Latest Covid-19 guidance for England

Many restrictions imposed by the Government have now been lifted. For current guidance for England, please click here.

Different guidance may be in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Vaccine Passport Scams

Alert – Vaccine Passport Scams


Action Fraud has received over 700 reports from members of the public about fake emails purporting to be from the NHS. The emails claim to be able to provide people with a “digital passport” that “proves you have been vaccinated against COVID-19”. These emails are fake, and the links within them lead to genuine-looking websites that steal your personal and financial information.


How to protect yourself:

In the UK, coronavirus vaccines will only be available via the National Health Services of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, a GP surgery or pharmacy local to you, to receive your vaccine. Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay. The NHS will never ask you for your bank account or card details. The NHS will never ask you for your PIN or banking passwords. The NHS will never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine. The NHS will never ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips.  Your vaccination status can be obtained for free through the official NHS app, NHS website, or by calling the NHS on 119.


How to report scams:

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, you can report it by forwarding the email to: . Suspicious text messages can also be reported by forwarding them to the number: 7726 (it’s free of charge).

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Original Message Sent By
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Covid-19 Roadmap Out Of Lockdown For England

On the 22nd February 2021, the UK Government published a roadmap for exiting the current Covid-19 lockdown in England. A summary of the 4 steps to exit lockdown can be found by clicking here and a full version of the roadmap here. Different rules will apply for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

In short summary form, the English roadmap is:

  • Step 1 (part one) – March 8

– All schools and colleges will reopen, as well as after school clubs

– One plus one recreation will be allowed; for example, people will be permitted to meet one other person from outside their household to socialise

– Care home residents will be allowed one named visitor to attend regularly

– Stay at home order will remain

  • Step 1 (part two) – March 27, at the earliest

– Rule of six to return for outdoor meetings, including private gardens, as will two household rule.

– Outdoor sports facilities to reopen

– Stay at home order to end

  • Step 2 – No earlier than April 12

– Non-essential retail and personal care such as hairdressers to reopen

– Public buildings such as museums and libraries will return

– Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will reopen

– Outdoor hospitality will reopen but customers must be seated

– No requirement for a substantial meal to purchase alcohol and no curfews on opening times

– Self-contained holidays within the UK to be allowed

– Funerals allowed up to 30 guests, while wakes, weddings and receptions will be allowed 15

– Outdoor attractions such as zoos, theme parks and drive in cinemas will reopen

  • Step 3 – May 17 at the earliest

– Most restrictions on outdoor socialising to be removed; no more rule of six

– Gatherings of more than 30 will still be illegal

– Indoor mixing to be allowed with rule of six or two households

– Indoor hospitality can reopen with same restrictions

– Weddings will be allowed with up to 30 people

– Large events can resume with spectators, though there will be restrictions; indoor events will be allowed up to 1,000 spectators or 50% of capacity, whichever is lowest while outdoor events will be allowed up to 4,000 or 50% of capacity, whichever is lowest. Outdoor seated events, such as football matches, will be allowed with 10,000 fans or 25% of capacity, whichever is lowest

  • Step 4 – No sooner than June 21

– All limits on social contact, such as the rule of six, to be removed for both indoor and outdoor settings

– Rest of society to reopen, such as nightclubs and other businesses which did not reopen following first lockdown

– Social distancing will remain in place until Step 4, with a review taking place ahead of that date looking at how the advice can be removed

 

Covid Winter Grant Scheme: Help towards fuel and food costs

We have received the following message from the Citizens Advice Bureau that we want to pass on to parishioners:

I am writing to you to let you know of a fund provided to us by Devon County Council to distribute to the whole of Devon for those in need. There is a timeframe on which we can share this money therefore we are asking for your help in sharing this information to the residents within your area. I have included some information on the scheme below but also attached some pre-made social media posts / images altered to represent your area, they can be used on your websites, newsletters, social media pages etc.

The Department of Work and Pensions has provided a significant fund to County Councils and Unitary Authorities across England under the Scheme ‘COVID Winter Grant Scheme’. The aim is to support vulnerable households with the cost of fuel or food due to the continuing hardships caused by Covid-19.

Citizens Advice Devon are working on behalf of Devon County Council to distribute this fund to Devon residents in need. It will be prioritised for those for whom a payment will help mitigate the risk of self-disconnection and can include working families, single-household families, older people – anyone who is in need of fuel support so long as they are eligible.

We will be able to provide vouchers, top up smart meters online or even make payments to online fuel accounts. We can offer vouchers to the value of £28 or £80 depending on the clients circumstance.

The fund itself will not be available for long as the scheme finishes on March 31st.

We do not want to advertise the eligibility factors as if they are not eligible then we may be able to help the client in another way, we do not want anyone turned away if they do not believe they fit the criteria.

Eligibility

To be eligible for support under the scheme:

(a) They must have been impacted financially, due to Covid-19, and in need of assistance fuel.

(b) Ideally, we would like them to fill in an Income & Expenditure planner and / or a benefits check, to support them in understanding and addressing underlying need. Whether or not they agree does not affect them receiving vouchers.

(c) They must be a Devon resident. Once the above eligibility has been confirmed please place the client into our Covid Winter Scheme work queue via Casebook system. Further eligibility checks will then be completed by our advisors

Citizens Advice East Devon

Mob: 07468 586 111
Teams: 01404 519 219
www.citizensadviceeastdevon.org

Please see the attachments below for further information

How to Report a Suspected Covid-19 Rules Breach to the Police

This web page has been set up centrally, for all members of the public in England and Wales to report suspected Covid-19 breaches to the police.

The received reports are then passed onto the appropriate police force.

Rules and guidelines for the Covid-19 lockdown in England beginning January 6th 2021

On the 4th January 2021 HM Government issued rules and guidelines for the latest (and hopefully last) lockdown to control the number of Covid-19 cases. These rules apply to England; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.

A full (22 page) description of the new rules and guidelines can be found here and is also available in the attachment below.

A brief, non-exhaustive, summary of the new lockdown rules as presented on the BBC website is as follows:

  • People cannot leave their homes except for certain reasons, like the first lockdown last March
  • These include essential medical needs, food shopping, exercise and work for those who cannot do so from home
  • All schools and colleges will close to most pupils from Tuesday with remote learning until February half term
  • Early years settings such as nurseries will stay open
  • End-of-year exams will not take place this summer as normal
  • Elsewhere, university students should not return to campuses and will be taught online
  • Restaurants can continue to offer food delivery, but takeaway alcohol will be banned
  • Outdoor sports venues – such as golf courses, tennis courts and outside gyms – must close
  • But outdoor playgrounds will remain open
  • Amateur team sports are not allowed, but elite sport such as Premier League football can continue

 

Devon Moves to Tier 3 Covid-19 Restrictions on 31st December 2020

HM Government has announced that all of Devon will move from Tier 2 to Tier 3 restrictions on the 31st December 2020. In summary, Tier 3 restrictions are:

  • You can’t mix indoors, in private gardens or in most outdoor venues, except with your household or bubble
  • You can meet in a group of up to six in other outdoor spaces, such as parks, beaches or countryside
  • Shops, gyms and personal care services (such as hairdressing) can stay open, as can swimming pools
  • Bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants must stay closed, except for delivery and takeaway
  • Collective worship can take place – with no mixing outside your bubble
  • Small wedding ceremonies can take place, but not receptions
  • Sports fans cannot attend events in stadiums
  • Indoor entertainment venues – such as bowling alleys and cinemas – must stay closed
  • People are advised not to travel to and from tier three areas

For more information on Tier 3 restrictions, click here

An attachment showing the Tier 3 restrictions can be downloaded by clicking on the attachment below.

Government Advice on Christmas Bubbles

Government advice on making a Christmas bubble with friends and family can be found here.

Tier 2 Rules from 2nd December 2020

When the current lockdown ends on 2nd December all of Devon will enter Tier 2 (High Alert) restrictions. The rules for Tier 2 are detailed in the attached document.

Mary Tavy Community Support

Mary Tavy Community Support is a volunteer group of local residents helping people who need extra help during lockdown or if you are self isolating.

We can help with

  • collecting prescriptions
  • collecting pre-ordered shopping
  • taking pets to the vets
  • and a friendly chat over the phone

Please call Bev Ross on 01822 811019 if you need our help or if you would like to volunteer

You can also contact us by email:

 

Please stay safe

Don’t answer the door to strangers – we will always tell you who is coming

Don’t give anyone your bank card or PIN numbers – if our volunteers need to take payment they will take cash and complete a form to show how much you have given them

We will never charge you for our help – this is a free volunteer service