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Released today: a free information book explaining the coronavirus to children, illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler
Axel Scheffler has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Published by Nosy Crow, and written by staff within the company, the book has had expert input: Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine acted as a consultant, and the company also had advice from two head teachers and a child psychologist.
The book answers key questions in simple language appropriate for 5 to 9 year olds:
• What is the coronavirus?
• How do you catch the coronavirus?
• What happens if you catch the coronavirus?
• Why are people worried about catching the coronavirus?
• Is there a cure for the coronavirus?
• Why are some places we normally go to closed?
• What can I do to help?
• What’s going to happen next?
We want to make sure that this book is accessible to every child and family and so the book is offered totally free of charge to anyone who wants to read it. However, we have suggested, at the back of the book, that families might make a donation to help our health service if they find the book useful: https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/.
Seaton Community Support for Covid-19 – booklet to go out to every house in the town.
This booklet will shortly be issued to every household in the town. Thanks to all the hardworking people who’ve helped to put together this superb scheme. Follow the Facebook page here.
Do as the Government says, not as they do.
Matt Hancock spreading the coronavirus at the opening of NHS Nightingale on 3rd April, with the Chief Nursing Officer looking on in horror. His failure to live up to his own advice is even worse than the Scottish Chief Medical Officer’s – and she has resigned. Ever since Boris Johnson boasted of shaking coronavirus patients’ hands, the personal example set by ministers has been appalling.
The County Council and NHS are urgently recruiting health care assistants in Devon
‘Do your bit for Devon
‘COVID-19 means there’s an even greater demand for Healthcare Assistants in residential homes, people’s own homes and hospitals in Devon. You don’t necessarily need qualifications or previous work experience. What’s important are your values and attitude towards working with people who need care, and your ability to cope in challenging environments.
‘We need temporary and permanent workers now to fill a variety of shift work including evenings and weekends. You may need to support people with their personal care needs which could include assisting with eating, drinking and washing. We’ll support you with DBS checks and essential training.
‘Register your details now and receive free one-to-one support to help you find a job in Devon.’
As many are shocked at deaths among younger people, why did the Government persistently tell us that the ‘over-70s’ were the ‘vulnerable group’?
Dr David Hepburn tells C4 News (3 April) ‘all our ICU patients are in their 50s or younger’
In a post on my academic site, I examine the Government papers. I show that the Chinese data was clear, 6 weeks ago, that HALF of all deaths occurred among the UNDER-70s. There were as many deaths among people in their 60s as in their 70s, and a large number among people in their 50s, as well as younger. A THIRD of victims had no serious prior condition.
Why, then, did the Government persist in saying that over-70s and people with conditions were the ‘vulnerable group’? Did this encourage the belief among middle-aged and young people that they would just get a bit of a cough? Is this why it was difficult to get social distancing in the middle of March?
It appears that the Government and its scientific advisers did not properly digest the lessons of China. There are many questions to answer for a future public enquiry. And meanwhile, many younger as well as older people will pay the ultimate price.
As bus services slashed for the duration, County trials taxi service for key workers
TRANSPORT FOR KEY WORKERS
Due to the reduction of bus services across the county, Devon County Council are trialling an on-demand subsidised taxi service for Devon residents for key workers accessing employment only.
This service is intended to replace those journeys which were previously made by bus – a subsidised flat fare will be charged.
Requests can only be made by email and should be sent to devonbus@devon.gov.uk
Please include the following information in your email:
NAME, ADDRESS, KEY WORKER STATUS, EMPLOYER / PAYROLL REF
JOURNEY REQUIREMENTS (pick up/drop off)
We will aim to respond to all requests as soon as possible during normal office hours – journeys should be booked 48 hours in advance of travel.
Highways safety repairs still being done, but planned maintenance stopped
Devon Highways say:
‘We’ve temporarily suspended planned highway maintenance work in order to focus on the repair of critical infrastructure, and continue to deliver essential safety repairs in order to maintain the local network.”
Now that the lockdown is in place, ‘one-size fits all’ isn’t right – could Devon still contain the epidemic through testing, and quarantining contacts of cases?
- Expand testing to identify cases, trace contacts and isolate;
- Even without testing, ensure the close contacts of those admitted are properly quarantined;
- Testing does not even require personal protective equipment, so could be done by retired GPs, junior medical and nursing students – someone has suggested that dentists are also an under-utilised resource?
COVID-19 helpline to support parish and town councils in your community response activities: 01392 248919 or email info@devoncommunities.org.uk
A joint message from DALC, Devon Communities Together, Devon County Council and all of Devon’s district, city & borough councils
Devon’s town and parish councils are at the heart of our communities.
Now more than ever, your role is vital in helping people through this coronavirus pandemic. We are committed to working together to give you the support you need to ensure that Devon’s communities get through this outbreak.
We have pledged to doing everything in our power to help you directly and to support our communities to find ways to respond quickly and positively for everyone’s benefit.
We know what makes Devon special – it’s the people, and many of them have already leapt into action to offer help and to look out for elderly and vulnerable neighbours and those who may be self-isolating.
Towns and parish councils are among those setting up volunteer schemes to ensure people receive essential support. We want to work alongside you to build on this and support the community response that’s being established.
We are going to develop a picture of what’s going on across Devon in order to share good practice. If you are already doing something in your local area or are establishing a community response group, or if you know of local initiatives, then please let us know by filling out this form so that we know where help is being offered.
We have set up COVID-19 helpline, supported by Devon Communities Together to support parish and town council’s and the Devon Village Halls Networks in your local community response and resilience activities. The helpline will be open from 9am on Monday 23rd March and will be staffed 9am to 5pm on weekdays for the foreseeable future. Please telephone 01392 248919 or email info@devoncommunities.org.uk.
Please also visit Devon Communities Together’s community resilience web page https://www.devoncommunities.org.uk/coronavirus-information
We are in this together, and by standing shoulder to shoulder, we will get through this together.
Together
#WeAreDevon
The lockdown, better late than never, gives hope to the South West. Now we need testing and tracking. But a public inquiry into the Government’s mistakes must come later.
The lockdown announced by Boris Johnson yesterday is the right policy. Respecting it will save lives.
In the South West, where it seems we still have relatively few cases – although no one really knows because the Government abandoned most testing – this policy gives the best chance of containing the epidemic to a level which will be manageable with the limited number of Intensive Care Unit beds, ventilators and nursing staff in the region’s NHS.
As the lockdown slows the spread of the disease, it should be used for widespread testing and tracking down cases, to eradicate it before lifting restrictions.
The Government’s catastrophic mistakes
A lockdown should have been done 3 weeks ago. Doing it even two weeks or a week ago would have made a big difference, as I and colleagues argued at the time.
Instead we now know that Johnson, with his advisor Dominic Cummings, initially went for a policy summed up by one leading Tory as ‘herd immunity and let the old people die’. They were prepared to allow 100,000 excess deaths. But then research showed that their policies would actually lead to 250,000-500,000 deaths, and they realised that the NHS would be destroyed.
Now, a study suggests that 35,000-70,000 deaths will still result. This is ‘only’ 10-20 times the number in China. We had the benefit of their experience, and also observing the terrible situation in Italy. But our leaders learnt too little, too late, after pursuing a terrible fantasy. Many will pay the price.
In due course, there will need to be a public inquiry. Johnson, Cummings and others responsible must be brought account for the unnecessary deaths. For now, however, we must give all our support to the NHS staff who are battling to save lives, and live with the lockdown, for all our sakes.
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 