Devon gets 'enhanced' covid response status

More support for testing and jabs

Just six weeks after the government relaxed just about all covid restrictions, Devon has been named an 'Enhanced Response Area.'

It means the virus is getting out of control again. Holidaymakers have flocked to the county; festivals and parties are being thrown right, left and centre. People are living life as normal.

The covid virus is loving it.

Infection rates in Devon are now well above national average and more increasing numbers of people are being treated in hospital for coronavirus. It's put Devon’s health and care system under severe pressure.

Enhanced Response Areas receive extra government support for five weeks, with extra testing capability and more support to encourage people to get jabbed.

On behalf of the NHS in Devon, Dr Paul Johnson, clinical chair of NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We still need to take covid seriously. Many people who are very ill in our hospitals with Covid are not fully vaccinated and some of them are young adults.

“Most people here in Devon will have friends or family who work in the health and care system, and you know how hard they have been working throughout the pandemic and how tired they are.

“You can help them by choosing the right service for your needs, only using Emergency Departments for emergencies, getting vaccinated, having both jabs if you’re eligible, social distancing and maintaining good hygiene.”

The CCG wants people to:

• Have both vaccinations when you are eligible
• Test regularly and isolate if you have symptoms or test positive
• Follow social distancing and wear face coverings indoors in public places
• Maintain good hygiene including hand washing
• Meet people outside or in well ventilated areas

Devon’s Director of Public Health Steve Brown said: “Case rates here in Devon are very high, especially in our late teens and younger adults, which is to be expected since the removal of restrictions, the opening up of opportunities to socialise, and our popularity as a major visitor destination.

“The availability of testing in the county is good, and the vaccination take up across all of the priority groups has been very high.

“However, the impact of coronavirus is being felt hard across the entire health and social care system, with those services struggling to cope with demand and workforce pressures.”

Public Health Devon is urging people to:

• Limit your social contacts to stop the virus spreading
• Meet others outside, because that’s safer than meeting inside
• Continue to wear face coverings when indoors in public places
• Wash your hands properly and regularly
• Have the jab if you are an adult and haven’t yet had it. Please have both doses as soon as you can. If you’re aged 16 to 18, please take up the vaccination when offered to you
• Self-isolate if told to do so by NHS Test and Trace
• Self-isolate and arranging a PCR test if you show any symptoms of having the virus – the high temperature, new and continuous cough, or change of your usual sense of taste or smell