Please be cautious as restrictions continue to ease is the message from South Hams District Council following a number of outbreaks in the South Hams.

A council spokesperson said: "It’s wonderful to be able to experience the joy of meeting friends and family again after a long and arduous winter of lockdown. However, we do need to remain cautious, as outbreaks can, and do, still happen. One in three adults who have Covid do not show symptoms of the virus and can unknowingly spread it to others.

"You can now meet indoors in groups of up to six, or from two households and staying overnight away from home is also now allowed. If you are meeting indoors, try and open windows to allow fresh air to flow. If the weather improves, meet up outdoors where possible to reduce the risks even further."

Residents are reminded that it is simple to get hold of a lateral flow test so you can meet friends and family with increased confidence. These are do-it-yourself Covid tests, which give you a result in just 30 minutes. They are completely free and are available from most local chemists or online from on Gov.uk. You can find out more here: www.devon.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-in-devon/rapid-testing-devon

When in public continue to follow guidance and remember:

Hands

Face

Space

Cllr Jonathan Hawkins, South Hams District Council’s portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said: “The pandemic is not over yet and we can’t be complacent. We need to work together and continue to support our communities by being cautious and following the rules. It’s the only way we’ll continue to make progress and keep restrictions lifting.”Government stats show that 19 new cases were confirmed in South Hams in the seven days to May 14 in both pillar 1 data from tests carried out by the NHS and pillar 2 data from commercial partners, compared to 17 new cases the week before.Infection rates in South Hams are highest in the 0-19s.