Friday update from Public Health Wales

Public Health Wales statement on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

This statement will be updated daily at 12pm

Updated: 12pm Friday 20 March 2020

Dr Giri Shankar, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:

“The Chief Medical Officer has today confirmed the death of a third Welsh resident who had tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Public Health Wales offer our sincere condolences to family and friends affected by this loss.

“The individual, who was in their seventies and had underlying health conditions, was being treated at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.

“No further details regarding this individual will be released, and we ask those reporting on the situation to respect patient confidentiality.

“Three people in Wales who tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have now died.

“Twenty-one new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 191, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher.

“Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is now circulating in every part of Wales.

“We are working closely with health boards, NHS 111 and the Welsh Government to develop systems so that NHS Wales and members of the public have appropriate access to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing. Based on careful risk assessment, a phased rollout of testing will commence starting with health care workers involved in frontline patient facing clinical care. 

“Testing capacity is being expanded and is currently prioritised for patients, health care workers involved in frontline patient facing clinical care, and others where recommended by health board medical directors.  As our testing capacity increases, further guidance will be issued on those who are eligible for testing.

“Members of the public should follow the latest public health advice.”

The latest guidance is:

• People who live with others should stay at home for 14 days if they, or anyone in their household, has either a high temperature or a new and continuous cough
• People who live alone should stay at home for seven days if they develop a high temperature or a new and continuous cough
• Everyone should avoid non-essential contact with others and unnecessary travel
• Everyone being asked to work from home where they possibly can, and avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and social venues
• People over 70, and vulnerable groups of any age will be asked within days to be shielded from social contact for several weeks

For the guidance in full, visit the Department of Health and Social Care website: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response  

Dr Giri Shankar said:  “People no longer need to contact NHS 111 if they think they may have contracted Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Advice about the virus is available on the Public Health Wales website.  

“People with a fever or persistent cough should stay at home for seven days if they live alone, or 14 days if they live with others.  Anyone who lives with someone displaying coronavirus symptoms should also stay at home for 14 days. They should not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.  

“They should only contact NHS 111 if they feel they cannot cope with their symptoms at home, their condition gets worse, or their symptoms do not get better after seven days.

“Only call 999 if you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, do not call 999 just because you are on-hold to 111.  We appreciate that 111 lines are busy, but you will get through after a wait.

“The public play an important role in the ‘delay’ phase. By following the latest advice, you will protect yourself, protect the most vulnerable, and delay and flatten the peak, which will reduce the pressure on NHS Wales and minimise the impact of the virus.”

Health Board	Local Authority	New cases	Cumulative cases
To be confirmed	To be confirmed	1	1
Resident outside Wales		0	2
Swansea Bay	Neath Port Talbot	1	15
	Swansea	0	19
Aneurin Bevan	Blaenau Gwent	1	11
	Caerphilly	1	23
	Monmouthshire	3	15
	Newport	10	38
	Torfaen	1	5
Betsi Cadwaladr	Conwy	0	1
	Denbighshire	0	0
	Flintshire	0	1
	Gwynedd	0	1
	Isle of Anglesey	0	2
	Wrexham	0	2
Cardiff and Vale	Cardiff	2	28
	Vale of Glamorgan	0	1
Cwm Taf	Bridgend	0	3
	Rhondda Cynon Taf	0	2
	Merthyr Tydfil	1	2
Hywel Dda	Carmarthenshire	0	8
	Ceredigion	0	1
	Pembrokeshire	0	2
Powys	Powys	0	8
Wales	Wales	21	191

The latest information is available from GOV.UK:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): UK government response

Collen Players' 'closed' show to be streamed live on Facebook to beat virus

* The Collen Players at their last sell-out music hall show in February.

Unable to perform in front of an audience because of coronavirus crowd restrictions, a group of old time music hall enthusiasts in Llangollen have come up with a high-tech way of letting people see their next show.

Llangollen Players was formed late last year by the town’s vicar Father Lee Taylor, who himself is a big music hall fan, to revive the Victorian-style of entertainment.

So far they’ve donned their period costumes to present three sell-out shows in the Community Hall which is always dressed for the occasion to recreate the atmosphere of a turn-of-the-century theatre.

The Players’ fourth production was supposed to be on May 1 but when they realised there was no way they would be able to perform to a live audience because of government advice on the infection risk of large crowds they decided to do it online instead.

And so at 7pm on Wednesday April 1 they're going behind closed doors when at least four of the group will perform on their usual stage while the show is streamed live on their own Facebook page, The Collen Players https://www.facebook.com/collenplayers/

Father Taylor, who acts as on-stage chairman for the shows and also performs comedy songs in them, said: “When it became clear we wouldn’t be able to get ahead with our May 1 show in front of our usual audience we got together and decided the best way was to stream something live instead.

“We’re going to do it a month earlier than planned because I expect quite a number of our regular audience will by that time be self-isolating and we’re aiming to cheer them up best we can with our show.

“Naturally, we’ll be taking every necessary precaution to ensure that none of our performers are at risk of passing on any infection.

“We will all be allocated individual rooms or spaces in the Community Hall on arrival so we don’t have to worry about coming into contact with anyone. They’ll then perform on stage one by one.

“It will be a shorter performance than usual, with songs and monologues and things like that, and at the end we won’t be socialising as we usually do but all heading straight home.

“We hope that the show will bring a little happiness in all the gloom surrounding coronavirus and that as many people as possible will tune it to see it.”

Friday coronavirus update on county council services

* County Hall, Ruthin.

Denbighshire County Council has provided an update on the latest closures and services affected, due to the on-going situation with Coronavirus. 

Update  from Denbighshire Leisure Ltd:  Denbighshire Leisure Ltd has decided to close all of its sites until further notice.  

Closures with effect from 4pm, Friday 20^th March, include SC2 & Ninja TAG, Rhyl Pavilion and 1891 Restaurant and Bar, NOVA Prestatyn,  all leisure centres, North Wales Bowls Centre, Ruthin Craft Centre and Caf頒, Rhyl Town Hall and Llangollen Pavilion.   

Denbighshire Leisure will be freezing all Direct Debit payments for fitness memberships and swimming lessons, effective immediately. They will not be making any more collections on direct debits until further notice. Customers don't need to do anything – the service will do this on their behalf and let people know in advance when they will be restarting, once the Covid-19 situation becomes clearer.

Food Safety:  If you are a new or existing food premises offering food delivery or take away/delivery service for the first time, due to the current covid-19 situation, the Council would like to hear from you.   It is essential that you assess the risk associated with this type of food service, to ensure you keep your customers safe in relation to allergens, food safety and social distancing.  We can advise you on these matters.  Please contact the Food Team on 01824 706405 food.safety@denbighshire.gov.uk

Community Support Services:

• Cefndy Enterprises has stopped taking new orders and will close today (Friday). Some staff will be in work next week to dispatch any current orders.  
• Day & Work Opportunities closing today (Friday) enabling staff to be redeployed as required. 
• Dolwen Day Care closing today (Friday) enabling staff to be redeployed as required. 
• Additional drivers being drafted in for the Integrated Community Equipment Services to support hospital discharge

Housing maintenance:  As a precaution, only emergency and/or urgent repairs will be attended as a result from the 23 March 2020. Please could you only contact us during office hours on 01824 706000 or on 0300 123 30 68 out of hours if it is an emergency. To report a general repair, visit https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/housing/council-housing/request-a-council-housing-repair.aspx and we will respond to your enquiry as soon as we can.

Bulky waste collection: The Council has taken the decision to suspend all new bookings for the Bulky Waste Collection Service from Monday, 23 March, to ensure front line workers and fleet are reserved for the collection of other waste streams.  If it is possible to retain your items at home until the service resumes, please do so. 

Whilst our Household Waste Recycling Centres  remain open at this time, we are advising people to only use this service if it is unavoidable, due to the social distancing measures we have put in place.  The employees at the 3 Household Waste Cs are not able to assist visitors to remove their waste from their cars.

Garden Waste: The Council has taken the decision to suspend all kerbside garden waste Collection Services until further notice, to ensure front line workers and fleet are reserved for the collection of other waste streams, such as food waste and black bin/pink sack service).

The Council will extend all household subscriptions for the same number of weeks the service will be suspended.  We will be unable to process refunds for any households who have had a collection of garden waste within their collection years.   If it is possible to retain your garden waste at home outside in  your garden until the service resumes, please do so. Further guidance on “how to compost at home” will be provided on the Council website in the next few days (www.denbighshire.gov.uk) .

Public Conveniences:  All public conveniences in Denbighshire will close from 5pm today until further notice.

Church revives ancient tradition during virus outbreak

* Father Lee singing the Angelus Prayer at noon today. 

St Collen's has brought back a time-honoured tradition during the coronavirus outbreak - the ringing of the Angelus Bell.

Vicar, Father Lee, says: “Many of us rely on alarms and alert sounds on our mobile phones to remind us of things. The tolling of the Angelus Bell, which goes back to the 11th century, was to alert people of a time of prayer.

“At 12noon each day the Anglus Bell will ring (three sets of three with a pause in between, followed by nine rings).”

The first session of the bells being rung while Father Lee sings the Angelus Prayer was held at noon today.  

It was streamed live on the Facebook page of Llangollen Group of Churches.

Below is the Angelus Prayer.

Welsh Government pledges to protect businesses and jobs

Welsh Government Economy minister Ken Skates (pictured) has made a bold pledge to protect every good business and job in Wales - but it relies on the chancellor bringing in a wage subsidy.

The Economy chief spoke this morning at a press conference to lay out how they would back the business community in Wales.

But he said it was now up to UK chancellor Rishi Sunak to bring in a wage subsidy to support workers.

For the full story, see: https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/welsh-government-pledges-every-good-17953062?utm_source=businesslive_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Link714&utm_campaign=wales_newsletter

Friday coronavirus update

* St Collen's is bringing back an ancient tradition to help workers in the field get to church. The ringing of the Angelus Bell at noon. 

The newly-formed Llangollen Coronavirus Group has been busy working out the duties its band of volunteers will perform as they come to the aid of those worst hit by the outbreak.

In a message put out yesterday one of its founders, Cat Meade, said: “I have had several contacts today from local police, DCC, Health Centre and local businesses.

“Safeguarding of those we are helping is paramount, any duties the volunteers carry out are being carefully planned.

“We have confirmed with the Health Centre and Rowlands who is able to collect and deliver prescriptions, Rotary are also on board.

“Rowlands Pharmacy is under huge demand on medication, they will close 12 -2pm daily to keep up with orders.

“Under no circumstances will any volunteer take a card with pin to run errands, we are in talks with local business on card payments etc.

“Newspapers - a lot of requests, we have teamed up with Sam at the Newsagents (former Mr Lees) to arrange daily deliveries, if you would like to add to the list please call our volunteer Verity Maybury on 07500103945 who is collating a database of requests, this will be rolled out in the coming days. Working on volunteers for delivery.

“Gwyn the Butchers is now teaming up with Dee Valley Produce to deliver meat supplies with your veg order, contact Gwyn on 01978 860075 ... this may become very popular so will be limit per customer and may require further volunteers to help with deliveries.

“I have had many calls today to simply say "thank you", felt worried and concerned until heard what we are all doing and what a comfort it is to our elderly community.

“Thank you once again to all of you amazing people keeping our town going, keep shopping local, help all our businesses get through these trying times #llangollenfamily.”

St Collen’s went on Facebook yesterday to announce it is bringing back a time-honoured tradition during this difficult time - the ringing of the Angelus Bell.

Vicar, Father Lee, says: “Many of us rely on alarms and alert sounds on our mobile phones to remind us of things. The tolling of the Angelus Bell, which goes back to the 11th century, was to alert people of a time of prayer.

“At 12noon each day the Anglus Bell will ring (three sets of three with a pause in between, followed by nine rings).”

If you would like to join Fr Lee live for the Angelus prayers, this will be live-streamed at 12 noon. Simply visit the Facebook Page: Llangollen Group of Churches.

Well-known local figure Pete the Hat, who is the key organiser, was on Facebook yesterday to announce that another major event, the Red Dragon music festival planned for May at the Pavilion,  had fallen victim to the coronavirus outbreak.

He posted: “We have been advised and therefore it is with a heavy heart that we have to announce that May’s Red Dragon will not be going ahead ...... that’s the bad news.

“The good news is we have snapped up the last available date at the Pavilion and we can announce that the Red Dragon has been postponed until Friday 9th October till Sunday the 11th October.2020.

“We have messaged all the bands and it’s looking very positive that the line up won't change, we will keep you posted. Oliver/Dawson Saxon are good to go.

“All tickets already purchased are valid for the October Red Dragon, or next Mays Red Dragon. Any problems call me 07784 519900.”

Llangollen Health Centre out a message about Covid-19 and the drug ibuprofen on its new Facebook page, South Wrexham Group of GP Practices.

They said: “There has been a lot of concern regarding the use of ibuprofen in relation to Covid-19.  Whilst there is no conclusive evidence overall, the current recommendation from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales is that patients who have confirmed Covid-19 or feel that they may have Covid-19 should use paracetamol to manage their symptoms.

“Those who take ibuprofen for other medical reasons (such as arthritis) should not stop taking it.

“This position is being kept under constant review by the CMO and any changes to guidance will be posted on here.”

In another post the health centre said: “We cannot provide med-3's (fit/sick notes) for patients who are self-isolating. 

“These are unprecedented times and the advice from the UK government to employers is this:

‘By law, medical evidence is not required for the first 7 days of sickness. After 7 days, employers may use their discretion around the need for medical evidence if an employee is staying at home.’

“We strongly suggest that employers use their discretion around the need for medical evidence for a period of absence where an employee is advised to stay at home either as they are unwell themselves, or live with someone who is, in accordance with the public health advice issued by the government. This will allow GPs to focus on their patients."

Rowlands Pharmacy next door to the health centre had its own message for the public when it said: “Please be aware that Rowlands Pharmacy Llangollen is closing every day between 12 and 2pm.  They are so busy and this allows them time to catch up with all the medication requests.”

New Dot Cinema posted to say: “We have been carefully following advice from the government, health services and cinema organisations regarding COVID-19.

“As the situation around the country has worsened, the Town Hall has decided to close until Monday, June 15th - a decision we fully support.

“Our main priority is to support the Town Hall in ensuring our audience is as safe as possible. However, this means that we will no longer be able to show most of our Spring programme.

“We are very excited about the films we have lined up for the upcoming quarter but we will be equally excited about them when we are finally able to resume screenings in the Summer.

“Online tickets will be automatically refunded, paper tickets can be returned at Llangollen Oggie Shop & Fine Foods.

“We will let you know when we can resume screenings and we hope we can come back with something cheering after what is likely to be a very trying and difficult few months for everyone in our community.”

Courtyard Books said it is still open for books, games and jigsaws to help pass the time and is also able to offer  cards and stamps to help keep in touch.

They said: “You can message us for a book and if we haven't got it in stock will order it for you. Payment can be made over the phone and as long as it is within Llangollen. I can deliver for you ... a walk would be good exercise for me!

“Please ask if there is anything we can do to help in these strange and worrying times. Stay safe and healthy.”

Sam’s Coffee at Gales Wine Bar said it had “regretfully” decided to close yesterday until it knows what’s happening.

It added on Facebook: “It’s upsetting as we’ve had the best few months since we opened, it’s been getting busier all the time and it’s been so good meeting you all.

“The shop will be back better and stronger and tastier when we return, we had some plans for summer which we will hopefully be able to carry out. Best of luck to our neighbours during this time, please support them as best you can. Look after yourselves and your loved ones and see you soon.”

Bethan Mascarenhas at the Old Vicarage care home in Llangollen posted: “If you are out of work at present and stuck, there are a few care homes that are in need of extra staff for care, kitchen and cleaning.

“If you would like information of local homes who need staff, please get in touch and I will pass on their information.”

Meanwhile, Arriva Buses Wales said on its own website that emergency timetables will be introduced on many of its services from next Monday.

It added that details were being finalised and would be announced soon.

The UK Government has announced a radical package of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus.

It says that, as a result, no renter in either social or private accommodation will be forced out of their home during this difficult time.

Emergency legislation will be taken forward as an urgent priority so that landlords will not be able to start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a three-month period.

A press release adds: “As a result of these measures, no renters in private or social accommodation needs to be concerned about the threat of eviction.”