All our help and information for 20/07/2020 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:
Immunisation programme restarts to keep secondary school children protected
Young people will continue to be protected against infection and disease as school age immunisation resumes for year eight and year nine students in the South West.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, schools were closed and community clinics cancelled, which meant that eligible secondary students were unable to receive their routine vaccinations against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Td/IPV (tetanus, diphtheria and polio) and MenACWY (Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y disease).
Most of these are usually given in schools during term time, but due to Covid-19 there has been a backlog of vaccinations.
These immunisations are commissioned and led by NHS England and NHS Improvement to reduce the toll from serious and sometimes fatal disease.
The programme is now starting up again in the South West. Parents are being invited by individual providers to bring their child to school or community venues where nurses will administer the relevant vaccine.
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s school aged immunisation nursing team (SAINT) is one of the first providers to begin the immunisation schedule in Somerset, having started its catch up programme on 15 June.
Libraries order-and-collect service proves popular
Hundreds of people have been making use of the new Somerset Libraries order-and-collect service which is now set to expand to other libraries.
The service allows people to use an online request form to receive a selection of up to 10 books, DVDs or Talking Books which staff pick out for customers, based on the types of authors or genres that are of interest to them.
The service now operates from Taunton, Frome, Yeovil, Minehead and Bridgwater libraries. From 27 July, this will be extended to Wells, Dulverton and Ilminster and from 3 August, Burnham-on-Sea, Williton, Wincanton and Shepton Mallet will also be happy to welcome customers to hand them the pre-ordered selection of books. South Petherton Community Library will be doing the same from 4 August.
Reminder: Council webinar to support local businesses
Don’t forget – Somerset County Council’s Director of Public Health and Business Leads will be presenting online the work being done with partners to help local businesses stay safe, recover and grow as the county eases further out of lockdown. The Council and partners are hosting a live webinar on Wednesday (22 July), free of charge at 7pm and open to any Somerset business to join.
Update on businesses and venues reopening
The guidance on the closure of certain businesses and venues has been updated to reflect the further easing of restrictions to allow more businesses and venues to reopen from 25 July and 1 August.
Business events and meetings
The guidance on working safely for those in hotels and other guest accommodation, and for those working in the visitor economy, has been updated to include guidance on business events and meetings.