Spring is in the air, lockdown restrictions are easing and communities across West Sussex are coming back to life.

We’re now in step two of the roadmap, which means we can return to non-essential shops, gyms, leisure centres, and hairdressers among other places.

We can meet outside in a group of up to six people or two households, including at outdoor cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars.

But please keep travel to a minimum and don’t let your guard down yet.

If you’re returning to the shops there are some simple things you can do to stay safe, as Neil Williamson from Arun District Council’s Environmental Health Team explains in our latest podcast:

“Be patient and be kind to other people. Yes, it might take a bit longer to get into the business, but queue outside, keep your space, have a nice time, be safe and look after yourself and others.”

Listen to the podcast here.

Follow the guidance at each location, and keep in mind the advice to ‘act like you have it.’

See the checklist of actionswe can all take to #KeepWestSussexSafe.

Stay up-to-date on latest case data in West Sussex.

Testing is simple, easy and accessible

To help protect our family, friends and communities, and keep us heading in the right direction on the roadmap, it’s vitally important to get tested regularly and self-isolate when required.

If you don’t have symptoms, make it your habit to get tested twice a week. Order tests to your home, collect locally or book a local supervised test. Collection points and test sites are available across West Sussex.

www.westsussex.gov.uk/communitytesting

If you develop any of the Covid-19 symptoms (fever, new persistent cough, or loss of taste or smell), you must self-isolate immediately and book a PCR test or call 119

See the links for details of support available if you need to self-isolate.

From this week, people aged 45 and over are now eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccination and are invited to book an appointment.

Across the country, we are moving to the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme after reaching the target to offer all those in phase 1 of the programme a vaccination.

If you are trying to book an appointment and there are no available slots please keep trying as more will become available over the coming weeks.

Everybody in cohorts 1 to 9 – those aged 50 and over, the clinically vulnerable and health and social care workers – has been offered a vaccine, meeting the government’s 15 April target.

This group accounts for 99% of all COVID-19 deaths during the pandemic, so by offering them the vaccine, the NHS is helping ensure the most vulnerable are protected from the virus. The significant milestone marks the beginning of phase 2 of the vaccination programme and people aged 45 to 49 across England can now book appointments through the NHS booking service. People in this age group can also wait to be contacted by their GP-led vaccination service.

The NHS is still urging people to continue to attend vaccination appointments and book their appointment as soon as it is their turn. It comes after the government updated the advice this week about who should receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccination.

As a detailed review takes place into reports of a very rare blood clotting problem affecting a small number of people who have had the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, it has been announced that it is preferable for people under the age of 30 with no underlying health conditions to be offered an alternative vaccine where possible once they are eligible.

People who have already received one vaccination are encouraged to attend their appointment for their second dose, and make sure they receive the full long-lasting protection.

The NHS says the benefits of the vaccination outweighs any risk and everyone should attend their appointment. If residents are affected by the updated position, they will have the opportunity to talk through the options when it comes to their vaccination appointment.

Read more about the latest update and what people should do.

Continue to follow government guidance after vaccination

Please remember that whilst having the full course of the vaccine will reduce the chance of suffering from COVID-19, you may still be at risk of catching it and spreading it to other people. Therefore, it is important that everyone continues to follow current government guidance to stay safe.

The funeral of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will take place this Saturday (17 April) at 3pm in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. A national minute's silence will be held to coincide with the start of the funeral.

An online book of condolence is now open on Buckingham Palace’s website: www.royal.uk

Residents who do not have online access can send a message of condolence to the Chairman’s Office, Room 102, West Sussex County Council, County Hall, Chichester PO19 1RQ.

Because of the current COVID-19 guidance and restrictions, people are being urged to please avoid gathering in public places: for example, rather than laying flowers in a public area, you may wish to display a floral tribute at home.

Coming out of lockdown can be just as worrying for many people as when restrictions are in place.

Many of us may be worried about the impact COVID-19 has had on our finances, our health or our loved ones.

That’s why we’ll be sharing details of organisations who can offer health, wellbeing and emotional support via our social media channels in the coming weeks. You can also visit our website which contains links to many of these organisations.

The NHS Sussex Mental Healthline is also open 24-hours a day on 0800 0309 500 to provide listening support, advice, information. It is available to anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend and this includes carers and healthcare professionals.

The Preventing Suicide In Sussex website also has a comprehensive list of national and local organisations and charities which offer mental health advice and support for those who are suffering themselves, or people who are worried about others.

If COVID-19 has left you with worried about your finances and paying your bills, you can get free advice from Arun and Chichester Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice in West Sussex.

Local elections will take place on 6 May for West Sussex County Councillors and the next Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner. In some areas, district and borough councillors and town and parish councillors are also being elected.

Residents must be registered to vote several weeks ahead of election day on Thursday 6 May. For anyone not already on the electoral register, the deadline to apply to register to vote is midnight on Monday 19 April.

Registering is easy and takes just five minutes online. It is particularly important for anyone who has recently turned 18 or has moved home to act to ensure they are registered to vote.

We will make sure that polling stations are safe to use and that you can be confident in the arrangements for voting in person, but, as part of the county council’s current drive to help Keep West Sussex Safe, residents are being encouraged to consider postal voting, rather than travelling to attend polling stations, to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Residents can apply for a postal vote by visiting the Electoral Commission website to download, print and fill in the postal vote application form. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 20 April. Postal votes can be temporary for these elections only and will be sent out in the run up to election day, with clear instructions on how to return them.

It’s back to school for children and young people on Monday – we hope families have enjoyed the Easter break!

The government has confirmed that face coverings should continue to be worn in secondary school and college classrooms and in communal areas as a precautionary measure when students return after Easter (unless students or staff are exempt for medical reasons). It is expected that from Monday 17 May, face coverings will no longer be required in secondary schools as part of Step 3 of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown – this is yet to be confirmed and will follow a government review of the data nearer the time.

You can find all the latest on how COVID-19 is affecting West Sussex schools on our COVID-19 Education pages.

We know many children and young people are finding things especially difficult right now and help is available. On the school section you will find a page dedicated to support for children’s emotional wellbeing which includes videos, information and where young people can go to get help if they need it.

We are proud to support Counter Terrorism Policing’s national vigilance campaign and are encouraging our staff and the public to help the police tackle terrorism and save lives by reporting any suspicious behaviour and activity as lockdown restrictions ease.

The police work around the clock to protect us all from those wishing to do us harm. But the cooperation between everyone in the community is also a powerful defence which is why it is so important that we all play our role.

If you see or hear anything that doesn’t feel right when you are out and about please report it, in an emergency call 999.

To report online and learn more about the signs to spot, visit Gov.uk/ACT.

#CommunitiesDefeatTerrorism.

Could you take an active role in supporting our children? Independent Visitors are people who give up a little time to spend it with a child aged between 8 and 17 who are cared for by the County Council. The emphasis is very much on having fun and building an attachment, whether it’s spending a couple of hours going for a walk a month or doing another fun activity together, it all makes a difference to a child.

We are currently looking to recruit more Independent Visitors and are hosting two online information events on 21 and 23 April for people to find out more.

If you are interested in becoming an Independent Visitor please sign up for one of two sessions on Wednesday, 21 April at 7pm or Friday, 23 April at 11am at: http://ow.ly/3FDd30rCZL2

Find out more www.westsussex.gov.uk/independentvisitor or by emailing independent.visitors@westsussex.gov.uk