The work of Argyll and Bute work continues in responding to COVID-19.
Please find here a brief update on actions being taken and issues being addressed:

Actions
Q; Are you re-opening civic amenity sites?
A: The current position is that travel to a household waste recycling centre is not classed as an essential journey in Scotland. As a result centres remain closed in all Local Authorities and are likely to remain so until the travel advice changes. Local Authorities are taking practical steps to consider under what circumstances centres could reopen, once the national travel advice is changed. This work includes considering how physical distancing at centres can be maintained in order to help protect staff and members of the public.

 Community resilience
The Customer Service Centre has continued to proactively contact people asked to shield (stay home for 12 weeks) to let them know about the community helpline and support available. To date, around half have advised that they do not need help, but have their own arrangements in place.

Employee resilience
Wellbeing information is being prepared and issued to employees. This includes a reminder about the employee assistance programme<https://healthassuredeap.co.uk/?wlfrom=%2Fhome%2F> that is free and confidential to use.

Bank Holiday 4 May
The community helpline will open from 10am to 1pm on Monday 4 May emergency social work services will be available for urgent social care outside those hours.
In some places the bank holiday is on Friday 8 May, for Victory in Europe (VE) Day (75 years). In Argyll and Bute we have maintained the holiday as Monday 4th May this means we align with Argyll and Bute HSCP arrangements. We will be marking VE Day by posting information about it, for example from this website – https://www.veday75.org<https://www.veday75.org/>

New business support funding

https://www.gov.scot/news/gbp-100m-funds-to-help-business/>. Information on how to apply is on the council’s website.
https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/coronavirus-newly-self-employed-hardship-fund?fbclid=IwAR02rmBXwFxLYEpzrmtiA4pYHOiuvW8bvxjYtKsMXuV-1jbknAN5U0f-9ao>

Recorded crime down during corona virus
https://www.scotland.police.uk/whats-happening/news/2020/april/recorded-crime-down-during-scotland’s-coronavirus-response>

01546 605524- Community Helpline

<https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/coronavirus-help-and-advice>, for financial; business; education; registration; social, domestic and homecare needs, and volunteering. Open 9am to 5pm Mon-Friday.
Dial 111- for health advice if your COVID-19 symptoms worsen or last more than 7 days.

Health advice:
www.nhsinform.scot<http://www.nhsinform.scot/>

Local community assistance:
https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/coronavirus/help-for-communities

National advice on volunteering and other aspects of responding to COVID-19:
https://www.readyscotland.org/coronavirus/

Job centres:
https://www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus