Denbighshire becomes area of Covid concern

 

Denbighshire has become one of the ”areas of concern” to Public Health Wales (PHW) when it comes to an increase in coronavirus cases.

In its latest statement issued earlier this afternoon PHW says: “We are continuing to see a steady increase in cases in many communities across Wales, and our investigations show that many of these have been transmitted due to a lack of social distancing.

“The council areas of Cardiff, Swansea, the Vale of Glamorgan, Carmarthen, Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire are all areas of concern to us and we are watching the data from there carefully, but numbers of cases are increasing in all parts of Wales so there is no room for complacency in any area.”

The statement adds: “We are also seeing an increase in the number of people who are seriously ill and have been admitted to hospital with COVID-19.

“We are concerned that much of the good work conducted over the past few months is at risk of going to waste.

“If the situation continues to worsen, we may find ourselves at the same levels of infection that we experienced earlier this year in March and April; and with that comes the potential for more extended restrictions to be imposed nationally.

“Coronavirus has not gone away. It remains the responsibility of everyone to help prevent the spread of this virus to protect older and vulnerable family members and friends. 

“They should do this by self-isolating when asked to do so, staying two metres away from others, and by washing hands regularly.

“Public Health Wales is urging all eligible people in Wales to have their free flu vaccine as NHS Wales begins its largest ever national flu vaccine programme.

“Flu (also known as influenza) can be serious, particularly for those who are older or have a health condition and are more vulnerable to complications as a result of the flu. Having a flu vaccine every year is one of the most effective ways to protect against flu.

“Those eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine include people with long term health conditions, people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, children aged two to ten years old, carers, domiciliary carers and care home staff with regular client contact as well as care home residents.”

For the latest information, visit www.beatflu.org or www.curwchffliw.org or search Beat Flu or Curwch Ffliw on Twitter and Facebook.

On its Facebook page Llangollen Health Centre has given details of its drive-through flu vaccination day this Saturday.

It says: “All patients born before 1 April 1956 should have received a letter inviting them to a drive-through flu clinic on Saturday 26th September at Llangollen Pavilion. If you have received a letter we would like to draw your attention to the following important points:

• We will not be able to vaccinate any patient arriving on foot. Any patient who cannot get to the clinic in a car needs to let us know (via Llangollen.Admin@wales.nhs.uk or 01978 860625) and we will contact them within the next couple of weeks with an alternative. However we are asking that our patients born before 1 April 1956 make every effort to arrange car transport to this clinic (subject to Covid regulations on car sharing) as it is in their best interests to be immunised as early as possible. 

• The alphabetical time slots are there to avoid excessive waiting times and queues. If you cannot keep to your slot, you can turn up a time convenient to you between 9am and 5pm. 

• Please car share if it is safe for to do so i.e. those living in the same household, those in extended households (even if you have different surnames). Please note: We will inject the arm nearest to the car window so please consider where in the car you will be sitting and dress appropriately so that their upper arm nearest the window is easily accessible. For example, short sleeves or sleeves that can be easily rolled up. 

• We will not be able to give any other vaccinations or flu vaccinations to other age groups at this clinic. 

Other patients who are eligible for a flu vaccination, who do not fall into this age group, will be contacted with details of further clinics. There are different vaccines for different age groups which are delivered to the practice at different times and we will be sending out invitations as we get our vaccine deliveries.”