Be sensible this weekend and help keep Devon's infection rate low

Devon's health chiefs and leaders are urging people to 'be sensible' this weekend, as social contact and mixing increases as England moves out of lockdown.

The nation moved into Step 2 of the roadmap out of lockdown on Monday, which among others saw the opening of non-essential retail, personal care premises, gyms, as well as allowing pubs and restaurants to reopen outdoors.

Over this first weekend since the relaxation of rules, local leaders are reminding he public t be snesible and help keep Devon's infection rate low.

Devon as an upper tier authority level has the second lowest infection rate in England at 7.2/100,000, with only East Sussex having a lower rate.

Thursday's Team Devon Local Outbreak Engagement Board meeting heard that case rates in Devon were very low, which council leader Cllr John Hart said was "very good news" but the guidance around social distancing and wearing of face coverings where appropriate still needed to be followed.

And that while the economy has begun to open up and more mixing of households is allowed, it may have an impact on case rates and thus residents are being urged to be sensible in their actions.

Tina Henry, assistant director of public health, said: "The easing of lockdown will have an impact on people mixing and there may be some changes in cases across the county, but they are very low.

"The message is to be sensible, as the social distancing guidance still applies and that has not changed, and while we are seeing more people out and about and that is a positive thing, mixing indoors is still not allowed and that is an important message to remember.

"We are still getting some outbreaks and some in workplaces, but they are smaller in number and not in care homes.

"Coronavirus is still out there and it is still important to follow the rules and we need to respond rapidly to outbreaks to keep the numbers low. It is important to find the cases, and that they self-isolate, and we understand their contacts and can trace their contacts.

"We are operating local zero where Devon County Council are working with the national NHS system but we are taking the cases on day one, so it allows the local contact tracers to contact people immediately and we are reaping the rewards as we are reaching well over 90 per cent of contacts, and doing that quickly allows people to support to self-isolate and any early identification of outbreaks."

Simon Chant, public health specialist, added that infection levels were similar to early September and as further restrictions ease, they will carefully studying and monitoring the effects and expecting rates to stay at similar level for the next few weeks.

The meeting also heard that Devon County Council is making lateral flow testing easier to access, as they have arranged mobile community testing in Ashburton, Axminster, Barnstaple, Bideford, Buckfastleigh, Crediton, Cullompton, Dartmouth, Dawlish, Exeter, Exmouth, Great Torrington, Holsworthy, Honiton, Ilfracombe, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Lynton-Lynmouth, Newton Abbot, Okehampton, Seaton, South Molton, Tavistock, Teignmouth, Tiverton and Totnes, with Cllr Hart saying: "Going out to the people is a good way to do it."

And the meeting also heard from Dr Paul Johnson, clinical chair of the Devon CCG that vaccine uptake across the county had been more than 90 per cent, with him adding: "People are doing the right thing to get the vaccine and we are doing what we can to give them the opportunity to take it."

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