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The start of the academic year isn’t far away now, and all children and young people in Devon will be required to go back to school, but things will be a little different to normal this year. Why are all children going back to school? Check your return date. What safety measures will be in place? New advice on face coverings in education. Travel to school – walking and cycling. Changes to school transport. Tips to help your child prepare for school. Supporting your child’s mental health. Changes to breakfast, after school and holiday clubs. Free school meals and funding. Applying for 30 hours funded childcare.

Small businesses and the tourism sector across Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay will be able to apply for grants of up to £3,000 through the Growth Support Kickstart Grant Scheme. Our Deputy Director of Public Health has issued guidance to commuters and other car sharers as they head back to work or are out and about. The second stage of the government’s Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) opened for applications earlier this week. Thousands of students across Devon got their GCSE results today – it’s been a particularly challenging year learning remotely over the last few months so you should all be proud of yourselves – well done!

Coronavirus has highlighted the importance of health and social care workers more than ever, and with certain sectors experiencing workforce shortages, we’re encouraging 16 to 25-year olds in particular to consider a career in the sector. Public Health England has been looking at the wider impacts of COVID-19, and at smoking and drinking habits, physical activity, how people are spending their time and grocery purchasing behaviour. There’s help for everyone in Devon* who wants to improve their health. One Small Step Devon is a free service that gives support to people wanting to make lifestyle changes and improve their health.

Temperatures are set to soar this weekend, so please make sure you take extra care and stay safe in the sunshine. During the coronavirus pandemic a heatwave is potentially even more dangerous, especially to those who are already vulnerable to the virus or are having to self-isolate at home. Hot weather means our bodies work harder to maintain an inner core temperature, putting extra strain on the heart and lungs. That extra strain, coupled with fluid and salt loss through sweating, can lead to specific heat-related health effects and illness such as dehydration and heatstroke. Overheating can also make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing.

With so much coverage in the national media about a potential second wave of coronavirus, we wanted to reassure you about our continued efforts in Devon to contain the virus. The number of COVID-19 cases in Devon is still very low, with no linked cases or community spread, and we want to keep it that way. In fact, Devon’s District Council areas account for four of the lowest five ‘lower tier local authorities’ in England, for confirmed coronavirus cases. They include Torridge, West Devon, South Hams and North Devon. Mid Devon, Teignbridge, East Devon and Exeter District and City Councils follow shortly after, making Devon one of the lowest ranking areas of the country for coronavirus cases.

Last weekend new powers for local authorities to be able to close specific premises, cancel events and close public spaces in response to local coronavirus outbreaks came into force. There are a range of measures that can be used to halt the spread of coronavirus, and several steps that could taken before a situation requires a localised closure. However these new powers mean that we can act quickly to manage a situation if necessary, in order to prevent infection.

Local arrangements to keep a sharp look out for any potential new outbreaks of coronavirus in Devon and take swift and decisive action to tackle and contain it, are now up and running. Devon’s COVID-19 Health Protection Board, Chaired by Dr Virginia Pearson, and Devon’s Local Outbreak Engagement Board, Chaired by the Leader of Devon County Council, John Hart, both met this week.

Devon’s Director of Public Health, Dr Virginia Pearson, says the county is ‘in a good position’ if a local outbreak occurs, following sustained low numbers of positive COVID-19 cases and steady flow of quality data. She made the comments at our Cabinet meeting earlier this week while discussing the Local Outbreak Management Plan with Councillors. The plan is a blueprint which details how any future outbreaks of the virus in Devon would be managed and how its transmission would be contained.

We’re seeing lots of tourism and hospitality businesses preparing to re-open their doors this weekend and welcome guests for the first time in months, including holiday accommodation, pubs and restaurants, which so many people in Devon rely on for their income. But while some of us are excited to begin to enjoy parts of life we haven’t experienced since the end of March, we also appreciate the fears others may have with our high streets and tourist destinations becoming busier again and many thousands of people coming back to our region.

We’ve developed new measures to contain and reduce cases of coronavirus in Devon, and safeguard the health of our residents. It’s called the Local Outbreak Management Plan and it details how we will work together to help reduce the risk of outbreaks in the county, and if they do occur, identify them quickly and provide a rapid response to prevent the virus spreading.