All our help and information is now available in a single place on the SCC website https://www.somerset.gov.uk/latest-coronavirus-updates/
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:
Residents and tourists encouraged to be Covid-safe
Somerset County Council is teaming up with Visit Somerset and Visit Exmoor to thank visitors and residents for keeping to Covid-19 guidance as the summer holiday season approaches.
Along with vaccinations, there are many things people can do to keep themselves and each other safe from Covid-19. This includes regular coronavirus testing, isolating when required and following the Covid-19 guidance around hands, face, space and fresh air.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to decide on the easing of restrictions by 19 July, when there will be a “very considerable wall of immunity around the whole of the population”. However, people are and will continue to travel into and around Somerset under current freedoms so it is important to communicate safety messages to people in a way that they will respond to – especially in light of rising cases.
Look out for messaging on digital platforms as well as billboards, bus stops, service stations and on the back of buses.
Council contact centres support vaccination efforts
Staff from Somerset’s Local Authorities have helped to speed up the county’s vaccination programme by making thousands of calls to organise vaccine appointments.
Throughout the course of the pandemic, the contact centres of Somerset’s five councils have joined forces to support the people of Somerset and the NHS.
During that time the contact centre staff, and redeployed staff have been supporting Somerset’s NHS Primary Care Networks by booking residents in for vaccination appointments.
In total council staff made approximately 133,693 phone calls and booked in 32,303 appointments across Somerset.
Clinton catch-up focuses on vaccines
In this week’s Covid Catch Up, former BBC correspondent Clinton Rogers visits a vaccination centre in Cheddar where the majority of those in attendance were young adults.
The Covid-19 jab is now being offered to all adults over the age of 18 and those getting their jabs were pleased their turn had come. Clinton catches up with Dr Josephine McHugh, a Somerset GP, to understand why there is some hesitancy in getting the jab, in particular due to incorrect information being found online.
He also chats to Matthew Hibbert, Public Health Consultant at Somerset County Council, to explain the advantages in every adult being vaccinated – Covid-19 can be caught by people of all ages so the vaccination is key to stopping people getting sick and also to break the chains of transmission.
Watch the video here.
Council drives multi-million pound road schemes forward
Somerset County Council’s commitment to investment is stepping up a gear this summer with the delivery of vital road improvement schemes.
In recent weeks the County Council has confirmed plans to invest £10m on public health initiatives and £6m on economic development to kickstart Somerset’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Now the focus turns to infrastructure, with works due to start on an £8.3m improvement scheme to upgrade the busy Creech Castle junction in Taunton. This is the next phase of a major programme of investment which includes the award-winning £19m revamp of the M5 Junction 25 – due to complete on time and on budget later this summer.
In addition, work starts in Yeovil in the autumn on the next phase of a £9m programme to replace and upgrade outdated traffic light systems across Somerset.
You can find out more about how Somerset County Council is investing to improve the county’s highways network in a new film.
Bold & Brave
A new shop which aims to help vulnerable young people boost their employability and life skills is set to open in Somerset.
The new social enterprise, called Bold & Brave, is the result of collaboration between Young Somerset and sen.se (Special Educational Needs. Somerset Expertise) and will be based at 14 Riverside Place in Taunton.
Bold & Brave offers a great platform for the young people involved to develop products, learn about business, and gain work experience.