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ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE ARGYLL AND BUTE CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE With the closure of schools and nurseries during the Covid-19 crisis, a national child protection group is urging everyone to keep their eyes and ears open for children who may be at risk during this time.

The Scottish Government has today (24 March) announced further support for businesses affected by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The aim of the Scottish Government Coronavirus Business Support Grant is to keep companies in business, help protect jobs, prevent business closure and promote economic recovery.  The fund will be administered by local authorities. Councillor Aileen Morton:

To help stop the spread of coronavirus, and in line with Government advice, council offices are now closed to members of the public. Look out for updates about our services on our website - www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/coronavirus-help-and-advice - and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter). If you have any urgent enquiries, you can call 01546 605522. Please only call this line if your enquiry is urgent. Thank you.

Police Scotland and the NHS are appealing to members of the public to use emergency telephone numbers appropriately. Police Scotland is receiving a number of 999 and 101 calls from people

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), or live with someone who does, you’ll have to stay at home. There are lots of things you can do to make sure you reduce the spread of infection. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

The First Minister announced yesterday (22 March) that ferry travel across Scotland must be for essential travel only. This is to keep everyone safe and avoid the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to vulnerable rural communities. This restriction applies to those ferries run by the council. From now on all our ferries will be for our island residents, who have an essential need to travel to or from the mainland, and for essential supplies or business. The return of non-residents back to the mainland will also be considered essential travel.

Argyll and Bute Council's Policy Lead for Education has reassured young people in the area that they will get the credit they deserve for their studies, despite this year's exams being cancelled. Councillor Yvonne MacNeilly's statement comes after the Scottish Government made the annoucement earlier this week that, due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, there will be no academic exams this year.

Teaching staff across Argyll and Bute have been working hard to organise a range of home learning resources for pupils, as schools across the country close their doors today (Friday) due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. Pupils have been supplied with home learning packs and/or log in details to access remote learning websites to ensure they can continue their classroom activities outside of school as required. The following resources are also available:

We understand there have been reports of doorstep callers claiming to be working for the NHS and stating that they are able to provide a Covid-19 vaccine. Scammers may well try to take advantage of the current situation, whether it is to extort money, or to gain access to your home.

Argyll and Bute Council will be opening 10 of its school kitchens from Monday (23 March) to ensure that children who are entitled to free school meals can continue to receive those meals. The following kitchens will be open every weekday between 12 noon and 12.30pm so that a lunch can be collected for anyone entitled to a free school meal: Dunoon Grammar; Rothesay Joint Campus; Oban High; Hermitage Academy; Castlehill Primary; Lochgilphead Joint Campus; Tarbert Academy; Tiree High; Tobermory High; and Islay High.