Every household to receive vaccination information

Letters about the Welsh Government’s COVID-19 vaccination plans will shortly begin to arrive at the front door of every household in Wales.

The Health Board letters will be sent to every household in Wales over the next couple of weeks and will be issued by Local Authorities, on behalf of the Welsh Government.

It will provide information on the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccines currently available in Wales, how the vaccines are being made available and in what way people will be invited to an appointment. People are being urged to wait their turn and not to contact NHS or health services to request a COVID-19 vaccine

When they are invited for their vaccination, which could be at a hospital, a vaccination centre or their GP surgery, people will be advised where their vaccination will take place.

Each letter will be tailored to provide relevant information to communities on the services specific to the area.

There are two phases of the vaccine roll-out and within the first phase, vaccines will be given according to age and risk of serious illness if someone catches coronavirus. The groups in this first phase - accounting for 1.5million people - represent around 99% of preventable deaths from coronavirus.

In the first five weeks since the first vaccines were administered in Wales, 91,239 people have now received their first dose. A second dose of the same brand is recommended within 12 weeks.

It is hoped that every eligible adult in Wales will be offered a vaccination by the autumn, as set out in the Welsh Government’s Vaccination Strategy released earlier this week [Monday 11].

As well as the letters, Welsh Government is also reinforcing its warnings about scams which ask people for their bank details or payment to receive a vaccine; no one will be asked to pay for a vaccine on the NHS. To help notice a scam, people should look out for misspellings and grammatical errors, as well as non-NHS web addresses asking for details.

They’re also warning against ‘vaccine calculators’ which claims to give a predicted date for when someone can expect to be vaccinated. In reality, these calculators harness personal details to make an estimate and are not endorsed by official organisations.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “An enormous amount of work has gone into delivering what is the largest vaccination programme Wales has ever seen. Our plans are ambitious but together with the NHS, we are working incredibly hard to make sure people get their jabs as quickly and safely as possible.

“Vaccinations are life-saving and, in this pandemic, it could be life changing for all of us. However, as we speed up the roll out of vaccines across Wales, it’s more important than ever that we follow the rules and keep ourselves safe. That means staying at home and working from home; keeping our distance from others; washing our hands often, and if we do have to go out, wearing a face mask when we’re in public places.”

Llangollen Health Centre says on its new Facebook page: "We have more cases of Covid in the community than ever before right now.  The vaccine has given us all hope and there is light at the end of the tunnel but this is the most dangerous time.  Please remain vigilant, abide by the rules and stay safe.

"On a brighter note, the supply of vaccines is improving and we will be holding more clinics very soon.  Patients aged 80 and over should expect to receive a phone call or letter over the next 2 - 3 weeks."

Advice for parents on face-to-face learning during lockdown

Parents in Denbighshire are being reminded of guidance around education availability by the county council.

Face-to-face learning has been suspended, apart for the children of critical workers and vulnerable learners, by the Welsh Government until at least January 29, but unless infection rates reduce significantly this could be put back to February half term.

With increased transmission rates due to the new variant of coronavirus, Welsh Government guidance states children of key workers should only attend school if there is absolutely no safe alternative, and only on days when their parent or parents are working.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: “We understand this is a very difficult time for pupils and parents with face-to-face learning suspended.

“During this period schools are open to children of key workers and to keep schools safe it is vital we ensure Welsh Government guidance on who can attend is followed.

“Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be, but if parents/carers work is critical to the Covid-19 response or is in a key sector such as health and social care and the child/children cannot be kept safely at home, then priority is given for their continued education provision.

“To ensure our communities stay safe and transmission is reduced, only those pupils who need to be in school should be attending. This is to ensure schools remain open for those who need the places available.”

Welsh Government guidance states:

One critical worker does not necessarily mean children are entitled to a place at school, and that if children can be safely cared for at home they should be.

Difficulties with balancing home-learning and working from home is not a reason to access the provision unless the person working from home is a critical worker and is unable to safely care for the child.

If capacity is reached, based on the school's risk assessment, certain children may be prioritised for provision based on parental occupation.

Chair gives update on 2020 scheme's progress

* The 2020 scheme proposes major changes in the town centre.

The chair of the group aiming to make major changes to traffic and parking in Llangollen claims the plan they are working on will give a £3 million boost to the town over 10 years - equivalent to 128 extra jobs.

In an update on the 2020 scheme for llanblogger, County Councillor Graham Timms also says his team expect to have "very good news" by the end of March this year, leading to construction work starting this autumn of 2021 with completion in early 2022.

He says: "The Llangollen 2020 team is becoming confident that major work will begin later this year, after the summer season. 

"Whilst many projects have been delayed during the ongoing pandemic, the Llangollen 2020 group have been able to continue their work with Denbighshire County Council, Welsh Government and its other key stakeholders. 

"The final detailed plans for the scheme are being drawn up by urban architects and traffic engineers to make the town's ambitions become reality. 

"A financial package which will see more than £2 million invested in the town is in its final crucial stages of being put together with a number of major sources. 

"The team expect to have very good news by the end of March this year, leading to construction work taking place starting in the autumn of 2021 with completion in early 2022. 

"A staged approach to the development over the visitor low season will ensure that our businesses can remain open and disruption to the town is minimised by the construction work. 

"The project vision remains as it has from the start: to develop a safer and more attractive town centre that better meets the needs of residents, businesses and visitors. 

"The covid-19 pandemic and the need to have a town centre that provides increasing provision for active travel, alongside the climate change agenda have focused everyone's minds sharply on many of these issues."

Cllr Timms adds: "As it stands, the key changes the project will bring about are set out below: 

●       Widen footways / minimise carriageway width to maximise pedestrian space and slow traffic down

●       Install crossing points on Castle Street and across side roads to improve crossing safety, especially for those with disabilities and/or small children

●       Install delivery bays on Castle Street and Market Street

●       Slow vehicle speeds throughout town centre to 20mph(scheduled for 2023)

●       Implement raised bed crossings at major junctions on Castle Street

●       Implement a town centre residents’ parking scheme and 30 minutes free parking 

●       Improve signage to Pavilion and Mill Street car parks to reduce pressure on Market/East Street car parks (and traffic congestion when they’re full)

●       Provide dedicated parking for business owners and staff at Ysgol Dinas Bran for weekends/holidays

●       Declutter signage to improve town appearance 

●       Upgrade the traffic lights at A5/Castle Street junction and the Victoria Square junction to respond to real-time traffic volumes.

●       Provide better cycle and walking routes within the town

●       Provide cycle parking within town centre and electric car charging points in car parks. 

Benefits from these changes are anticipated to include: 

●       £3 million boost for the town over 10 years, equivalent to 128 additional jobs

●       Improved town centre safety

●       Improved town centre air pollution (currently fourth worst spot in North Wales)

●       Improved active travel options.

"One of the Llangollen 2020 proposals that may be a casualty at the design stage is the mini roundabout which was proposed for the Abbey Road/Castle Street junction. There is room for the mini roundabout but it would introduce a number of other significant problems. 

"Whilst it has been shown that it would increase traffic flow through the junction, the Welsh Government advise that it would make it more difficult for pedestrians to cross all roads leading to this junction. The topography of the area also makes it very difficult to introduce a mini roundabout without making substantial changes.

"There will be an opportunity to hear an update on the Llangollen 2020 project on a Cittaslow Community Conversation on 27^th January 2021. More information from townclerk@llangollentowncouncil.gov.uk."

Pandemic updates from the Welsh Government

 

Latest coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) are:

• The £180m Economic Resilience Fund sector-specific fund to support tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions will open for applications at 12pm on Wednesday (13 January).
• The funding, originally announced in December, is part of a wider £450m package of support which the hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors as well as their supply chain can access and will provide vital support to thousands of firms impacted by alert level three and four restrictions.
• https://gov.wales/180-million-fund-hospitality-leisure-and-tourism-businesses-opens-week
• The fund will be open for two weeks or until fully committed.
• Eligibility checker: https://fundchecker.businesswales.gov.wales/sectorspecificgrant/
• The United Arab Emirates are being removed from the list of exempt countries and territories, so travellers from those countries will need to isolate on arrival in Wales https://gov.wales/written-statement-amendments-health-protection-coronavirus-international-travel-wales-regulations-0
• Health Minister Vaughan Gething’s oral statement to the Senedd about the Vaccine Strategy is available at https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/11146#A63750
• Updated: Alert level four frequently asked questions: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions

 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,332 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 172,879 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Very sadly, there were 16 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 3,997.
• These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

• The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is being published every weekday by Public Health Wales.
• 91,239 people have received their first dose of the vaccine
• 97 people have received two doses of the vaccine
• https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

 

• The Office for National Statistics has today published statistics on provisional weekly deaths, including deaths involving Covid-19, for the week ending 1 January 2021.
• The cumulative number of deaths involving Covid-19 in Welsh residents up to 1 January was 5,169.
• Of the deaths registered in the week ending 1 January, there were provisionally 310 deaths involving Covid-19; this was 32 more than the previous week – numbers are now at a similar level to early May.
• For the period 29 February 2020 to 1 January 2021, there were a total of 4,109 excess deaths (15%) above the five-year average. The excess death rate for Wales for the period 29 February 2020 to 1 January 2021 overall was lower than in England.
• The numbers reported by ONS are different from those from Public Health Wales because of different reporting methods and timing. The ONS figures are higher because they include some extra cases.
• https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest

 

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

Those breaching Covid rules "increasingly likely" to face fines, say police

North Wales Police have this afternoon issued a new statement about the enforcement of Covid-19 rules.

It says: "Those breaching Covid Level 4 restrictions are increasingly likely to face fines as police continue to see many flouting the law by ignoring the legislation.

"The warning comes following a busy weekend where officers have reported a substantial amount of people for breaching restrictions on non-essential travel.

"Patrols continued in popular hot spot areas across the region and people who were out ‘visiting’ and who had travelled by vehicle to places such as Snowdonia, Moel Fammau, Llangollen, Brenig, Wepre Park, Llandudno and Abergwyngregyn were stopped and reported for breaching Covid regulations.

"Although North Wales Police will continue to apply the 4 E’s approach of engaging, explaining and encouraging – only then enforcing, the force will instruct officers to issue fines more quickly to anyone committing obvious, wilful and serious breaches.

"Many of those were residents of north Wales – however officers also stopped groups from the Cheshire area who intended on climbing up Tryfan in the dark and with inappropriate clothing. A woman from Staffordshire was also stopped in Prestatyn where she was ‘visiting the beach.’

"Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Nigel Harrison said: 'We all know the law by now and know exactly what is the right thing to do. It is on every single news channel, radio bulletins and in the newspapers. There’s no escaping the fact that people have been told to stay home.

'It is not acceptable to pick and choose the law you follow and the laws you don’t. This is not a dress rehearsal and people will live and die on the actions we all choose.

'The restrictions to prevent the spread of Coronavirus are there to protect us all. Every single one of us - and it is vital that everyone takes personal responsibility by staying home unless they have a valid reason not to be there.

'Now is not the time to head up into the mountains or to enjoy scenic drives in the countryside. Exercise should start and finish from home – unless you have specific mobility issues where you can drive a short distance. Nobody should be travelling unless absolutely essential.

'As Police Officers our first duty is to preserve life. The critical situation our NHS colleagues are facing and the way the new virus variant moves through communities, means we can no longer spend our time explaining or encouraging people to follow rules where they are wilfully and dangerously breaching.

'If people continue to break the rules, putting themselves, their families and their communities at greater risk, our officers are ready to act robustly.

'It is up to us all to do the right thing. People should not think of ways of circumventing the law and the police should not be needed to reinforce common sense. 

'Policing continues regardless of the pandemic with officers responding to hundreds of emergency calls, searching for missing people , responding to calls in relation to violence in the home, dealing with drink and drug drivers and responding to road traffic collisions. Policing will continue to do our bit, but everyone else needs to do theirs. Unless it is for a valid reason please stay home.'”

* The statement can be viewed here: Weekend Covid enforcement | North Wales Police

County raises charge for green waste collection service

Denbighshire County Council is increasing the price of its fortnightly green waste collection service.

From January 18 subscription rates for the green bin garden waste service will rise "to bring the service closer to a self-financing model," says the council.

The new cost of the standard service will be £30 and the cost of the enhanced service will be £45.

These new charges will come into force on Monday, January 18 and will apply to all transactions made on or after that date.

Cllr Brian Jones, the council’s Lead member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “We have made the difficult decision to increase the subscription rates to move it towards a self-financing service as part of a wider need to identify budget savings within the Council.

“Moving to a self-financed service means garden waste collection is delivered under a fairer system where it is being paid for only by those using the service.

“Denbighshire will continue to offer a value for money service which operates all year round, with 26 collections a year. Garden waste can also be taken to the county’s household waste recycling centres for free throughout the year.”

Garden waste is not allowed in residents’ black bins and black bins containing garden waste will not be emptied.

Existing customers have had their subscription automatically extended after the stoppage of the garden waste service during the spring of 2020 due to coronavirus.

* Residents can renew expiring subscriptions and can check when their subscription is available to renew here: https://gardenwaste.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/Renewal/Renew

You can also renew your subscription by contacting the Council on 01824 706000.

Health board explains why operations at Wrexham Maelor are postponed

The Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, which covers Llangollen, has explained why it is been forced to postpone the majority of planned surgery at Wrexham Maelor Hospital due to the affects of the pandemic.

In a statement it says: “The increasing transmission of COVID-19 in the Wrexham and Flintshire areas and the resulting number of patients being treated for COVID-19 at the hospital – currently 128 - together with winter pressures has had a significant impact on our ability to provide routine services at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

“Regrettably, the majority of planned surgery at the hospital will be postponed for an initial period of two weeks with immediate effect from Monday, 11 January.

“This action will support the expansion of respiratory and critical care capacity to treat seriously ill COVID-19 patients. It will remain under constant review to enable us to react promptly to the evolving situation.

“All emergency surgery, upper gastro-intestinal surgery, endoscopy procedures and Caesarian sections will continue at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

“All patients affected will be contacted directly by the Health Board about the postponement of their procedure. If clinically appropriate, they may be offered their procedure at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

“Patients who are offered the opportunity to have their procedures at Ysbyty Gwynedd will be prioritised based on clinical need, regardless of where in north Wales they live.

“Urgent outpatient appointments only will continue at Wrexham Maelor Hospital for the present time. Face-to-face routine appointments will be postponed and will take place either via a virtual or telephone consultation.  

“Planned surgery at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan and Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor will continue, although with the rising COVID-19 incidence, this is also under constant review by the Health Board.

“Due to the pressures of COVID-19, planned Orthopaedic surgery will be paused across North Wales from Monday, 18 January. Trauma surgery will continue as normal across all three hospital sites.

“Other Health Boards have already taken similar action, which is in line with nationally accepted methods to risk assess patients.

“Professor Arpan Guha, Acting Executive Medical Director at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: ‘There are many patients expecting to undergo an operation in Wrexham over the coming weeks and we recognise how anxious and worried they will already be about having surgery during the current surge of the pandemic.

‘We are sorry for any further distress or inconvenience this decision may cause and would like to reassure those affected that we are doing all we can to prioritise patients in the most urgent need of care.

‘Our priority is to provide the safest possible environment for surgical patients. This clinically led decision has been made after reviewing predicted demand on our services from both COVID-19 and winter pressures.

 ‘Our staff are doing all they can to provide the best care for all patients while dealing with the challenges caused by the absences of colleagues due to COVID-19 infection, isolating and shielding.’” 

The statement adds that the specialties affected by these changes are:

·         Urology

·         Breast

·         Ophthalmology

·         General surgery

·         Gynaecology

·         Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) 

Advice to patients due to undergo surgery at Wrexham Maelor Hospital during the next two weeks is:

·         You will be contacted by hospital staff by phone about your appointment. Please do not contact the hospital switchboard.

·         If you do not hear from the hospital, please attend your appointment as arranged.

·         If you have any questions or need further information about an appointment or operation, please use the contact information provided on any correspondence received, for example a patient letter.

·         If you are seriously unwell and cannot wait to be seen, our advice remains to please seek help by dialling 999 or attending the Emergency Department.

Latest pandemic update from Welsh Government

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

• Health Minister Vaughan Gething will today publish the COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, which sets out three key milestones.
• It comes as the latest figures show more than 86,000 people have received the vaccine. Wales will publish daily vaccine figures from today.
• The three milestones set out in the plan are:
• By mid-February – all care home residents and staff; frontline health and social care staff; everyone over 70 and everyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable will have been offered vaccination.
• By the Spring – vaccination will have been offered to all the other phase one priority groups. This is everyone over 50 and everyone who is at-risk because they have an underlying health condition.
• By the autumn – vaccination will have been offered to all other eligible adults in Wales, in line with any guidance issued by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
• https://gov.wales/new-covid-vaccination-strategy-published
• Strategy: https://gov.wales/covid-19-vaccination-strategy
• Watch Health Minister Vaughan Gething’s press conference: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1348604539046293505

 

• Updated guidance: Moving home while Wales is in alert level 4 lockdown: https://gov.wales/moving-home-during-coronavirus-pandemic
• The Welsh Government is investing £4.9m to improve digital public services in Wales so they are easier for people to use.
• One consequence of the coronavirus pandemic has been that many more people have needed or chosen to access public services online, and this has already driven the transformation of some digital services.
• https://gov.wales/49-million-make-digital-public-services-better-people-wales

 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,793 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 171,547 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Very sadly, there were 17 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 3,981.
• These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

• The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is being published every weekday by Public Health Wales.
• 86,039 people have received their first dose of the vaccine
• 79 people have received two doses of the vaccine
• 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
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• 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
• 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/1348604539046293505

o   Slides published during the press conference: https://gov.wales/slides-and-datasets-minister-health-and-social-services-coronavirus-briefing-11-january-2021

Government fund to help Covid-hit tourism and hospitality sector opens

The Welsh Government’s latest £180m Economic Resilience Fund package to support tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions will open for applications at 12pm tomorrow, Wednesday January 13. 

The funding, announced in December, is part of a live £450m package of support that the, hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors as well as their supply chain can access and will provide vital support to thousands of firms impacted by alert level 3 and 4 restrictions. 

The £180m is in addition to a £270m support package for businesses that pay non-domestic rates, which includes non-essential retail businesses, and is being delivered via Local Authorities.

The Welsh Government estimates that under the package of support a typical hospitality business in Wales with the equivalent of six full-time staff could be eligible to receive between £12,000 and £14,000 in total, making it the most generous offer in the UK.

Economy Minister Ken Skates said: “Accelerating coronavirus rates meant we have had to make difficult but necessary decisions to protect people’s health and save lives. We know these decisions have a knock-on effect on our businesses and there is no doubt that latest restrictions mean very real challenges for firms who have already had to deal with so much.

“We are committed to doing all we can to protect our businesses during this very challenging time. Our package of support is the most generous in the UK and since the beginning of the pandemic more than £1.6bn of Welsh Government financial assistance has reached businesses.

“Many hospitality, tourism, leisure and non-essential retail businesses have already received payments of £3,000 or £5,000 in the last month and this additional funding will be absolutely crucial in supporting eligible businesses through the difficult weeks ahead.”

The amount a company can claim from the £180m sector specific fund will be calculated based on staff count and turnover. 

The fund is expected to support up to 8,000 hospitality, tourism and leisure firms impacted by the restrictions and potentially a further 2,000 in related supply chains.

An eligibility checker and calculator has been live on Business Wales since December to help businesses work out what support they can expect to qualify for in total and the detail they will need to make an application. Further guidance was also issued last week.

Since the end of October alone, more than 69,000 offers of support worth in excess of £230m have been made to businesses across Wales through the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund.

Welsh Government support has already protected more than 125,000 jobs that might otherwise have been lost.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “We are fully aware, not least from our hospitality stakeholder group, of the impact of the restrictions that we have had to bring in. This was not the Christmas period that any of us had hoped for, but I would urge businesses to take advantage of the help available.

“We will continue to do everything we can to support our firms and our people through to the other side of this dreadful pandemic.”

* Further information and details on how to make an application for the package of business support is available on the Business Wales website.  The fund will remain open for 2 weeks or until funds are fully committed.