All our help and information 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.
Public Health dashboard: Detailed Public Health information dashboards are available on our website www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus just scroll down to ‘Covid-19 dashboard’. These are updated daily.
Top stories today:
Vaccines: Be aware of fraudsters
Action Fraud is warning the public to remain vigilant as criminals begin to take advantage of the roll out of the coronavirus vaccine to commit fraud.
Remember:
- The vaccine is free of charge.
- The NHS will never ask you for your bank account or card details.
- The NHS will never ask you for your PIN or banking password.
- The NHS will never arrive unannounced to 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.
- If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up.
- If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk.
- Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726, which is 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.
Supporting Somerset’s visitor economy
A countywide scheme is being launched to support tourism and visitor-centred businesses in Somerset in the wake of the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The visitor economy plays an important part in the wider Somerset economy and coronavirus restrictions have hit businesses and employment hard.
Now Somerset’s County and District Councils have put in place the Visitor Economy Support Programme (VESP) to help businesses strengthen and build their competitiveness. The programme has been designed to provide help and support so that small and medium size businesses in the sector are more resilient and ready to recover and grow.
Moderna becomes third vaccine approved by UK regulator
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised the third coronavirus vaccine for the UK, developed by Moderna.
Mandatory coronavirus testing at borders
Inbound passengers to the UK arriving by boat, plane or train will have to take a coronavirus test up to 72 hours before departing the country they are in.
In addition, all passengers arriving from countries not on the government’s travel corridor list will still be required to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of the test result. Passengers will also still be required to fill in a passenger locator form and will be subject to national lockdown restrictions.
Moving home
The Government has announced that the housing market in England will remain open during this national lockdown. This means that people looking to move home will be able to continue with planned moves and be able to view properties to move into in the future and that estate and letting agents will be able to continue working. Guidance has been updated to provide important public health information to ensure that moving home and related activities, such as viewings.