Latest Covid-19 update from Welsh Government

Latest coronavirus update from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) is:

·        As the four UK chief medical officers today agreed the UK’s level of risk has reached the highest level, Education Minister Kirsty Williams has confirmed all school and college students will receive online learning until January 18.

o   The Welsh Government made the announcement following consultation with the WLGA and Colegau Cymru. The next fortnight will be used to plan for the rest of term.

o   Universities in Wales have already agreed a staggered start to the term.

o   Schools statement: https://gov.wales/written-statement-return-school-and-college-arrangements

o   Joint CMO statement: https://gov.wales/joint-statement-uk-cmos-recommending-uk-covid-19-alert-level-move-level-4-level-5

 

·         The first Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines were given to people in Wales today as clinics are set up across the nation, just five days after the vaccine was approved for use in the UK.

o   There are now two Covid-19 vaccines in use in Wales – the Oxford vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine.

o   https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-vaccine-deployment-data-wales and https://gov.wales/second-covid-19-vaccine-arrives-wales

o   Watch Health Minister Vaughan Gething’s press conference: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1346067991822102528

o   Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/

 

·         First Minister’s New Year message: https://gov.wales/new-year-message-first-minister-wales-mark-drakeford

 

Coronavirus in numbers

·         The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,898 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 157,209 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.

o   Very sadly, there were 25 further deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 3,645.

o   These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

·         The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.

·         If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days from when your symptoms started.

·         Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus

o   Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

o   You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus once you are self-isolating. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test

o   You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.

·         Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
 

Where to find the latest information

·         Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4

·         Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/

·         Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws

·         Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/

·         Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/

·         The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.

o   Health Minister Vaughan Gething held today’s press conference. You can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1346067991822102528

o   The slides from today’s press conference are at: https://gov.wales/slides-and-datasets-minister-health-and-social-services-coronavirus-briefing-4-january-2021

New way for patients to contact health centre is trialled

Llangollen Health Centre is notifying patients it is trialling a new way to contact the practice.

In a Facebook post it says: "During the Covid-19 pandemic it has become clear that patients appreciate having an alternative method of contacting us other than the telephone and we have been encouraging patients to email us with non-urgent requests. 

"However, there are issues with emails and we have been looking for an alternative which gives patients the same flexibility but also ensures the query has some structure and contains all the necessary details.

"From 4th January 2021, we are trialling a new system for contacting us regarding non-urgent queries and we would like patients to use this system instead of emailing us. Please note you are still able to phone us on 01978 860625.

"If you need to contact us regarding a non-urgent issue please use the following link:

https://florey.accurx.com/p/W91010

"You will see three options:

· I have an admin query – please use this for requests for repeat prescription, sick notes, test results or anything else that is not related to a medical issue

· I want help for a medical issue – please use this to go on triage regarding a medical issue. If your query is regarding a skin lesion, mole, rash or lump please upload a photo if you can

· I want to see online advice – please use this for advice and guidance on condition, symptoms and treatments, including self care advice

"You will be asked some standard questions to ensure that you do not need an ambulance and then you will be asked to provide some further information regarding your query. We will aim to deal with your query within two working days.

"For urgent queries please continue to ring us on 01978 860625."

Minister's statement on arrangements for schools and colleges

Education Minister Kirsty Williams (pictured) has issued this statement on arrangements for schools and colleges:

The situation in Wales and across the UK remains very serious. Today, the four UK Chief Medical Officers have agreed that the UK is now at the highest level of risk, Joint Biosecurity Council level 5.

In the light of that decision the Welsh Government, in consultation with the WLGA and Colegau Cymru, has agreed that all schools, colleges and independent schools should move to online learning until January 18th.

As a government we will use the next two weeks to continue to work with local authorities, schools and colleges to plan for the rest of term.

This is the best way to ensure that parents, staff and learners can be confident in the return to face to face learning, based on the latest evidence and information.

Schools and colleges will remain open for children of critical workers and vulnerable learners, as well as for learners who need to complete essential exams or assessments. On this basis Special Schools and PRU’s should remain open if possible.

We had initially given schools flexibility in the first two weeks of term to decide when to reopen based on local circumstances.

But it is now clear that a national approach of online learning for the first fortnight of term is the best way forward.

We know that schools and colleges have been safe and secure environments throughout the pandemic.

However, we also know that education settings being open can contribute to wider social mixing outside the school and college environment.

We are confident that schools and colleges have online learning provision in place for this immediate period,

Universities in Wales have already agreed a staggered start to term. Students should not return to universities for face to face learning until they are notified that they can do so.

Wales remains in the highest level of restrictions. Everyone must stay at home.

I will continue to update members.

This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.

Minister says Wales "not left behind" in vaccine roll-out

* Health Minister Vaughan Gething gives today's press conference.

Wales’ health minister has denied the nation is “behind the pace” in rolling out Covid-19 vaccines and promised a “significant acceleration” in the coming weeks, reports the BBC online news.

This comes as the number of new cases in north Wales continues to climb,

Giving the Welsh Government's latest coronavirus update Vaughan Gething said he believed the Welsh NHS would have vaccinated people within the “first” priority groups, including care home residents, “at about the same time as every other UK nation”.

Letters going to every household about the vaccine rollout “will provide people with a measure of assurance” and would explain how they would be contacted, he told the Welsh Government press conference on Monday.

Amid concern about the rollout, Mr Gething said he hoped to publish more detail on numbers and “a better indication of how we’re going through all those occupational groups”.

“So I appreciate everyone has questions, but I think that people at the end of this will see that we have not been behind the pace," he said.

“And actually the significant acceleration that we'll see over the coming weeks will give people even an even greater measure of confidence about the coming months.”

* Mr Gething said the number of mass vaccination centres in Wales will be increased to 22 and more than 60 GP surgeries will offer the Oxford vaccine.

He said mobile units would be set up throughout Wales.

Health boards and local authorities would be writing to everyone in Wales with more information about the vaccine in the coming days, he said.

“We are training a range of healthcare workers to give the vaccine and we have plans to work with local pharmacists, dentists and optometrists to provide vaccination clinics.

“We will continue to provide the Pfizer vaccine at the mass vaccination centres across Wales," he added.

“We are working to the priority list agreed by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation. The rest of the UK is working to the same list."

Mr Gething said the immediate priority was to vaccinate front-line health and care staff, care home residents and staff, and people over the age of 80, which would save the greatest number of lives.

He said everyone would get two doses up to 12 weeks apart.

* Schools in Wales will continue with the phased return to face-to-face learning over the first two weeks of the new term unless the "evidence changes", according to Mr Gething.

Teaching unions have voiced concern about sending pupils back to class while a new variant of coronavirus continues to spread.

Vaughan Gething said closing schools remained a "last resort" but added: "If the evidence changes then we'll have to take account of that evidence and that may lead to a different choice."

* OVER 300 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed across our region by Public Health Wales (PHW) today, reports the Denbighshire Free Press.

There have now been almost 19,570 lab-confirmed cases of the virus from the combined counties that make up the North Wales region since the outbreak of the pandemic - after more incidents were confirmed in the latest figures released today.

Public Health Wales confirmed that the 304 of today’s 1,898 newly confirmed Welsh cases were from the northern region.

They can be broken down as such:

• Anglesey – 14 (20.0 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Conwy – 29 (24.7 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Denbighshire – 62 (64.8 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Flintshire – 91 (58.3 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Gwynedd – 15 (12.0 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Wrexham – 93 (68.4 per 100,000 population as of today)

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – the largest health board in Wales – has reported 595 people have sadly died to date according to PHW data.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics, which are considered a stronger indicator of the overall impact of the virus, and which are based on all deaths where COVID is mentioned on the death certificate, stand at 773 for the health board area.

Second Covid vaccination to be rolled out across Wales from today

The second COVID-19 vaccine is being rolled-out across Wales from today (Monday) with at least 40,000 doses available within the first two weeks, says the Welsh Givernment. 

Last week [Wednesday 30 December] the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised the AstraZeneca vaccine as safe and effective following stringent clinical trials - just 3 weeks after the first coronavirus vaccine, Pfizer BioNTech, was approved for use across the UK.

The Welsh Government and NHS Wales have been preparing for the vaccinations’ approvals and delivery since June.

The UK Government has procured vaccines on behalf of the four nations and around 100m of these are of the AstraZeneca vaccine - formerly known as Oxford AstraZeneca - with Wales receiving its allocation based on population over the next weeks and months.

Two doses will be needed, with an interval of between four and 12 weeks between doses. This is a change from previous advice for both vaccines of a four week gap between doses, as the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that as many people as possible in the top priority groups should sequentially be offered a first vaccine dose as the initial priority.

The recommendation to prioritise the first dose will allow protection to more people in the priority groups at a time when COVID is still spreading in Wales.

Based on a UK-wide priority system, the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine has already begun to be administered to frontline health and social care staff, as well as care home residents and staff and people aged over 80 and the AstraZeneca vaccine will enable more.

Latest figures to end of Sat 27^th December show that over 35,000 people have received the first dose of the vaccine within just 3 weeks of the start of the vaccination programme.

Every health board in Wales will receive their allocation in proportion to the size of its priority population and ability to deliver, as outlined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s prioritisation list.

Unlike the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, the AstraZeneca vaccine is stored at normal vaccine fridge temperatures. This means it will have few storage and transportation issues, making it much easier to use in community settings such as care homes and primary care settings like GP surgeries.

People are asked not to phone their GP, pharmacy or hospital asking when they will get a vaccine. When someone is in one of the groups eligible for the vaccine, they will be invited to attend a dedicated clinic which will have been set up to ensure patient safety and that of the healthcare professionals.

Correspondence will come from local health boards and the vaccine is free of charge through the NHS. People are warned to be alert to scams asking for money or personal information.

The effects of the vaccines may not be seen nationally for many months and the advice on keeping Wales safe remains the same for everyone; keep contacts with others to a minimum, keep a 2 metre distance from others, wash hands regularly, wear a face covering where required and avoid touching surfaces others have touched, wherever possible.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “Today marks a key milestone in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The roll-out of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been called a ‘game changer’ and this is true - its potential should not be underestimated. 

“In less than a month Wales’ NHS has mobilised the largest vaccination programme our country has ever seen and so far more than 35,000 people have received their first dose.

“Now, only 5 days since regulatory approval of the new vaccine for use in the UK, a second vaccine is here and ready for use, significantly adding to Wales’ defences in the face of coronavirus and protecting our most vulnerable.”

Senior Responsible Officer for Wales’ COVID-19 Vaccine Programme Dr Gillian Richardson said: “It is fantastic news that there is now a second vaccine to help protect our communities’ most vulnerable from the harms of COVID-19.

“Pace will be governed by supply, which will start slowly this week but build vastly over the coming weeks and months. However, vaccinations are happening in GP surgeries from today and we will also see an increase in our vaccination centres over the course of this month.

“It is so important that people continue to wait their turn for the vaccine – you will be contacted when your time comes. Please do not contact your GP or local pharmacy and add unnecessary pressures to their workload.”

Care boss says home residents should get priority for Covid jabs

* Mario Kreft, chair of Care Forum Wales.

A social care leader has warned of "catastrophic consequences" if care home residents are not given “absolute priority” in the roll-out of the newly approved Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

Mario Kreft MBE, chair of Care Forum Wales, spoke out because of concerns that the vaccine might be too late in reaching uniquely vulnerable residents at a time when care homes across Wales were at crisis point and the spread of the virus was rampant.

The Oxford vaccine is the second to be given approval by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency whose head, Dr June Raine, said it would save tens of thousands of lives, adding "no corners have been cut" in assessing the safety and effectiveness of the jab.

Mr Kreft said: “It’s clearly fantastic news that the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine has been approved  but it’s vitally important that it is rolled out very quickly because were are now in a desperate race against time, especially since this new super-strain of Covid-19 is so highly infectious and out of control, with community transmission rampant.

“Every care home manager will have everything crossed that the vaccine reaches their residents before the virus. There is great trepidation in the social care sector that it might not come soon enough.

“Residents in all care homes should be given absolute priority – along with the staff who provide care for them. Because of their age and infirmity, our vulnerable residents are uniquely at risk from this deadly virus.

“All residents and staff in care homes need to be vaccinated immediately – even in homes where they have had cases. Wherever they can be vaccinated safely they should be.

“If we fail to urgently protect care home residents we will be faced with catastrophic  consequences. This really is a matter of life or death.

“The situation could not be more urgent because this new mutant strain of the virus is even more dangerous because of its frightening ability to spread so quickly .

“In the meantime, I am appealing to people across Wales to adhere to the hugely important safety protocols, including social distancing, wearing masks and frequent handwashing.

“This is a civic responsibility. We will only suppress this virus and get back to some kind of normality when approximately 80 per cent of the population are vaccinated, otherwise we will never get rid of it.

“The sector is facing unprecedented pressure. We are in a perfect storm because of the risk of transmission by asymptomatic staff at a time when many staff are isolating and agency staff are hard to come by to provide cover. Many care homes throughout Wales are at crisis point.

“It may well be that Christmas has turbo-charged this virus and the exponential growth of community transmission is the greatest threat of all at the moment and this is something we must suppress, otherwise the vaccine will come too late for many people.

“Everybody in social care have worked unbelievably hard for the past 10 months and now the  vaccine is within our grasp – we just need a final push to get over the line.”

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "Very pleased that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been given the go-ahead. Over 25,000 vaccines have already been administered in Wales and this second vaccine will start to be rolled out here in the New Year."

Llangollen awakes to falling snow

* Llangollen awoke to a covering of snow this morning (Saturday). Here is the scene just before 9am on a deserted Regent Street with the snow still falling.

Still time to sign petition, says recycling campaigner

* The pie chart produced by Phil Jones to illustrate his argument.

The Llangollen resident who started a petition for the return of full-time recycling site to serve the area has thanked all those who helped it reach over 600 signatures.

But Phil Jones has said there's still time for people to add their names to the list before he hands it into council bosses later this month.

Mr Jones said: "I decided to start a petition to re-establish access to a full-time recycling facility just one month ago. 

"I did this because I saw no sign of progress by Denbighshire County Council in negotiating access for DCC residents to the Plas Madoc facility after it reopened to residents of Wrexham CBC last spring. 

"Our council had set out to negotiate an access agreement after it closed our site at Wenffrwd back in 2007, but it never completed the task. 

"Although some people expressed the view that the pop-up at the Pavilion was adequate for our needs, I had the feeling that everyone must be using Plas Madoc for all their serious recycling needs. 

"It would seem I wasn’t wrong. In just four weeks our online petition has, at the time of writing, hit 590 signatures. In addition to this, we put out paper petition forms in Watkin and Williams, Gwyn the Butcher, Lilly Rose, and Fouzi’s. We have well over 100 signatures from these locations."

He added: "We have always maintained that the service we receive in the Dee Valley falls well short of what DCC provides in other towns and so to illustrate this point, we looked at the number of households in Ruthin and compared that to the number of households in Llangollen. 

"There is not much difference, and yet the Ruthin facility is open for 152 hours per month, while we get four hours per month. The pie charts above show how badly we are served when compared to Ruthin.

"We will be submitting our petition sometime in January, and I would like to thank everyone who has already signed it. 

"We would like to get the online version over the 600 mark. So, if you are a DCC resident living in the Dee Valley and would like to support this campaign please take the time to sign the petition. "We are not asking for donations. 

"You can do this by clicking this link. http://chng.it/DBqy8jTh   

Town mayor sends out New Year message of hope

* The mayor, Cllr Austin Cheminais.

Llangollen will "rise like a phoenix" into the new year after the tribulations of 2020, says the town's mayor. 

In a positive message to residents as 2021 dawns, Councillor Austin Cheminais says: "What can you say about 2020?

"It’s summed up perhaps by some of the words that we’ve learned use over the last nine months self-isolating, pandemic, quarantine, lockdown, support bubble, social distancing. 

"Let’s hope that a new, more positive and optimistic vocabulary emerges as we move into 2021.

"Covid 19 has surely tested our resilience!

"All our lives have been affected and changed by the pandemic and our thoughts and prayers go out to those families and friends who have lost loved ones, and those who continue to endure separation, illness, and job losses.

"Thank you to our amazing NHS, the emergency services, our health centre staff, care providers, shop workers and those involved in the many other essential public services that we now appreciate more than ever.

"What 2020 has demonstrated is that that our community is resilient, resourceful and caring.

"Llangollen’s relentless community spirit has brought out the best in us. Thank you for all your kindnesses big and small."

He adds: "A special thanks to those individuals who have stepped up and taken a lead and have mobilised and organised us to help.

"Many of you have volunteered and have shopped for each other, delivered medicines and meals.

"You have checked-in on each other, walked your neighbour’s dogs and crossed the road to let others walk safely.

"All without self-reward, only seeking to make life a little safer and better for those that need help!

"Thank you!

"Llangollen is a special place and it is a privilege to be part of the community. We should be proud and honoured that so many people from all over the world want to come and share our town with us.

"We will emerge Phoenix like in 2021. There are great days ahead, so let's get ready to greet our visitors and show them what a fantastic place Llangollen is.

"I look forward to the future with hope and optimism and to welcoming the World back to our wonderful town.

"Happy New Year, Llangollen."

"Let's hope we can all look forward to a better time in 2021."

Happy New Year 2021 from llanblogger

 

Health Minister gives coronavirus update

Today's coronavirus update from Health Minister Vaughan Gething (pictured) is:

"I indicated in yesterday’s session in the Welsh Parliament that I would provide a further update on the current pressures being experienced across the health and care system in Wales. The approval of the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine yesterday was very welcome news but the benefits are still some way off. The current situation across our health and care system remains exceptionally challenging.

I want to take the opportunity once again to thank our front line staff for their continued effort in the face of this relentless pandemic and to recognise their commitment, compassion and hard work. The last year has taken its toll on many front line workers and we have seen high levels of sickness that inevitably impacts on services for patients. The situation has become particularly acute with the surge in the transmission of the virus. At present there are more than 2,000 fewer staff available to work in late December than there were in September before the current surge. This has been exacerbated over the holiday period with increasing numbers of our workforce returning to shielding. 

Many aspects of our health and care system are stretched to the limit as they seek to provide essential care and treatment. Routine activity in hospitals has had to be limited and domiciliary care and care homes are experiencing similar constraints on the services they can provide. Together with normal winter pressures, this has resulted in very high levels of pressure. The situation is compounded by the significant increase in the numbers of patients suffering from covid that are now in hospital beds and in critical care.

Critical care is now operating at 141% of its normal capacity and is the most serious concern over the next few weeks into the New Year. While we always planned to increase capacity, the current position is precarious as adequate staffing becomes a real issue. We continue to see patients in critical care for long periods of time and sadly many deaths. In the last few days there has been an overall increase in covid-related hospital inpatients to more than 2600 – critically, for the first time, this has now exceeded the 2500 patients we anticipated. Sadly we now have a record number of more than 1600 confirmed covid patients in our hospitals across Wales.

Patients that are still very ill but beginning their recovery in hospital are now up to more than 800. This has an increasing impact on available beds, as these patients may need to stay in hospital for long periods of time.

Primary care services also continue to deal with exceptional levels of demand as does the 111 service and the ambulance services. On Monday the 111 services had over 4000 calls in just one day, which is the highest seen in a single day. We know that high community prevalence leads to higher hospital admissions, serious illness and the loss of our loved ones. It takes several weeks for changes in the community transmission of the virus to start to impact on the pressure on our hospitals. We are currently still seeing increases in hospital admission and the latest 7 day average is close to 120 hospital admissions per day, twice the level we saw in September.

This statement provides an honest picture of the scale and significance of the challenge we face across our NHS. However it is important to share following my oral statement yesterday to help describe the specific pressures that are being managed. It reflects a system that is managing its most critical period of the year with over 2600 less beds than normal and with 119 less ICU beds available than would normally be the case, as they are occupied by covid patients and are therefore not available to support our usual winter pressures activity.  The NHS is having to adapt during this intense period by reducing other activities and limiting access. The coming weeks present genuinely unprecedented challenges and no effort is being spared to combat them.

The impact of the virus is across all health and care services and we appreciate the collaborative effort that continues across sectors in Wales. We know there is a delay between the impact of lockdown and any reduction in pressure. It remains more important than ever that the public stay at home and help save lives. Together we can keep Wales safe.

This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so."

See in New Year safely at home, says ambulance service

The Welsh Ambulance Service is urging the public to see in the New Year safely at home.

With Wales in a full Alert Level 4 Lockdown and the wider UK on the verge of mass vaccination against Coronavirus, now is a critical time.

The Trust is asking the public to keep their community safe by not venturing outside their household or support bubble and risk spreading or contracting the virus.

Director of Operations for the Welsh Ambulance Service, Lee Brooks, said: “We would ask the public to please only leave your home for the essential reasons as set out in alert level 4.

“The entire healthcare sector is currently under extreme pressure and we strongly urge you to keep 999 and hospital emergency services free for only the most serious injuries and illnesses.

“You can do this by not taking any unnecessary risks around the home, only consuming alcohol moderately and of course not hosting or attending any gatherings.

“Please heed the Welsh Government’s advice to keep Wales safe and remember, ‘No party is worth the risk’.

“We would like to thank all our staff working tonight who, of course, wish for a very different New Year’s Eve.”

Whilst celebrating from home, the Trust is also urging people to take extra care if using fireworks.

Not only do they present a risk of burns injuries, smoke from fireworks can aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma.

People with asthma are at a higher risk of getting very sick from Coronavirus which highlights the double medical risk from meeting with others not in your household.

Speaking of demand on the Trust, Regional Utilisation Manager Gill Pleming said: “Traditionally, tonight is one of our pinch points, and last New Year’s Eve alone we received 946 emergency calls.

“We would appeal to people to help us drive this figure down.

“Should you find yourself requiring non-urgent medical advice, the NHS Wales 111 online service is available at https://111.wales.nhs.uk/.

“But, in the case of a genuine life-threatening injury or illness we are still here for you on 999.”

Tonight's the night for live New Year's Eve event

Llangollen-based Orb Sound and Lighting has teamed up with party band Rhythm Train to stage a live stream New Year's Eve entertainment event tonight.

The aim is to raise the spirits of the community after a tough year by showcasing local talent.

The action-packed three and a half hour show, which runs from 9pm until 12.30am next morning, will be produced from one of the venues in Denbighshire the company usually works closely with but the exact location is being kept secret due to Covid regulations. 

On the bill along with Rhythm Train will be the Fron Male Voice Choir, The Hollywood Swingers, Delta Academy Ladies' Choir, Ifton Colliery Band, Lleisiau'r Afon Ladies' Choir and more.

An ORB spokesperson said: "The stream will include three live 45-minute sets from the band, interspersed with some pre-recorded content and adverts from local sponsors and local community groups

"We will also encourage people to send in messages to friends and family using a hashtag which can be moderated and shown on the bottom of the stream.

"The event will be shared across our own website, YouTube and Facebook  

https://www.facebook.com/ORBsoundandlighting sites as well as being broadcast on Radio Deeside.

"We aim to reach as many people as possible as we realise New Year's Eve can be a hard and lonely time for many people - this year more so than before. 

"We want to bring people together virtually, lift spirits as we enter the new year, and to give back to the community."

ORB Sound and Lighting provides staging, equipment and technicians for the outside stages of the International Musical Eisteddfod and Llangollen Fringe Festival each July.

They also support Llangollen Operatic Society, Young 'Uns and the pantomime group with all their equipment alongside technicians, who installed all of the new upgraded equipment for the Ysgol Dinas Bran ‘Curtains Up’ appeal, and who most recently gave up their time and equipment weekly during lockdown to beam a ‘Thank You’ message across the town during the Clap For Carers campaign.

The spokesperson added: "We have chosen a venue which we can adhere to Covid regulations and will have a number of measures in place including strict social distancing between all persons present.

"All equipment will be thoroughly sanitised before and after use, face coverings will be worn by the production team, and sanitiser will be provided throughout. 

"The building will also be locked during the entire evening to ensure we can remain safe inside, and that no members of the public can enter.

"Although the event is free we are asking for people to buy tickets for it to help us cover the costs. 

"We are asking them to pay what they can and the link is on the event's Facebook page at: 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-year-eve-live-stream-featuring-rhythm-train-tickets-133473720491?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

Today's coronavirus update from the Welsh Government

 

Latest coronavirus update from the Welsh Government (dated today, Wednesday) is:

·         A second Covid-19 vaccine has been given the go-ahead and its roll-out across Wales will start next week, the Health Minister has announced today.

o   The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has now authorised the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine as safe and effective on the basis of detailed independent expert review of evidence from large scale clinical trials.

o   The UK Government has procured vaccines on behalf of the four nations and around 100m of these are of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, with Wales receiving its allocation based on population over the next weeks and months.

o   https://gov.wales/second-covid-19-vaccine-given-go-ahead and https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-vaccine-deployment-wales-1  

o   Questions about Covid-19 vaccines https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/

·         Health Minister Vaughan Gething has provided an update about the latest coronavirus situation in Wales as the Senedd was today recalled to discuss the UK-EU trade agreement: https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/11170#A63478

 

Coronavirus in numbers

·         The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 2,281 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 146,706 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.

o   Sadly, there were 13 further deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 3,429.

o   These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary 

·         The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today published statistics on provisional weekly deaths, including deaths involving Covid-19, for the week ending 18 December.

o   The cumulative number of deaths involving Covid-19 in Welsh residents up to 18 December was 4,479.

o   Of the deaths registered in the week ending 18 December, there were provisionally 256 deaths involving Covid-19, 33 more than the previous week. Numbers are now at a similar level to early May.

o   There were a total of 3,593 (14%) excess deaths between 29 February and 18 December above the five-year average.

o   ONS figures are different to those reported by Public Health Wales as they include all reported deaths.

o   https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest 

  Where to find the latest information

·         Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4

·         Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/

·         Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws

·         Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/

·         Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/

·         The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.

o   The next press briefing will be held on January 4, 2021.

Clwyd South MP votes in favour of post-Brexit deal

* Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has today voted in favour of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s UK-EU post-Brexit deal, which will govern the UK’s trade agreement with the EU.

Members of Parliament, who were recalled from their Christmas recess, backed the agreement by 521 votes to 73.

The Bill will now progress to the House of Lords where peers will debate it and vote. 

Once the Bill passes both the Commons and Lords, as is expected, it will receive Royal Assent late tonight or early Thursday morning.

Simon Baynes said: “As a longstanding supporter of Brexit, I was very happy and proud to vote in favour of the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal today, and to deliver on the promises I made to my Clwyd South constituents last year when they placed their trust in me in the General Election.

“The deal itself is very good news for Clwyd South, the rest of Wales and the UK. 

"It will allow us to take back control of our laws, borders, money, trade and fisheries and provide Welsh businesses with exceptional access to the EU’s market – the first time the EU has ever agreed a zero tariffs, zero quota deal.”

New First Responder emergency vehicle hits the road

* The new car is handed over by staff at Mitchells Skoda to 

First Responders Effie Cadwallader and Adam Salomonson.

A new rapid response vehicle is being deployed to deal with life-threatening medical emergencies along the Wrexham-Shropshire border in an area including Llangollen.

The Skoda Fabia estate car is the first of its kind to be used by Community First Responders volunteering with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust

The car has been bought with a £10,000 grant from the Wales Lottery and sponsorship from the Cheshire-based Mitchells Skoda dealership group.

It follows an online crowd-funding appeal by volunteer Effie Cadwallader on behalf of the Wrexham Rural Community First Responders group, which raised more than £2,000.

The keys to the vehicle were handed over at a socially-distanced ceremony at Mitchell’s Cheshire Oaks headquarters. 

Effie, a long-serving Community First Responder from St Martins, near Oswestry, raised more than £2,000 with a crowd funding appeal which attracted more than 100 donations. The appeal has paid for car’s instantly-recognisable bright livery, plus necessary accessories and running costs.

Several business and organisations also supported the campaign, including Stan’s Superstore, Perrys of Gobowen, Ifton Garage, The Keys at St Martins, Selattyn Community Group and Ellesmere Probus Club.

Wrexham Rural Community First Responders will use the car solely for attending 999 emergencies assigned by the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust around the border area communities of Chirk, the Ceiriog Valley, Llangollen, Acrefair, Ruabon, Overton, Penley, Bettisfield and the outskirts of Ellesmere. 

When it is ‘off duty’ the car will be used by volunteers for visiting groups and community centres to undertake basic life support and public access defibrillator awareness courses.

Wrexham Rural Community First Responder Team Co-ordinator Terry Brownhill said: “The acquisition of this response car is a major step towards increasing the visibility of our volunteer Community First Responders who operate across the whole of Wrexham county borough in support of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

“ We are hoping to gain the support of our local communities when the car is seen out and about performing its dedicated role.”

* More information about the work of Wrexham Rural Community First Responders, and how to support the group, can be found at www.wrexhamruralcfr.co.uk