Coronavirus message from the head of the Post Office

Nick Read, group chief executive officer of the Post Office, has today sent out this email message to customers:

We know how important Post Office branches are to our customers. And we, alongside our postmasters and branch colleagues are doing all that we can to keep our branches open, so that we can continue to provide our products and services to you and your communities. At the moment, the majority of our branches are open as usual and our supply chain is running as normal. Our priority is to keep our customers, postmasters and colleagues safe and healthy. We have advised everyone working in our branches to practice good hand hygiene and we ask that our customers do the same, as well as maintaining a sensible distance between other customers and our colleagues. We will keep you updated as the situation evolves. But please rest assured that we are doing everything we can to support our customers, communities, postmasters and colleagues through this challenging time. Nick Read, Group Chief Executive Officer

County council update - Tuesday

The Council is responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement that we should only be making essential journeys and, where possible, will be encouraging people to use alternative methods for accessing services, such as using our website or telephones.

Below is a round-up of how services are affected:

Main council offices at County Hall (Ruthin), Caledfryn (Denbigh) and Russell House (Rhyl) :  All are closed to the public.  People are encouraged to visit the Council’s website for any information (www.denbighshire.gov.uk)   If you have any concerns about the welfare of a resident, please contact the Single Point of Access (SPOA) on 0300 456 1000.  For Out of Hours emergencies, please call 0345 053 3116 for Social Services, or 0300 123 3068 for all other services.  

Parks and playgrounds:   

The Council has started to close all parks and playgrounds across the county. The work of closing and securing all parks will be completed by Wednesday afternoon.

Loggerheads and Moel Famau Country Parks have been closed to the public, as well as Brickfields Pond in Rhyl, Marsh Tracks in Rhyl and Coed y Morfa in Prestatyn.    The Council has taken this decision in line with Welsh Government advice to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus and is in line with other Local Authorities and National Parks move to close public parks and beauty spots following concerns for public health with large numbers of people visiting .  Please help by following government guidance to stay at home, avoid unnecessary travel and practice social distancing.    

Car parks:  The car parks at Rhyl Sky Tower, Rhyl Pavilion, Nova (Prestatyn) the Central underground car park in Rhyl and the multi-storey car park in Denbigh are all closed.

Household Waste Recycling Centre Closures:

In order to help enforce the UK government’s instruction for residents to stay at home, all three of Denbighshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centres have closed until further notice. Travelling to these sites to dispose of waste is NOT a valid reason to leave your homes.   Employees at these sites will be re-trained ready for  redeployment to support our key waste collection kerbside services for food waste and residual (black bin) waste.

Please retain your bulky waste, DIY waste, electrical items and garden waste within the curtilage of your own properties.  Please do not put out this waste for collection on your usual kerbside bin day as we will not be able to collect it.  If you discover hazardous waste at your property during a DIY project, such as asbestos, please contact the Council immediately for advice and to arrange it’s removal.

Registration Service: As of  23^rd March 2020, Denbighshire Registration Service has taken the decision to cease conducting marriage, civil partnership or other discretionary ceremonies (e.g. renewal of vows; baby naming etc.) at the Register Office and at any licensed venue in Denbighshire until further notice.   Anyone who has already made a booking may contact Denbighshire Registration Service by emailing: ceremonies@denbighshire.gov.uk  The registration of Births and Deaths is now Strictly by Appointment Only.  Please make an appointment by calling 01824 708100.   Copy certificates may be ordered over the telephone by calling 01824 708100.  Please note that it may take longer than normal to process your application, as priority will be given to the registration of Births and Deaths. 

Payments to the Council:  Numerous residents have been in touch, asking how they should make any payments to the Council.   Residents can pay for council tax, business rates, housing rent, housing benefit overpayment, parking fines and general invoices via the Council’s website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/pay or  by the automated phone line: 0300 456 2499.  Where customers have a housing rent or council tax payment card, or a bill with a barcode payments can be made (via card, cash or cheque) at a Post Office, Paypoint or direct at the Natwest Bank.  Customers are asked to have the correct reference numbers for their payment when using these payment options.

Important information regarding Denbighshire licensed taxis/private hire:  The Licensing Team have had to implement interim steps for licensed taxis and private hire vehicles during the coronavirus situation.   As of today, you may see expired “taxi” plates on some vehicles.  Pleased do not be alarmed by this, as behind the scenes we have ensured that all the necessary licensing checks have been done!  You could now see, for the foreseeable future, a vehicle displaying an out of date vehicle plate on the rear, with either a paper printed version of the updated plate displayed in the vehicle or have available, on inspection, a smartphone version.  If you can’t see either of these please always ask the driver for proof of licence before you start your journey, they will be happy to show you.  You can also check by looking at the updated register of drivers / vehicles on our website  www.denbighshire.gov.uk/taxi-licences Any concerns please contact the Licensing team at licensing@denbighshire.gov.uk or 01824 706342.

Fleet’s Service Centre, Bodelwyddan:  The Council’s fleet service centre in Bodelwyddan is now closed to non-Council vehicles and customers.

Information previously released:

Libraries: From Monday March 23, our Library and One Stop Shop buildings will not be open to the public.  We will inform people of any developments. People are reminded that they can access a wealth of information and resources on the library section of the Council’s website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries

Child care for vital workers:  All schools in Denbighshire (apart from Ysgol Pendref, St Asaph VP, Ysgol Llanbedr and Ysgol Trefnant) have opened their doors today  to  provide child care for children of vital workers. School transport has been arranged. 

Free school meals:  Those children attending the vital workers child care in schools will continue to receive free school meals if they’re eligible. Any children not attending these sessions but are entitled to free school meals can call at these schools for a packed lunch

Reception at Russell House, Rhyl: This reception has been closed until further notice. If you have any concerns about the welfare of a resident, please contact the Single Point of Access (SPOA) on 0300 456 1000.  For Out of Hours emergencies, please call 0345 053 3116 for Social Services, or 0300 123 3068 for all other services.  

Single Point of Access:  This phone system is being changed to help signpost people to the right source of information, advice and assistance.   Callers will use the existing number 0300 456 1000 but following the option to select Welsh or English but will have different options to usual.

The following information was reported last week:

Update  from Denbighshire Leisure Ltd:  Denbighshire Leisure Ltd has decided to close all of its sites until further notice.  Closures include SC2 & Ninja TAG, Rhyl Pavilion and 1891 Restaurant and Bar, NOVA Prestatyn,  all leisure centres, North Wales Bowls Centre, Ruthin Craft Centre and Café R, 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 your 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.

Countryside and Heritage:   Given the current situation and advice on public gatherings, Denbighshire Countryside and Heritage Service will be implementing the following:

·        The Old Gaol and      Nantclwyd y Dre Heritage attractions in Ruthin will not be opening this      weekend and will remain closed to the public until further notice.

·        Plas Newydd and the      onsite café in Llangollen will not be opening until further notice, but      the grounds will be open.

·        Loggerheads Country      Park will remain open but the visitor centre will be closed. The café      remains open at this time.

·        Moel Famau Country Park      will also remain open.

Advice to businesses:  The Council’s website: http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/business has the latest information and advice to businesses regarding coronavirus, as well as links to Business Wales and Welsh Government websites.

Archives:  The public searchroom at Denbighshire Archives in Ruthin will close from Thursday, 19^th March.  Staff will be working away from the building but will answer e-mails whenever possible.  However, access to information and documents will be limited.

Exercise Referral Scheme:  This programme is being suspended until further notice. If you have any concerns or queries, please don’t hesitate to contact your local NERS Co-ordinator on 01824 712324.

Face to face service at Rhyl Job Centre:  This is being replaced by staff working from other buildings.

Tuesday update from Public Health Wales

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

This statement will be updated daily at 12pm

Updated: 12:00 Tuesday 24 March

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

“60 new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 478, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher.  Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is now circulating in every part of Wales.

“One further death of individuals who have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported to us, taking the number of deaths in Wales to 17.  

“We offer our condolences to the family and friends affected, and we ask those reporting on the situation to respect patient confidentiality.”

Yesterday (23 March 2020) the UK government introduced new measures, which were also reinforced by Welsh Government.

NEW RULES ON STAYING AT HOME AND AWAY FROM OTHERS

The single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection. The three new measures introduced yesterday (23 March 2020):

1. Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes
2. Closing non-essential shops and community spaces
3. Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public

Every citizen must comply with these new measures. The relevant authorities, including the police, will be given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

These measures are effective immediately. Welsh Government, working with UK Government, will keep these measures under constant review and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.

STAYING AT HOME

You should only leave the house for one of four reasons.

1. Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
2. One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
3. Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
4. Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

These four reasons are exceptions - even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.

These measures must be followed by everyone. Separate advice is available for individuals or households who are isolating, and for the most vulnerable who need to be shielded.

If you work in a critical sector outlined in UK Government guidance, or your child has been identified as vulnerable, you can continue to take your children to school. Where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents’ homes.

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 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 phw.nhs.wales/coronavirus.  

“Symptoms include: a high temperature, where you feel hot to touch on your chest or back; and a new, continuous cough. This means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual.

“Anyone with a suspected coronavirus illness 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 a very important role in slowing the spread of infection. By strictly following the latest measures, you will protect yourself, protect the most vulnerable and help to reduce the pressure on NHS Wales and minimise the impact of the virus.”

Cases by health board area of residence 

Health Board	New cases	Cumulative cases
To be confirmed	1	2
Resident outside Wales	0	3
Swansea Bay	2	49
Aneurin Bevan	28	248
Betsi Cadwaladr	4	19
Cardiff and Vale	12	96
Cwm Taf	2	23
Hywel Dda	11	27
Powys	0	11
Wales	60	478

County closes all its household recycling centres

To help enforce the UK government’s instruction for residents to stay at home, all three of Denbighshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centres have closed until further notice. 

Travelling to these sites to dispose of waste is not a valid reason to leave your homes, says the council.   

It adds: "Employees at these sites will be re-trained ready for  redeployment to support our key waste collection kerbside services for food waste and residual (black bin) waste.

"Please retain your bulky waste, DIY waste, electrical items and garden waste within the curtilage of your own properties.  

"Please do not put out this waste for collection on your usual kerbside bin day as we will not be able to collect it.  

"If you discover hazardous waste at your property during a DIY project, such as asbestos, please contact the Council immediately for advice and to arrange it’s removal."

* In another development today (Tuesday) Llangollen Inner Wheel and Rotary Clubs have taken the decision to cancel their summer fete which was scheduled for Saturday the 13th June. 

"We will have a bigger and better fete next year," they say.  

* South Wrexham Cluster of GP Practices has posted on behalf of its Llangollen Practice this morning: "We are working at reduced capacity today. Please use our services carefully and only ring if you have an urgent clinical need. Non-urgent queries can be emailed to us at:

Llangollen.Admin@wales.nhs.uk

MP explains strict lock-down rules for businesses

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has posted on Facebook an explanation of what the lock-down rules announced yesterday mean for local businesses.

He says: "Retailers allowed to stay open include (note: businesses and premises that breach the guidelines will be subject to prohibition notices, and/or unlimited fines):

■ Supermarkets and other food shops
■ Pharmacies
■ Petrol stations
■ Newsagents
■ Bicycle shops
■ Home and hardware stores
■ Laundrettes and dry cleaners
■ Garages
■ Pet shops
■ Post Offices
■ Banks

Businesses will still be able to take online orders and deliver items to people's homes. Retail and public premises which remain open must:

■ Ensure a distance of two meters between customers and shop assistants;
■ Let people enter the shop only in small groups, to ensure that spaces are not
crowded;
■ Queue control is required outside of shops and other essential premises that
remain open.

Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers will monitor compliance with support from the police.

County closes Loggerheads and Moel Famau

Denbighshire County Council has announced that with effect from today (Tuesday) Loggerheads and Moel Famau Country Parks will be closed to the public.

The council says it has taken this decision in line with Welsh Government advice to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

This is in line with other local authorities and National Parks' move to close public parks and beauty spots following concerns for public health with large numbers of people visiting .

A council spokesperson said: "Please help by following government guidance to stay at home, avoid unnecessary travel and practice social distancing."    

Community safety message from North Wales Police

North Wales Police have out out this community safety message to guide people through the current coronavirus situation:

North Wales Police Community Safety would like to thank the kind-hearted members of our communities who are looking out for their neighbours amid the ongoing Corona Virus outbreak. These are unprecedented times and we want to help you keep safe and look after each other.

We have been made aware of social media trends which encourage people to identify their households as ‘Vulnerable or Self- Isolating’. Please take care in following these trends as you may inadvertently advertise households to criminals looking to exploit vulnerable people.

Remember that while most people are supporting one another, there is still a small minority who will look to criminally exploit situations like this. Consider – Am I putting myself at risk of crime? Am I putting my neighbours at risk of crime?

Please take a considered and measured approach to identifying yourself or others as vulnerable. Below is our advice to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of scams or fraud:

• Do NOT hang anything on the front of your property which indicates you are vulnerable or in self isolation.
• Do NOT give out your banking details to anyone attending your address.
• Do NOT leave doors unlocked/open to allow easy access for carers as this could be used by criminals. Consider getting more keys cut or using a key safe.
• DO set up community or street WhatsApp groups so that residents in your area can communicate and ask for assistance without increasing the risk of crime.
• DO post a note through neighbour’s door if you think they are vulnerable or may need assistance.
• DO consider how best to exchange cash / goods. Always be aware of scammers who may try to sell items at an increased price in order to profit from Corona Virus
• DO continue to support your community as best as you can.

With more people self-isolating or working  at home, it is expected that you will receive more scam phone calls than usual. Please remember our advice:

Don't reveal personal details. Never give out personal or financial information (such as your bank account details or your PIN) over the phone, even if the caller claims to be from your bank.

Hang up. If you feel harassed or intimidated, or if the caller talks over you without giving you a chance to speak, end the call. It may feel rude to hang up on someone, but you have the right not to be pressurised into anything.

Don't be rushed. Scammers will try to rush you into providing your personal details. They may say they have time-limited offer or claim your bank account is at risk if you don't give them the information they need right away.

Please continue to check our website and social media pages for regular updates. If you are a member of a community group or know of neighbours who are not online, please share this information.

Follow trusted social media pages for updates about the ongoing situation. We will always share up to date crime prevention advice on out Twitter and Facebook - @NWPComSafCent