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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:
Government confirms restrictions will ease from 17 May
The Prime Minister has confirmed the Government’s four tests for easing COVID-19 restrictions have been met and planned easements can go ahead from 17 May.
When the restrictions lift, two households or groups of six will be allowed to mix indoors and indoor hospitality will reopen. It’s important for everyone to remember the tools at our disposal to help to keep our rates as low as possible. This includes the message of hands, face, space and fresh air – this remains key when mixing indoors.
The easing from 17 May includes indoor and outdoor entertainment, covering cinemas, museums, children’s play areas and outdoor performances.
From the same date, face coverings will no longer be required in classrooms, or for students in communal areas in secondary schools and colleges, and all remaining university students will be eligible to return to in-person teaching and learning.
Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions, and commemorative events including wakes. The number of people able to attend a funeral will be determined by the number that can be safely accommodated in the venue with social distancing in place.
The Stay in the UK restriction will be lifted, and people will be able to travel to green list countries, if they permit inbound travel. More information can be found below.
Food support for families over May half-term
Somerset County Council will continue to provide help to families in need of food support over the May half-term period.
Council Leader Cllr David Fothergill has confirmed plans to allocate a total of £250,000 of funding to schools in Somerset to fund food vouchers over the May half-term.
This will provide vouchers for the 14,509 children in Somerset eligible for Free School Meals, plus an additional allocation which schools can use to provide help to other families who they feel would also benefit from support.
Somerset County Council has been working to tackle holiday hunger during the pandemic, providing funding for food and vouchers over October half-term, Christmas, February half-term and the Easter holidays.
Mental Health Awareness Week – one man’s story
Throughout the pandemic, Dave Partlow, Somerset County Council Adult Social Care Strategic Manager, has supported care providers with advice and guidance, worked with Public Health colleagues on managing and supporting providers through outbreaks, supported the management and provision of PPE, supported the care sector with testing, and managed the care sector vaccination programme.
Here he talks about the emotional rollercoaster of working in high stress frontline jobs, how he dealt with that pressure and his introduction to the Five Ways of Wellbeing – principles of support he was already unconsciously using in his life.
Please remember that if you are feeling anxious or having difficulty with your mental health support is available – Mindline is a confidential listening service which is available twenty-four hours a day – 01823 276 892.
Unsung heroes of the pandemic honoured with Somerset Medal
A select few of Somerset’s many unsung coronavirus heroes have been unveiled as the first ever winners of the Somerset Medal.
The Somerset Medal has been launched by Somerset County Council to say a heartfelt thank-you to the best of the best – with the winners announced as the county celebrated Somerset Day.
They include vaccination volunteers, food deliverers, PPE producers, pop-up shop keepers and a whole host of other good Samaritans who all went above and beyond to make sure Somerset kept going during the pandemic.
More named visitors for care home residents
The government has also announced that, from 17 May, care home residents will be able to have more named visitors and more opportunities to make visits out with no need to self-isolate when they return.
As part of step three of the roadmap, the number of named family members or friends able to visit care homes will be increased from two to five, with a maximum of two visitors allowed at any one time or on any given day.
Residents will also be able to go to medical appointments, a workplace, educational setting or day centre without having to self-isolate on their return. Updated guidance will be published in due course.