Coronavirus update - Easter Saturday

* A screenshot from the Ysgol Bryn Collen fitness video. 

As the Easter holiday began yesterday Cat Meade, co-ordinator of the Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group, posted on Facebook that the hard-working team of volunteers were taking a break until Tuesday when they would be back ready to help the community through lockdown.

One of the key volunteers was about and about early on Good Friday delivering urgent medication.

And as he passed over the bridge Mike Connolly shot a quick video, panning round to show how eerily quiet the town was in contrast to how it usually is on a bank holiday.

Cat posted: “Happy Good Friday to you all.

“Let’s spend this weekend being grateful for what we have, our loved ones, our friends, our health, our community, sunshine.

“It is easy to lose sight of the most precious things in life with our busy days, weeks rolling into months ... catch up on Facebook, call, write a letter, tell that person what they mean to you, let’s take a positive from all of this, keep smiling.

“What a FANTASTIC scene Llangollen set last night for the 8pm Clap. What a Town! Music from all around was. Awesome.

“Our Volunteers are all taking a break until Tuesday and well deserved Please only call if urgent, we all need to recharge and will be back ready to help from Tuesday.

“There are still a few Light Sabres at Newsagents in Castle Street, get them ready for next Thursday.

“Orders still being taken for #llangollenfamily tshirts.

“Happy Easter Everyone, Enjoy.”

* Mike Connolly's video shows an eerily quiet lockdown Llangollen.

As he posted his video, Mike Connolly wrote: “Feeling proud in Llangollen.

“Out early Thursday morning delivering urgently needed meds. Not a soul to be seen.”

Another video was posted yesterday by Ronnie Louise Medri showing how people were keeping occupied during the lockdown.

She wrote: “The staff at Ysgol Bryn Collen are missing all of our children and parents.

“We know that our community is missing us too so we have put together a Fitness Frenzy video for you to follow at home.

“Please show it to your children and share so that all of our pupils and families are able to be positive and feel a little bit together whilst we are apart. #GoBrynCollen

Meanwhile, Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes posted the letter (above) he had sent to Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he was gripped by the virus.

He said: “Very pleased Boris is out of ICU and we all wish him a speedy recovery and a Happy Easter. This is the letter I sent him earlier in the week with best wishes from my constituents and his many friends in Clwyd South.

The vicar, Father Lee Taylor, returned to Facebook to live stream the Good Friday service from St Collen’s during the afternoon.

There are further streamed services this weekend at: https://www.facebook.com/LlanGroupChurches/.

Public Health Wales - Friday update

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

This statement will be updated daily at 2pm

Updated: 2:00pm Friday 10 April

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

“502 new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,591, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher. 

“29 further deaths have been reported to us of people who had tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), taking the number of deaths in Wales to 315.

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

“All available data relating to Coronavirus in Wales is now available on a new user-friendly data dashboard, which is available on the Public Health Wales website.

“As part of our efforts to continually expand testing, there is now a Deloitte testing facility operational at Cardiff City Stadium. This is part of the UK-wide plan to test key workers.  In Wales this has been led by Public Health Wales, Welsh Government, the Local Resilience Forum, and Deloitte. Please note that the facility is for key workers and you should only attend if invited.

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

“We want to thank each and every person across Wales for doing their bit to help slow the spread of the virus. 

“We know that staying at home can be hard especially when the weather is nice, but members of the public must adhere to social distancing rules about staying at home, and away from others, introduced by the UK and Welsh Government.  These rules are available on the Public Health Wales website.

“People no longer need to contact NHS 111 if they think they may have contracted Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Information about the symptoms to look out for is available on the Public Health Wales website, or members of the public can use the NHS Wales symptom checker.

“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.”

Council thanks business for donation of protective masks

* Staff at Gorwel Newydd Extra Care Scheme
 who will be some of the recipients of the masks.
The picture was taken before social
distancing measures were brought in. 

A significant number of protective masks have been donated to Denbighshire County Council by a St Asaph firm.

The face masks have been donated by Qioptiq and were delivered to the council by Vale of Clwyd MP James Davies who helped organise the donation.

The masks will be used by the council’s social care workers including those in residential and nursing care homes, domiciliary workers and social workers while a number were also donated to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Cllr Bobby Feeley, the council’s Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “I would like to thank Qioptiq and James Davies on behalf of the Council and all of our staff in social care.

“This donation will protect our key workers and vulnerable residents across the county. This is a fantastic example of our community working together and supporting each other during this difficult time.

“It is encouraging to see a local business rallying round to help key workers deliver essential services which are helping protect lives.

“We are sourcing protective equipment from a number of sources and donations like this help ensure we have a good supply of equipment moving forward.”

Dr Davies said: “I wish to thank the company for the generous donation. Our frontline staff are doing truly amazing work in this moment of national emergency.”

Peter White, Managing Director, Qioptiq Ltd and Vice President Excelitas Land Equipment, said:  “We are delighted to support health and social care professionals from our local community in the battle to contain the Covid19 virus. Our thoughts are with them and everyone affected.”

Stay Home, Stay Safe – Minister for North Wales

* Ken Skates AM.

As we approach the Easter weekend the message from Minister for North Wales Ken Skates is clear – stay home and stay safe.

He said: “This Easter will be very different to the holiday weekends we have enjoyed in the past.  Normally North Wales would be preparing to welcome visitors from near and far, but this year we are dealing with the covid-19 pandemic and the message is clear – stay home. “Accommodation, pubs, restaurants and tourist attractions across the region are closed.  We have taken action to close caravan, holiday parks and campsites, and we’ve given national parks and local authorities the power to close footpaths.  “This unprecedented action has been taken to save lives.  These measures will only succeed if we all follow the guidelines and stay at home.  We all have a responsibility to ensure we do not spread the virus and put lives in danger. “It may be difficult but we must continue to comply this Easter weekend and stay at home. “This is the best way to show our support for the NHS, emergency services and other key workers.  This has been the clear message from across the public sector in Wales including North Wales Police and the Snowdonia National Park. “Thank you for staying at home.”  Michael Bewick, the Chair of the North Wales Tourism Forum said we must comply with the Government’s regulations. “As the Director of an attraction and the Chair of the North Wales Tourism Forum, asking people not to visit is unbelievable, but we are living in a period of national emergency. “Every attraction in North Wales is closed, our principal mountains and beaches are closed and our towns and villages are to all extent and purposes closed. This is going to be an extremely challenging time for the tourism sector. “I’m sure that I can speak on behalf of the whole sector when I thank people for staying away, for staying at their main home and by saying that we very much look forward to welcoming you back to North Wales – in the future.”

Local coronavirus update - Good Friday

* A police officer acknowledges the light sabres thank you gesture by residents of Bishops Walk.

* Bishops Walk residents come out to salute NHS carers and emergency services staff with
light sabres like the one lit up below. The police car responded with a display of
"blues and twos".

Llangollen residents were out with their light sabres and clapping last night to say a big thank you to NHS carers and emergency teams helping the country through the coronavirus crisis.

Supply if the sabres was arranged by the town’s Coronavirus Help Group to make an even bigger impact at the weekly Thursday evening applause sessions taking place across the UK and some of the proceeds from their sales through the Castle Street newsagents have gone to the group to help with its work.

* County Councillors Graham Timms, left, and Melvyn Mile Skype their "stay at home" appeal.

Llangollen’s two county councillors, Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile, teamed up on Skype yesterday to send out a “stay away” message to anyone thinking of visiting the town over the Easter holiday.

In their joint appeal they said: “Whilst Easter weekend is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year in Llangollen, we are urging everyone to continue to stay away during the current lockdown. 

“The local economy relies heavily on tourism and will be severely affected by the absence of visitors in the coming weeks. However, it is essential that we all stay at home so that we don’t risk spreading the virus to others and to protect our family and friends.

“The first weekend of the lockdown saw many thousands of visitors in Llangollen, but since then there has been a complete change in behaviour.  Thank you for staying at home.

“We are looking forward to better times when we will be able to welcome you all again to this beautiful area where we can once again say that this is ‘the town where Wales welcomes the World’.”

* The array of  loudspeakers through which the town crier broadcast his
thank you message yesterday.

Llangollen’s town crier, Austin “Chem” Cheminais, boomed out a message of support over the town to show support for NHS and key workers at 8pm last night.

He did it courtesy of a bank of loudspeakers set up on a vantage point up by Ollie and James from Llangollen-based Orb Sound and Lighting.

The message, which was recorded by Chem earlier as he is self-isolating due to a heart condition, started off with a couple of his trademark oyezs and said: “Llangollen thanks the NHS carers and all the other people supporting us through these difficult times. It ended with three cheers for the carers and “take care and stsy safe Llangollen!”   

* Prizes from a Help Group raffle yesterday.

Cat Meade streamed the draw for the latest Cornoviris Help Group raffle live on Facebook, with the winners being chosen during the course of the filming.

Simon Baynes, MP for Clwyd South, posted yesterday: “I wanted to send my very best wishes to everyone involved in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod at this difficult time.

“I much enjoyed being an external Trustee between 2016 and my election as the MP for Clwyd South at the end of 2019.

“During that time we faced many difficult decisions but none so challenging as having to postpone the Eisteddfod, unavoidable as that recent decision has been.

“But I know the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will weather the storm due to its decades long, deep-rooted history and its importance to the culture of Wales and its international significance.

“Above all, however, it will be sustained by its Trustees, staff and many hundreds of volunteers who all work with such inspiration and dedication for this unique cultural celebration in the beautiful town of Llangollen.”

The vicar, Father Lee Taylor (pictured above), streamed his Maundy Thursday service live on Facebook from St Collen’s yesterday evening. He will stream other services over Easter weekend.

Betsi Cadwaladr health board, which covers Llangollen, posted yesterday to say: “This Easter, if you need to access urgent medical help in North Wales over the bank holiday weekend and outside of normal GP Surgery hours from Thursday 9th April to Tuesday 14th April, call the GP Out of Hours Service on 0300 123 55 66."

* North Wales Police's own pictures of their officers out on coronavirus patrol.

North Wales Police posted a number of times yesterday to say: “We continue to urge people today not to travel to North Wales this Easter weekend.

Travelling is for essential reasons only.

Our tourist attractions, mountains, beaches, pubs, restaurants, caravan, holiday parks and campsites are all closed.

“Companies including Airbnb have announced that second home bookings are only for key workers and other essential stays only in order to support front line staff in the fight against Covid-19.

“We ask that local people take into account that some of those staying in holiday homes will be NHS staff and other essential workers who are staying away from their families to protect loved ones whilst they work.

“Police officers, PCSO’s and the Special Constabulary continue to be out on patrol today and throughout the weekend stopping people travelling here to ensure journeys are for essential purposes only.

“Thank you to those of you who are staying at home. You really are playing your part in helping to save lives.” 

Public Health Wales coronavirus update - Thursday

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

This statement will be updated daily at 2pm

Updated: 2:00pm Thursday 9 April

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

“Due to a change in our reporting process, today we are reporting a lower than usual number of new cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales.

“Today’s figures reflect a much shorter period of six hours of testing.  Case numbers will return to normal on Friday, as we return to 24 hour reporting.

“16 new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,089, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher. 

“41 further deaths have been reported to us of people who had tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), taking the number of deaths in Wales to 286.

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

“All available data relating to Coronavirus in Wales is now available on a new user-friendly data dashboard, which is available on the Public Health Wales website.

“As part of our efforts to continually expand testing, there is now a Deloitte testing facility operational at Cardiff City Stadium. This is part of the UK-wide plan to test key workers.  In Wales this has been led by Public Health Wales, Welsh Government, the Local Resilience Forum, and Deloitte. Please note that the facility is for key workers and you should only attend if invited.

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

“We want to thank each and every person across Wales for doing their bit to help slow the spread of the virus. 

“We know that staying at home can be hard especially when the weather is nice, but members of the public must adhere to social distancing rules about staying at home, and away from others, introduced by the UK and Welsh Government.  These rules are available on the Public Health Wales website.

“People no longer need to contact NHS 111 if they think they may have contracted Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Information about the symptoms to look out for is available on the Public Health Wales website, or members of the public can use the NHS Wales symptom checker.

“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.”

Temporary mortuary site announced

Breaking news

The Daily Post is reporting this morning (Thursday) that plans for North Wales' first temporary mortuary catering for a potentially steep rise in deaths from coronavirus have been unveiled.

The industrial units on Mochdre Commerce Park have been earmarked as a "respectful and dignified holding point before funerals take place", if hospitals and funeral directors become unable to cope with the number of Covid-19- related deaths.

The decision was taken by the North Wales Local Resilience Forum, a body comprising local authorities, Welsh Government, emergency services and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.