Dear Colleagues

As we enter the third week of the lockdown, the number of Covid cases recorded across Cornwall has started to reduce, with our rate now standing at 195.5 per 100,000, significantly down from its peak earlier this month.

However, this is still higher than the earlier peaks in Cornwall and the number of patients in our hospitals remains very high, with 90 people being treated at Treliske, and a further 55 in community hospitals across Cornwall.

We are also still seeing some significant outbreaks at care homes and in businesses, so now is clearly not the time to let our guard down. The sobering news yesterday that the overall total number of deaths in the UK has now exceeded 100,000 shows clearly why we must together do all that we can to follow the public health advice.

The lockdown restrictions may be tough, but they are helping to bring down the number of cases of the virus within our communities, and we must continue to encourage our residents to follow the rules.

We have also seen some evidence that the number of people being tested is dropping across Cornwall and with the number of asymptomatic and mild symptom cases still high, we need to see people being tested whenever they have the mildest of symptoms.

Getting a test is simple and can be booked via the gov.uk website here. You can help us by raising awareness in your local communities.

Stithians vaccination centre

I was pleased to see the large vaccination centre open at Stithians Showground this week.  Up to 1,000 vaccines a day will be administered at the site, and it will provide a real boost to the rollout across Cornwall. I hope another site in east Cornwall will be confirmed shortly.

Additional Restrictions Grant 

Applications for the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is live now and you can help by raising awareness of the scheme. It is aimed at businesses which have been forced to close or limit trading during the current coronavirus lockdown. Cornwall has been allocated £11.5m by the Government to support businesses who are not eligible for other forms of financial support and have fixed ongoing costs such as rent or mortgage payments, loans or lease agreements for capital equipment or rental of workspaces.     

Businesses have until 23.59pm on Sunday, January 31, to apply for the one-off grant.

Full details of eligibility and the amount of grant support available can be found atwww.cornwall.gov.uk/BusinessSupportGrant

 Other grant payments update

We received funding from Government for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (covering the current lockdown period) and the one-off grant for hospitality, retail and leisure, on January 15.

Within a week we had processed payments to Cornish businesses at a total of £68.1m. These payments were made on Friday, January 22 and should be in bank accounts this week. These are businesses which had previously qualified for the Local Restrictions Support Grant covering the November lockdown.

We will make further payments to eligible businesses this Friday and those payments will be in bank accounts next week.

Businesses which did not apply for the LRSG in November can apply through our website for the LRSG covering the current lockdown period. We will make these payments as soon as the applications are processed.

We made the ‘wet led pub payments’ – for pubs who do not serve food or rely mainly on drink sales – starting week commencing January 4. By Friday January 8 we had paid 44 pubs which were eligible for a payment and have written to all other pubs in Cornwall to confirm their eligibility. We have now paid 156 pubs.

Last year the Government praised Cornwall Council for its rapid delivery of the first business grants and we are continuing to get money out to businesses as quickly as we can, ensuring that all those eligible receive the funding due to them.

Information on business grants and support available can be found atwww.cornwall.gov.uk/BusinessSupportGrant

Holocaust Memorial Day

 Today marks Holocaust Memorial Day in the UK. It is so important that we continue to remember the horrific events not just of World War Two, but of the more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Dafur.

The theme for this year is ‘Be the light in the darkness’ which resonates with our commitment in Gyllyn Warbarth, Together We Can to create a fairer, more inclusive Cornwall where people are united in tackling all forms of discrimination.

The UK Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony will be streamed online tomorrow at 7pm. Register in advance if you would like to receive a link for the ceremony.

At 8pm, at the end of the ceremony, you can join in and light the darkness. People across the UK will be lighting candles safely and putting them in their windows to remember those who were murdered for being who they were and to stand against prejudice today.

Important links

All coronavirus related enquiries or issues to our dedicated email addresscovid19@cornwall.gov.uk. This email address is monitored throughout normal business hours.

Anyone who needs help can request a volunteer by ringing 01872 266988 or emailingrequestforhelp@volunteercornwall.org.uk.

Find out more about the support available for businesses here: Business Rate Support Council Tax Support and Growth Hub.

Please continue to look after yourselves,

Best wishes

Julian

Julian German

Hembrenkyas an Konsel

Konseler Kernow rag Pastel-vro An Ros

Leader of the Council

Cornwall Councillor for the Roseland Division