You can find a reminder of what people can and cannot do following the easing of England’s lockdown rules on GOV.UK

Schools and early years providers across Somerset are working hard on preparations to extend provision to more children after half term.

Having worked closely with education leaders on how to sensibly and safely bring about the Government’s proposals, Somerset County Council accepts that from 1 June not all schools and early years will be able to offer full time provision to the year groups specified.

Schools in Somerset have been providing education for children of key workers and vulnerable children throughout the current crisis and it’s expected that most will be able to extend this to some degree after half term.

Schools and early years providers are working within difficulties posed by their circumstances and layouts and the guidance they must follow around pupil numbers, safe working transport arrangements, staffing levels and the continuing need to prioritise provision for vulnerable children and children of key workers.

The Council appreciates they will need to be flexible, with split weeks, staggered starts and other special arrangements needed to make things work. It is hugely grateful to Headteachers and early years providers not only for the immense amount of preparation work they have undertaken since the Government’s announcement, but also for the tireless work they have undertaken throughout this crisis.

You can read more here

Somerset’s caring communities are urged to keep up the good work and ‘be good neighbours’ for residents continuing to shield as some coronavirus restrictions start to ease. People who are shielding, because of their age or an underlying health condition, have received further Government advice they need to continue to stay at home and avoid all non-essential face-to-face contact until at least 30 June as they are the most vulnerable to coronavirus.

Find out more on our Newsroom

The Somerset Coronavirus Appeal has grown to over £660,000 in the two months since its launch on Thursday 19 March. £330,000 of grants have now been awarded to almost 140 groups across the county, including foodbanks and food delivery schemes, support services for older people and those with disabilities, and virtual counselling, with more funding going out every week.

You can read more here

£150 million is to be unlocked from dormant bank and building society accounts to help charities, social enterprises and vulnerable individuals during the coronavirus outbreak. The funding will be used to support urgent work to tackle youth unemployment, expand access to emergency loans for civil society organisations and help improve the availability of fair, affordable credit to people in vulnerable circumstances.

You can read more on GOV.UK

Free personal protective equipment (PPE) emergency packs will be supplied to schools in Somerset thanks to the County Council.

Careful planning and sourcing have made sure that the Council has enough stocks of PPE to provide schools that are opening classes to year groups with enough equipment for the rest of the summer term – and possibly beyond.

Current Government advice is that schools need to use PPE in certain circumstances such as if a pupil shows coronavirus symptoms. A teacher would wear PPE to sit with the young person until a parent/carer or transport arrived to take them home.

The emergency packs will contain one box of:
• 50 masks
• 100 pairs small gloves
• 100 medium gloves
• 100 large gloves
• 100 aprons
• 8 visors (reusable)
Hand sanitiser, sourced from local suppliers, is also being provided.

Somerset’s Director of Public Health has urged people to strictly follow new health guidelines that have been published to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.

The new guidelines published this week highlight that losing your sense of taste or smell is now a confirmed symptom of Coronavirus, along with a fever or dry continuous cough.

Director of Public Health Trudi Grant warns Somerset residents not to ignore symptoms and go to work, rather than self-isolating as government guidance sets out.

Trudi Grant said today: “Unfortunately, in recent weeks we have had a number of incidents where people have gone to work despite people in their household having symptoms. This leads to further infections. To make it really clear, if anyone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19 you must self-isolate.”

“If you lose or have a change in your sense of taste or smell or a fever or a new dry cough, you must self-isolate for at least 7 days or longer if the symptoms persist, even if the other symptoms do not appear. If your symptoms start to worsen, use the 111 service to obtain medical advice. Anyone you live with in the same household should self-isolate for 14 days.

“There is also a new NHS portal for the public to arrange their own COVID-19 testing.”

Somerset County Council has commissioned two leading charities to provide bereavement support for people in Somerset in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Somerset Bereavement Support Service will be delivered in partnership by end-of-life charity Marie Curie and mental health charity Mind in Somerset.

In the first instance, for those over 18, telephone support calls will be provided by Marie Curie Companions, specially trained volunteers who can offer emotional support to bereaved people or support in some cases pre-bereavement. The service can also provide support to professionals in Somerset dealing with bereavement in their work setting.

Where further support is needed, the Marie Curie Companion volunteers will carefully link people to specialist Mind in Somerset bereavement support workers who will deliver up to six bereavement counselling sessions. This service is available to adults and children over 12 years.

If you or someone you know, is affected by grief or bereavement, and would like to talk to someone, please call the Somerset Bereavement Support Service call 0800 3047 412 (Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm). A special bereavement pack has also been developed to support the service and give practical and emotional advice to people.

You can read more here

Coronavirus is still circulating in Somerset so it is vital that people stay alert and self-isolate – with their household – if they develop symptoms. The Government recently added a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste as a symptom. Therefore, the main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are now:

• High temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
• New, continuous cough – you’re coughing a lot for more than an hour, (or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours)
• Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – you’ve noticed that you can’t smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different from normal

Most people with coronavirus (COVID-19) have at least one of these symptoms.

For advice about what to do if you have any of these symptoms, ring 111, or use the 111 online coronavirus (COVID-19) service.

If you have the symptoms and you want to get tested, use the new NHS portal to arrange a test.

Waste collections after the spring bank holiday on Monday 25 May will all be one day later. The week’s day changes, from Monday pick-ups on Tuesday to Friday’s on Saturday 30 May, will affect recycling, rubbish and garden waste. There will also be no bulky waste collections or waste container deliveries on bank holiday Monday.

On bank holiday Monday, 10 recycling sites will be open 9am to 6pm: Bridgwater, Chard, Frome, Highbridge, Street, Taunton, Wellington, Wells, Williton and Yeovil. And another five sites are expected to open from Tuesday 26 May: Castle Cary, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Minehead and Somerton. Dulverton will be closed on bank holiday Monday as it returns to its normal weekend only opening pattern from this weekend.

The UK Government’s Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will launch online on 26 May.

Businesses with fewer than 250 employees, can find out how you can prepare here 

An innovative app built by Somerset County Council is helping free up vital hospital beds by keeping track of care providers with space to take in patients who are ready for discharge.

During the coronavirus pandemic there has been an increased need for hospital beds and the ability to ensure beds are freed up efficiently.

Discussions took place between the council’s Adult Social Care and ICT teams to identify what was needed and a capacity tracker using Microsoft Cloud technologies was built in just a few days.

You can read more on our Somerset Newsroom

Somerset County Council is continuing to ensure that any path safety issues are investigated and resolved as soon as possible during the coronavirus emergency.

Public rights of way within Somerset have remained open during the lockdown, with path users advised to follow the Countryside Code and Public Health England guidance regarding social distancing.

You can read more here

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published guidance outlining how holiday entitlement and pay operate during the coronavirus pandemic.

The guidance is designed to help employers understand their legal obligations, in terms of workers who continue to work or have been placed on furlough as part of the Government’s coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

You can find out more on GOV.UK

The service is offering Peer Support Group sessions via Zoom. Anyone who would like to join should email: bereaved@mindinsomerset.org.uk, for login details.

Details for upcoming sessions are: Thursday 4 June 7pm to 8.30pm, Monday 15 June 2pm to 3.30pm.

More details on the service and how it can help can be found here

The Future Fund, which will provide government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5 million, will be open to loan applications from tomorrow (20 May). The Future Fund was developed by the government and is being delivered by the British Business Bank. The Convertible Loan Agreement has now been added to the guidance.

You can find out more on GOV.UK

A new pop-up care home has now opened its doors to some of Somerset’s most elderly and frail residents as part of the fight against Coronavirus.

The former Yeovil care home, Hendford Court (previously Acacia House) is ready to take residents once again after round-the-clock efforts by Somerset County Council and Somerset Care to get it back into full working order were completed in a matter of weeks – rather than the usual 18 months it takes to set up a care home.

Hendford Court has been set up as a safe haven for people who have tested positive for coronavirus or are displaying symptoms, who cannot yet return to their care home or own home. Residents will be those who are considered well enough to leave hospital, but with continuing care needs.

The scale and speed of the project was considerable – for example a fit-out, normally taking four to six weeks, was achieved in two days. The to-do list included:

• Checking all certification from fire safety to lifts
• Obtaining specialised equipment such as hoists
• Sourcing crockery, cutlery and furniture
• Setting up food and medication supplies, and waste collection
• Establishing Wifi connections and building access

At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Somerset County Council issued an appeal for carers – and the response has been inspirational with 184 external applications.

You can read more on our Somerset Newsroom

Eleven of Somerset’s 16 recycling centres will remain open for essential visits this week, thanks to the responsible attitude shown by the county’s public so far. From today (18 May), trailers and 3.5 tonne vans will be allowed on sites between 4pm and 6pm on weekdays. SWP remains on course to reopen the remaining five sites – Cheddar, Crewkerne, Castle Cary (Dimmer), Minehead and Somerton – by Tuesday, 26 May, following the Bank Holiday Monday. You can find out more on the Somerset Waste Partnership website.

Somerset has been singled out for national praise thanks to the County Council’s exemplary support of communities and care providers, its willingness to pioneer change – and its response during the current Coronavirus pandemic. Somerset County Council is being showcased as an example of how local authorities can work hand in hand with communities to achieve better results for those who need care and support by the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi). You can read more here

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (18 to 24 May) and Somerset Libraries have put together a range of helpful videos, resources and activities to join in with. This year’s theme from the Mental Health Foundation is ‘kindness’ in celebration of the amazing demonstrations of kindness we have seen in our communities during the coronavirus pandemic. You can find out more here.

If you’re thinking of going further afield for your daily exercise, walking on the moors and in woodland, you need to #BeTickAware. Ticks are blood-sucking members of the spider family that can transmit bacteria and cause infections such as Lyme Disease, which can be serious if not treated. If you do get bitten, remove ticks with fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool, grip the head as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards. You need to remove the tick quickly and correctly to reduce any potential risk of infection.

From the week beginning 1 June, and conditional on the national COVID 19 situation, the Government is proposing that mainstream provision is extended to include early years settings, all primary school pupils in reception, Year One and Year Six as part of a staged return to school.

The proposals also include the provision of face-to-face contact for pupils in Year 10 and 12.

The Council, early years providers and school leaders are currently discussing how this can be implemented safely for pupils and staff, following Government guidelines.
You can read these in full here.

Children of key workers and vulnerable pupils will continue to be given priority.

Please note early years settings are being asked to open to all children but must carry out a risk assessment to ascertain how many children they can safely accommodate at any one time. Settings may therefore reduce the numbers of children they can safely care for and where this is the case priority will be given to 3 and 4 year-olds in the first instance.

Similarly, it may be that, because of specific circumstances, not all schools will be able to offer full time provision to the year groups set out in the government guidance. Head teachers will be contacting parents and carers to advise what provision they will be able to make.

Each educational setting is different, and we all need to support the professionalism and judgement of education leaders who will be making difficult decisions over the next few weeks and months, based on the context of their setting and community.

The government is also proposing the return of all primary school pupils, if possible, for up to a month before the beginning of the summer holidays. We are awaiting further details on this.

Spark Somerset has created a new Volunteer Pack for COVID-19 support groups.
You can download the pack here.

For further information about support available to voluntary and community sector organisations, volunteering and funding opportunities visit: https://www.sparksomerset.org.uk/covid-19

The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme opens for applications today. Grants will be calculated as 80% of average monthly profit over a period of up to three years, with a maximum payment of £7,500 which is intended to cover March, April and May. Money will be paid into the accounts of eligible people six days after applying. Eligible people have been given a date from when they can claim between 13 and 18 May. You can find out more and how to apply here.

Highways workers in Somerset are taking advantage of the quieter roads across the county by bringing forward essential resurfacing schemes. Due to high levels of traffic on busy roads, it can be difficult to plan works that require a road closure. However, with traffic levels still reduced, Somerset County Council has brought forward some works on key roads to minimise disruption, including at two sites near Williton.

You can read more on our Somerset Newsroom

The Department for Transport has published guidance on safe travel and safe transport operations following the publication of the government’s roadmap. People are asked to continue to work from home if they can and, if this is not possible, urged to consider cycling, walking or driving before using public transport.

• Passenger guidance
• Operators’ guidance

The Government has set out a stepped approach to lifting the emergency measures. From tomorrow people in England will be allowed to spend more leisure time outside, provided they comply with social distancing guidelines.

Those who cannot work from home should be encouraged to return to work. And food retailers, hardware stores, garden centres and food takeaways can remain open.
Business guidance can be found here: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus-back-to-work-government-guidelines/

The Government has also published Frequently Asked Questions to help explain what people can and can’t do.

The government furlough scheme will be extended to October with workers continuing to receive 80% of monthly wages up to £2,500. New flexibility will be introduced from August, with furloughed workers able to return to work part-time and employers will be asked to pay a percentage towards the salaries of their furloughed staff. Details to follow.

You can read more about the announcement here

The latest guidance includes official advice that, where people can, they should wear a face covering in an enclosed space where social distancing is not possible and where they will come into contact with people they do not normally meet. The advice is that this is most relevant for short periods indoors in crowded areas, for example on public transport or in some shops.

Eleven of Somerset’s 16 recycling centres reopened yesterday (Monday 11 May), for essential visits only, in line with updated Government guidance. Significant queues are expected and there are restrictions on materials accepted and vehicle access (including an odd and even number plate system) see https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/reopen/ for detail.

Garden Waste collections also restarted yesterday. Many subscribers’ collection day and dates have changed. It’s important that people reread the letter that came with their bin sticker or check using the ‘My Collection Day’ button on the www.somersetwaste.gov.uk homepage.

The latest edition of Your Somerset is hitting the streets this week and it’s full of useful information about how to get help during the coronavirus pandemic. It also includes tips on how to keep health, happy and safe, the latest news on from our partners at the Somerset Waste Partnership and the Police, and gives a massive ‘shout out’ to all the businesses and volunteers who have been just amazing over the last couple of months. You can download and read a copy here: Your Somerset – Coronavirus Special

The Government has now set out its roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions. You can find a summary of the key points affecting Somerset businesses, employees and the self-employed here. The information includes who can return to work and when, plus guidelines to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible.

Around 4,000 calls have now been made to a single helpline for non-medical Coronavirus support – which remains open for anyone needing help and advice this bank holiday weekend.
The Somerset Coronavirus Helpline, launched on 6 April by the five Somerset Local Authorities, was set up to make it easier for people to access any local authority help they may need in the current crisis.
The helpline number is 0300 790 6275 and is open 8m to 6pm, seven days a week, making it the one number people need to remember for Coronavirus-related enquiries.
Anyone who can’t find help within their own local networks and volunteers, can use the new number to get help and advice around:

• Personal care and support including food and delivery of prescriptions
• Support for the homeless
• Emotional support if you’re feeling worried or anxious
• Transport to medical appointments
• Waste collection and disposal
• Financial support

Read more here

The sun may be shining but people are being urged to stay at home again this bank holiday weekend to keep people safe. Coronavirus is still a threat to everyone – anyone can get it and anyone can spread it. The police and Somerset County Council have agreed to close the road through Cheddar Gorge again from 6pm this evening to deter potential breaches of coronavirus restrictions and ease local community concerns.

You can find out more about the closure here

Dairy farmers in England can apply for up to £10,000 in cash payments under a scheme to support the industry during the coronavirus pandemic. Producers will be eligible for aid to cover 70% of income they have lost during April and May, to ensure they can continue to operate and sustain production capacity without impacts on animal welfare.

You can read more on the GOV.UK website

As the lockdown continues and we prepare to commemorate VE day at home this bank holiday weekend, our Trading Standards Teams across Devon, Somerset and Torbay are continuing to monitor the restrictions put in place to help keep us all safe.

You can find out more here

The first virtual Somerset County Council committee meetings took place this week using Teams technology. Further virtual meetings are scheduled for next week with Scrutiny for Place on Monday, starting at 10am, and Cabinet on Wednesday, also starting at 10am.

You can read more here

Eleven of Somerset’s 16 recycling centres will reopen on Monday (11 May), but for essential visits only – in line with updated Government guidance.

Garden Waste collections are also set to resume on Monday, both services having been suspended by Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) in response to the Coronavirus crisis.

To ensure social distancing and to protect public and staff, there will be restrictions on numbers coming into the recycling sites and the range of materials sites will accept.

And SWP is warning would-be visitors to expect big queues and long waits as access is limited to ‘one in, one out’ and the number of unloading bays is reduced. Measures to control traffic will be in place.

The recycling sites opening on 11 May are: Bridgwater (Saltlands) Chard, Dulverton, Frome, Highbridge, Priorswood (Taunton), Street, Wellington (Poole), Wells (Dulcote), Williton and Yeovil.

Initially, the sites will operate temporary additional opening hours of:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 9am to 6pm
• Thursday: All closed
• Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 4pm

An odd and even vehicle number plate system will be used to control numbers. You can only visit on certain days depending on your number plate:

• Odd numbers on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
• Even numbers on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday
• All 11 sites will be closed on Thursdays

Other restrictions include:

• A maximum of two people per household will be permitted
• Gloves to be worn while outside vehicles
• No trailers or large vans (3.5 tonne or heavier) will have access

Temporary restrictions also apply to materials being accepted, again to ensure social distancing. To start with, only the following will be accepted:

• Rubbish – material you would usually put in your black rubbish bin, excess black bags not taken by kerbside collections, and bulky items like furniture
• Green waste – garden waste such as grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings
• Large household electrical items – white goods, cookers TVs etc
• Hazardous household chemicals such as pesticides, weed killers & insecticides

Any items you would usually pay to have disposed of will not be accepted – including tyres, gas bottles, soil and hardcore, vehicle parts, commercial waste, plasterboard and Asbestos.

Access to the normal recycling banks will not be possible, so unless it’s absolutely essential please don’t bring cardboard, food and drink cans, paper, food waste, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars. These can be recycled using the continuing weekly recycle collections. https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycling-collections/
If you want to recycle waste wood, metal, plastic pots tubs and trays, scrap metal, TetraPaks and small electricals, please hold on to them until the sites return to normal.

The remaining five sites – Cheddar, Crewkerne, Castle Cary (Dimmer), Minehead and Somerton – are expected to reopen from Tuesday 26 May and operate on the temporary opening hours, though the plan will be constantly reviewed depending on how things are working.

Mickey Green, Managing Director of SWP, said: “The closure has been frustrating and we’ve wanted to see sites open as much as anyone, but we have to do it in a way which keeps people safe and have only been able to open them up now that Government has finally clarified which journeys are deemed essential. The changes we’ve put in place are there to protect everyone.

“The government guidance issued on Tuesday is clear that only those who really need to come, should come. If it’s not an essential journey, be patient and wait.

“The sites are likely to be very busy with long queues. Any trip will take much longer than usual, strict social distancing will need to be followed and we will not tolerate any abusive behaviour. These temporary arrangements will be reviewed constantly with the aim of getting sites back to accepting all materials as soon as it’s practically possible, but it will take time.”

Garden Waste collections were suspended as staffing numbers were hit and collections of rubbish, recycling, food and clinical waste prioritised.

They also restart on Monday, supported by temporary staff and vehicles. Collection days will have changed and subscribers are urged to check their renewal letter to find their new collection date, or check online www.somersetwaste.gov.uk

Crews will not be collecting material that is not in a green bin or an SWP pre-paid sack, or from any households which have not subscribed to this year’s service. They will not collect bins that are overfull or too heavy to lift – so please dispose of it through collections gradually (if necessary taking some material out and waiting for the next collection or take it to a recycling centre if disposing of it is essential).

Subscriptions are being extended until mid-May 2021 so that subscribers do not lose out financially as a result of the disruption.

For more information about how to reduce and reuse your waste, visit www.somersetwaste.gov.uk
For the latest information about services and any disruption visit www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/coronavirus and follow @somersetwaste on Twitter and Facebook.

People in Somerset who have experienced a mental health crisis are now getting additional support when they are medically fit to leave hospital.

Two new “step-down” houses have opened their doors to provide a safe place for people who are ready to leave a mental health ward but would benefit from that extra support before they return home.

The houses, which are located in Yeovil and Wells, offer free short-term housing and support to people across Somerset who are ready to start living more independently.

It’s part of a joint approach by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Somerset County Council to help relieve pressure on the county’s mental health inpatient wards during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

Somerset County Council’s Public Health has been working with young people to revise the successful Mental Health ‘Lifehacks’ to help them manage their mental health and wellbeing during the current Coronavirus pandemic.

Originally developed as part of an emotional health engagement project with young people in Somerset in 2015, the set of tips were designed to give people the tools they need to manage their mental health and wellbeing and enable them to feel happy when times are tough.

Thanks to a collaboration between LIFEbeat and Alice Hoyle, from youth organisation ‘On The Level’, the set of important wellbeing tips have been revised for dealing with current stresses that have come with the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

GP surgeries and pharmacies across Somerset will be staying open over the early May bank holiday to support patients during the coronavirus outbreak.

GP surgeries, which usually close over the bank holiday weekend, will now be open on Friday 8 May between 8am and 6.30pm. Services may be provided by individual practices or as part of collaborative efforts by groups of practices working together.

Community pharmacies will also be open to support people across Somerset. Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you and your family with minor health concerns.

As qualified healthcare professionals, they can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.

You can find out more here

Spark is holding a series of free informal, networking forums for volunteers involved in the coronavirus emergency. The response to COVID-19 has been amazing, and Spark is keen to keep the community spirit alive beyond the pandemic. The virtual forums will bring together anyone who is offering support on the ground, whether that’s through an existing organisation, or a COVID-19 group. It’s a chance to catch up on what’s happening locally, share learning, and start to think about what’s next for our communities.

Numbers will be limited on the first few forums while the new format beds in. The next forum is Sedgemoor wide, Thursday 7 May at 2pm.

You can register here

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is starting to contact those who may be eligible for the government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) to explain the application process and help them get ready to make a claim. The claims service will open on 13 May.

You can find out more on the GOV.UK website

Government guidance to help people understand how they can work safely in other people’s homes has been updated. This is aimed at tradespeople, cleaners or nannies.

Social distancing in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID-19): sector guidance

Every Mind Matters is now tailored to support people through social distancing and home isolation. Find guidance, advice and tips on how to maintain your mental wellbeing if you need to stay at home or are worried and anxious about the outbreak.

Find out more on our Healthy Somerset website

The NHS is urging people across the South West to continue getting their regular immunisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are concerns that children and adults may miss their essential, routine vaccinations such as the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccination and whooping cough (pertussis) for pregnant women. GP practices across the South West continue to offer all routine immunisations and are doing so in a safe way in accordance with Government social distancing and infection control guidelines.

You can find out about vaccinations on the NHS website

Small firms are to get access starting this week to 100% taxpayer-backed loans offering firms up to £50,000 within days of applying. In order to apply for the loan, small businesses will be required to fill in a two-page self-certification form online. The loan terms mean that no capital or interest repayments will be due for one year. Instead, the government will pay the interest for the first 12 months.

You can read our support for small and medium businesses page here

Somerset County Council is stepping up operations to support Somerset’s communities and keep people safe during the coronavirus emergency.

The County Council will be increasing spending in several key areas in response to the pandemic.

This includes expected spending of in excess of £10m for vital personal protective equipment (PPE) needed by carers, social workers and other key staff, £2m on new pop-up care homes to ease the pressure on the NHS, plus millions more to protect vulnerable children, childcare settings and key contractors.

You can find out more here

People who require care are being discharged more quickly from hospital than normal. Due to the ongoing crisis, emergency changes have been made to how the NHS and Social care work with people who require discharge from hospital. The NHS estimates it will need 15,000 beds to deal with the crisis, and the government has recently published new statutory requirements to ensure these beds are available for those who need them most.

The health and wellbeing of our residents and communities is our top priority, and our health and Social Care teams are working together to ensure we are meeting our new statutory obligations and keeping patients safe.

We’ll find support for those who need it, but they won’t be able to choose where. As there is a very short time between transfer and discharge under the new requirements, it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to offer patient or family choice in terms of discharge in the cases where it has been decided the patient needs a new care home placement.

People who would normally fund their own care won’t need to pay – the NHS will cover the costs temporarily – until the coronavirus emergency is over.

This is a copy of the letter we will be giving people who pay for their own care when they are discharged.

NHS England South West is emphasising that cancer services are open as part of the wider NHS Open as Usual campaign. Some short videos have been created in conjunction with the SWAG and Peninsula Cancer Alliances to highlight the importance of this. The videos are featuring on the @NHSEnglandSW Twitter handle to reinforce the importance for patients to continue to attend their appointments or present with any concerning symptoms

It’s not always clear how the ongoing crisis is affecting children and young people – there may be no obvious signs but there is almost certainly an increase in anxiety levels, whether visible or not.

So, we should try talking about what’s going on openly. To help with this, the Government has issued a couple of useful links to helpful advice and resources.

Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic. This link provides a range of information on what to look out for, how to support children, and ways to explain what’s going on in different age groups.

Online safety: Children are spending much longer online out of necessity so it’s even more vital to make sure there are regular screen breaks, and that downtime content is safe and appropriate – this link offers useful guidance on these key issues.

Our Public Health team is stepping up support during the coronavirus pandemic and offering free carrier hire to give every baby the best start in life, building an even closer and loving connection with their parents. Carry Me Kate Parenting Services CIC provides a universal sling library, breastfeeding peer support, a cloth nappy library, parenting and community support – these have all moved to virtual platforms for the time being. Read more

Adults, including furloughed workers at home due to the coronavirus lockdown, are being offered free online courses in digital skills. The training is focused on improving skills for online jobs in the expectation that more people will be working remotely.

The Skills Toolkit, launched by the Department for Education, is a collection of training resources to help those in lockdown to acquire jobs skills for when more businesses reopen.

Following new Government legislation and updated guidance that came into force on 24 April 2020, Admission Authorities now have the necessary statutory flexibility to plan for the resumption of school admission appeal hearings. In Somerset, we are intending to hold virtual audio hearings and are currently working with Appeal Panel members to facilitate this as quickly as possible. Unfortunately we have seen a reduction in the number of Appeal Panel members, who are unpaid and trained volunteers, that are able to participate.

It will not be possible to proceed with school admission appeals in accordance with the published timetable and the new legislation acknowledges and makes provision for this. This unfortunately means that there will be unavoidable delays to progressing and hearing appeals this year due to the Coronavirus outbreak. We are working on a revised timetable and parents who have lodged appeals will be contacted as soon as possible. Hearings will not resume until late May at the earliest.

If you haven’t found what you need, or need more support please contact us at schooladmissions@somerset.gov.uk

The newly launched Somerset Funding Portal is a one stop shop for all things funding, and completely free to access!

Visit www.sparksomerset.org.uk/somerset-funding-portal to browse hundreds of funding opportunities by category, including COVID-19.

The portal is managed by Spark Somerset with support from Somerset County Council.

For more funding advice, you can contact Spark’s Funding Advisor, Carolyn, at support@sparksomerset.org.uk.

Don’t forget, Mindline Somerset 01823 276 892 is now open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to give support during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mindline Somerset is a confidential listening service which provides a safe place to talk for an individual or someone they know, is in distress. It also gives basic information about mental health and local support services.

The Government has now launched a business support finder to quickly help businesses determine what financial support is available for themselves or their business.

You can find out more on our Large business, small and medium business, self-employed and voluntary organisation pages

Many charity trustees are having to cope with serious financial challenges during the pandemic that will have a major impact on their organisations and those who depend on them. The Government has put together some guidance and practical steps for trustees, especially those in smaller charities. You can find out more here

Thousands of people will be contacted by phone or letter over the coming days as all five local authorities in Somerset and the NHS launch a new approach to help and support through the Coronavirus outbreak.

Around 70,000 residents will receive a letter which encourages them to seek non-medical help and support amongst their own local community groups at first. But if they can’t find the help they need, they are asked to contact the dedicated Somerset Coronavirus Support Helpline on 0300 790 6275.

As well as the letters, around 1,600 residents will receive phone calls to check how they are coping and make sure they have the support they need and if they don’t, give them guidance and advice to get help.

People should always check that the caller is genuine, never give out personal bank details, pin numbers, or passwords to anyone over the phone.

You can read more here

Support is, and will continue to be, available for people experiencing domestic abuse during the Coronavirus lockdown.

Somerset County Council’s domestic abuse providers have joined with Avon and Somerset Police for a webchat, which airs on social media tomorrow, discussing the robust provision in place to help people at this challenging time.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse or you know someone who is help is available:

• Somerset Domestic Abuse website somersetsurvivors.org.uk/covid-19-support
• Call your local confidential domestic abuse helpline on 0800 69 49 999
• If you or someone you care about is in immediate danger, please call 999 and ask for the police

Waste collection crews in Somerset are poised to distribute ‘please park carefully’ notes in solidarity with fire service colleagues this week.

Staff working for Somerset Waste Partnership’s new contractor Suez will be putting the polite notices from the fire service on to the windscreens of the rising number of problem parkers.

With more people working from home, inconsiderate parking is becoming a big issue for Somerset Waste Partnership and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services.

The cars are often legally parked, but parked in a way that makes it difficult for recycling and rubbish collections trucks to negotiate narrower streets. They have meant collection crews haven’t been able to make some recycling and rubbish collections – and this despite having smaller vehicles at their disposal as part of a new fleet.

If recycling crews can’t get through, fire appliances won’t be able to either. The fire service is becoming increasingly concerned that its crews could be seriously delayed getting to an emergency incident because of inconsiderate parking.

These parking problems are being seen across the county, from small villages with narrow streets to new estates with many more people at home.

The Service is asking people when parking their vehicle to:

• Park close to the kerb
• Leave enough space for a fire engine or an ambulance to pass
• Leave extra room near tight corners
• Fold in your wing mirror

SWP’s depleted crews have been collecting spiralling levels of waste as a result of Coronavirus, with the county’s 16 Recycling Centres temporarily closed.

For more information about how to reduce and reuse your waste, and the latest information about services and any disruption, visit www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/coronavirus and follow @somersetwaste on Twitter and Facebook.

There’s a lot of think about during the Coronavirus crisis, but pet owners are being urged to plan ahead for their animal friends should they fall ill.

Whether furry, feathered or scaly – having a plan for how your animals will be looked after if you become unwell will make life easier if does happen.

It will also mean their welfare won’t be weighing on your mind when you’re making other important decisions.

Do you know what you need to do to keep your animals safe if an incident occurs? Do you have carriers or vehicles required to move them out of harm’s way? What would you need to look after them, and could you access it quickly if you had to leave your home?

Here is some guidance on what to think about and how to take sensible steps in advance.

Somerset Prepared is a partnership of all Somerset’s local authorities and other partners. Its animal emergency plan advice is endorsed by groups including the RSPCA, the National Animal Welfare Trust and Avon and Somerset Police.

Specific guidance is available for pets, horses and donkeys, and livestock. Top tips include

• Include any essential pet items in your grab bag, such as food, a lead and vaccination records
• Ensure your animals are vaccinated. This is an essential requirement for many boarding centres
• Consider friends, neighbours and relatives. Could they look after your pet if you couldn’t?

Spark Somerset have recently announced the latest funding opportunities for charities and community organisations in Somerset that are supporting people through the Coronavirus outbreak. Funding is available through a number of different organisations both nationally and locally. Mental health, sport, farming support and general grants are the areas that groups can get funding for linked to Coronavirus.

The full list of funding opportunities

We have teamed up with BBC Somerset and Spark to broadcast a weekly health and wellbeing slot with Charlie Taylor on Wednesday evenings 7pm to 8pm. As we settle down to another three weeks of staying at home this programme wants to reach out and provide helpful and interesting ideas to lift your day and help you feel connected.

Physical distancing doesn’t mean you have to cut yourself off from others. Each week there will be a new guest to talk about how listeners can stay healthy, happy and safe while at home. Tune in this Wednesday for laughing yoga and more!

Small and medium-sized firms specialising in research and development will be eligible for access to new grants and loans. The £500 million Future Fund will be delivered in partnership with the British Business Bank and the government. It will be launched in May and open until the end of September. The loans will convert to equity if not repaid. To be eligible, a business must be an unlisted UK registered company that has previously raised at least £250,000 in equity investment from third-party investors.  Read more

People in sudden hardship, with less than £1,000 in savings as an individual, or £2,000 as a couple, can now apply for grants of £500, which are funded by donations and do not need to be paid back. Find out more

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which covers 80% of workers’ pay will take applications from today Monday 20 April from companies which have laid off workers. It will take approximately 6 working days for payments to be processed and paid out once the furlough application is submitted.

There have also been further changes to the qualifying date on which an employee had to be on the employer’s payroll to be eligible for the scheme. This has now changed from 28 February 2020 to 19 March 2020. And it will now last to the end of June.

Further details of the scheme and a link to the application can be found on the large businesses, small and medium businesses and voluntary organisations pages.

Viable companies with a turnover of more than £45m, including those which take in more than £500m will soon be able to apply for up to £25m of finance on the government-backed Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme. The government will guarantee 80% on these bank loans.

One off Small Business Grant Funding of up to £10,000 and Grants for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure of up to £25,000 are still available from district councils for eligible businesses who haven’t yet made a claim to help meet their ongoing business costs.

If you haven’t heard from your district council you can find details here about how to claim these cash grants and to where to find the application forms.

Highways maintenance teams across Somerset will be stepping up works to keep highways safe for the NHS, emergency services, delivery vehicles and other essential workers travelling across the county.

We, like most local authorities, scaled back some routine highways maintenance, except emergency works, following the introduction of social distancing measures in response to the coronavirus emergency.

The Government has since released updated guidance for construction activity stating that it should continue where it fits with both the current Public Health England requirements and in accordance with industry safety guidance.

Following this advice, we will now continue with most planned maintenance works.

Works being carried out include:

• Resurfacing – extensive works to remove and replace an old road surface.
• Surface dressing – a technique to restore roads which are structurally sound to reduce risk of potholes forming.
• Grass cutting – verge maintenance to preserve visibility for drivers (not grass cutting in parks or urban areas).
• Street lighting
• Other maintenance works, such as patching, line painting or sign repairs.
• Key safety works such as repairing potholes will continue as before.

Birth registration appointments are currently unavailable.

Due to these exceptional circumstances, you will now be able to make a claim for Child Benefit or Universal Credit prior to a birth being registered.

First time parents should complete Child Benefit Claim Form CH2 and send it to the Child Benefit Office – add a note to your claim to explain that you have not been able to register the birth due to COVID-19.

If you already claim Child Benefit, they can complete the form or add your new-born’s details over the phone on 0300 200 3100. You will need your National Insurance number or Child Benefit number.

Child Benefit claims can be backdated by up to 3 months.

Somerset County Council is appealing for potential short-term foster carers to come forward to help children and young people during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency.

Recruits will help care for children looked after, aged 0 to 18, and will be provided with all the support given to mainstream foster carers including a supervising social worker and weekly fee and allowance. The Council is keen to hear from those who have had an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check in the last 12 months in any other role.

The County Council will assess candidates as COVID-19 Short Term Foster Carers completing a condensed assessment and intensive training.

A home visit will be required as part of the assessment and social distancing will be maintained.

Once assessed, a panel – meeting virtually – will consider the carer and a decision can be made. If the candidate is approved as a short-term carer, they can care for a child for up to three months. There will be a review every four weeks to make sure the carer has the right support and can still care for the child.

Allowances currently start at £143.57 per week for each child, plus a minimum of £75 per week foster carer fee. Payments are higher for an older child or for those caring for more than one child.

At the end of the three months, carers can consider moving towards a full fostering role or end their involvement with the child moving to alternative longer-term carers

To apply or find out more information contact Fostering In Somerset on 0800 587 9900, visit www.fosteringinsomerset.org.uk.

Two Slinky bus services in South Somerset are being reinstated after being suspended on 24 March.

The Chard and Ilminster and Martock and South Petherton Slinky services are returning to the road after drivers were provided with protective personal equipment.

Operator Community Transport South West Ltd is contacting all registered users to let them know the services are back up and running and is taking bookings.

Slinky is an accessible transport service provided by Somerset County Council for people who can’t use conventional transport. It can be used by people of all ages who must register, if they are eligible.

We advise Slinky users to contact the operator in their area to check on services during the current health emergency. You can find more information on Slinky services on Travel Somerset

Children in Somerset are being encouraged to take part in a campaign to design a logo for a new ‘Healthy, Happy and Safe’ campaign aimed at countering the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Healthy Somerset website – run by Somerset County Council’s Public Health team, has been updated to provide key information on dealing with the UK’s ‘lockdown.’

The website includes information on how to access help and support across a range of public health topics from breastfeeding and giving up smoking to support for victims of domestic abuse.

And now Somerset County Council’s Public Health is launching a competition for local children, including those currently in schools, to come up with a logo to accompany the campaign.

To enter, simply upload a picture of your drawing or artwork that is inspired by our theme ‘Healthy, Happy and Safe’ to Somerset County Council’s Facebook and Twitter pages with the hashtag #HealthyHappySafeLogoCompetition.

The closing date for the competition is Thursday 30 April and the winning design will be used on the Healthy Somerset website and across social media to support the campaign.

Trudi Grant, Somerset’s Director of Public Health, said: “Everyone knows how difficult it is right now.  A lot of people are struggling with the restrictions, which are so necessary to make sure we combat Covid 19.  That is why we have updated our website to provide valuable information and links to places where people can access help and support.

She continued: “We would encourage as many of you as possible to get involved in this competition and hope it will be something that young people will enjoy being part of, including those children that are at school during this time.”

Councillor Clare Paul, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing and Climate Change, said: “Over the next few weeks we will be posting new information to the website which we hope will help you to stay healthy, happy and safe in your own home.

She added: “Important provision is in place for children of key workers and vulnerable children to be at school, however there is a large number of children staying home at this difficult time and we hope this will be a fun activity that they can all get involved in whether they are at home or at school.  I am looking forward to seeing the entries.”

One of the links takes you to a package of help called ‘Be Active At Home’ provided by the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) – and there is even a ‘How Are You’ health quiz.

We are committed to maintaining a safe highway during these difficult times to ensure that key workers and emergency services can reach their destination unhindered.

Our highway inspectors and superintendents inspect the highway network in response to third party enquiries or planned inspections and will record safety defects such as potholes, footway trips and defective manhole covers.

Any defects identified during these inspections are transmitted to our contractor who will repair within a specified response time.

Please be considerate to our workforce, they are working within the guidelines laid out by the Government for construction works, and we are proud to be able to contribute in these extraordinary times by ensuring the safety of Somerset’s key workers.

Wessex Water hold a Priority Services register, which is a list of their customers who are in vulnerable circumstances and who may need extra support.

They also work with the local energy distributors in Somerset – Western Power Distribution (WPD) and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to ensure their customers receive priority support.

The Wessex Water Priority Services include

• priority assistance during a power cut or water supply interruption
• emergency power and/or water supplies
• communication tailored to your needs
• option to have a nominated contact
• option to set up a password to protect against bogus callers

To sign up for this support, you can visit the following websites and complete the online forms.

Wessex & SSEN – this can be used to sign up to both companies at the same time

Wessex & WPD  – this can be used to sign up to both companies at the same time

For more information about the support Wessex Water can offer, visit the Partnerhub where you can also request paper copies of the forms.

Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service are warning people about scammers who are capitalising on Coronavirus. Scammers and doorstep traders are exploiting people’s fear and anxiety with false testing kits and people posing as helpers or volunteers. Financial scams include false donation schemes like a ‘COVID-19 vaccine’, fake holiday refunds and fake calls from people claiming to be your bank or other financial service.

Here is how you can stay safe:
• If you need help, try and use people you know and trust. If you cannot do this, always ask the person for ID, preferably in the form of a driving licence and make a note of their details
• Don’t assume everyone is genuine. It is okay to say no and refuse an offer
• Don’t open links or attachments from suspicious emails or text messages
• Never give out your personal bank details, pin, passwords to anyone over the phone, online or on your doorstep
• Don’t ring the number the caller has given you to check it’s genuine. Always try to look the number up for yourself
• If buying online, only make payments if there is a padlock symbol in the browser window frame and you have carefully checked the site and website address for inconsistencies
• If you are unsure, please seek advice from someone you know and trust

If you see or hear anything suspicious contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
For more advice visit www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk

Up to 1,000 food parcels per week are set to be delivered to the homes of pupils across the county over the next fortnight by Somerset County Council Transport.

The vital deliveries will supplement the efforts of many school sites continuing to provide hot meals and/or vouchers to eligible children  – while they also provide care for children of key workers.

In the first week of the holiday 350 food parcels containing food stuffs such as pasta, rice and tinned goods, were delivered from kitchens across the county as part of a mammoth effort to make sure vulnerable children and families are fed in these challenging times. Over the coming weeks that figure will rise to 1,000 food parcels.

Schools with food production capabilities are supporting schools without these facilities or where the Food Voucher scheme is difficult to use in the more remote areas of the county. As demand increases other sites may be mobilised using redeployed staff and volunteers.

The Oak Partnership multi-academy trust is not only sending out a hot lunch every day to pupils and their families in biodegradable boxes from its West Monkton Primary site in Taunton, they’re also providing wrap-around care for key workers’ children – from 7.30am to 6pm five days a week throughout the Easter holiday and beyond.  At the moment they’re looking after up to 47 pupils, with more due to attend soon.

As well as providing three meals a day for children attending its sites at West Monkton Primary and Hazelbrook Campus, the Oak Partnership ‘Hub’ is continuing its hot lunch offer for school communities throughout the Easter holidays. In the first week it delivered 18 – it’s now up to 133.

Around 140 of the Partnership’s 300 staff are continuing to work on a rota system to ensure sites are fully operational throughout the week.

There is a comprehensive virtual school for the many pupils staying at home, which is regularly updated and monitored by teachers with a wide range of activities and work.

Many other schools across Somerset are carrying out similar work to ensure vulnerable children and their families get a square meal and are doing a “fantastic job” said Somerset County Council’s Director of Children’s Services, Julian Wooster.

The Oak Partnership comprises West Monkton, Ruishton CofE and Blackbrook Primaries, along with Selworthy School, which caters for pupils with special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND) and is continuing to provide a service for vulnerable pupils at its Hazlebrook Campus site.

*Contact your school in the first instance if you need assistance to access free school meals or vouchers. If that’s not possible contact Somerset’s Coronavirus helpline 0300 790 6275 about this or any other issues affecting you or your family at this difficult time.

People are being asked to consider putting Easter home improvements on hold to help the county cope with a recycling and waste “perfect storm”.

Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) is warning that the usual Easter activities of spring cleaning, DIY and extra gardening could put unbearable strain on collections which are struggling to deal with the impacts of Coronavirus.

With the county’s 16 Recycling centres temporarily closed – until restrictions on non-essential journeys are relaxed – the four-day Easter weekend will see even more material put out for collection crews. Read more on the SWP website.

The five councils in Somerset are supporting Spark Somerset who have launched ‘Coronavirus Helpers’ to assist the local community with support they might need from volunteers. Spark Somerset now have 1000 volunteers through Coronavirus Helpers and there are still more volunteering opportunities available through the website.

There over 70 organisations that have registered to help and there have been 160 volunteering opportunities posted, ranging from helping with dog walking, picking up shopping to supporting isolated people with someone to talk to on the phone.

Spark has published a Coronavirus (COVID-19) page on their website, where they share the latest information, useful resources and best practice guidance for groups who have recently set up a Coronavirus (COVID-19) support group or are thinking of doing so.

They have also set up an online forum and other support networks to focus on how we support the new social media and community groups which have been set up and ensure they are aware of guidance around safeguarding, confidentiality and providing help to others.

Somerset has many local groups, charities and organisations providing information and support for people affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19). For more information visit their site.

Somerset Age UK has recently also created a new website specific for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Meanwhile, the Somerset Community Foundation Coronavirus appeal has now raised £285k and Somerset County Council recently contributed £50k. The money raised goes to local charities and community organisations supporting those in most urgent need during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Grants from the appeal have been awarded, totalling £135k, to local community groups like food projects, mental health support and help for older people. Read the full story.

Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards is reminding owners of guest houses, campsites and restaurants to remain closed this Easter to help combat Coronavirus.

On March 23 the Government ordered hospitality businesses to close and said that people should stay at home and only essential travel is permitted.

You can read more on our Somerset County Council Newsroom 

Councils and business networks across Somerset are working together to help provide financial lifelines for businesses struggling during the Coronavirus pandemic.

And they are urging businesses with healthier cash reserves to let those in greater need apply first for the Government grants that could make a big difference in the current crisis.

You can read more on Our Somerset County Council Newsroom

Volunteers are needed to help in our community, for example to deliver shopping, pick up prescriptions, help care for pets or simply phone a neighbour to support them during their isolation.

For more information on volunteering, local community groups or to get involved visit  www.corona-helpers.co.uk  or phone 01460 202970 or email support@sparksomerset.org.uk

A single phone number is now available for anyone in Somerset who needs Coronavirus related support from their councils.

The Somerset Coronavirus Support Helpline number, 0300 790 6275, is now live and will make it easier for people access any local authority help they may need, including emotional support, in the current crisis.

It links together the district and county council contact centres and will be operating seven days a week, 8am to 6pm, making it the one number you need to remember for Coronavirus-related enquiries. The district and county councils usual phone numbers will be running as normal alongside the new number for non-Coronavirus related issues.

The new number won’t cover medical advice, for which people will need to continue to use the 111 NHS online service and only ring 111 if they cannot get help online.

Anyone who can’t find help within their own local networks and volunteers, can use the new number to get help and advice around:

• Personal care and support including food and delivery of prescriptions
• Support for the homeless
• Emotional support if you’re feeling worried or anxious
• Transport to medical appointments
• Waste collection and disposal
• Financial support

Callers will be asked to describe the support they require and will be connected with others for resolution.

The 0300 790 6275 number is being staffed by the five councils in Somerset and will be available seven days per week, 8am to 6pm.

Meanwhile, the five councils in Somerset are getting in touch with people on their data base that may be vulnerable to see if they need assistance with anything like supplies of food, help with transport and other support.

If people are interested in volunteering for example helping people out with shopping or picking up prescriptions they can go to https://www.corona-helpers.co.uk/ to register.

Residents and would-be tourists are being urged to stay away from Somerset’s beauty spots and visitor attractions this Easter.

With fine weather forecast and the Easter holidays about to start, it’s essential that the public is not tempted to travel to take advantage of the beautiful Somerset outdoors.

Somerset’s local authorities oversee Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and other public and open spaces. They’re are working together to manage the impacts of Coronavirus and encouraging everyone to follow Government advice.

Even open spaces can fill-up quickly making social distancing difficult, and the public is being urged to heed the ‘Stay Home, Save Lives’ message.

It advises people to stay local and not to travel for their once-a-day exercise, and when you do you should go out, it should be alone or only with others in your household.

By doing that until the crisis is over, you’ll be limiting the spread of Coronavirus – savings lives and protecting the NHS.

John Turner, Chief Executive of Visit Somerset, said: “This is a difficult message for someone in my position to be giving, but these are difficult times.

“I know it’s disappointing and hugely tough on businesses, but there will be plenty of time to come and visit us and explore our great county. Now is not the time. We have to protect our NHS, our key workers and our county.

“People must listen to the advice from the Government and its medical experts and take every possible step to stop or slow the spread of this virus. Right now, that advice is not to travel and to stay at home unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

The full Government advice can be found here

Businesses across Avon and Somerset are being asked to help support the local efforts in tackling COVID-19.

With high demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across the country and supply chains under significant pressure, the Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum is appealing for support from local PPE suppliers or any businesses that have stock which could be used.

The key items required are:

• Water repellent surgical face masks
• Non-latex gloves
• Disposable plastic aprons
• Eye protection
• Hand sanitizer (minimum 60% alcohol content)

Pat Flaherty, Chief Executive of Somerset County Council and Avon & Somerset Local Resilience Forum spokesperson, said: “Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is vital to help protect our frontline workers, allowing them to continue delivering critical services in the community, whilst also limiting the spread of this disease. We are aware that national supply chains are under significant pressure and that every effort is being made to fix the problem, however, we are very concerned that some of our critical services do not have the supplies they need.

“As we continue to escalate this urgent issue to Government through all available channels, we are attempting to source our own supplies locally so that we can continue to deliver critical services. As a short-term measure, we are asking local businesses for any support that they can provide with supplies of PPE. If any are able to help, we would urge them to get in touch.”

Any businesses that can help with the supply of PPE are asked to e-mail COVIDdonations@avonandsomerset.police.uk. The key items required are water repellent surgical face masks, non-latex gloves, disposable plastic aprons and eye protection.

Vital work to recruit new foster carers in Somerset is continuing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic thanks to technology.

Somerset County Council’s Fostering service brought together 25 potential foster carers for a two-day preparation course using an online virtual platform that allowed all taking part to interact.

The Skills to Foster course is usually run as a group with participants taking part in discussions and learning together. It gives potential foster carers the chance to understand how they can make a real difference to a child’s life and how it might affect their own family and lifestyle.

But due to the necessary restrictions introduced to combat the spread of coronavirus, the course has been transferred online – and the first proved a real success.

Participants were able to join from their own homes, take part in group discussions and activities, and hear from speakers sharing their experiences of fostering.

Everyone taking part was supportive, understanding the need for the virtual course and enjoyed being able to “meet” each other and work together remotely.

“They were a wonderful group to work with over the course of the two days and it was a pleasure delivering the training. There is no such thing as a ‘typical foster carer’ and each person in the group had something different to offer,” said Natalie Parsons, Advanced Practitioner for Fostering In Somerset, who ran the course.

One couple said: “It was beautifully structured to cover the key issues that can arise and that we may need to face as we develop and gain experience as foster carers. It was also good to meet others.”

The next virtual Skills to Foster course, for invited individuals at the start of their fostering application, is due to take place next month.

You could make a difference to a child or young person in care as an SCC foster carer. For more information and details on how to apply, visit www.fosteringinsomerset.org.uk or phone 0800 587 9900 and chat to our friendly team. You can also find us on Facebook @fosteringinsomerset or follow @fostersomerset on Twitter.

As the UK responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacies in Somerset are working tirelessly to ensure that everyone’s medicines and healthcare needs will be met over the coming days and weeks.

Pharmacy teams are a critical part of the NHS and in the past weeks, they have seen an increase in demand for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, advice and reassurance.

Pharmacy teams are under intense pressure at the moment, working on the front line of the health service often without any protection for their health.

To help pharmacies to cope under the increasing pressure, the Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC) is asking patients and members of the public to:

• Avoid pharmacies if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19: If you have a dry, persistent cough, fever or shortness of breath, please avoid entering your local pharmacies as you would any other healthcare setting.
• Be patient: All pharmacies are under immense pressure and working around the clock to ensure that you get what you need.
• Order medicines as normal: There is no need to stockpile medicines. Ordering extra prescriptions and buying more over-the-counter medicines than you need will contribute to disruption within the medicines supply chain, which is otherwise robust.

Pharmacies will remain open wherever possible, but you may see that some are now reducing the hours during which they can admit members of the public. This is to ensure that pharmacy teams can carry out tasks such as preparing prescriptions and restocking shelves so that these vital services can continue safely.

If you are displaying the symptoms of COVID-19, however mild, please stay at home and ask someone else to go to the pharmacy for you.

NHS services are likely to come under intense pressure as the coronavirus spreads, and they need to ensure that they have as many beds available as possible to care for patients with severe respiratory problems when the number of infections peak.

Therefore, in line with well-established plans for situations like this, every hospital in Somerset is suspending all non-urgent elective operations for at least three months, which will enable them to train their staff, adapt certain areas and increase critical care capacity within their hospitals.

Emergency surgery will continue, and urgent cases and cancer treatments will be carrying on as normal wherever possible. Many people waiting for treatment will be disappointed or worried, they will be contacting everyone affected as soon as possible.

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild infection. If you have symptoms of coronavirus infection, however mild, please stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. The symptoms are either a high temperature or a new continuous cough. If you live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got symptoms. This action will help protect others in your community while you are infectious.

Everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus. This includes people of all ages – even if you do not have any symptoms or other health conditions.

Encouraging activity at home
There is a huge amount of information out there and we have been gathering it on our ‘Be Active at Home‘ page which is fully inclusive and divided into various sections to suit everyone, with choices around activities. We also have daily posts going out through our social media platforms promoting resources and activities to stay active at home.

Physical Education for home schooling
Our partnership with Create Development has unlocked real Play for all our schools to help with physical activity and physical literacy. There is other content around health and wellbeing using physical activity that teachers can use for home or online schooling.

Older People
We have been using priority shopping hours in local supermarkets and housing support officers to distribute resistance bands and exercise programmes, among other useful items, to people over 70. Our GP referral clients have also been given the opportunity for phone support to encourage them to keep moving in ways that are right for them.

Vulnerable Adults and Children Programmes (Revive and Jump Start)
Each adult and child who wants one has been given an individual mentor to work with during this period to support the behaviour changes we were seeing before the lock down. Families with disabled children can use our online content with a range of different activities to do for different abilities.

We are setting up new temporary ‘pop-up’ care facilities across the county to help cope with the additional demand placed on our services by the coronavirus crisis.

These include Popham Court in Wellington and Acacia House in Yeovil, both due to open doors soon.

These homes will care for some of our most elderly and frail residents as we look to safely discharge patients from hospital whilst we support and protect our NHS.

The residents will be people well enough to leave hospital but with continuing care needs and who need a bit more support before they can safely go home. In short, these homes will be our own local care versions of Nightingale.

It would normally take around 18 months to set up a care home, but Somerset Care have stepped in and are looking on track to turn this around in two weeks. This has been a heroic effort on their part, and we’re hugely grateful to them.

Now we urgently need people to staff these facilities, particularly administrators, nurses, healthcare assistants and support staff who can help with meal preparation, cleaning and kitchen/laundry. Anyone interested can email recruitment@somerset.gov.uk

People who require care are being discharged more quickly from hospital than normal. Due to the ongoing crisis, emergency changes have been made to how the NHS and Social care work with people who require discharge from hospital. The NHS estimates it will need 15,000 beds to deal with the crisis, and the government has recently published new statutory requirements to ensure these beds are available for those who need them most.

The health and wellbeing of our residents and communities is our top priority, and our health and Social Care teams are working together to ensure we are meeting our new statutory obligations and keeping patients safe.

We’ll find support for those who need it, but they won’t be able to choose where. As there is a very short time between transfer and discharge under the new requirements, it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to offer patient or family choice in terms of discharge in the cases where it has been decided the patient needs a new care home placement.

People who would normally fund their own care won’t need to pay – the NHS will cover the costs temporarily – until the coronavirus emergency is over.

This is a copy of the letter we will be giving people who pay for their own care when they are discharged.

Somerset County Council is suspending parking enforcement across the county. The County Council is standing down its Civil Enforcement team in line with Government guidance during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

The change means the Council can redeploy officers to support community work such as helping shop for foods and collect medicines for vulnerable people.

The Council is urging all drivers who have to go out only to park in permitted areas, such as parking bays, car parks and uncontrolled areas. As long as vehicles are parked considerately and do not cause an obstruction no action will be taken.

No payment at on-street pay and display machines is required for the time being. Parking areas with time limits near essential shops and pharmacies should be respected to allow access by drivers undertaking essential journeys.

It is vital that drivers do not block the path of emergency vehicles and others involved in delivering services to those in need. A small team of Civil Enforcement Officers will remain available to deal with any parking problems that could affect key access routes to premises such as hospitals and supermarkets.

There are no changes to residents’ parking areas. We would ask everyone to park sensibly and considerately.

For residents who hold annual permits for their vehicles that remain valid during the current pandemic these will be extended for the period of the suspension once enforcement activity recommences.

Please check with your district council for information on car parks in your local area.

Please remember not to make unnecessary journeys and to follow Government rules to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

How partner organisations in Somerset are working together to support homeless people

The five councils in Somerset are working to ensure that all homeless people or rough sleepers are housed in a single room to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus – COVID 19.

Many people will be concerned about those in our communities who are homeless or rough sleepers and how the authorities are supporting them during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The five councils in Somerset are working together to support the government’s strategy to bring in those on the streets, protect their health and wellbeing and stop wider transmission. This approach will reduce the impact of COVID-19 on people facing homelessness during this public health emergency.

The councils are working closely with partners, the voluntary sector and others to offer self-contained accommodation to rough sleepers and many people who are currently living in homeless hostels so that they are able to self-isolate.

People can contact their District Council if they need support and advice about being homeless or sleeping rough.

Mendip District Council
Sedgemoor District Council
South Somerset District Council
Somerset West and Taunton

Recycling and rubbish pick-ups are continuing but SWP may be unable to make return pick-ups if recycling collections are missed. Containers should be taken back in and put back out again for the following week.

Garden waste collections have been suspended; existing 2020-21 subscribers will have their service extended for 12 months from the restart of collections. Bulky waste collections have been suspended and no new container orders are being accepted.

The county’s 16 Recycling Centres remain closed.

A new contractor (SUEZ) took on the recycling and waste collection services from Monday. For more detail visit https://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/new-fleet-signals-bright-future-for-somerset-recycling/

To help the crews complete rounds as quickly as possible, please: rinse containers, squash all but aerosols and glass if safe to do so, sort-segregate materials without using carrier bags, and put it all – including all food waste (in the food waste bin) – out by 7am.

If you have Coronavirus symptoms or are in a household with someone showing symptoms, government guidance on personal waste which can be found at www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/coronavirus along with latest updates on service disruption.

Please follow @Somersetwaste on Facebook and Twitter, and visit: www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/coronavirus/

You must normally book the ceremony within three months of being sent an invitation from the Home Office, however, due to the current circumstances we have extended this period to six months. We will keep this under constant review. No adverse decisions will be made on applications because of delays caused by Coronavirus.

We are now able to carry out death registrations over the phone. Following emergency legislation passed by government, changes to the process will further protect staff and members of the public during the Covid-19 social distancing period.

A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be completed by a doctor and sent electronically to the Registration Service rather than be issued in paper form to the next of kin. The informant should then phone the Registration Service on 01823 282251 to arrange their telephone appointment. They will have the option of setting up a verification word for the registrar to use at the start of the call as extra reassurance. Once booked, an email will be issued confirming the time and date of the phone appointment, along with a checklist of the information that will need to be prepared in advance. This information is also on our Register a death page.

A process is in place for those who don’t have access to the internet, and they should seek further advice from their funeral director.

A streamlined version of the Tell Us Once service will still be available. This electronically notifies a range of government agencies and departments about the death. Informants are being asked to limit the number of copy certificates to 2 at this time, and a secure payment facility is available over the phone. Certificates and any other paperwork will be posted to the informant, while the relevant paperwork will be sent electronically to the authority undertaking the burial or cremation.

Registration Service managers are working with key partner agencies such as the Coroner, funeral homes, doctors and Health Trusts to ensure a joined up approach. While the online appointment booking system is temporarily on hold, the service aim to have this available to the public again as soon as possible.

All planned highway maintenance works in Somerset are now suspended to comply with Government instructions and to allow us to focus resources on safety repairs and emergency works.

The Government has classified a number of roles within the transport industry as key to delivering essential services. This includes highways workers playing a critical role in maintaining roads to ensure safe passage for emergency services, key workers and deliveries of supplies.

We’ve received reports of some crews being approached by the public, potentially putting themselves and road workers at risk. Please give them space to continue keeping roads safe for those who need to use them.

Critical workers needing childcare should visit this webpage. If you’re an education site please direct enquiries here.

This service is also available for parents of eligible vulnerable children.

Somerset Choices website – Childcare Marketplace choices.somerset.gov.uk/025/results/?type=childcare is being regularly updated and there is a red flag on the records of settings that are temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

The current government advice is for everyone to stay at home and limit their contact with others. This means only going outside for food, health reasons or essential work. If you must go outside you should stay 2 metres away from other people and wash your hands in warm, soapy water as soon as you get home. These measures will help to stop the spread of infection and give our NHS the best chance to cope with the additional demand generated by Covid-19. There are lots of things you can do to stay happy, healthy and safe while at home and you will find some ideas on how to do that om the Healthy Somerset webpages.It is completely normal for people to feel overwhelmed and vulnerable as we read the news about the Covid-19 outbreak and experience big changes to our day to day lives. Mindline are offering an emotional support telephone service for people who would find it helpful to talk. They are available Monday to Friday, from 9am to 11pm, and 8pm to 11pm at the weekend on 01823 276892.

Important work to identify and look after Somerset’s most vulnerable people is well underway. In response to the government’s announcement that 1.5m of the most at risk people will be asked to self-isolate for at least 12 weeks, Somerset County Council is working closely with Sedgemoor, Mendip, South Somerset and Somerset West and Taunton district councils to set up shielding hubs to ensure they are looked after.

Details of exactly how these will work are now being finalised, but will include a single point of contact for all enquiries, a brokerage service to connect requests to food and supplies, and other support, including for homeless people. Watch this space for updates

Schools in Somerset are working hard to keep open or find alternative provision for children of key workers and vulnerable children.

The latest Government guidance from the Department of Education provides lots of useful information and answers to frequently asked questions on topics such as the closures of schools, childcare and other educational settings. It also covers questions on exams, free school meals, vulnerable children, critical workers and resources.

You can find a useful summary of its contents on our Coronavirus – Education guidance for parents and carers page

For specific school closures information please go here

If you have any questions that cannot be answered by our web pages or by your local school please phone us on 0300 123 2224.

Somerset County Council is changing the way it works in order to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. This means focusing our resources on communities and individuals that need our help, making sure that we can anticipate and respond to the demands that the virus is placing on us. As part of this, we have asked all staff whether they are willing to accept a temporary redeployment to other areas of work.

The response has been fantastic and within 24-hours, 600 colleagues have put their hands up and told us what skills they have and which tasks they can do. These roles will include helping in domestic and community settings, driving, keeping schools open. We are linking this work to similar activities in our district councils, with neighbouring authorities and, of course, with the NHS.

We recognise how critically important the work of volunteers and local charitable groups is at this time, and we thank them for all the support provided so far. More volunteers are needed and people can do so through the contacts below.

Spark Somerset is working to bring all offers of support into one place, making it easier for people to get the help they need. Both people who need help and people who want to offer help are encouraged to register.  This is a website specially set up to deal with helping our community through the Coronavirus. Help is also available through Somerset County Council’s Village and Community Agents

There are a number of community and voluntary groups that have already been set up by communities themselves that offer help to people in need. Further advice and guidance for community groups

People can sign up to help the NHS

Heart of the South West Growth Hub
Businesses across Somerset can find free support, advice and information on sources of finance, along with assistance on working from home through the Heart of the South West Growth Hub

Small Business Grant Funding
District Councils will be contacting small businesses eligible for the grants of £10,000 or £25,000 imminently to help them meet their ongoing business costs.

Self-employed
A summary of financial assistance for the self-employed reported by the Chancellor yesterday will be online today.

Following new government advice to reduce the spread of Covid-19, all County Council Receptions are now closed until further notice to ensure the wellbeing of the public and our employees.

Support information and advice can be found on our website or for anything urgent, please phone 0300 123 2224.

Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards are urging people to remain vigilant and to watch out for scams in their neighbourhood, which often target elderly and vulnerable people within the community.

The outbreak of coronavirus has seen an increase in scams that include counterfeit medical kits that claim to prevent or cure the disease and fake online coronavirus resources which can contain damaging software.

Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards are urging people to be vigilant and look out for elderly and vulnerable neighbours.

A full list of identified scams can be viewed on the National Trading Standards website.

SWP’s new contract for kerbside collections starts this weekend, with SUEZ taking over from Kier, and we’re conscious of this happening at a time of disruption. All parties have been working hard to make sure the transfer is smooth and the new fleet of vehicles should help us cope with these pressures. All 16 recycling centres remain closed, to ensure public and staff safety in light of Government advice around non-essential travel and physical distancing.

Garden Waste services are suspended until further notice (subscriptions extended to take account of this) and the public is advised to leave the waste in their bins and consider home composting where practical.

Bulky waste collections are suspended, and this who have booked collections are being contacted.

Recycling and refuse collections are currently being maintained, but likely to come under increasing pressure in the coming days.

Please note the government guidance around disposing of potentially contaminated personal waste (tissues and cleaning cloth and so on). This and regular service updates can be found here www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/coronavirus and by following @somersetwaste on Twitter and Facebook.

Somerset Registration Services are currently only taking appointments for death registrations at their offices in Somerset and North Somerset. All ceremonies, notice of marriage appointments and birth registrations have been cancelled following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 March. No new bookings are currently being taken for these services, although provisional ceremony bookings are being taken for July 2020 onwards.

Enquiries should be made via email as the Registration customer service team are operating a triage system to identify the most urgent issues.

The Heritage Centre is now closed to the public. There is currently no facility to issue copy certificates, so any urgent enquiries should be made online to the General Register Office online.

Last night, the Government announced it was asking 1.5m people across the UK who have specific health conditions to self-isolate for the next 12 weeks. The Government also guaranteed that those same people will be supported to stay at home for the full 12 weeks by national and local government working with supermarkets, the military and volunteers.

The details are still emerging but we are already assessing and progressing with that task here in Somerset. Over the coming days, we will have a vital role to play on contact and wellbeing, emergency food and supplies. While it appears the food parcel scheme will operate on a national level, we are developing a workforce-based Somerset model to fill the inevitable gaps and provide a framework for volunteers in Somerset.

This will clearly be a major task and we are reviewing resources and redeploying our staff to ensure we WILL rise to the challenge. It does mean some of our current services will slow, withdraw or stop completely, but it is right that we focus our support on our most vulnerable residents.

The guidelines for ‘social distancing’ are to encourage everyone to reduce the number of social interactions they have with other people to help reduce the spread of the virus. Older people and those with underlying health conditions should be particularly stringent when following this guidance.

Many people have taken these new measures on board and are now reducing the contact they have with friends and family. However, with the good weather this weekend we saw some areas of our county extremely busy with visitors.

COVID-19 spreads through droplets in coughs and sneezes and we think that every person who gets the virus spreads it to at least another 2-3 people, who in turn will then infect another 2-3 people. The sacrifices we make now to reduce our social interactions are the best thing we can do to not only protect us as individuals but stop the spread of the disease through our communities and give our NHS and wider health and care system the best possible chance.  If you do have to go out, for work, essential travel or for exercise, then you need to keep a ‘physical distance’ of at least 2 metres from other people.

Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 (a new, continuous cough and/or a high temperature) must stay at home for 7 days from the onset of their symptoms. All members of the household must stay at home for 14 days from the onset of symptoms. As much as possible, when self-isolating, you should not even go out of the house to buy food and other essential items.

It is very important that people stay in their primary residence at this time, and for the foreseeable future and do not travel to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, either for isolation or holidays. Doing so puts additional pressure on local communities and the health and care services available.

All 16 recycling centres were closed today (23 March). This decision was taken by Viridor, which operates the sites for the partnership, to ensure the safety of the public and staff with concerns about being able to maintain the required physical distancing. Viridor have said the sites will remain closed until they can be operated safely.

All garden waste collections have been suspended until further notice, due to Coronavirus-related staff absences, however, all today’s recycling and refuse collections were scheduled to take place as normal today.

For the latest information on service disruption and guidance on disposing of potential contaminated waste, please visitwww.somersetwaste.gov.uk/coronavirus and follow @somersetwaste on Twitter and Facebook

As the Chief Medical Officer has said, as coronavirus expands, routine services will come under pressure, but the NHS will flex its response in line with well-established escalation plans, backed by regular guidance to local health services, including GP practices, which is being regularly updated.

As a precaution to protect patients, staff and the public, GP appointments will be triaged online or over the phone to make sure that patients are cared for by the right person, in the right place for their illness and GP surgery doors will be kept open where possible.

The Heart of the South West LEP’s Digital Skills Partnership is supporting communities that are increasingly working from home by formulating a guide to digital tools and freely available digital training to support the use of those tools. They have a list of free online learning facilities that cover topics for all skill levels. The resources are available by subscribing to their newsletter, you can sign uphere. Another useful guide to working from home can be found at cosmic.org.uk.

Please visit our website for more useful advice for businesses.

We continue to urge everyone to look out for friends, family, neighbours and the community, but most of all yourself.  It’s important you stay safe, so you can continue to help others.

If you represent a community group, or would like to join one, please visit our website for useful links.