Public health boss supports 'virtual nativities' as infections rise
Schools in Devon are being told they'll be backed by a council if they hold this year's nativity online.
Last updated 22nd Nov 2021
Schools in high covid infection areas are being reassured Torbay Council's public health director will back them if they decide to hold this year's nativity online.
Across Devon schools are currently taking different approaches to festive performances - with some limiting the number of tickets per child and holding smaller performances during weekday times.
Lincoln Sargeant, Torbay's public health director, said: "We have a programme of work where we do help to support people planning events etc.
"I know the schools, we've been in touch with them around nativity plays and so forth.
"I think a lot of schools are considering where they can do some of that more virtually so the children will still do the rehearsals etc, but the actual performance might be on a smaller scale or using virtual technology."
Mr Sargeant says people are also asking him what gatherings they can hold during December, adding: "I know some people have asked us about Christmas parties and so forth.
"A lot of it is around the risk assessment. Are we able to put good measures in that protect people? If not, then it's thinking of alternative ways of marking some of those Christmas festivities."
Today the health secretary has encouraged people to take up the offer of a coronavirus booster vaccine.
From today, people aged 40 and above in England can book in for a third jab.
That's also the case for 16 and 17-year-olds, who are now eligible for second shot.
Government figures for the week up to Sunday, 14 November show a total of 6,886 cases across Devon, 33 per cent (1,721) more than in the previous week.
Infection levels are extremely high in some parts of the county and every district has a higher infection rate than the UK average. The average infection rate across Devon is now at 558 per 100,000 of the population. In comparison, the national average sits at 403 per 100,000.
In Torridge, infections have more than doubled within the space of a week. The district’s new 602 infections – 304 more than last week – represent a rise of 102 per cent. The infection rate in Torridge is now at 876 per 100,000 people – more than double the national average.
It’s a similar story for neighbouring North Devon. The district recorded 708 new cases, 183 (35 per cent) more than the previous week. The area’s infection rate now sits at 721 per 100,000, almost 80 per cent higher than the national average.
Overall, the Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay, saw 4,789 new infections, 1,238 (35 per cent) more than the previous week. The infection rate across its seven districts is now 591 per 100,000 of the population.
Torbay’s infections shot up by 38 per cent, recording 808 new cases, 223 more than in the previous week. The 38 per cent rise takes the infection rate in the Bay to 593 per 100,000 of the population.
Cases rose sharply in Plymouth, too. The city saw 1,289 new infections, 258 (25 per cent) more than in the previous week. The infection rate in the area is now 490 per 100,000.
Despite rising infections in Devon and across the country, prime minister Boris Johnson last week said it was still too early to move to ‘plan b’ and reintroduce restrictions such as mask mandates and working from home orders.
Eighty-six per cent of people aged 12 and above have had their first dose of a vaccine in the Devon County Council area, which excludes Plymouth and Torbay, with 80 per cent receiving both doses.
In Plymouth, 83 per cent have had one dose, while 75 per cent have had both.
In Torbay, 84 per cent have received one dose, while 78 per cent have had both jabs.
This means that vaccination rates in Devon remain slightly behind the rest of the UK. Across the country, 88 per cent of people aged 12 and over have had one dose, while 80 per cent have had both jabs.
Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.