Latest Coronavirus updates

Health leaders in Somerset have written an open letter to all residents ahead of Christmas.

It says: Your health and care staff in Somerset, in hospitals, GP practices, social care and community services, are continuing to do a fantastic job of making sure that people get the care they need. Together we are working very hard to keep you safe and well, and ensure services are here for you when you need them – but we need your continued help and support. We write on behalf of colleagues within our organisations to thank you and to ask you to continue to do all you can to stay healthy and well over Christmas and into the New Year.

For many of us Christmas is going to be different this year. Somerset has seen a significant rise in Covid-19 cases over the past few weeks and the Prime Minister’s recent announcement about changes to the rules on families meeting up may well affect your plans. Please think carefully about the risks of meeting indoors with relatives and friends, particularly if any of them are elderly or vulnerable.

Read the letter in full at https://www.somersetccg.nhs.uk/your-christmas-open-letter-somerset/

The safest way to celebrate Christmas this year is with your household or existing support bubble in your home. If you do form a Christmas bubble with people you don’t normally live with, try to keep it as small as possible because the more people you see, the more likely it is that you will catch or spread coronavirus.

Wherever possible, discuss alternatives to meeting up in person, and if you do meet people you do not live with, it is important to do so outdoors where possible, or to make sure that any indoor venue has good ventilation (for example by opening windows so that fresh air can enter).

You can read more on GOV.UK

Thanks to an enormous amount of hard work behind the scenes vaccine has been delivered from 8 sites in Somerset in the last two weeks. Our thanks and appreciation goes to everyone who has helped make this possible. We have had incredible support from colleagues in the CCG, at Yeovil District Hospital, at Somerset County Council, at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, from GP practices across our county and from the voluntary sector. This has truly been a joint effort on all our parts to make this happen.

In Somerset our aim is to make the vaccine available in a planned way and in line with national guidance. This includes delivering it in a number of locations to enable easier access for as many people as possible. This will include large county sites, community sites in locations across the county, hospital hubs, some GP surgeries and via teams of mobile vaccinators for those who cannot leave their homes. We will continue to update you as our programme develops.

Read more about COVID-19 vaccinations in Somerset here

It may be tempting to want to bid farewell to 2020 with friends and family – but please follow the guidelines: celebrate at home; celebrate safely; celebrate with your own household.

False information, when shared, can take on a life of its own and have serious consequences. Recently there has been a lot of false information about coronavirus and the new vaccines designed to tackle it. It’s not always easy to spot. The government has developed a useful online tool to help you know what to look out for before you like, comment or share information you come across online: Home – SHARE checklist

Help is available for anyone in Somerset who may need additional support over the Christmas period. The five councils in Somerset have been working together since the first lockdown to provide a single phone number for anyone in Somerset who needs Coronavirus-related support.

Residents are reminded they can call 0300 790 6275 if they need any help themselves or are concerned about relatives or neighbours.

Lines are open seven days a week – including over the Christmas period – between 8am and 6pm.

It’s vital everyone acts to reduce their own risk, and the risk to others, from getting ill with coronavirus.

There’s really important information available to help Somerset residents, businesses and visitors take all-important precautions.

Our Coronavirus Helpline remains open over the festive season. It’s there to provide help for anyone in Somerset who may need additional support.

Residents are reminded they can call 0300 790 6275 if they need any help themselves or are concerned about relatives or neighbours. Lines are open seven days a week between 8am and 6pm.

Our services will be closed for the statutory Bank Holidays over the festive season. But you can still access information on our website

You can find information about our opening hours.

You can get a free NHS test if you are displaying any of the following symptoms:

• a high temperature
• a new continuous cough
• a loss of or change to your sense of smell or taste

You should only get a test if you are displaying symptoms. Booking a test without symptoms could prevent someone who needs one from getting a test.

Remember, it is possible you may be incubating the virus even if you test negative.

Find out more

Public health leaders in Somerset are warning of rising infection rates as they offer advice on staying safe this Christmas.

Following last week’s announcement Somerset remains in Tier 2 but seven-day rates in the county have jumped from 86.8 cases per 100,000 people between November 30 and December 6, up to 123.1 in the week ending December 13.

With restrictions being relaxed between December 23 and 27 so that three households can meet to celebrate Christmas together, the advice is to be cautious and recognise the risks.

Where possible, people are being encouraged to keep it small, keep it short, keep it local and think of the vulnerable.

In the lead up to Christmas and over the festive period, people should continue to follow the hands, space, face guidance, and self-isolate if they show symptoms of coronavirus which include a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste.

Three more GP-led community sites will start to vaccinate more of the county’s most vulnerable residents over the next few days.

These locations will add to the first four sites announced earlier this week, as part of the developing plan to roll out the NHS vaccination programme in Somerset.

The latest vaccination sites are; Frome Medical Practice, Minehead Community Hospital and the Henhayes Community Centre, in Crewkerne.

GP practice teams have been working very hard with NHS colleagues across the county to set up local vaccination sites to enable the most vulnerable people to have their vaccinations.

People who have been identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) as the highest priority will be invited first, including over-80s and health and care staff. Please wait to be contacted – the NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine.

The latest Somerset Covid Catch Up film, hosted by former BBC Points West producer Clinton Rogers, highlights the need to be cautious this Christmas as well as warning people not to get tested just to prove they do not have the virus.

The result is just a snapshot of that day and you could still be incubating the virus. Please and watch and share the video by clicking here: Clinton Rogers Covid Catch-up: Week 3

The Covid Community Champions Network gives local people a role in helping their community to get up to date information and make the right choices to stay healthy.

After attending a short online training course, Covid Community Champions will be able to help their family, friends and the wider community to understand the latest guidance around Covid-19, and signpost to other health and wellbeing support.

This can be done informally as the Champions go about their day to day lives. Whether they chat to someone while queuing outside a shop, talk to colleagues at work, or question something they see online, they will play a vital part in helping keep local people informed, happy and healthy.

Champions will have the opportunity to attend regular meetings, where they’ll get to know other Champions, keep up to date, and feedback about how things are going in their community.

For more information, contact: Helen Fielden, Covid Community Champion Co-ordinator, email helen.fielden@sparksomerset.org.uk, phone 07535 800944

Please remember Somerset remains in Tier 2 so it’s important to follow government guidance if you’re Christmas shopping to continue to drive down infection rates.

You can protect your loved ones, your community and yourself by:
• not mixing with people from outside your household or support bubble anywhere indoors, including in shops
• wearing a face covering while shopping, unless you are exempt
• using in-store sanitiser on trolleys and baskets before and after use
• staying 2m apart from others
• using contactless payments if possible.

If you are asked to put a face covering on by a bus driver or shop staff, please be kind – they are doing their bit in helping to protect us all from coronavirus.

Due to significant global issues affecting stock availability, we are making an urgent appeal to request the return any of our community healthcare equipment you no longer need. Our priority is hospital beds, mattresses, bed rails and bumpers, hoists, overbed tables and 4-wheeled walkers which are in very short supply both locally and nationally.

Millbrook, our community equipment provider, will collect the equipment for free and pick up from outside homes to ensure everybody stays safe. If you have any of this equipment currently not required please contact Millbrook urgently somersetcontactus@millbrookhealthcare.co.uk or phone 0333 003 2407.

Millbrook will take the equipment to our service centres to be deep cleaned, tested and refurbished if necessary, ready to be issued to others on behalf of our clients – the NHS and local social care teams.

The furlough scheme has been extended until the end of April 2021 with the government continuing to contribute 80% towards wages, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced.

The Chancellor also confirmed he would be extending the government-guaranteed Covid-19 business loan schemes until the end of March.

These changes come ahead of the Budget, which the Chancellor has confirmed will take place on 3 March 2021.

The government will continue to pay 80% of the salary of employees for hours not worked until the end of April. Employers will only be required to pay wages, National Insurance Contributions (NICS) and pensions for hours worked; and NICS and pensions for hours not worked.

Businesses will also be given until the end of March to access the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme. These had been due to close at the end of January. You can read the full news story on GOV.UK here

The Government issued further advice on Christmas get-togethers with the message: Keep it small, keep it short, keep it local and think of the vulnerable.

Restrictions are being relaxed between 23 and 27 December but the advice is to be cautious and to recognise the risks. People should continue to follow the hands, face, space guidance and to self-isolate if they show symptoms of coronavirus.

The national guidance for self-isolation periods for returning travellers and close contacts of confirmed cases has now changed – and it’s really important to follow the advice. Please remember that what you do now will impact your Christmas.

• People who are close contacts of confirmed cases should self-isolate for 10 days instead of 14 days.
• People who return from countries which are not on the travel corridor list should also self-isolate for 10 days instead of 14 days.
• People who test positive should continue to self-isolate for 10 days from onset of symptoms or 10 days from point of taking a positive test if asymptomatic.

We have designed some graphics to illustrate why it’s so important to complete the full self-isolation period. Please share with your friends, family and colleagues: Coronavirus – Useful national and local links

A new coronavirus guide for parents and carers is now available to help them steer a safe course over Christmas. The at-a-glance guide gives advice on a range of scenarios from what to do if a child has Covid-19 symptoms to travelling to a different tier area over the festive break. View the handy checker

Later this week, the very first local sites will start vaccinating some of the county’s most vulnerable residents. People who have been identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) as the highest priority will be invited first, including over-80s and health and care staff.

This first wave of community GP-led sites follows the launch of the NHS vaccination programme in hospital hubs, such as Yeovil District Hospital, and is part of a range of ways that people will access vaccination services across Somerset.

Vaccinations will initially be delivered from four different sites in Somerset including Taunton Vale Healthcare, Taunton; The Mulberry Centre, Berrow; West Mendip Community Hospital, Glastonbury; and The Gateway Centre in Yeovil. These initial GP-led sites have been developed by primary care networks (groups of local GP practices) who have been working closely together to develop detailed plans to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations in community locations.

More information on the NHS vaccination in Somerset

Christmas will be like no other this year and most of us will be celebrating it differently. Remember Somerset is currently in Tier 2, so please follow the rules.

Somerset Public Health and Council leaders will be online this Thursday night (17 December) for a live Christmas coronavirus question and answer session.

With the festive season fast approaching, a vaccination programme now underway in Somerset, and a review of the national tier system this week, Somerset County Council’s Director of Public Health Trudi Grant and Leader David Fothergill will have the latest information and advice for local residents and will answer any questions.

The live briefing will be broadcast via Microsoft Teams from 7pm. You’ll need to download the Microsoft Teams app before watching and use this link.

You can submit questions in advance to communications@somerset.gov.uk or post them during the event.

From 23 December to 27 December, you can choose to form a Christmas bubble which allows you to spend time together in private homes, to attend places of worship, or meet in a public outdoor place. From 28 December, you must follow the guidance for the tier in your area and Christmas bubbles will no longer apply.

More information

If you’re part of a Christmas bubble this year to visit family or friends, you’re probably starting to think about your travel plans.
The government’s rules say you should not travel to see your bubble before Wednesday 23 December or travel back after Sunday 27 December except in exceptional circumstances (for example, if a member of your Christmas bubble develops coronavirus symptoms and you are required to self-isolate). Anyone travelling to or from Northern Ireland may travel between Tuesday 22 and Monday 28 December.

It’s likely that transport routes will be busier than normal, so please:

• plan ahead, check for disruption before you leave, and avoid the busiest routes, as well as busy times
• avoid making unnecessary stops during your journey
• don’t share a car with people not in your household or Christmas bubble
• where possible, keep your distance from other people when you travel
• wash or sanitise your hands regularly
• wear a face covering on public transport in England unless you’re exempt.

Lots more information 

The impact of the national lockdowns and Tier restrictions is continuing to be felt by businesses across Somerset so shopping locally and supporting Somerset’s retailers and traders is really important.

It means your money stays locally, boosting the local economy, supporting jobs and livelihoods for thousands of residents.
Please remember if you are visiting the high street, to keep to the national health and safety guidance to help protect yourself and others. This includes:

• wearing a face covering inside any shop or business
• keeping a safe distance from people outside of your household
• washing your hands or using sanitiser frequently
• using cashless payments when possible.

The second ‘Weekly Covid Catch up’ video, fronted by former BBC Points West correspondent Clinton Rogers, looks at the launch of the vaccination programme and important guidance to follow. The weekly bulletins aim to help people understand how Covid-19 is affecting Somerset, and what we can all be doing to help beat the virus and will be shared on social media – please share through your networks.

Pop in and try something new with the ‘Library Choice’ service at Somerset Libraries today. The Library Choice Service is where library customers complete a simple form advising staff what kind of books and authors they like to read. Staff will then do their best to pick out a number of books which may suit.

The service has been hugely popular over lockdowns, with customers saying how much they have enjoyed their ‘mystery reads’ picked out for them by friendly, knowledgeable library staff.

Find out more

A Covid-19 Mobile Testing Unit will be set up at Westlands in Yeovil this week, as Somerset County Council continues to make testing more accessible to areas with acute need.

Anyone wishing to get tested must book a test in advance, and tests are only available for those with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste.

Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

The drive-through Mobile Testing Unit will be in operation at the Westlands site. The days of operation may vary week to week and information on availability of this and any other Mobile Testing Units in and around Somerset will be given when you book a test.

To avoid the risk of cross-contamination those being tested must arrive by car – not on foot, using public transport, by taxi or by any other means. Only people from the same household should travel in a car together to the testing centre.

Tests are available at a number of sites in Somerset and just across the border. These include drive-through regional testing sites (RTS) which are available seven days a week, and drive-through mobile testing units (MTUs) which operate on different days each week.

Currently there are regional testing sites located at Taunton Racecourse, Exeter and Bristol, a walk-through testing unit at Bridgwater Town Hall and Mobile Test Unit sites at Frome Cricket Club, Yeovilton, Weston-super-Mare, Warminster, Cullompton, Dorchester and Bridport. Barnstaple and Trowbridge have also recently opened walk-through local testing sites.

Following the very first deliveries of the approved Pfizer vaccine, the Somerset-wide COVID-19 vaccination programme for those in the highest priority groups, has begun at Yeovil Hospital, as part of the biggest vaccination programme in history.

The hospital is part of the initial wave of 50 hospital hubs, announced last weekend that is providing the first vaccinations across the country.

Yesterday, it has begun vaccinating people from the most vulnerable groups which includes patients aged 80 and above, who are already attending hospital as an outpatient, those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, and care home staff who look after some of the most vulnerable people in Somerset. Any appointments not used for the initial groups at the hospital will be used for healthcare workers who are at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

Since the Pfizer vaccine was given the green light from regulators last week, Somerset health and care organisations have been working around the clock to manage the huge logistical challenge of deploying the vaccine.

Further plans for the local NHS vaccination programme are currently being drawn up, to ensure that the wider population across Somerset can access the vaccine in line with national guidance and as vaccine is available. This includes delivering it in a number of locations to enable easier access for as many people as possible, including large county sites, community sites in locations across the county, hospital hubs, some GP surgeries and through teams of mobile vaccinators for those who cannot leave their homes.

As plans progress across Somerset, the public have an important part to play to help:

• Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, we will contact you;
• when we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments;
• and please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives.

More information on the roll out of the NHS vaccination programme in Somerset.

A £1million support package is in place to support Somerset families in need with food this winter.

Somerset County Council, the District Councils and Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group have been busy working with partners to ensure a robust system is in place so that help can be directed where it is needed.

Through partnership working, a wide network of community food support has already been established in Somerset during the pandemic and the Government’s Winter Covid Grant Scheme has bolstered this by providing additional funding to support families.

All schools in Somerset will be provided with £30 for every child who receives free school meals for the Christmas Holidays and £15 for February half term. Schools will use this funding to provide vouchers or food and will contact their families accordingly.

A fund has also been established so that schools can bid for money to set up new breakfast and after-school clubs or expand their existing ones. There is also an option to bid for funds towards new community food projects, such as setting up a community larder or an allotment scheme.

In line with national policy, from Easter 2021 the Free School Meals vouchers programme will be replaced with the new Holiday

Activities and Food programme. Before Christmas, Somerset County Council will be writing to schools to ask if they would like to bid for funding to host or run holiday activities with food for children eligible for free school meals.

Families with children under 4 on low income may be able to claim Healthy Start Vouchers which gives parents £3.10 per week to help buy healthy food, vitamins and milk.

Families with children 16-18 not in education, employment or training can also have help over Christmas by emailing somersetworks@somerset.gov.uk

Somerset County Council and the NHS are encouraging organisations across Somerset to connect to their local care home with a new digital campaign, #ConnectACareHome.

Organisations are being asked to send video messages to their local care homes, to help combat the loneliness and isolation experienced by residents and staff who may have been unable to see their loved ones due to Covid restrictions.

Find out more

Yeovil Hospital is preparing to start vaccinating some of the county’s most vulnerable residents against COVID-19 this week. The hospital was amongst 50 hospital hubs, announced last night, which will receive a delivery of the vaccine in the coming days.

The hospital’s Chief Nurse, Shelagh Meldrum, said: “As one of the country’s designated hospital hubs we expect to receive the COVID-19 vaccine this week and to then begin vaccinating in line with national guidance. We are working with our health and social care colleagues in Somerset to make the vaccine available to the priority groups that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has identified, before the programme is rolled out to the wider population of Somerset.”

Yeovil Hospital is among 50 hubs in the first wave – more hospitals will start vaccinating over the coming weeks and months as the programme ramps up.
Patients aged 80 and above who are already attending hospital as an outpatient, and those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, will be among the first to receive the vaccine.

Hospitals will also begin inviting over 80s in for vaccination and work with care home providers to book their staff in to vaccination clinics.
Any appointments not used for these groups will be used for healthcare workers who are at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19. All those vaccinated will need a booster dose 21 days later.

Find out more

What you do now could have a big impact in 10 to 14 days time. Only get a test if you have symptoms and if you need to self-isolate, please do it properly.

If you need help, you can call our coronavirus helpline on 0300 790 6275 #DontbelikeJane #DontbelikeHarry

Coronavirus Incubation Timeline #DontbelikeJane

Coronavirus Incubation Timeline #DontbelikeHarry

Covid vaccination locations will be set up across Somerset with mobile vaccinators available for those who cannot leave their homes.

Formal announcement of the exact locations of Somerset’s vaccination centres are expected shortly – but will include larger county sites, community locations across Somerset, hospital hubs and from teams of mobile vaccinators for those unable to leave home.

Somerset County Council and health colleagues focus will be on making the vaccine available in a phased way from a number of locations across the county and accessible to people who cannot leave their homes.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has now published its guidance for the priority groups to receive the vaccine. These priority groups include care home residents, health and care staff, the elderly and the clinically extremely vulnerable, who will be among the first to receive the vaccination here in Somerset.

Stocks are expected to arrive in the County next week, but delivering the Pfizer vaccine is complex. It needs to be stored at very cold temperatures and moved carefully.

Somerset County Council and the local NHS are working on a plan to deliver the vaccine safely in line with its storage and will share information with you as soon as it becomes available.

For more information about the Pfizer vaccination, please read MHRA’s statement, watch a short Oxford University video about the safety of the vaccine located here or check out Vaccine Knowledge | (ox.ac.uk) – a website which provides independent information about how vaccines are tested, licenced and monitored.

Somerset’s Coronavirus Helpline has received more than 10,000 calls since its launch in April, signposting residents to a huge range of vital support such as emergency food parcels, prescription collections and hospital transport.

Set up by Somerset’s local councils working together with partner organisations such as Mindline, Citizens Advice Bureau and the Community Council for Somerset (CCS) Village Agents, the Coronavirus Helpline has provided a single point of contact for anyone in need of Covid-19 related support over the past eight months and counting.

The Helpline number is 0300 790 6275, and is available seven days a week, from 8am to 6pm including Bank Holidays, offering a range of support from help accessing food and medicines, to emotional and financial support, as well as employment, skills and business advice.

Somerset County Council has enlisted the help of former BBC television journalist Clinton Rogers for a new weekly series of informative Covid Catch Up videos.

The former BBC Points West correspondent will front the new series which aims to help people understand how Covid-19 is affecting Somerset, and what we can all be doing to help beat the virus.

The first Covid Catch Up video features Clinton reporting from Taunton on what it means for Somerset as we leave lockdown and enter Tier Two restrictions.

Childcare bubbles are now allowed in all tiers. A childcare bubble is where one household links with one other household to provide informal childcare to a child or children under 14.

All adults in both households must agree to this arrangement.

You can now change your childcare bubble provided that:
• at least one person in the proposed new childcare bubble is under the age of 14
• neither household is part of a separate childcare bubble which they intend to remain a part of.

Travel safely this Christmas is the message as the Government announced measures to minimise disruption and help people travel in the festive season.

The plan for the Christmas travel window between 23 and 27 December includes lifting roadworks, enhancing rail services, postponing and accelerating rail engineering works and cutting ticket charges. The Government is also urging passengers to plan their journeys carefully, consider quieter routes and, where possible, to book ahead.

Travel between different tiers is permitted however, you must stick to the advice of only making journeys for essential reasons, and travel to Tier 3 areas is particularly advised against.

Once you are in another tier, you should stick to the guidance of your own tier if you have come from a higher one, or act under the guidance of the higher tier if you are ‘moving up’ into it.

Technology has massive benefits, particularly in a year where we have seen lockdowns and self isolation, but for people experiencing domestic abuse there is a risk it can be used to make their situation worse and increase harm.

Modern technology has entertained us in a time of isolation, kept us in touch with friends and family and up to date with the pandemic. It can give perpetrators of domestic abuse, however, a way to stalk, isolate and control their victims further.

You can find a guide which provides top tips on how you can keep your technology secure, stay safe online and reduce the risk of technological facilitated abuse.

The advice will help you stay safe online and protect your passwords to stop anyone accessing your emails, mobile phone, social media or other online accounts.

Find out more

Plans are fully underway in Somerset to prepare for a mass Covid-19 vaccination roll out now the Government has authorised the Pfizer vaccination for use across the UK, starting from next week.

Somerset County Council is working closely with health colleagues to support the vaccination programme. This includes having hundreds of Council staff on standby ready to be redeployed to assist the programme and identifying vaccination locations.

We’re working with the NHS on a plan to make the vaccine available to the people of Somerset in a planned way and in line with national guidance – so watch this space for more information shortly.

The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations will shortly publish its final advice for the priority groups to receive the vaccine, including care home residents, health and care staff, the elderly and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

Trudi Grant, Public Health Director at Somerset County Council said: “We welcome the news the 95% effective Pfizer vaccination has been approved. Following months of rigorous clinical trials, medical experts have concluded the vaccination meets its strict standards of ‘safety, quality and effectiveness’. This is a real turning point in the fight against the disease and will help save thousands of lives. We expect the first supplies of vaccination here in Somerset imminently and will keep you informed when we have more information to share.”

More information about the announcement.

Somerset Libraries are delighted to reinstate browsing of shelves for books, talking books and DVDs.

Once again, anyone with a library card can come to their local library and choose from thousands of titles and borrow up to 20 items at a time.

Find out more

We have published a new, at-a-glance guide on checking the incubation period for coronavirus. It shows how important it is to be aware that you can be contagious while showing no symptoms.

It sits alongside our new isolation checker. This sets out what needs to be done if someone in your household shows coronavirus symptoms. You can find it here – scroll down to Covid-19 self-isolation graphic and Covid-19 incubation timeline graphic: Coronavirus – Getting tested

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced that retailers will be able to extend their daily opening hours from Monday to Saturday in the run up to Christmas and through January.

From Wednesday 2 December, as England returns to a system of tiered restrictions, all non-essential retail across England will be able to reopen, and planning rules limiting opening hours will be eased to allow shops to be open for longer Monday to Saturday.

The announcement in full.

Public Health and Council leaders will be online tonight (26 November) to answer questions from Somerset residents after the latest Government announcements.

The Government is expected to lay out which tier Somerset will be in once lockdown ends on 2 December.

Somerset County Council’s Director Public Health Trudi Grant and Leader David Fothergill will explain what the latest restrictions mean for local residents and answer any questions.

The live briefing will be broadcast using Microsoft Teams from 7pm. You’ll need to download the Microsoft Teams app before watching and use this link.

You can submit questions in advance to communications@somerset.gov.uk or post them during the event. We’ll also make the questions and answers available to the public after the event.

The government has published the guidance for UK Christmas arrangements,

The main points are
• You can travel between tiers and UK nations to and from your Christmas bubble between 23 and 27 December.
• Once at your destination you should follow rules in that tier.
• Three households can form a Christmas bubble together.
• You can only be in one Christmas bubble.
• You cannot change your Christmas bubble.
• You can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces.
• You can continue to meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier where you are staying.
• If someone is in your Christmas bubble, you can visit each other’s homes and stay overnight.

Further details
• Making a Christmas bubble with friends and family.
• Student movement and plans for the end of term.
• Local restriction tiers: what you need to know.

The rules around self-isolating have been made clearer thanks to a useful guide that’s now available on our website. The isolating checker sets out what needs to be done if someone in your household shows coronavirus symptoms.

You can find it here – scroll down to Covid-19 self-isolation graphic: Coronavirus – Getting tested

More than three-quarters of women experiencing domestic abuse said that Covid-19 made it harder for them to leave their abuser. For some, work is their only safe space and the prospect of having to work from home for the foreseeable future will be an intimidating one.

Today marks the start of the ‘16 Days of Action’ aimed at businesses to support them, through an online toolkit, to take action against domestic abuse and violence. The toolkit aids companies to do more to aid their employees who endure domestic violence, to train those who witness it, and to protect staff, with the goal of securing safety and mitigating financial loss.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse help is, and will continue, to be available,

Our fantastic key workers in Somerset are leading a campaign to deliver a vital message for everyone – let’s all make the last week of lockdown count and keep coronavirus infection rates down.

Doctors, nurses, critical care teams, police, ambulance crews, firefighters and staff from Somerset County Council as well as Royal Navy personnel are taking part in a joint campaign by the Council and NHS in Somerset – and you can join in too.

The #MakeLockdownCountSomerset social media campaign aims to spread the message for us all to work together to make the lockdown count – and to keep counting… 1: Hands; 2: Face; 3: Space.

“People in Somerset have been fantastic in following the guidelines and looking after their loved ones and wider community during the course of this pandemic,” said Trudi Grant, Director of Public Health at Somerset County Council.

“We know it’s a tough ask after so many months, but we’ve come so far – it’s vital that we hang in there and make this lockdown count.”

James Rimmer, Chief Executive, Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We know that for many, this second lockdown period is harder in many ways than the first.

“Over the last nine months we have had to adapt to new ways of working, new ways of connecting and learning to living in a different way. The mantra, hands, face, space – something unheard of until this year – has never been so important as we all try to keep ourselves, our loved ones and each other as safe as possible.

“Let’s make this lockdown count. The NHS in Somerset appreciates your support.”

You can read more on our Somerset Newsroom

Somerset is expecting to find out on Thursday in which tier it will be placed following the announcement on the Government’s coronavirus Winter Plan. National lockdown is due to end on 2 December when the new tier system comes into effect.

The Government has set out the local restriction tier system that will be in place from 2 December, including what you can and cannot do in each tier. We’ll provide further updates on what this means for Somerset later in the week.

You can read the COVID-19 Winter Plan here

The Government has announced the return of limited numbers of fans to elite sports events and the reopening of grassroots sport from 2 December.

Supporters will be welcomed back into stadia and sports venues in limited numbers from 2 December and organised grassroots sport is also allowed to resume. Gyms and leisure centres will be able to reopen across all tiers.

You can read more here

Help is available for anyone in Somerset who may need additional support during the second national lockdown.

The five councils in Somerset have been working together since the first lockdown to provide a single phone number for anyone in Somerset who needs Coronavirus-related support.

Residents are reminded they can phone 0300 790 6275 if they need any help themselves or are concerned about relatives or neighbours. Lines are open seven days a week between 8am and 6pm.

We have updated information for businesses affected by the current lockdown. The District Councils in Somerset are administering the Local Restrictions Support Grant for businesses forced to close during the current national restrictions.

Read more here

It’s vital everyone acts to reduce their own risk, and the risk to others, from getting ill with coronavirus. There’s really important information available to help Somerset residents, businesses and visitors take all-important precautions.

Find out more on our Healthy Somerset website

The government is encouraging people to open their windows and keep their homes well ventilated during the winter.

It’s because research has shown that being in a room with fresh air can reduce the risk of infection from coronavirus by over 70 per cent.

As the weather turns colder, we all tend to spend more time indoors, so experts are recommending that you open windows for short, sharp bursts of 10 to 15 minutes regularly throughout the day or leave windows open a small amount continuously. This helps to remove any infected particles lingering in the room.

Airing indoor spaces is particularly important if someone in your household has coronavirus as it can help prevent it spreading to other household members.

It’s also important to do if you have visitors in your home, such as a care worker or tradesperson, or other visitors like friends and family from other households when that’s permitted.

The government has produced a short film to show how coronavirus lingers in the air in spaces with no fresh air, increasing the risk of people breathing in infected particles, and how the risk can be reduced significantly by regularly ventilating enclosed areas.

Care workers looking after people in their own homes are now being offered weekly coronavirus tests, the government has announced.

Those working for CQC-registered providers will receive weekly tests to administer at home, which will help identify more asymptomatic cases and protect care users who are more vulnerable to the virus.

Regular testing will give workers peace of mind by picking up on any asymptomatic transmission and protect those they care for.

Find out more

The Government has updated its guidance on venues that must have a test and trace system in place for customers and staff at their premises once they are allowed to open again. They have added cinemas, concert venues and theatres to the list of venues that must have a system in place and confirmed that indoor sports and leisure centres includes gyms.

Find out more

If you, or someone you know, is looking for work visit https://www.proudtocaresomerset.org.uk/ to find regularly updated jobs and opportunities in Somerset’s growing health and social care sector.

For those who may have just left college, recently been made redundant, or are looking for a career change, working in Somerset’s amazing health and social care sector could be the next step in an exciting new career.

There’s good job security as our care sector is growing – with more people needing care than ever before – and care is an interesting, rewarding, and meaningful career choice. Candidates will be working with creative, dedicated, supportive care professionals who have helped Somerset remain in the top 20% in relation to the proportion of good or outstanding care.

For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/p2csomerset or search #ProudToCareSomerset on facebook and twitter.

A Somerset charity fundraising song has been released to help male victims of domestic abuse recognise they are not alone.

Singer and Songwriter Clive Lever and his long-term friend Bob Martin have produced a song “You’re Not Alone” to raise awareness of male victims of domestic abuse, to encourage them to get help and to raise funds for the ManKind Initiative helpline.

You can read more on our Somerset Newsroom

Help is available for anyone in Somerset who may need additional support during the second national lockdown.

The five councils in Somerset have been working together since the first lockdown to provide a single phone number for anyone in Somerset who needs Coronavirus-related support.

Residents are reminded they can call 0300 790 6275 if they need any help themselves or are concerned about relatives or neighbours. Lines are open seven days a week between 8am and 6pm.

A new initiative is being launched to create a network of volunteers to help people in Somerset get the latest advice about Covid-19 and ensure residents stay as happy and healthy as possible in these difficult times.

The scheme hit the ground running this week with the first 17 Covid Community Champions attending an induction using Zoom.

Attendees ranged from interested members of the public, to people working with vulnerable and hard to reach groups. Over the coming weeks, more inductions aim to reach people who might struggle to access and follow the right information about Covid-19. These groups include people who don’t have English as a first language, people working in factories where larger outbreaks can occur due to higher numbers of staff, and people living in shared housing.

The Covid Community Champions scheme is funded by Somerset County Council’s Public Health and delivered by a partnership between Spark Somerset and the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), who will work together over the coming weeks to develop the new network of volunteers.

The initiative will help people in Somerset to get clear information on how to stay safe and reduce the risk of getting and spreading the infection, and what additional support there might be to help do this.

They will receive the latest updates and guidance from our Public Health team to share with families, friends, communities and workplaces, and in return feedback ideas and issues to the Covid-19 Engagement Board so that it can listen and adjust to help people stay as safe and well as possible.

Other similar schemes have been set up in areas such as Southampton and Newham, but the Somerset initiative will be specifically tailored to the needs of the county.

For more information on how you can get involved please email Helen.Fielden@sparksomerset.org.uk

The Somerset Food Resilience Taskforce, CCS (Community Council for Somerset) and Somerset County Council have been working together to increase food security for Somerset residents.

CCS Village Agents and volunteers have delivered nearly 1,000 meals to families in need to help prevent holiday hunger and have also recently delivered nearly a tonne of donated potatoes to people in need, distributed through 10 community groups.

Now the search is on for anyone in their local community providing meals or access to food. Is this you? Do you want to start helping those locally in need?

Smart Communities could provide the tools to set up a food bank, collection services or funds to buy fridges, freezers and other equipment to help store food safely, and help stock them for the people in your local area.

If you are already helping your community or want to start to today and have an idea visit: www.ccslovesomerset.org.uk/food phone 01823 331 222, or email ccssmartcomm@somersetrcc.org.uk

Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) is asking online shoppers to think outside the box this month.

With COVID-19 lockdown closing all but essential shops and Christmas and Black Friday coming soon, mass online shopping looks likely to generate tonnes of extra cardboard packaging.

Cardboard is recycled from the kerb every week but producing it and collecting it have a financial and carbon cost – not to mention putting a strain on collection crews.

SWP is asking people to consider options that not only give boxes a miss, but give loved ones something to look forward to in 2021, such as:
·  vouchers for restaurants, attractions or experiences,
·  digital subscriptions to newspapers, magazines or streaming services
·  memberships for trusts or clubs that give you free days out

Whether it is a meal out, a day out, or a pampering treatment – if you shop local you will also be helping support our hard-pressed businesses in these tough times.

During these uncertain economic times, Step Up Somerset is a one-stop-shop for people and businesses looking for support, advice and information about employment, skills, careers and apprenticeships in the county.

The site has resources to help anyone looking to realise the next step of their career ambitions, as well as support for people looking for work, worried about money, or facing redundancy.

Visitors to the site will find guidance on how to re-train for a new career or how to enhance their current skill set to progress in the workplace.

Anyone who is facing redundancy and feels unsure about what to do next is being encouraged to visit Step Up Somerset where there is lots of free advice and guidance available.

We have updated information for businesses, accommodation providers and pubs and eateries to reflect current guidance.

The Government has updated guidance for people moving into homes in England, whether as owner-occupiers or as private or social renters, in line with national restrictions. Find out more

Police patrols have been increased and several people fined following breaches of COVID-19 legislation in Glastonbury in recent days.

Police have been called following reports of public gatherings, which breach the Government regulations. Currently, a protest of more than two people is illegal and enforcement action has been taken against those involved.

Police say the vast majority of residents are complying with lockdown to keep the town safe, but a small minority are not.

High-visibility patrols will continue to be carried out in Glastonbury over the coming days, including by the new Avon and Somerset Police COVID team.

Read more

Collections: Please keep a social distance from collection crews and wash and disinfect container handles before and after putting out recycling boxes and bins.

If you have COVID symptoms, or live in a household with someone who does, there is Government guidance on how you should dispose of personal waste like tissues and disposable facemask and cleaning cloths.

It should be double-bagged in disposable rubbish bags and kept separate from other waste in the home for 72 hours.

It should then go into your rubbish bin outside your home and will be picked up in the usual rubbish collections.

Recycling sites: All 16 are currently open on their usual winter hours. Visitors must take responsibility for keeping themselves and others safe. Stay up to date on the latest guidance by noting signs on site and checking somersetwaste.gov.uk in advance.

As a minimum, standard restrictions will be in place over the festive period and into the New Year:
•  no one with COVID-19 symptoms or those asked to shield should visit
•  social distance at all times and wear gloves
•  maximum two people from the same household per vehicle
•  site staff cannot offer help to unload items

Park considerately: Cars parked legally, but inconsiderately, can make it difficult or impossible for collection vehicles to get to some properties and roads. This is more of an issue as more people work from home and can cause missed collections and frustration for all.

If recycling crews cannot get through, fire appliances will not be able to either and that could delay them getting to an emergency. Please park considerately.

People who are most at risk from the complications of flu are recommended to get a flu vaccine every year.

This year, with coronavirus still in circulation, it is particularly important – getting both viruses at the same time may put you at a higher risk of serious illness.

Nationally there is no shortage of flu vaccines – there will be enough to vaccinate 30 million people. However, as is normal practice, manufacturers stagger deliveries of the vaccine.

This year, early uptake of the flu vaccine has been much higher than usual due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. This means that some GP practices and pharmacies have had to ask people to wait until the next delivery arrives.

If your GP or regular pharmacy does not have the vaccine in stock, they should be able to tell you when they expect the next delivery. Alternatively, you can try elsewhere at any pharmacy that offers the flu vaccine.

Whilst we appreciate you may have to wait, we urge you to make sure you take up the offer of a free flu vaccine if you are entitled to it.

Help is available for anyone in Somerset who may need additional support during the second national lockdown.

The five councils in Somerset have been working together since the first lockdown to provide a single phone number for anyone in Somerset who needs Coronavirus-related support.

Residents are reminded they can call 0300 790 6275 if they need any help themselves or are concerned about relatives or neighbours. Lines are open seven days a week between 8am and 6pm.

It’s vital everyone acts to reduce their own risk, and the risk to others, from getting ill with coronavirus.

There’s really important information available to help Somerset residents, businesses and visitors take all-important precautions.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides guidance on coronavirus and non-coronavirus risks overseas. The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to many countries and territories on the basis of coronavirus risks. From now until 2 December, travelling away from home, including internationally, is restricted from England except in limited circumstances such as for work or education.

Find out more

You may have spotted our #StayHomeForSomerset campaign featured on BBC Points West yesterday evening. We are asking everyone in the county to pull together to keep coronavirus at bay and support the campaign.

We want to fire up the amazing community spirit shown in Somerset throughout the lockdown earlier this year – and recognise that “we are all in this together.”

From now until December 2, we are asking people to take a “selfie” featuring the name of, or photo of, who they are staying home for. It could be to protect a vulnerable family member or friend or because you want to protect the NHS from extra pressure. The photos can then be uploaded to social media using the hashtag #StayHomeForSomerset.

We are encouraging everyone who is in an ‘at risk’ group to claim their free flu vaccine and join the record number of people who have already had their flu jab.

High numbers of people from across Somerset are already leading the way by taking up the offer of a flu vaccine – and so protecting the vulnerable people in their lives.

We are urging everyone who has booked a vaccine to keep to their appointment – despite being in a second lockdown government guidance does allow you to leave home for a medical appointment – it is safe to do so, with strict social distancing and hygiene procedures in place.

Overall, there is no shortage of flu vaccines nationally with enough ordered to vaccinate 30 million people. But given the high demand, you may have to wait to receive your vaccination so please book your advance appointment as soon as possible.

Many of us will carry the flu virus without showing symptoms and could unknowingly pass it on to the most vulnerable people in our community. Vaccination helps to reduce spread to the wider public and demand on the wider health system at a time when Coronavirus is already putting it under pressure.

Here is a full list of vulnerable groups who are also eligible for the free vaccination

Somerset County Council now requires all secondary age pupils to wear face coverings on dedicated school transport with immediate effect, unless they are exempt.

Pupils are already required to wear face coverings in communal areas in secondary schools and this approach is being extended to all vehicles operating home to school transport.

These measures are to help combat the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and communities. Until now the wearing of face coverings on home to school transport has been left to the discretion of parents – with immediate effect any pupil of secondary school age who is not wearing a face covering when boarding the school transport will be asked to put one on.

If they do not have a face covering with them, they will be offered one by the driver.
Failure to comply with a request to wear a face covering will be reported to the pupil’s school who will the address the matter through the appropriate disciplinary procedures.

The latest Government guidance on face coverings.
And there’s a helpful video explaining how to use face coverings properly.

The impact of the new lockdown on town centres in Somerset and what that means for schemes designed to aid social distancing and encourage walking and cycling is being assessed.

Several temporary measures currently remain in place such as one-way systems in Bridgwater and Glastonbury, and pedestrianisation in Taunton, Yeovil, Wells and Frome.

Somerset’s Active Travel Group, which oversees the deployment of the schemes understands circumstances have changed with non-essential retail outlets now closed and the potential change in footfall and travel behaviour.

Before any further decisions can be made on the future of these schemes, the group, which consists of representatives from the five Somerset authorities, the county’s Public Health Team, Avon and Somerset Police and Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), is working to understand the implications of the lockdown on these town centres and is listening to the views of the public and wider community.

All schemes are regularly reviewed by the group as a matter of course and public feedback has been an integral part of the process.
Any future schemes will be subject to wider public consultation by Somerset Active Travel.

The main schemes currently are:
•  Taunton: East Street closure/pedestrianisation
•  Bridgwater: Eastover/East Quay/Salmon Parade – one-way system in place
•  Glastonbury High Street: one-way system in place
•  Wells: Market Place – closed to traffic
•  Frome: Market Place – closed to traffic from Cork Street to Scott Road
•  Yeovil: Pedestrianisation of Middle and High Street

You can visit our map to find out more about the scheme and continue to feedback and tell us what’s working well and any improvements you think we can make by visiting Somerset Covid Active Travel.

For general information and updates on travel in Somerset visit www.travelsomerset.co.uk

A single phone number is available for anyone in Somerset who needs Coronavirus-related support from their councils. The Somerset Coronavirus Support Helpline number, 0300 790 6275, is open seven days a week from 8am to 6pm, offering a range of support – from help accessing food or medicines, to emotional and financial support, and employment, skills and business advice.

Following the new COVID-19 restrictions which came into effect on 5 November, Somerset Libraries would like to reassure customers that key services are remaining in place during this new lockdown period.

The popular “library choice” service and the reservation service for specific requests will continue to be available, but customers will no longer be able to browse shelves.

The libraries service will also still provide limited access to the people’s network computers which will be available for essential users.

The “Library choice” service enables you to request up to ten books hand-picked by a member of staff based on your favourite genres or authors.
Simply complete the request form on the Somerset Libraries website, or in person at the library, and staff will be in touch regarding your selections.
Alternatively, if you want to borrow a particular title, then you can still use the reservation system via www.LibrariesWest.org.uk (charges may apply).

From Thursday 5 November, all items already on loan or items borrowed during lockdown will not be due back any earlier than 14 December. Library staff can offer a longer loan period if required, and all loans can be renewed online, by contacting libraiesmail@somerset.gov.uk or telephoning 0300 123 2224.

The excellent online offer continues, so that library members can download books, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers and comics free of charge. What’s more, regular online events and updates will be posted across the Somerset Libraries social media pages.

Visit www.somersetlibraries.co.uk for more information and find ‘Somerset Libraries UK’ on Facebook, @SomersetLib on Twitter or search for Somerset Libraries on Instagram.

A Home Library doorstep delivery service is also still available for those who may not be able to leave their home – more details can be found online or by contacting librariesmail@somerset.gov.uk or by telephoning 0300 123 2224

The mobile library will be out and about as usual, providing a ‘Library Choice’ Service. Simply use the request form to place your order as above. Browsing on the mobile library will be temporarily suspended.

Help is available for anyone in Somerset who may need additional support during the second national lockdown.

The five councils in Somerset have been working together since the first lockdown to provide a single phone number for anyone in Somerset who needs Coronavirus-related support.

Residents are reminded they can call 0300 790 6275 if they need any help themselves or are concerned about relatives or neighbours.

Although the national restrictions and guidance on shielding are different this time, it remains really important for people to stay connected and also keep active, particularly during the winter period.

Help and advice is available and phonelines are open seven days a week between 8am and 6pm to offer support with:

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

The five councils will again be proactively contacting a number of those residents identified as needing additional support during the previous lockdown.

Please be alert to potential scams and remember a caller from the council will never ask for personal details or bank details. If you’re concerned, please hang up and get in touch using the helpline.

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.

As the nation is now under further national restrictions encouraging people to stay home, Somerset County Council’s Public Health leaders are asking everyone in the county to pull together to keep coronavirus at bay and support the #StayHomeForSomerset campaign.

Somerset has seen coronavirus cases rising at a steady rate. Although the local numbers seem comparatively low compared to other parts of the country, they have been, and continue to increase. Lockdown will be vital to flatten the curve – and bring the numbers back down – so all must play their part.

The campaign wants to fire up the amazing community spirit shown in Somerset throughout the lockdown earlier this year – and recognise that “we are all in it together.”

From now until December 2, the county council is asking people to take a ‘selfie’, featuring the name of, or photo of, who they are staying home for. It could be to protect a vulnerable family member or friend or because you want to protect the NHS from extra pressure. The photos can then be uploaded to social media using the hashtag #StayHomeForSomerset.

Trudi Grant, Somerset County Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “Our colleagues in our health and care services need us all to help them cope through what could be a very busy winter.

“Even with relatively lower numbers of coronavirus cases, the impact on our health services could be significant with the other winter pressures to deal with, so please help us to stop the spread of this virus by staying home.

“Our individual actions have the power to have a much greater and wider impact on the pandemic – if we all follow the guidance, we will reduce the spread of infection. Don’t just do it for yourself, we are all in it together.”

Councillor Clare Paul, Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, added: “It is more important than ever to be looking after our mental health and wellbeing during this time and I hope this campaign will give people a much-needed boost.

“Our coronavirus support line is here to provide support on a number of issues you may be facing, for things like financial concerns, housing and medical support to personal care and transport needs. A wealth of information on staying healthy, happy and safe at this time can be found at: www.healthysomerset.go.uk/covid19

A brand new walk-through coronavirus testing facility is set to open in Bridgwater this Sunday, as Somerset County Council makes testing more widely available and accessible.

Achieved with the co-operation of Bridgwater Town Council, Serco and Deloitte, the walk-through site at Bridgwater Town Hall will be the first of its kind in the county and is one of two new sites set up recently – with a drive-through facility in Yeovilton going live this week.

Somerset’s Public Health is supportive of the new restrictions and say it comes at a critical time to help flatten the curve and bring the rising infection rates in the County down.

Trudi Grant, Somerset’s Director of Public Health today said: “All residents are being urged to follow the guidelines to help stop the spread of the virus by staying home, and following the HANDS FACE SPACE guidance if they need to leave home for one of the permitted reasons.

“It is now more important than ever that we all work together, and testing plays a key role in helping to reduce the spread of this highly infectious virus. If we know who is infected, we can isolate them accordingly and notify anyone that they may have been in close contact with.”

Testing is available only for those with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste. Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

The new site is situated so that people without transport can easily access it, and it will be open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm. Those being tested will be required to follow public health measures, including social distancing, not travelling by taxi or public transport, practising good personal hygiene and wearing a face covering throughout, including while travelling to and from the testing centre.

The two new sites sit alongside the existing facilities at Taunton Racecourse and Frome Cricket Club and are important developments in the County’s bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

There are also mobile testing sites across the border that are more accessible for some Somerset residents and currently these are in Trowbridge, Warminster, Weston-super-Mare, Tiverton, Barnstaple, Dorchester, Bridport, Exeter and Bristol.

Health and care services in Somerset are joining forces to thank the county’s residents for the support shown to NHS and social care throughout the pandemic.

In an open letter, health and care chiefs say: “You clapped for key workers through the spring and summer, fundraised for us and supported those in need. And thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to protect yourselves, your loved ones and our communities from Covid-19.”
They are urging people to keep health appointments where they can – and to seek help if needed.

The letter concludes: “We want to support everyone in Somerset to live healthy independent lives, supported by communities and timely and easy access to high quality and efficient public services when you need them. We are committed to providing you and your family with the highest quality health and care services and working together to support sensible Covid-19 precautions in our everyday lives.

Please help us keep Somerset safe and well this winter and thank you for everything that you have done to support us.”

All care home residents in England should be allowed to receive visits from their family and friends in a COVID-secure way – with social distancing and PPE – following new guidance to be used while national restrictions are in place from Thursday 5 November.

The guidance will enable care home providers, families and local professionals to work together to find the right balance between the benefits of visiting on wellbeing and quality of life, and the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to social care staff and vulnerable residents.

It will set out clear principles for how visits are conducted – with arrangements to be adapted from home to home, based on the needs of their residents and taking into consideration factors such as layout and facilities – and reiterates the importance of ensuring social distancing and proper PPE use is observed.

The Government has issued new guidance for people identified as clinically extremely vulnerable.

If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, you will previously have received a letter from the NHS or from your GP telling you this. You may have been advised to shield in the past. Advice on shielding has now changed and new guidance issued to provide extra information to help you protect yourself from the virus.

Employees in Somerset will be able to continue with the furlough scheme until the end of March 2021. The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in Parliament today that the UK-wide Job Retention scheme will go beyond the one-month extension announced previously.

Employees will receive 80% of their usual salary for hours not worked, up to £2,500 a month.

Similarly, support through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be increased, with the third grant covering November to January calculated at 80% of average trading profits, up to a maximum of £7,500.

Find out more

Application deadlines have been extended to January 31 2021 in respect of the following: the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), which provides financial support to larger businesses affected; the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), which enables smaller businesses to access finance more quickly during the coronavirus outbreak; and the Future Fund, which provides government loans to UK-based companies.

Find out more

Restrictions announced by the Government at the weekend will come into force tomorrow after a vote in favour in Parliament today. The restrictions are designed to stem the rise in coronavirus infections. People are asked to stay at home where possible, to work from home and to minimise contact with others.

It’s vital that everyone remembers:

Hands – wash thoroughly and frequently
Face – wear a face covering as required
Space – keep a 2m distance from others.

Look after each other and yourself. The Somerset Coronavirus Helpline remains available on 0300 790 6275 if you need support with food, shopping, medication and other essential supplies. The helpline is open 7 days a week between 8am and 6pm.

The Somerset Mindline is open 24 hours a day if you need mental health and emotional wellbeing support: 01823 276 892.

You can find out more about the new restrictions here

The weekend’s announcement of a second national lockdown may prompt questions about impacts on Somerset Waste Partnership services, notably recycling sites which were closed during the first lockdown period earlier this year.

As things stand, the plan is that all 16 sites will remain open on standard opening hours. You may recall that the Government clarified near the end of the first lockdown that visits to recycling sites are considered ‘permitted journeys.’

Somerset’s sites already have measures in place to protect the public and staff and these include

• no one with COVID symptoms or those asked to shield should visit sites
• strict social distancing must be followed
• visitors are asked to wear gloves and are limited to a maximum of two per vehicle from the same household
• masks are discretionary
• site staff are not able to give their usual assistance in lifting heavy or large items

Collections, including garden waste and the roll-out of Recycle More, will continue as normal and we will be re-emphasising our messages about how people should dispose of personal waste if they, or someone in their household, has symptoms. SWP, SUEZ and Viridor will continue to monitor the situation, guidance and any impacts on staff and will make changes if appropriate.

The Government has provided more detail on coronavirus restrictions due to be introduced soon. Parliament will debate and vote on the measures this week, and if passed, they will come into force on Thursday 5 November, and remain in place until Wednesday 2 December. The intention is to limit face-to-face contact and slow the spread of infection.

There’s more published information on a wide range of topics including businesses that can remain open; childcare arrangements; weddings, religious services and funerals; travel; and financial support.

We will continue to update our website.

The Government has announced that it is increasing support to the self-employed over the coming months and making sure people get paid faster than previously planned.

Find out more

If you are self-isolating or need extra support, contact Somerset Coronavirus helpline on 0300 790 6275 to be put in touch with local groups who can help with fetching shopping, medication and other essentials supplies, as well as other mutual aid.

The helpline is open 7 days a week between 8am and 6pm.

The Somerset Mindline is open 24 hours a day for mental health and emotional wellbeing support – 01823 276 892.

On Saturday 31 October, the Prime Minister announced a new national lockdown starting from Thursday 5 November for four weeks. The new restrictions are being put in place to limit face-to-face contact to reduce the spread of the infection. Certain businesses and venues will be required to close from this date. You can find information on businesses that need to close on GOV.UK

The Chancellor has announced that the following additional support will be available during this period:

• Extension of the Job Retention Scheme
• Grants of up £3,000 per month for businesses that are forced to close

You can read more about the announcement here

Once full details are available, we will publish them on our website and our Twitter and Facebook pages.

As outlined in the Prime Minister’s statement at the weekend, from Thursday 5 November, new national restrictions will apply in England. These include:

Staying at home except for education, work (if it can’t be done from home), exercise and recreation, medical reasons, shopping for food and other essentials, or to care for others

All pubs and restaurants will have to close – takeaways and deliveries can continue

All non-essential shops will have to close

Households will not be allowed to mix with others indoors, or in private gardens

Individuals can meet one person from outside their household in an outside public space

Support bubbles for people who live alone, and households of single parents and children can continue

Children will be able to move between homes if their parents are separated

Schools, nurseries, colleges and universities will remain open

Hotels will only open for people who have to travel for work plus a number of other limited reasons

Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies will not be allowed, except in exceptional circumstances

Places of worship will generally close but funerals, with a maximum of 30 people attending, individual prayer will be allowed

Workplaces will be asked to stay open if people can’t work from home – including construction and manufacturing

Outdoor exercise and recreation will be allowed, but gyms will have to close

Clinically vulnerable people advised not to go to work if they are unable to work from home

Until 5 November, people should continue follow the local restrictions for their area – Somerset is in the medium tier.
Information on the new national restrictions is available at the links below. More guidance will be published in the coming days.

For many people the pandemic and changes to Government guidance may cause anxiety or frustration. You may find that you have problems sleeping or your mood and feelings are affected by all of the change. With this in mind, it is going to be very important to do what you can to keep healthy, happy and safe.

Over the next few weeks, we will continue to post information to support you to stay fit and healthy on our Healthy Somerset website. This information will be updated in line with national guidance.

Please check back regularly to access various opportunities, advice and supporting information that will be posted as changes occur.
Let us know what you have been up to on social media using the #stayhealthyinsomerset

If you are self-isolating or need extra support, contact Somerset Coronavirus helpline on 0300 790 6275 to be put in touch with local groups who can help with fetching shopping, medication and other essentials supplies, as well as other mutual aid. The helpline is open 7 days a week between 8am and 6pm.

The Somerset Mindline is open 24 hours a day for mental health and emotional wellbeing support: 01823 276 892.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – also known as the furlough scheme – will remain open until December, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500.

Under the extended scheme, the cost for employers of retaining workers will be reduced compared to the current scheme, which ended yesterday.

Also, business premises forced to close in England are to receive grants worth up to £3,000 per month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant and £1.1bn is being given to Local Authorities, distributed on the basis of £20 per head, for one-off payments to enable them to support businesses more broadly. Mortgage holidays will also no longer end on 31 October.

As announced by the Prime Minister on 31 October 2020, there will be a new national lockdown commencing from Thursday 05 November in response to a rise in cases of Coronavirus.

Maria Heard, Covid-19 Incident Director, Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “NHS services in Somerset are currently very busy but coping well with demand. Our dedicated staff are working very hard across all services to keep them running and make sure they remain open and here for you.

“For now, please continue to attend appointments as advised. You don’t need to call us to check that a booked appointment is going ahead. We will be in touch if anything changes with your care.

“Our GP practices, urgent care services, our services that care for people at home, our mental health services and our hospitals are all very busy for the time of year. At present, we are able to continue to offer planned care and operations are continuing without cancellations.
But we do need your help to keep everyone as well and safe as possible and to keep our services running well.”

• If you are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, please use the government portal to book a test. It is important that you and anyone you live with continue to self-isolate until you get a test result. You can find more information, support and guidance on testing.
• Think Hands, Face, Space – washing your hands regularly, using a face mask in areas where social distancing is difficult, and keeping 2 metres’ space between you and others will all help to reduce the spread of the virus.
• If you have a continuous cough or fever, self-isolate and contact 111 if you need further advice or help.
• If you need medical help, please contact your registered GP practice or 111. Support can be accessed online at 111.nhs.uk or you can call 111 for free form your landline or phone.
• The Somerset Mindline is open 24 hours a day for mental health and emotional wellbeing support: 01823 276 892.
• Please only call 999 in the event of a medical emergency.
• For emergencies and life-threatening injuries please use our A&E departments as needed.
• For minor injuries, our seven Minor Injury Units are open – you can find the locations and opening hours at https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/minor-injury-units/ . For minor illnesses, please contact your GP practice or visit your local pharmacy.
• If you are self-isolating or require additional support, contact Somerset Coronavirus helpline on 0300 790 6275 to be put in touch with local groups who can help with fetching shopping, medication and other essentials supplies, as well as other mutual aid. The helpline is open 7 days a week between 8am and 6pm.

A new survey has launched this week asking Somerset residents to have their say on how the Coronavirus pandemic is impacting on their lives.

The purpose of the Somerset Covid-19 Survey is to understand the barriers people are facing adhering to the government guidance to stop the spread of the virus.

Somerset County Council and the Somerset Public Health team want to hear from as many people as possible across the county so that they can use the feedback to shape the local response to the pandemic.

The survey will cover a number of areas including Covid-19 testing, whether people have become more isolated as a result of the pandemic, how the guidance around local alert levels and the Hands, Face, Space campaign has been understood, as well as views on how others are adhering to the guidance.

Trudi Grant, Director of Somerset Public Health, said: “Along with the rest of the country, Somerset has seen a rise in cases of Covid-19.
“The Covid-19 Somerset Survey aims to improve our understanding of how the coronavirus is impacting on people’s lives across the county.
“This feedback will enable us to tailor our Covid-19 response to the needs of Somerset’s residents and make sure we provide the appropriate support.”

Cllr Clare Paul, Somerset County Council Cabinet Member for Public Health said: “We would like to ensure our residents and communities feel valued and empowered, knowing their voices can make a difference in helping to shape the council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We want to obtain views from individuals from all backgrounds to ensure that diverse perspectives, ideas and priorities are heard.”

The Covid-19 Somerset Survey is open until Friday, November 13.
To take part in the survey, please go to: www.somerset.gov.uk/covidsurvey
If you require an alternate format of the survey, contact lzrogers@somerset.gov.uk

Somerset County Council has pledged £125,000 of additional support for families in Somerset who may be struggling to find food this winter.
We want to ensure no child or adult in Somerset goes hungry. Our aim is to meet the immediate need for food, and work with the family to address underlying needs. This is because if a child is hungry there are usually other issues we would want to help them address – such as financial, housing, mental health and wellbeing, employment, and skills.

Throughout the pandemic the Coronavirus Helpline has been providing information, advice and support to families, adopting the same community orientated approach as that developed in the Adults service. The Village Agent offer to families has been extended so that they can get support to address underlying issues and regain, or retain, their ability to be as independent as possible.

This has enabled many families in Somerset to get the support they need to become more resilient. One element of this has been to make sure families can access nutritious meals – this remains a focus of our work.

This week it was agreed to set aside a further £125,000 in case more funds are needed to ensure families are fed this winter.

We have food available this half-term and any family in need should call our Coronavirus helpline on 0300 790 6275 and select Option 1.

Somerset County Council has today issued a plea for families in need of urgent food supplies to contact the Coronavirus helpline and confirmed it is stepping up its efforts to provide more school holiday support with a £125,000 scheme.

At the same time, the Council continues to lobby government for further funding. Currently the Council works alongside community organisations and businesses to provide much needed meals and food for families most at need.

But families who are struggling can contact the Coronavirus helpline, run by all councils in Somerset, to ask for support. That number is: 0300 790 6275

And with demand likely to increase ahead of school holidays, Christmas and throughout the winter, Somerset County Council is spending a further £125,000 to provide crucial meals and funding across the county.

This will see school caterers expected to produce 26,000 meals by Christmas, and partners Fareshare hoping to bring 140 tonnes of food to supplement Somerset’s brilliant community groups and food banks.

“I am so glad we have had the foresight to prepare for the really significant challenge to come this winter and that is where are efforts will continue to be made,” said leader of Somerset County Council David Fothergill.

“We have a strong and sustainable plan in place that will help many thousands of children get the food they need, when they need it. I am determined that this Council will do all it can to prevent children going hungry through this very challenging Christmas and winter period. And that plan has the backing and support of our amazing community groups – and also business leaders in Somerset. I can’t thank them enough for stepping up in crucial time for our children.”

Somerset County Council already has a strong record in supporting families and children eligible for free school meals during the pandemic. During the two-week Easter holidays, more than 1000 school hampers were supplied to school children in need.

During the summer holiday, the government funded the £15/week cost per pupil for free school meals. The full cost of providing this service through all school holidays is around £2.2m – currently the government funding for ALL Coronavirus food support including distribution is around £500,000.

“We are already lobbying government to increase this level of funding. It is an issue that has been raised and I am sure government are looking closely at helping counties like our own,” said Cllr Fothergill.

We are continuing to see a rise in positive Covid-19 cases across the county. The Somerset seven-day rate is still lower (42.1 per 100,000 population) than the England rate (173.6 per 100,000) but the rise over the last few weeks is steadily continuing.

We are closely monitoring where our cases are, so that we can be quick to respond to any trends, clusters or outbreaks.

We have had positive cases in all parts of the county, therefore we want to stress that we are all in this together, and keeping the virus under control needs all of us to stick to the ‘Hands, Face, Space’ guidance. Anyone can catch Covid-19 regardless of age, gender or geographical location.

With Halloween a week tomorrow, many of us would now be planning fun (and spooky) things to do with our families. Unfortunately, as we all know, coronavirus means that we need to approach such things differently this year.

Please avoid ‘Trick or Treating’ if possible, and at all times follow the rule of six as well as the ‘hands, face and space’ guidance. Knocking on doors and picking up sweets can increase the risk of catching and spreading the virus through touch and close contact.

Instead why not use the opportunity to be creative and find alternative Halloween activities within your own home. Organise a Halloween themed treasure hunt around your house and garden and hide the trick or treat sweets to be found in the safety of your home! Or decorate your doorstep and share your pictures with us on social media.

With half term fast approaching and many people likely to take short ‘staycations’ across the region, it is important to remember that a holiday does not mean a holiday from the guidelines – we want you to enjoy your holiday but please do so safely.

Ensure that you try to keep at least 2 metres away from people you do not live with. Social distancing is essential to stop the spread of the virus, as it is more likely to spread when people are close together. Continue to keep up regular hand washing and cover your face in enclosed spaces. And please don’t travel at all if you have symptoms, however mild – a high temperature, new and continuous cough, or loss or change to your sense of taste and smell – or if you’ve been advised to self-isolate.

It’s vital everyone acts to reduce their own risk, and the risk to others, from getting ill with coronavirus.

There’s really important information available to help Somerset residents, businesses and visitors take all-important precautions

Detailed Public Health information dashboards are available on our website www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus just scroll down to ‘Covid-19 dashboard’. These are updated daily.

As we enter the weekend, you can check out the latest advice and guidance on GOV.UK.

A one-way system is to be introduced temporarily to Glastonbury High Street to support social distancing and the control of coronavirus.

The measure will start on 26 October during half term and will last for a number of weeks with an end date yet to be confirmed.
Key details:

• The one-way system on High Street will be in effect between the junctions of Benedict Street and The Archers Way with the permitted direction of travel being Eastwards up the High Street.
• The section of High Street between Lambrook Street junction and The Archers Way junction will remain two-way.
• There will be a signed diversion in place which will utilise Lambrook Street, Chilkwell Street, Bere Lane, Fishers Hill and Magdalene Street.
• The 7.5. tonne weight limit on Lambrook Street and Chilkwell Street will be suspended while the one-way system is in operation to enable large vehicles and buses that would normally travel down the High Street (Westwards) to navigate the one-way restriction.
• Public bus access up the High Street is not affected, however buses cannot travel down the High Street which means services will not be stopping adjacent to the Abbey car park on Magdalene Street; they will be required to follow the signed diversion.
• A short section of parking on Archers Way between High Street junction and the car park will be suspended to facilitate right turn movements for large vehicles from the High Street.

Details on the diversion route and updates are available on www.travelsomerset.gov.uk.

We are continuing to see a rise in positive Covid-19 cases across the county. Somerset rates are still lower than the national, but the rise over the last few weeks is clear and continuing.

We are closely monitoring where our cases are so that we can be quick to respond to any trends, clusters or outbreaks.

We have had positive cases in all parts of the county, therefore we want to stress that we are all in this together, and keeping the virus under control needs all of us to stick to the ‘Hands, Face, Space’ guidance. Anyone can catch Covid-19 regardless of age, gender or geographical location.

It has been announced today (21 October 2020) that Pat Flaherty, Somerset County Council’s Chief Executive has been appointed as Chair of the shadow Somerset Integrated Care System (ICS) and James Rimmer has been appointed as the System Leader and Senior Responsible Officer. The announcement is a significant milestone in the formal designation of an Integrated Care System for Somerset.

NHS England and NHS Improvement made the appointment following a competitive and open recruitment process.

Pat and James will oversee greater partnership working between the NHS, county and district councils and VCSE partners, leading the way to improved health, care and wellbeing for everyone in Somerset.

In a county where 70,000 people suffer mental health problems at any one time, 2 in 3 adults are overweight or obese and 16% of adults smoke, the NHS, alongside Somerset county and district councils and Public Health England are drawing on the skills and expertise of the voluntary sector and neighbourhood groups on a mission for people in Somerset to live longer, healthier and happier lives.

You can read more on the NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group website

Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) would like to support community groups that can help to reduce loneliness and spread Christmas cheer through food and festive activities.

Christmas can be a difficult time for some, and this year will be a tough Christmas for many more in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Many people who would normally come together for a community Christmas meal will be unable to this year, due to the coronavirus restrictions, so SCF wants to fund groups who can help to bring festive food – and the spirit of Christmas – to people at home.

It’s vital everyone acts to reduce their own risk, and the risk to others, from getting ill with coronavirus. There’s really important information available to help Somerset residents, businesses and visitors take all-important precautions.

Detailed Public Health information dashboards are available on our website www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus just scroll down to ‘Covid-19 dashboard’. These are updated daily.

The Government added the Greek island of Crete to the Government’s travel corridor list and removed Italy, San Merino and Vatican City State.

The results of a large county-wide survey about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on local businesses will be used to shape Somerset’s response and economic recovery planning.

Conducted by Somerset’s five local authorities between 24 July and 21 August this year, the survey provides vital intelligence on how more than 1,300 businesses have been coping in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as giving insight into their prospects for the future.

Somerset County Council and the District Councils have already put in place a number of services to directly support businesses and individuals affected by Covid-19 including Step Up Somerset, a website which signposts business and individuals for redundancy support, and the Visitor Economy Support Programme, which will help businesses improve their online offer and digital skills.

Like much of the country, Somerset’s businesses have been facing significant challenges as they adapt to new ways of working, but despite the uncertainty about what the near future holds, optimism remains.

Of those who took part in the survey, 32.7 per cent of businesses described the current outlook for their business as ‘fairly positive’, compared to 22.3 per cent describing it as ‘fairly negative’.

By 2022, 66.4 per cent anticipate their business will be stronger or about the same, suggesting confidence in their underlying fundamentals despite the difficulties of the Covid-19 situation.

High up on the list of challenges reported by businesses was a lack of cash flow, difficulties adhering to social distancing restrictions, and confusion about official government guidance since the start of the national lockdown in March.

Other challenges highlighted included poor digital connectivity and skills as home working increased, the sourcing of PPE, and maintaining staffing levels due to sickness or isolation.

The survey also found that with business activity being significantly curtailed across most industries – especially hospitality, food business and non-supermarket retail – business turnover and profitability has been hit hard.
Almost half of businesses reported achieving less than half their normal turnover since the start of lockdown.

The survey findings are being used to support the response and recovery work of Somerset’s local authorities, including the provision of support to those who have made or are planning to make redundancies, as well as the wider provision of employment, skills and training support to help people secure work, up-skill or retrain.

More homes are urgently needed in Somerset to provide vital support to young people as they move from care into adulthood.

Somerset County Council is highlighting the need to recruit more ‘Stepping Stones’ placements during National Care Leavers’ Week (26 October – 1 November).

Stepping Stones carers support young people leaving care as they make the transition to independent living. This often involves helping them gain crucial life skills and experience such as managing bills, cooking, shopping, accessing further education and employment opportunities, whilst providing a safe place for them to stay.

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of children in care has risen nationally. With more than 300 young care leavers in Somerset currently, the demand for placements far outweighs availability.

As a ‘Stepping Stones’ provider, you need to be aged 23 or over, have a spare room in your home, and ideally live in a Somerset town as it’s important our care leavers have access to good transport links and amenities, as well as career opportunities. In return, providers receive a weekly fee, starting at £185 per week, plus a little extra for food and utilities (up to £27.50) paid weekly by the young person from their allowance. Stepping Stones providers are also eligible for the same tax exemptions and relief as foster carers, but have much more flexibility to work full or part-time alongside their care role.

Stepping Stones placements are relatively short; anything from a few months to a couple of years.

There is no upper age limit – wisdom and experience are a bonus. We welcome people from all backgrounds and ethnicities, those who are single, LGBT, renting, or if they have children of their own already.

For more information visit www.fosteringinsomerset.org.uk or call 0800 5879900

As we go into the weekend, here’s an important reminder on why, when and where people should wear a face covering.

Face coverings aim to protect others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth, which are the main confirmed sources of transmission of virus that causes coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Because they are meant to protect others, they don’t replace social distancing and regular handwashing.

Secondary school age students in Somerset are also being asked to wear face coverings on dedicated school transport to help prevent the spread of the virus.

In England, you must wear a face covering in a wide range of enclosed spaces and indoor settings including from public transport to libraries. A full list is available here.

There are exemptions, for example young children; those with physical or mental illness or disability; or if you are helping someone who relies on lip-reading. Some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering, such as an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.

Calling all parents and carers of school aged children in Somerset: Please return the flu consent form and help children become ‘flu fighters’ this winter.

All schools should have issued information about the flu vaccination to parents and carers of eligible children and young people asking them to fill in an online form to give their consent.

If parents/carers haven’t already completed the form, Somerset County Council’s public health teams urge them to complete it – and give their consent.

With COVID-19 also circulating in communities this winter, catching flu and coronavirus together is even more likely to lead to severe illness and hospitalisation.

Read more on our Somerset Newsroom

The Government launched a new hotline to report, anonymously and free of charge, suspected fraudulent activity by people illegally targeting support schemes that have been introduced to help those struggling financially.

You can read more on GOV.UK

Detailed Public Health information dashboards are available on our website www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus just scroll down to ‘Covid-19 dashboard’. These are updated every Wednesday.

This webinar provides a brief overview of the Covid Champion programme and why we are launching the scheme.

Introduction to COVID-19 Champions Webinar

Somerset Public Health, Spark Somerset and Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership will be working together over the coming weeks to develop a network of Covid Community Champions.

This vital network is being set up to help local people get the latest advice about Covid-19, in a way that makes sense to them. Covid Community Champions will help their family, friends and the wider community to understand the latest information about Covid-19, to help ensure we all stay safe and alert to the risks of the virus.

The NHS Test and Trace Support Payment scheme is now open for eligible Somerset residents if you are told to self-isolate after testing positive for Coronavirus or are contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service and cannot work from home.

The £500 payment will be administered by your local district Council – Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and South Somerset, so please click on the link below for further information and to complete your application form.

Applications opened on Monday 12 October and backdated applications from 28 September will be accepted and will be paid where the qualifying conditions are met. The scheme is due to run until Friday 31 January 2021.

The payment will total £500 for those who qualify. These are the criteria under which you can apply.

• You must have been asked by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate on or after 28 September.
• You must be employed or self-employed
• You must not be able to carry out your work from home during the period of self-isolation, resulting in a loss of income
• You must be in receipt of one of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit.

You can find more detail and the link to your area at https://www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-test-and-trace-support-payment/

You can also phone 0300 790 6275 for further help and support.

The Prime Minister has confirmed that a new tier system will be implemented across England in place of the current restrictions:

• Level 1 (medium) – this will be the level following the current national restrictions, including the rule of six and the 10pm curfew on hospitality, and will currently cover most of the country including Somerset.

• Level 2 (high) – this will see people prevented from socialising with other households indoors. The rule of six will apply outdoors. People will be advised to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible.

• Level 3 (very high) – at this level, people will not be able to socialise with other households both indoors and in private gardens and bars/pubs will be closed unless they can operate as restaurants, serving alcohol only as part of a meal. Wedding receptions are not allowed, and people will be advised to avoid non-essential travel in and out of these areas. People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they live in a ‘very high’ area or avoid staying overnight in these areas if they live elsewhere.

The Prime Minister confirmed that these measures will be kept under constant review, with the regulations subject to a ‘sunset clause’ of four weeks for interventions in the ‘very high’ areas.
The Prime Minister’s statement followed a briefing led by some of the Government’s scientific and medical advisers earlier in the day which set the context for why the new simplified and standardised local COVID-19 alert levels are important: the number of cases has quadrupled in the past four weeks and there are more people in hospital than there were at the start of the last national lockdown in March. The full text of the Prime Minister’s statement is available here.

The Government has updated the stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection to include information on actions to take in case of a negative test result, enforcement of self-isolation, and aerosol transmission.

It’s vital everyone acts to reduce their own risk, and the risk to others, from getting ill with coronavirus.

There’s really important information available to help Somerset residents, businesses and visitors take all-important precautions.

Read more on our Healthy Somerset website

Detailed Public Health information dashboards are available on our website www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus just scroll down to ‘Covid-19 dashboard’.

These are updated every Wednesday.

Doctors are reminding people to follow social distancing measures when they are using healthcare services in Somerset.

As more people begin to visit healthcare settings for appointments such as their flu jab, local GPs, emergency department staff and healthcare teams are reminding visitors that it’s important to follow the three simple steps of ‘Hands Face Space’: wash hands regularly, wear a face covering when visiting a health setting and maintain your distance from those not in your household.

Dr Emma Keane, local GP and Associate Clinical Director of Primary Care, Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We understand that people may feel anxious about visiting healthcare settings again, particularly our most vulnerable patients. But across the NHS we have put in measures in place to keep you safe from infection during your visit to the surgery.

“Our healthcare services are open and caring for people, appointments are being delivered face-to-face, online and over the telephone. If you are asked to come into the surgery for a face-to-face appointment, please remember to wear a face covering.”

Face-to-face appointments are available for patients where clinically appropriate, but all patients will be triaged first so you may be asked to discuss your conditions over the phone or online initially to assess what would be most appropriate for you.

This month marks ‘Stoptober’ and Somerset County Council is encouraging smokers to quit to benefit their health – and help reduce the risk of catching serious respiratory infections this winter.

Smokers have an increased risk of contracting respiratory infections and are more likely to have more severe symptoms once infected. Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms and flu symptoms may therefore be more severe for someone who smokes.

Stoptober provides the information and support people need to quit smoking for 28 days, based on research that if a smoker can make it to 28 days smoke free, they are five times more likely to quit for good.

Read more on our Somerset Newsroom

It’s vital everyone acts to reduce their own risk, and the risk to others, from getting ill with coronavirus.

There’s really important information available to help Somerset residents, businesses and visitors take all-important precautions.

There are quick guides to coronavirus testing and a useful guide for parents and carers on what to do, action needed and back to school, and symptom checker for colds and flu.

The Government has updated the guidance on NHS Test and Trace, to reflect that the requirement to self-isolate if you test positive or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace has changed from guidance to law.

Detailed Public Health information dashboards are available on our website, just scroll down to ‘Covid-19 dashboard’. These are updated every Wednesday.

There’s really important information available to help Somerset residents, businesses and visitors cope with coronavirus and take all-important precautions.

It’s vital everyone acts to reduce their own risk, and the risk to others, from getting ill with coronavirus.

Do:
• Stay at home as much as possible
• Work from home if you can
• Limit contact with other people
• Keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
• Wash your hands regularly
• Wear a face covering in enclosed spaces

There are quick guides to coronavirus testing and a useful guide for parents and carers on what to do, action needed and back to school. The cold and flu checker provides guidance – handy at this time of year.

The information is all available on the Healthy Somerset website where there’s a wealth of other information.

Self-assessment customers can apply online for additional support to help spread the cost of their tax bill into monthly payments from 1 October, without the need to call HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The online payment plan service can already be used to set up instalment arrangements for paying tax liabilities up to £10,000. From 1 October 2020, HMRC has increased the threshold to £30,000 for Self Assessment customers, to help ease any potential financial burden they may be experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Find out more

The Government has updated the guidance for food businesses to include businesses closing at 10pm, collecting NHS Test and Trace information and working from home.

Find out more

Wessex Water is providing more financial help for community groups in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Wessex Water Recovery Fund aims to strengthen communities following the Covid-19 outbreak, with an emphasis on local rather than national projects.

Find out more

People in England are now required by law to self-isolate if they test positive or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace. This law has been introduced to ensure compliance with self-isolation rules and to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Those on lower incomes who cannot work from home and have lost income as a result will also be eligible for a new £500 Test and Trace Support Payment.

Find out more

Guidance has been updated for people planning to get married or form a civil partnership in England. There is information on the number of guests allowed, legal requirements for businesses to be closed between 10pm and 5am and supporting staff to self-isolate, mandatory face coverings for staff, mandatory table service at licenced venues, new NHS Test and Trace QR code and guests prohibited from joining in with performances.

Find out more

It is so important to remember the coronavirus basics as we enter autumn and winter:
Hands – Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds
Face – Cover your face in enclosed spaces
Space – Keep 2m apart where possible

If you have Covid-19 symptoms, you must:
Stay at home
Call 119 or book a test online at gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
Self-isolate until you get the results from that test

Details of business and employment support were announced in the House of Commons today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Included in the measures are:
• A new Jobs Support Scheme for employees working at least a third of their normal hours, who are being paid for that as normal. The government and employers will jointly increase their wages to cover two-thirds of their lost pay and the employee will keep their job
• All small and medium-sized businesses are eligible, but larger businesses must show their turnover has fallen during the crisis. Employers can use it even if they have not previously used the furlough scheme it replaces
• It will run for six months from November
• The existing grant for self-employed people is being extended on similar terms to the Jobs Support Scheme
• A “pay as you grow” scheme was announced for businesses, allowing them to extend their bounce back loans from six to 10 years, reducing their payments
• Businesses can also move to interest-only payments or suspend repayments for six months if they are “in real trouble”. Credit ratings will be unaffected
• The government guarantee on Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans will be extended to 10 years and a new successor loan guarantee programme will be announced in January
• The temporary reduction of VAT from 20% to 5% for some sectors will remain in place until 31 March 2021

For information about employment help and support in Somerset visit: https://www.stepupsomerset.org.uk/support/redundancy-support.htm

The NHS COVID-19 app has launched in England and Wales, including QR check-in at venues.

You can now download the app and help control the spread of coronavirus and protect yourself and your loved ones as case numbers rise.
It is available to anyone aged 16 and over in multiple languages and forms a central part of the NHS Test and Trace – identifying contacts of those who have tested positive for coronavirus.

The contact tracing element of the app works by using low-energy Bluetooth to log the amount of time you spend near other app users, and the distance between you, so it can alert you if someone you have been close to later tests positive for COVID-19 – even if you don’t know each other.
The app will advise you to self-isolate if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case. It will also enable you to check symptoms, book a free test if needed and get your test results.

The Government has updated safer transport guidance for both operators and passengers to reflect new legislation on social contact and the requirement for passengers to wear face coverings in taxis and private hire vehicles.

The guidance on face coverings has also been updated with changes to the following sections: ‘When to wear a face covering’, ‘Enforcement measures for failing to comply with this law’, ‘When you do not need to wear a face covering’ and ‘Face coverings at work’.

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

The Somerset Local Outbreak Engagement Board is urging people in the Mendip area to stay vigilant after a significant rise in positive coronavirus cases. Although the rates of infection remain low in Somerset as a whole, there is an increase in numbers in the county with more cases emerging in Mendip.

Of the 59 new cases confirmed in Somerset between the 8th September and 21st September that have been reported, a significant proportion of these are within the Mendip district.

Two schools in Street are being supported by Somerset County Council’s Public Health team following confirmed cases within the school population. The schools have taken swift and effective action to identify close contacts of those students who tested positive and these individuals are now self-isolating at home for 14 days.

The schools affected are Crispin School and Brookside Academy and the measures that have been put in place to control the spread of the virus involve:

• all 226 Year 8 pupils and all 195 Year 9 pupils isolating for 14 days at Crispin School
• all Year 6 and Year 2 pupils (approx. 145 pupils) plus 10 teachers are isolating for 14 days at Brookside Academy

Public Health have conducted a thorough risk assessment of the processes in place at both schools and are satisfied with the measures in place to keep students and staff safe.

Trudi Grant, Somerset’s Director for Public Health, said: “This is another stark reminder of the paramount importance in remaining vigilant and following the government guidance as we see increasing cases across Somerset, particularly in the Mendip area. Public health teams continue to support communities, businesses and schools, providing advice and guidance on what to do if someone starts to show symptoms or tests positive.

“I would like to commend all staff and parents at both schools who have acted quickly and efficiently in order to put important measures in place to help control the spread of the virus. They have been provided with public health advice including what to do if someone was to become symptomatic.

“If you do start to show symptoms, however mild, please self-isolate immediately and book a test online at http://www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or phone 119. Please keep trying throughout the day if local test slots aren’t available. And please don’t book a test unless you are showing symptoms.”

Chair of the Somerset Coronavirus Engagement Board, Councillor David Fothergill said: “We’re all in this together and preventing spread of the virus and protecting our loved ones is up to us. The only way we can do this is through our behaviour.

“Remember HANDS – wash regularly and for at least 20 seconds, FACE – wear a face covering in settings, if you can and SPACE – stay two metres apart from others or one metre plus with extra precautions in place such as increased ventilation or face covering if two metres is not possible.”

This comes as the Government announced new rules around restrictions to be implemented from Thursday 24 September after an increase in cases nationally.

This includes:

• Pubs, bars and restaurants to close at 22:00 BST; they will be restricted to table service only
• People should work from home wherever possible
• Face masks compulsory for bar staff and non-seated customers, shop workers and waiters
• Limit on guests at weddings reduced from 30 to 15
• Plans to allow fans to return to sporting events paused
• “Rule of six” now applies to indoor team sports
• Fines for not wearing masks or following rules increased to £200 for first offence

More information about the new rules

New coronavirus control measures were announced by the Prime Minister in Parliament and could stay in place for up to six months.

The new measures are as follows:

From Thursday, all pubs bars and restaurants must operate table service only and they must close at 10pm, including takeaways.

For those shielding, the guidance continues that you do not need to shield unless you are in a local lockdown area.

Extended requirement for face coverings to include staff in retail, all users of taxis and private hires vehicles, and staff and customers indoor hospitality except when seated for food and drink.

For leisure, retail and tourism venues, guidelines will become legal obligations and those breaching the rules will be fined or closed.

From Monday, a maximum of 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies, up to 30 for a funeral.

Large scale sporting events and business conferences will not be able to operate from 1 October as originally planned.

The penalty for failing to wear a face covering or breaking the rule of six will double to £200 for first offence.

The statement

Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, cinemas and other venues in Somerset should download QR codes to prepare for public rollout of a new app.

The NHS COVID-19 app will launch today in England and Wales, including QR check-in at venues.

The rules apply to a broad mix of food and drink businesses, leisure and tourism services, ‘close physical contact services’ such as hairdressers and barbers, and services provided for social, cultural and recreational purposes in community centres, youth and community centres and village halls.
Businesses are encouraged to ensure they have NHS QR code posters visible on entry so customers who have downloaded the new NHS COVID-19 app can use their smartphones to easily check-in.

The Government will be supporting businesses and venues to display the QR codes, which can be downloaded here.

Following the launch of the new COVID-19 app, customers and visitors in Somerset will be able to check-in on entry with their phone instead of filling in a check-in book or tool specific to a business. This will allow NHS Test and Trace to contact customers with public health advice should there be a COVID-19 outbreak.

The updated guidance

The Government has announced a new package to support and enforce self-isolation.

From today, people will be required by law to self-isolate when instructed to by NHS Test and Trace. Those on lower incomes who cannot work from home and who have lost income as a result will be supported by a payment of £500.

As ever, it remains crucial that if you have coronavirus symptoms, to get a test and self-isolate. Symptoms include a fever, a new continuous cough, or loss of your sense of taste or smell.

Call 119 to book your free test or visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

New fines for those breaching self-isolation rules will start at £1,000 – bringing this in line with the penalty for breaking quarantine after international travel – but could increase to up to £10,000 for repeat offences and for the most flagrant breaches, including for those preventing others from self-isolating.

Guidance on the support available

A joint statement has been published from the four UK Chief Medical Officers recommending that the UK coronavirus alert level move from level 3 to level 4. Find out more

If you are considering, or have decided, to make redundancies across your workforce there are organisations who can provide free support to your business and your workforce.

Visit the Step Up Somerset website for more details.

Local Coronavirus testing sites are up and running across Somerset, but demand for slots is increasing with 7,000 people tested in Somerset last week alone.

Test sites are commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care who are seeing a surge of demand nationally for Coronavirus tests.

Please only book a Coronavirus test if you are displaying symptoms. This includes a fever, a new dry persistent cough and/or a loss of taste and smell. Going for a test when you don’t need one prevents essential key workers or those with symptoms being able to get a slot.

If you have a test when you’re not displaying symptoms, the result could be negative which may not be the case. You could still be incubating the disease and become infectious.

If you have symptoms it’s vitally important you continue to self-isolate whilst waiting for a test result. This also goes for everyone in your household who must also self-isolate, even if they don’t have any symptoms. Only when you receive a negative result or you’ve completed your self-isolation period, if you tested positive, should you and your household return to school or the workplace.

You can book a Coronavirus slot online here or phone 119.

For more information about the symptoms or Coronavirus restrictions, please visit www.nhs.uk/Coronavirus or visit www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus. And if you need Coronavirus help or support, contact Somerset’s helpline on 0300 790 6275.

Somerset’s Coronavirus Engagement Board have launched a new ‘Covid Checker’ to help parents know what to do if their child starts to display Coronavirus symptoms, tests positive, someone in their household displays symptoms or a household member tests positive.

You can download the checker here.

This comes after Somerset saw an increase in Coronavirus cases over the last fortnight, including some children testing positive at schools and early years settings.

The Kickstart Grant Scheme will reopen for applications from tourism sector businesses only on Monday 21 September at midday and close on Tuesday 22 September at 6pm. Grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis, it is expected there will be a high demand so do apply as soon as it opens.

To find out if your business is eligible, please look carefully at where you fit and do not be put off by first glance at the SIC code list.

You can apply for a grant and see more information on the Kickstart Grant Scheme here

The grant offers funding of between £1,000 and £3,000 for eligible applicants who meet the sector criteria,

Read the full Growth Support Kickstart Grant Scheme press release here

Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, cinemas and other venues across England and Wales are being urged to download QR codes to prepare for public rollout of new app.

You can find more information here

The NHS COVID-19 app is currently being trialled and will launch on Thursday 24 September in England and Wales, including QR check-in at venues.

QR codes will be an important way for NHS Test and Trace in England and NHS Test, Trace, Protect in Wales to contact multiple people if coronavirus outbreaks are identified in venues.

We’re working hard to recruit people to join our growing health and social care sector, and regular new jobs, information, and inspiring stories are now being posted on the Proud to Care website.

As part of this, we ask that you help us spread the word about our fantastic health and social care sector, either by sharing our social media posts, or by asking people to visit: https://www.proudtocaresomerset.org.uk

‘Only book a Coronavirus test if you have symptoms’, says Chair of Somerset’s Local Coronavirus Engagement Board as demand for tests surge nationally.

Local Coronavirus testing sites are up and running across Somerset, but demand for slots is increasing with 7000 people tested in Somerset last week alone.

Test sites are commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care who are seeing a surge of demand nationally for Coronavirus tests.

Chair of the Somerset Coronavirus Engagement Board, Cllr David Fothergill said: “Only book a Coronavirus test if you are displaying symptoms. This includes a fever, a new dry persistent cough and/or a loss of taste and smell.

“If you have a test when you’re not displaying symptoms, the result could be negative which may not be the case. You could still be incubating the disease and become infectious.”

“Going for a test when you don’t need it prevents essential key workers or those with symptoms being able to get a slot.

“We also want to remind everyone the only way of getting a test is by booking a slot through the national portal online at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by phoning 119. Please do not phone 111, turn up at a local test site without a booking, contact your GP surgery or visit A&E who will not be able to help. Just keep trying the national portal.

“And finally, it’s vitally important you continue to self-isolate whilst waiting for a test result. This also goes for everyone in your household who must also self-isolate, even if they don’t have any symptoms. Only when you receive a negative result or you’ve completed your self-isolation period, if you tested positive, should you and your household return to school, the workplace etc.”

To book a Coronavirus slot online, please visit https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or phone 119.

For more information about the symptoms or Coronavirus restrictions, please visit www.nhs.uk/Coronavirus or visit www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus. And if you need Coronavirus help or support, contact Somerset’s helpline on 0300 790 6275.

A new ‘Somerset Covid Checker’ launches this week to support parents in knowing what actions to take if their child starts to display Coronavirus symptoms.

Somerset’s Coronavirus Engagement Board launched the new ‘Covid Checker’ to help parents know what to do if their child starts to display Coronavirus symptoms, tests positive, someone in their household displays symptoms or a household member tests positive.

This comes after Somerset sees an increase in Coronavirus cases over the last fortnight (69 new cases), including four children testing positive at two schools and one early years setting.

The schools and nursery involved are following Public Health England guidance, have deep cleaned all areas and have asked children and staff who came into close contact with the positive cases to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

This means the following will be self-isolating following discussions with Public Health England.
• 220 Year 7 pupils and 195 year 11 pupils at Bishop Fox’s (with no epidemiological link between the two children who tested positive).
• 61 Year 6 pupils at Parkfield and 7 staff.
• All children and staff at Mama Bear’s Nursery

Trudi Grant, Director of Public Health at Somerset County Council said: “As cases of Coronavirus increase nationally and across Somerset, it’s incredibly important we all know what to do if we start to show symptoms. This ‘Covid Checker’ is a great way for parents to know what action to take if their child starts to display symptoms.

“Firstly, it’s important that you and your household self-isolate and book a test if anyone shows symptoms. Please do not have a test unless you have symptoms and if you can’t get a local test slot, please keep trying online or phoning 119 as local slots do become available throughout the day.

“Secondly, it’s important you continue to self-isolate from the moment you display symptoms until you have the test result – and if it’s positive, you need to continue self-isolating for ten days from the start of your symptoms, and the rest of your household 14 days. Only if it’s a negative test result or your self-isolation time is complete can your child return to school.

“Please remember that until there is a vaccine, the only way we have to stop this virus spreading is to think ‘Hands, Face and Space’. Wash your hands with soap and water often and at least 20 seconds, wear a face covering if you can and please keep your distance from others.”

The Checker is attached and you can download it from our online article here.

More information is available

If you need any Coronavirus related support or advice, phone the Somerset Coronavirus helpline on 0300 790 6275, available seven days a week.

Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education is asking all secondary age pupils who can, to start wearing face coverings on dedicated school transport.

It is not currently mandatory for school pupils to wear coverings on home to school transport – it is left to the discretion of parents. But wearing face coverings on public transport services – also used by pupils – is mandatory as part of the Government’s COVID-19 guidelines to help combat the spread of the virus.

“We know the risks from COVID-19 to children and young people are low but it’s very important we try minimise the spread of the disease,” said Cllr Faye Purbrick.

“Our priority is to make school transport as safe as possible so that students feel safe to return to school. Wearing a face covering on the journey is an important part of reducing the potential spread of COVID-19 to children, drivers, school staff and family members’ she added.

“We know some children aren’t able to wear coverings but we would ask that where it is possible, that parents encourage their children to do so with immediate effect.”

Find Government guidance on face coverings

And there’s a helpful video explaining how to use face coverings properly

All secondary school age pupils who can are being encouraged to wear face coverings on dedicated school transport.

“We know the risks from COVID-19 to children and young people are low but it’s very important we try minimise the spread of the disease,” said Cllr Faye Purbrick, Cabinet Member for Education.

“Our priority is to make school transport as safe as possible so that students feel safe to return to school. Wearing a face covering on the journey is an important part of reducing the potential spread of COVID-19 to children, drivers, school staff and family members’ she added.

“We know some children aren’t able to wear coverings but we would ask that where it is possible, that parents encourage their children to do so with immediate effect.”

Find Government guidance on face coverings.

If you have symptoms and have booked a Covid test, then you and your household must self-isolate until your test result is known. If it’s negative , you can all return to school and work. If it’s positive, you must continue to self-isolate for 10 days and the rest of your household for 14 days from the start of your symptoms.

Book a test if you are displaying any of the following symptoms

a new, persistent dry cough
a fever
a loss of taste or smell

You can book a test online or by phoning 119. If slots aren’t available for your local testing site, please keep trying. Slots regularly become available throughout the day.

Please don’t just turn up at a mobile testing site.

If you turn up at a testing site and have not booked an appointment, you will be turned away.

A co-ordinated network of employment and skills support is being rolled out across Somerset to boost existing provision in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The initiative, involving Somerset County Council, the four district councils and partners, is designed to support young people just starting out as well as those who may have lost their job or anyone looking for training and skills for a change of career.

The pandemic and lockdown affected business, employment and opportunities across the county, so steps are being taken to increase support.

A new website www.stepupsomerset.org.uk will go live on 14 September and is a one-stop shop for those seeking help, advice and information available in the county. Further help can also be provided via a single phone helpline: 0300 790 6275.

There will be one to one support available in all four of Somerset’s district council areas from Sedgemoor – through the Under Construction HQ; Somerset West and Taunton; Mendip; and South Somerset.

People will be able to get help and advice on looking for a job, writing or updating their CV, interview preparation, apprenticeships, and skills training. The support can be tailored to specific needs.

The public computers in all Somerset County Council libraries are now accessible for anyone looking for new opportunities – pre-booking is essential. This is especially useful for jobseekers who may not have the digital technology at home.

The wide-ranging project is being funded through the business rates retention scheme that allows councils in Somerset to retain a proportion of the rates income locally to invest in developing the economy.

Case study:
Under Construction is a project in Sedgemoor maximising the opportunities arising from investment and development in the district. 100 Women First is part of the initiative, focusing on opportunities for women.

Rita’s story:
Rita had a varied career, gaining lots of transferable skills and qualifications and had never been out of work until she was made redundant in late 2018. Not securing a job made Rita feel extremely low so she joined the 100 Women programme.

Rita’s goal was to return to the construction industry. The programme was able to fund Rita to undertake a CPCS Forward Tipping Course. Rita was the first woman to undertake this course at Weston College and to pass with full marks.

As part of the 100 Women First programme, Rita has taken part in many events including Body Image, Hinkley Point C Tour, CV Workshop, Stress Management course and has been provided with a six-month gym membership to support her overall health and wellbeing.

In a meeting with a local contractor Rita’s success was mentioned, this led to them employing Rita, starting as a dumper driver earlier this year.

“I could not have done any of this without the programme and the support I’ve received, it’s been life changing! After being so low I am now so happy and proud of my achievements,” she said.

Anyone looking for their next job, starting a new career, working on employability skills or just starting out in the world of work, will find information and support to help them on their work journey, check out all the useful information here: www.stepupsomerset.org.uk

Somerset’s Director of Public Health urges everyone to remain vigilant and continue following government guidance after Somerset sees an increase in Coronavirus cases.

This comes after the Government announced earlier this week new rules around the number of people meeting in England as cases rise nationally.

From Monday 14 September, there will be a ban on meeting socially in groups of more than six, which will apply to any setting – indoors or outdoors.
The new rule replaces the existing ban on gatherings of more than 30 people and the current guidance on allowing two households to meet indoors. Anyone breaking the rules can receive a fine, enforceable by law.

Although Somerset figures continue to remain lower compared to other areas of the country, 69 new cases were reported over the last fortnight with the Mendip area seeing slightly higher level than the rest of the county.

Trudi Grant, Director of Public Health at Somerset County Council said: “I cannot stress how important it is we continue to remain vigilant and follow the government guidance. We are seeing increasing cases across the country, including here in Somerset.

“We’re all in this together and preventing spread of the virus and protecting our loved ones is up to us. The only way we can do this is through our behaviour. Remember HANDS – wash regularly and for at least 20 seconds, FACE – wear a face covering in settings, if you can and SPACE – stay two metres apart from others or one metre plus with extra precautions in place such as increased ventilation or face covering if two metres is not possible.

“If you do start to show symptoms, however mild, please self-isolate immediately and book a test online at http://www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or phone 119. Please keep trying throughout the day if local test slots aren’t available. And please don’t book a test unless you are showing symptoms.”

Trudi continued: “We are seeing an increasing number of cases in young adults and people aged 50-65. We need everyone who is contacted by NHS Test and Trace, and identified as a close contact of someone with confirmed coronavirus, to do what they are asked and stay home for 14 days. That means not going to work, school or any social activities. I know this is really hard, but we all need to play our part. If you need any help while staying at home, you can phone the Somerset Coronavirus Helpline on 0300 790 6275.”

More information about the new rules around meeting with others.

Social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in England from Monday (with some exemptions) amid a rise in coronavirus cases nationally.
There has also been a rise in coronavirus cases in Somerset, although the number remains low.

The changes will apply in any setting, indoors or outdoors. The ban will be set out in law and will be enforced by the police. This single measure replaces both the existing ban on gatherings of more than 30 and the current guidance on allowing two households to meet indoors.

But it will not apply to schools, workplaces or Covid-secure weddings, funerals and organised team sports.

Hospitality venues, including pubs and restaurants, will be legally obliged to take customers’ contact details and keep these for 21 days. This will apply from 18 September. Find out more

Young people are returning to university and college at a time when more in their age group are testing positive for coronavirus. The latest analysis shows that more people in their 20s in the south-west are testing positive for Covid-19 than any other age group in the region.

Keep yourselves, friends and families safe by following the golden rules: wear a face covering when required; wash hands thoroughly and frequently and stick to the 2m social distancing.

If in doubt, check out the latest guidance.

You should only book a coronavirus test if you are showing symptoms including: high temperatures, new and continuous cough, loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

There’s a high demand for tests so if you are unable to book one, or are offered a location or time which is not convenient, please wait a few hours and then try again.” You should also continue to self-isolate. Find out more

If you are a grassroots community group based in Somerset, grants are available up to the value of £2,500 from The Somerset Fund. Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) manages the Fund and is encouraging applications from smaller charities and community groups that run on less than £100,000 per year.

The grants will be ‘unrestricted’, which means they can be used to pay for ongoing running costs, also known as ‘core costs’. Applications to the Fund through SCF’s website can be made from Monday 14 September and the deadline to apply is Friday 16 October. Find out more

Today marks World Suicide Prevention Day with the theme of “Working Together to Prevent Suicide’’. Somerset Suicide Prevention Partnership Group wants to train 100 people in suicide awareness. Will you join them today or afterwards?

You can be part of the 100 people challenge by undertaking the training at a time that suits you through the Healthy Somerset website.

The Government has announced that people arriving in England from Crete, Lesvos, Mykonos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos or Zakynthos will now need to self-isolate for two weeks. For more information see this page on the GOV.UK website

Somerset Suicide Prevention Partnership Group want to train 100 local people in suicide awareness on World Suicide Prevention day, the 10 September. Will you join us on the day or after?

Suicide can affect anybody and there isn’t a community in Somerset where people haven’t been touched by suicide.

‘Suicide Let’s Talk’ is a 20-minute free course and is for anyone in Somerset who has an interest in learning more about suicide and gaining lifesaving skills and knowledge and is always available on the Healthy Somerset website.

Trading Standards in Somerset are warning residents to be aware of scammers looking to exploit the NHS Test and Trace service.

NHS Test and Trace is a Government system to reduce the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). It works through quickly testing people with symptoms and phoning, texting or emailing whoever they have had close contact with to tell them to isolate for 14 days. It is a free service.

There are concerns that some people, particularly the vulnerable or elderly, could be susceptible to fake calls or messages from criminals looking to get access to personal information or trick them into handing over money.

You can find out more on the Devon and Somerset Trading Standards website

Spark Somerset is hosting a Forum along with Somerset Association of Local Councils on 15 September aimed at Parish and Town Councils. It will be an opportunity to showcase some of the councils in Somerset who really engaged in the Covid-19 response in their communities, co-ordinating local efforts and experimenting with new ways of working.

It is hoped that this will initiate a conversation about how Parishes can work better with the communities they serve and capitalise on the volunteering legacy from Covid-19.

6,771 outlets in the South West were signed up to use the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme as of 27 August 2020. This only relates to businesses that have fewer than 26 outlets.

So far, a total of 6,778,000 (6.7 million) meals have been claimed for across the South West region.

You can check out the figures in more detail, by Parliamentary constituency, here

There are new ‘action cards’ available to people who own, manage or are responsible for specific businesses. The cards are designed to quickly help businesses to identify outbreaks within their organisation; know how to report it to their local health protection team; and work with the local health protection team to respond to it.

The action cards are designed to be printed or can be downloaded here

Avon and Somerset Police have produced a Covid-19 Fraud guide to help individuals and businesses stay safe from scammers.

A recent survey has suggested that since the coronavirus pandemic started, more than 170,000 private tenants have been threatened with eviction by their landlord or letting agent, and an estimated 230,000 renters in England have fallen into arrears. Local charity, West Somerset Advice, fear that this will increase when the government lifts the ban on evicting tenants.

You can read more here

Finally, as we enter the weekend, it’s worth checking out the latest Government guidance on what you can and can’t do right now.

GOV.UK – What you can and can’t do

Children are returning to schools and colleges across Somerset this week and we are providing updated guidance to help parents, carers and families.

Somerset County Council’s Director of Children’s Services has recently written to all parents and carers to reassure them that all agencies in Somerset are working together to make the return to school as safe and smooth as possible.

You can access the letter and guidance here: Coronavirus – Education guidance for parents and carers

There is useful information on returning to education with links to the Government’s guidance, the use of face coverings in education settings, the current position in Somerset and support for the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Our web pages also have specific information on school and college transport COVID-19 School transport guidance and on transport for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) COVID-19 SEND school transport guidance.

Kerbside collections of clothes and shoes start again this week, but with tough new conditions. No textiles – bedding or curtains – will be taken, and the clothes and shoes must be of good enough quality to be worn again.

Anything of lesser quality should be considered for other uses at home – such as cleaning rags or cloth wipes. Failing that, it should be put in the rubbish and will go to a new Resource Recovery Centre where it will be used to generate electricity.

Somerset Waste Partnership website

Somerset Libraries have rolled out a new order-and-collect service giving customers access to library books while staying safely socially distanced.

Libraries have been opening over the last few weeks in phases across the county and offering the new service, with the final four – Chard, Cheddar, Glastonbury and Martock libraries – now open.

Read more on our newsroom

Read move on our Phased re-opening page

From 1 September, organisations that have put staff on furlough will have to pay 10 per cent of their wages, as well as the associated employer National Insurance and pension contributions they have had to pay since 1 July. The employer contribution will rise to 20 per cent next month, before the scheme ends on 31 October.

Read more on GOV.UK

The guidance for people moving into homes in England, whether as owner-occupiers, private or social renters was updated on Saturday (29 August) to include information on face coverings, shielding and repossessions.

Read more on GOV.UK

The Government has confirmed the change to the law to ensure that most renters have a six-month notice period. Landlords must provide at least six months’ notice period before seeking possession through the courts in most cases.

You can read more on GOV.UK

Somerset County Council is following current Government guidance in relation to school and college transport. Changes may be made as that advice evolves. Parents and students are being advised to walk, cycle or be driven to school or college where possible – in line with Government advice.

For those that use school transport, students will be travelling with their peers on transport that is not available to the public. Students are advised to sit with their year group colleagues on the bus where possible and at present we are strongly advising all secondary students to wear face coverings on the bus. Students are also being advised to wash their hands before they board the bus and as soon after they alight the bus as possible. There will be enhanced cleaning measures in place for vehicles, focused in particular on touch points within the vehicles.

Somerset County Council’s school transport web page sets out the details on specific measures relating to coronavirus: www.somerset.gov.uk/schooltransport

For college transport, where we provide college-day-only bus services we will ensure that these are available solely for students. Where the daily local bus network provides access to college we have been working with operators and colleges identifying routes that will require extra capacity. In the instances where additional capacity is needed, there will be a second bus on the route which will be for students only. This will ensure capacity for both workers and students travelling at peak times.

We are laying on approximately 20 additional buses across the public transport network in Somerset at peak times. This will allow us to increase or reduce capacity to meet demand accordingly.

No collections on the Summer Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August, mean recycling and rubbish services are one day later all week, including Friday pick-ups on Saturday 5 September. The changes affect collections of recycling, refuse and garden waste, as well as assisted collections.

You can find out more on the Somerset Waste Partnership website

The government has updated the guidance to clarify the exceptional circumstances in which a non-exempt international arrival could leave their home while self-isolating.

You can read more here

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 to the coast or beauty spots.

The government has announced a series of new enforcement measures targeting the most serious breaches of social distancing restrictions.

In the coming weeks, fines for repeatedly not wearing face coverings where mandated will be significantly increased. The fines will double at each offence, up to a maximum value of £3,200. The guidance on face coverings has been updated to reflect this.

On the spot fines for hosting or facilitating illegal gatherings of more than 30 people will also be introduced. The guidance for the public on meeting people outside of their household has been updated in line with this announcement.

Finally, we hope everyone enjoys a peaceful and safe weekend – and here’s a reminder of what people can and cannot do with updated guidance on what happens if you fall ill while on holiday in England.

Somerset’s Public Health Nursing service has been nationally acclaimed by the Institute for Health Visiting.

A case study published nationally documents the innovative online support developed by the Somerset County Council service during lockdown – a time when face-to-face appointments were no longer possible.

Health Visitors, who as part of their role visit new parents after having a baby, had to adopt big changes to the way they work in order to continue to deliver this vital service under recent Government restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The teams have had to find workarounds to enable them to deliver services to new parents to offer much needed support advice and guidance, weigh-ins for new babies, ante-natal, post-natal and infant feeding support and other essential contacts.

The team set up groups for parents to communicate through social media platforms and text message groups – providing that all important ‘peer to peer’ support at a time when isolation and social distancing was affecting people socialising with friends.

Health visitors have been offering virtual contacts over the telephone and video calling new parents, providing a ‘drop off’ system in order that parents can receive scales needed to weigh their babies (for babies whose weight may need closer monitoring following discharge from the midwifery teams) and offering face to face appointments in clinic settings where social distancing can be observed.

The Assistant Practitioners have continued to offer developmental checks at 9-12 months and 2-2.5years, either virtually or face to face where they are able to. They have also been offering sleep, weaning and behaviour support remoting to parents.

The school nurses have continued to provide a service to schools, young people and communities. They have also developed Facebook pages aiming to reach parents and young people.

Some of the new processes that were set up have proved to be very successful, such as linking in with GPs when working with children requiring continence medication for example.

Despite the lockdown the PHN teams have continued, where possible, to work hard within focus groups to produce pathways and guidelines for PSHE, emotional health, school readiness and LGBT amongst others.

The HV and SN teams have continued to work closely with partner agencies to maintain the safety of vulnerable children and young people.

Somerset County Council is working closely with Bath & North East Somerset Council and Public Health England following an increase in confirmed cases in the Somer Valley area.

Although the number of confirmed cases has gone up, there is no cause for serious concern and all appropriate actions are being taken.

However, it is of the utmost importance that to prevent the virus spreading further in the Somer Valley and beyond, everyone must continue to observe social distancing, wash their hands thoroughly and regularly, and wear face coverings when appropriate. This includes if someone in your household gets a fever, new continuous cough or loss of sense or smell, making sure you keep socially distanced and isolate them while they are waiting for their test results.

Anyone identified as a close contact of a positive case will be contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service and asked to self-isolate.

Contacts of a confirmed case should get tested only if they get symptoms. Even if people test negative, they must continue to self-isolate for 14 days.
Anyone not identified as a close contact does not need to self-isolate or book a test unless they start to develop symptoms.

Trudi Grant, Somerset’s Director of Public Health, said: “Our teams are closely monitoring the data across Somerset so we know exactly what’s going on and are ready to react and respond before things escalate. At this location, the warning signs are there – we are seeing an increase in cases and that means everyone needs to step up. We can all play our part in reducing the spread by taking simple steps and following the latest guidance when it comes to hygiene, social distancing, testing and self isolating.”

Anyone who thinks they have coronavirus symptoms should book a test via the Government portal or call 119.

Somerset County Council took the decision in March to relax its Concessionary Fare Scheme times, to make sure concessionary bus pass holders were able to make essential journeys before 9.30am during the Covid-19 pandemic.

From 1 September SCC is re-introducing the 9.30am scheme start time to ensure there’s enough capacity on the network for the return of school and college students.

Bus operators have been notified of this change, and bus passes will not be accepted on ticket machines before 9.30am, unless travelling on an exempted route. Find out more

Small businesses and the tourism sector across Somerset, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay will be able to apply for grants of up to £3,000 through the Growth Support Kickstart Grant Scheme.

The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP) has been awarded a £771,164 share of government funding to help with the economic recovery in the region.

The aim of the fund is to support as many businesses as possible, with grants being issued on a first come first served basis through the completion of a simple application form.

It is hoped the fund will be open for applications before the end of the month. In the meantime, to help businesses prepare, an ‘Information and Guidance’ document and FAQs have been published on the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s Kickstart grant website and businesses are encouraged to read this.

The funding is due to be administered by The European Regional Development Funded (ERDF) Heart of the South West Growth Support Programme.

With the summer holidays still in full swing, many of us will be travelling abroad for our break. You can stay up-to-date with the latest government news on travel corridors – this is the list of countries and territories you can travel to from England and may not have to self-isolate – on the government website, as well as sign up for email updates.

There is also lots of information on the website about how to self-isolate if you need to when you return.

Make sure you understand what you can and can’t do and what restrictions are in place to help stop the spread of coronavirus and keep everyone safe. Keep up to date with the government’s FAQs on its website.

Self-employed people whose business earnings have been hit by coronavirus can now apply for a second support grant from the government until 19 October.

To be eligible for the second Self-Employment Income Support Scheme more than half of a claimant’s income needs to come from self-employment. Applicants also need to confirm their business has been affected by the virus on or after 14 July, but they do not need to have taken the first grant to be eligible for the second.

Find more information and check your eligibility.

The Government has extended the deadline for dairy farmers to apply for money from the Dairy Response Fund. The deadline is now midnight on 11 September 2020.

The fund is to support eligible farmers in England who produce cows’ milk, and it is provided in a one-off payment.
It was set up to help support dairy farmers who have seen decreased demand for their product, and to enable them to continue operating by helping cover ongoing costs. Find out more

HM Revenue and Customs have added new dates for their webinar about the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, Universal Credit and Child Benefit. Businesses can also register for webinars on topics including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Eat Out to Help Out. Find out more

A number of guides on how to make a workplace coronavirus secure have been updated by the Government.  These updates include more guidance about consulting with the workforce before returning to work, and on protecting people who are at a higher risk. Find out more

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 Eventbrite 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.”