All our help and information for 18/05/2020 is now available in a single place on the SCC website: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-latest-advice/
This page is refreshed through the day so please check in regularly to keep across developments and news.
Top stories today:
Yeovil pop-up care home opens doors
A new pop-up care home has now opened its doors to some of Somerset’s most elderly and frail residents as part of the fight against Coronavirus.
The former Yeovil care home, Hendford Court (previously Acacia House) is ready to take residents once again after round-the-clock efforts by Somerset County Council and Somerset Care to get it back into full working order were completed in a matter of weeks – rather than the usual 18 months it takes to set up a care home.
Hendford Court has been set up as a safe haven for people who have tested positive for coronavirus or are displaying symptoms, who cannot yet return to their care home or own home. Residents will be those who are considered well enough to leave hospital, but with continuing care needs.
The scale and speed of the project was considerable – for example a fit-out, normally taking four to six weeks, was achieved in two days. The to-do list included:
- Checking all certification from fire safety to lifts
- Obtaining specialised equipment such as hoists
- Sourcing crockery, cutlery and furniture
- Setting up food and medication supplies, and waste collection
- Establishing Wifi connections and building access
At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Somerset County Council issued an appeal for carers – and the response has been inspirational with 184 external applications.
Recycling centres: 11 stay open for essential trips to the tip
Eleven of Somerset’s 16 recycling centres will remain open for essential visits this week, thanks to the responsible attitude shown by the county’s public so far. From today (18 May), trailers and 3.5 tonne vans will be allowed on sites between 4pm and 6pm on weekdays. SWP remains on course to reopen the remaining five sites – Cheddar, Crewkerne, Castle Cary (Dimmer), Minehead and Somerton – by Tuesday, 26 May, following the Bank Holiday Monday.
Somerset wins national praise for its support of communities and care
Somerset has been singled out for national praise thanks to the County Council’s exemplary support of communities and care providers, its willingness to pioneer change – and its response during the current Coronavirus pandemic. Somerset County Council is being showcased as an example of how local authorities can work hand in hand with communities to achieve better results for those who need care and support by the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi).
Be kind to yourself and others with Somerset Libraries
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (18–24 May) and Somerset Libraries have put together a range of helpful videos, resources and activities to join in with. This year’s theme from the Mental Health Foundation is ‘kindness’ in celebration of the amazing demonstrations of kindness we have seen in our communities during the coronavirus pandemic.
#BeTickAware
If you’re thinking of going further afield for your daily exercise, walking on the moors and in woodland, you need to #BeTickAware. Ticks are blood-sucking members of the spider family that can transmit bacteria and cause infections such as Lyme Disease, which can be serious if not treated. If you do get bitten, remove ticks with fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool, grip the head as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards. You need to remove the tick quickly and correctly to reduce any potential risk of infection.
Councillors join forces to say thank you
Somerset County Council Leader David Fothergill has been joined by all his colleagues in a special video tribute to the hard work carried out to keep vulnerable people safe and services provided during the coronavirus pandemic. You can watch here: https://youtu.be/tMap0ClV8Ig