Latest Covid-19 update from Welsh Government

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• Latest coronavirus update, dated yesterday, from the Welsh Government is:

• Health Minister Vaughan Gething has published a weekly testing update: https://gov.wales/written-statement-weekly-update-covid-19-testing
• The First Minister has written a letter to everyone in Wales observing Ramadan this year https://gov.wales/ramadan-a-letter-from-the-first-minister-of-wales
• The Counsel General and Minister for European Transition Jeremy Miles will lead the Welsh Government’s work on preparing for recovery from coronavirus https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-preparing-recovery
• Information about student support during the coronavirus pandemic https://gov.wales/higher-education-and-student-support-coronavirus  

• The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has tackled more than 2,000 online scams, from sites posing as legitimate companies requesting personal information such as passwords or credit card details, to false online shops selling fraudulent coronavirus related items.
• Finance Minister Rebecca Evans is encouraging everyone to use the new national Suspicious Email Reporting Service at report@phishing.gov.uk to report crimes and follow advice and guidance set out by the NCSC https://gov.wales/stay-home-stay-connected-stay-cyber-aware

Where to find the latest information

• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://phw.nhs.wales/news/public-health-wales-statement-on-novel-coronavirus-outbreak/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Queries about support for businesses, including about eligibility for the Economic Resilience Fund? Visit the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• If you can help the effort to produce PPE in Wales please visit https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/provision-critical-equipment-and-personal-protection-equipment-ppe
• The Welsh Government holds a daily media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and routinely supported by a BSL translator. They will be held at 12.30pm every week day. They are live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel and are broadcast live on BBC One Wales and S4C.
• NHS Wales chief executive Dr Andrew Goodall held today’s press conference. You can watch it again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1253285503996063745

Hard-hit launderette fights to stay open for the community

* Blue Bay owner Jayne Davies.

A Llangollen business owner has revealed her struggle to stay open to serve the community despite suffering “massively” because of the coronavirus lockdown.

Jayne Davies, who runs the Blue Bay Launderette in Regent Street, says she has so far received no money from the government’s Business Grant Fund and is not entitled to claim anything from the loss of earnings scheme because she has stayed open as a service to the area’s vulnerable people.

Jayne said: “I own the business and have done for 30 years. Sarah Edwards has worked for me for the last nine years and is very popular with the customers.

“I decided at the start of this pandemic that I would try and keep the launderette open as it is an essential service. The community have supported me for 30 years so this is my way of supporting the community during their hour of need.

“Unfortunately, we have lost a huge part of our business as most of our business caters towards commercial work.

“However, we also cater to the domestic community which includes high risk and vulnerable people who are self- isolating.

“Since the pandemic started we have started to offer a pick up and delivery service to help such people plus whoever would like to take advantage of it.”

Jayne added: “We have been massively impacted by the virus as have most businesses but by remaining open we are not entitled to the government’s 80% loss of earnings, plus we have not received any money from the business grant fund as of yet.

“I have had to reduce the days we are open from six to three to try and make opening as viable as possible.

“It was recently arranged for us to have funding from the Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group for key workers to bring their laundry in to be done free of charge.

“This is to try and generate more business for us as we are not very busy plus help the key workers, However, no one has taken advantage of this or shown interest as of yet.”

Since contacting llanblogger Jayne says she has been made aware that the Llangollen help group received a £1,000 sponsor donation for key workers to have free laundry.

Mike Connolly, a volunteer with the coronavirus help group, said: "I call them unsung heroes.

"They do all their work with a smile. We are lucky to have them, and, during coronavirus they are collecting, washing, drying and returning to over-70s and those self-isolating on medical advice."

* Sarah Edwards who also works at the Blue Bay Launderette.

Banner shows support for NHS and carers during tonight's big clap

* People from Llangollen joined the weekly Thursday Clap for Carers once again tonight, and this picture was sent in by James Manning.

It shows a large blue and white banner being displayed on the riverside supporting the NHS and key workers. 

Message from Llangollen Health Centre

Llangollen Health Centre has sent out this urgent message:

"There is general concern amongst the healthcare profession that people may not be seeking medical help for illnesses and symptoms that are not related to Covid-19.

"Some patients are telling us that they don’t want to bother the doctor at this time but we would like to assure you all that we are here and still able to help you. 

"Only a small number of clinical procedures, such as cervical screening, have been suspended for the time being.

"Other patients may be nervous of coming to the Health Centre but please be assured that we have many measures in place to ensure that our patients and staff are safe.

"You can contact us via email or telephone, and our GPs and nurses are able to provide advice on the telephone, or via text or video link. Patients are brought down to the health centre only when absolutely necessary and are screened for Covid-19 symptoms before they enter the building.

"Please do not wait too long to seek urgent assessment and treatment.

§ For parents if your child is unwell and you are concerned you should seek help

§ Those with urgent dental pain should still call your dentist

§ If you have a health complaint that is worrying you and will not go away you should call your GP

Llangollen Health Centre - 01978 860625 / Llangollen.Admin@wales.nhs.uk

Eisteddfod to get £338,000 to help with coronavirus impact

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been awarded almost £350,000 by the Welsh Government to help with the impact of Covid-19.

It is one of two of Wales's flagship cultural events to receive financial support from the government.

Both the local eisteddfod and the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol have announced that their 2020 summer events will not take place as planned, with the national eisteddfod postponed to take place in Ceredigion in 2021.  


Funding of more than £800,000 will be shared by the two events to help with business continuity through 2020, including planning and preparation for the 2021 events.

Llangollen's share is £338,000 and the national will get £500,000.

Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language, Eluned Morgan, said:
“The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol are two signature events in Wales’ summer events calendar – which provide a fantastic platform to showcase our arts and culture.   

"We are working closely with the organisers to support them through this difficult period and to assist them in building a sustainable future.

“The National Eisteddfod in its current format has been delivering the festival for well over a hundred years.  In difficult times like these, it’s important to recognise and provide a strong cultural heritage for future generations, as well as nurture and provide a platform for Welsh language artists of the future and to support new works of arts and literature.”

Rhys Davies, Chairman, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod said: “We are very grateful for the support of Welsh Government so that we can continue to promote Welsh Culture on the International stage and spread the Peace Message around the world. There are going to be challenges for all festivals in future so collaboration is the key.”

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates said: "I welcome this funding for Llangollen's showpiece event and I'm proud that the Welsh Government continues to provide crucial support to promote Welsh culture and the Eisteddfod's message of hope and peace to a global audience."

Scheme to supply iPads to care homes and hospitals unveiled

An innovative scheme to provide iPads for care home residents and patients in hospitals so that they can keep in touch with friends and family while visits are restricted during the coronavirus outbreak is being launched by the North Wales Regional Partnership Board.

365 i-Pads are expected to be delivered to care homes and hospital wards across the region next week, with more devices due to arrive soon after.

The idea grew out of a project run by the Partnership Board to provide iPads to support people in the community to help manage their health conditions and to reduce social isolation. 

With the outbreak of coronavirus, local authority funding was quickly redirected to enable the purchase of some iPads for virtual visiting. The Health Board’s Procurement Team supported the project by sourcing the iPads through their supply chain within a few short days.

Macmillan have also invested so that the project can include hospital wards and hospices across the region.

The Wales Cooperative Centre was a key partner in the original project and has provided advice and support to the team to set up the iPads to make them as easy as possible to use.

There is a long-term plan in place to make sure that the original project can continue and the iPads will go where the need is greatest in the community, supported by the Wales Cooperative Centre, so recipients can make the most of the new technology.

These iPads will also support the ‘Attend Anywhere’ initiative which is a remote consultation service currently being rolled out by the Health Board to GPs. Five care homes will pilot Attend Anywhere to enable remote health consultations in these homes.

The Regional Partnership Board is also working with the Welsh Government Digital Inclusion unit who are providing an additional 1,100 iPads to care homes and hospices across Wales.

Bethan Jones Edwards, Head of Regional Collaboration on behalf of the Regional Partnership Board said: “We are delighted that by bringing forward the community resilience project within our Community Services Transformation programme and bringing together funding from grants awarded to the North Wales Regional Partnership Board with Macmillan funding we have been able to move forward quickly on this project. We are distributing these to care homes and wards over the next few days. 

“This will enable residents and patients to maintain contact with their families whilst they are unable to have visitors at this difficult time.  This is a great example of joint working between Local Authorities, Health Board, Macmillan and the Wales Co-operative centre and also enables the Health Board to pilot its Attend Anywhere project. 

The purchase of these devices has been welcomed by Dr Ambalavanan a Physician in Respiratory Medicine at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd: “As clinicians, we are all acutely aware of the wider consequences of hospitalised patients not being able to access the support of their loved ones during their illness and recovery. To ease their distress (in any small way possible), we utilise the resources that have been provided to allow patients to make video contact with their families. We have also started to communicate with families as professionals to answer their queries with the help of these devices”

Coronavirus updates from the town and nationally

In her latest update on Facebook yesterday (Wednesday) Cat Meade, co-ordinator of the Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group said:

"Good News, We have had a £1000 Sponsor donate to the #keyworkers washes Blue Bay Launderette,Llangollen so please ALL KEY WORKERS including local shop workers, please make use of this to HELP you and SUPPORT our local Laundrette 🌈 we have some lovely residents also making wash bags 👏👏

The Llangollen Raffles was kindly donated Prizes yesterday from all those local businesses it has helped over the past weeks, with all proceeds being donated to Zero Food Waste and Food Share Llangollen WE RAISED £500 🎉👏🎉👏

The Foodshare are supporting up to 50 families weekly, along with care packages for the vulnerable & elderly too ❤🌈

The Raffles is supporting local business by raffeling vouchers or items and then paying the business for said items, the community is also really enjoying their WINS 🎉👏🎉👏👍

Volunteers are working daily to continue to help with shopping and erands 👏👏👏 Stans can take orders via email, pay on phone and a volunteer will collect and deliver.

Spar are offering home delivery and Dee Valley Produce continue to offer a FREE home delivery service for fresh fruit & veg, simply call to place your order.

Newsagents Castle Street are delivering Newspapers daily all over Llangollen 👏👏👍 They also have a few Light Sabres left for Tomorrow's #NHSCLAP #LIGHTUPLLAN

#llangollenfamily T-shirts are selling well, if you would like one please order soon to avoid missing out, donations from sales go to the support group 👏👏👍

Our whole Community has been overwhelmingly supportive during these past 4 weeks, every single person has helped in each way they can, what a FANTASTIC place WE CALL HOME 🌈❤

PLEASE continue to support all local business and the support group, we are all still working hard behind the scenes to keep this support going to those that need it."

The latest coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government issued yesterday are: 

• Wales has become the first country in the UK to guarantee ongoing funding for children to continue to receive free school meals throughout the summer holidays in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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• Education Minister Kirsty Williams has confirmed each eligible child will receive the equivalent of £19.50 a week. With the support of the Welsh Local Government Association, the Welsh Government will make £33m available to help local authorities continue to provide free school meals.
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• https://gov.wales/wales-has-become-first-country-uk-guarantee-ongoing-funding-children-continue-receive-free-school

• Local Government Minister Julie James has published the Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Meetings) (Wales) Regulations 2020, which make temporary provision in relation to local authority meetings and for public and press access during the coronavirus pandemic. 
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• They provide flexibility to enable local authorities to operate safely, effectively and lawfully, while retaining the principles of openness and accountability to the public. This includes meetings to be conducted on the basis of full or partial remote attendance and by making provision about the electronic publishing of certain documents.
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• They apply to principal councils and their executives, community councils, Swansea Bay Port Health Authority, National Park Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities across Wales.
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• The regulations are available at: https://www.cynulliad.cymru/laid%20documents/sub-ld13142/sub-ld13142-e.pdf and the Minister’s statement is available at: https://gov.wales/written-statement-local-authorities-coronavirus-meetings-wales-regulations-2020
• Economy Minister Ken Skates has thanked staff working in contact centres across Wales https://gov.wales/contact-centres-providing-crucial-service-during-coronavirus-crisis
• The Public Health Wales figures show there were a further 274 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales, bringing the total to 8,124 – the actual number is likely to be much higher.
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• Very sadly, there were a further 15 deaths reported, making a total of 624 in Wales to date.
• NHS Wales chief executive Dr Andrew Goodall has told health boards to continue providing urgent and emergency cancer treatment during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Guidance to help health boards plan and deliver cancer services is available at: https://gov.wales/cancer-services-wales-during-covid-19
• Advice about ensuring people get sufficient vitamin D while the stay-at-home rules are in place is attached to this email.
• Transport and travel advice is available at: https://gov.wales/travel-and-transport-advice

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

• The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature and a new, continuous cough.
• If you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for seven days from when your symptoms started.
• If you live with others and you are the first in the household to have symptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for seven days, but all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.
• If you have coronavirus symptoms:
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home
• Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home
• Plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home and consider what can be done for vulnerable people in the household.
• Ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home.
• Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water, or use hand sanitiser.
• If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after seven days, use the 111 online coronavirus service. If you do not have internet access, call 111. In a medical emergency dial 999.
• For more advice visit https://gov.wales/stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus

Where to find the latest information

• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://phw.nhs.wales/news/public-health-wales-statement-on-novel-coronavirus-outbreak/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Queries about support for businesses, including about eligibility for the Economic Resilience Fund? Visit the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• If you can help the effort to produce PPE in Wales please visit https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/provision-critical-equipment-and-personal-protection-equipment-ppe
• The Welsh Government holds a daily media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and routinely supported by a BSL translator. They will be held at 12.30pm every week day. They are live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel and are broadcast live on BBC One Wales and S4C.
• Economy Minister Ken Skates held today’s press conference. You can watch it again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1252923120735752192