Llanblogger - news from Llangollen

Saturday, June 20, 2020

June's Citizens Advice column

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is:

Q: I work in retail and my company says it's starting to look at how we might reopen later in the summer. This is making me so anxious, even though I don't have any special health issues. I'm going to wear a mask, but not all the customers may do so. I used to take the bus to work, I don't have a car and I think it's too far to cycle. And I'm not even sure if my kids will be back at school by then! The thought of returning to work is keeping me awake at night. Do I have to go back to work?

A: It’s understandable you’re feeling anxious. However, the short answer to your question is yes, you do need to comply with any reasonable management request to return to work.

The key here is “reasonable.” The government has published specific guidance for different businesses on the steps they can take to minimise coronavirus transmission. If you don’t think they’re complying, or are putting your health at risk, you should talk to them about this.

Similarly, they should listen to your concerns about using public transport. You could, for instance, ask to travel at a quieter time of day.

And the government has said that if you’re unable to work because of childcare issues your employer can continue to furlough you.

We would suggest approaching this as a problem that you and your boss can solve together. But if you do get a bad reaction, you could report your employer to the Health and Safety Executive. You should also get advice about your legal rights in this situation.

Latest Covid-19 information from Welsh Government

Here's the latest updates on the coronavirus situation from the Welsh Government, including details of yesterday's announcements about the easing of lockdown frestrictions.

First Minister Mark Drakeford announced a package of measures to further unlock Wales’ coronavirus regulations

o The changes, which will come into force from Monday, focus mainly on Wales’ economy and education system.

o Ministers will lift the stay local requirement on July 6, if conditions allow it.

o The First Minister has also signalled that Wales’ tourism sector and hairdressers should begin to make preparations to reopen following the next statutory review on July 9.

o More information: https://gov.wales/first-minister-announces-further-steps-to-unlock-wales

o Written statement: https://gov.wales/written-statement-review-lockdown-measures-and-health-protection-coronavirus-restrictions-wales-0

o Frequently asked questions: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-regulations-changes-monday-22-june

o Watch the First Minister’s press conference: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1273941505523105792

· Public Health Wales yesterday confirmed 31 new cases of coronavirus in Wales, bringing the total number to 15,001, although the actual number will be higher.

o Sadly, there were four deaths of people with confirmed coronavirus reported by Public Health Wales today, bringing the total reported by Public Health Wales to 1,475.

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

· Want to know when and where to wear a face mask? https://gov.wales/face-coverings-frequently-asked-questions

o Want to make your own face covering? https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2020-06/how-to-make-a-3-layer-face-covering.pdf

· 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.

o First Minister Mark Drakeford held today’s press conference – you can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1273941505523105792

Friday, June 19, 2020

First Minister’s business announcement a “step in the right direction” says county chief

The Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE has issued a statement in response to the announcement by First Minister Mark Drakeford MS that non-essential retail businesses can re-open from Monday, hailing the announcement as a “step in the right direction”.

This comes as the Council sets up a Task Group to look at ways of assisting town centres to continue operating during these times.

Councillor Evans said: “This is welcome news, not only for the businesses concerned, but also for the local economy.

“The lockdown has had a significant impact on businesses locally and in every other region of the country and many had called on Welsh Government to relax the regulations, to allow the non-essential retail businesses to re-open and start that journey of recovery.

“This is only the beginning for businesses and we would urge them to implement social distancing and hygiene measures, protect the well-being of their customers and play their part in reducing the spread of coronavirus in our communities.

“Today’s announcement is very much a step in the right direction and the Council will work together with businesses and communities to make this work and assist our towns and villages.

“The Council’s Task Group has been set up specifically to assist town centres as they respond to the easing of the lockdown restrictions. Staff will be working in the main towns to provide help and advice to residents and businesses; they will identify where posters and signage are needed and will look at what support is needed for businesses to comply with the current social distancing and hygiene regulations”.

Councillor Mark Young, Cabinet Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “We fully recognise that businesses in our town centres have suffered during the covid-19 outbreak and the Council wants to support businesses in any way it can, to help them get back on their feet during these very difficult times. We will be talking and listening to businesses and residents and see what kind of help is needed in terms of advice and support, as well as more practical measures such as posters and signage.

“We look forward to getting the staff out into these communities and start a real dialogue with people, so that we can assist town centres to settle into the new ways of working and assisting the efforts to protect our communities”.

The Welsh Government has produced guidance and templates for businesses:

https://gov.wales/workplace-guidance-employers-and-employees-covid19

Drakeford: Five-mile rule set to be lifted on July 6, says story

FIRST Minister Mark Drakeford has this morning confirmed that the "stay local" five-mile rule is set to be lifted on July 6, according to the Denbighshire Free Press.

* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/18528122.wales-lockdown-update-five-mile-rule-lifted-july-6/?fbclid=IwAR0XoT4A1ok-PYgKlYfvN3VsmTTBpnriIcKcPYZ3rFdvan-VCKYTV-wW2E4

County boss sends open letter to parents and guardians

Denbighshire County Council has issued an open letter to parents and guardians about the re-opening of schools later this month.

This follows the Welsh Government’s announcement that schools will re-open on June 29 following the Covid-19 lockdown

The letter, from Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement (pictrured), says:

"First of all, I’d like to thank parents and guardians across the county for their continued support during these unprecedented times. Over the last twelve weeks, many parents/ guardians have been supporting schools to ensure that children and young people can continue learning at home – a great example of partnership working. We also recognise that many parents/ guardians will have changed working patterns to accommodate children and young people being at home. This has been a tough time for all and we are extremely grateful for the on-going support.

"I am immensely proud of our teaching and support staff across the county who have worked tirelessly to put a programme of activities and lessons in place during lockdown and also the staff have worked in hub schools to provide childcare for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. The last three months have been challenging, but our teams have shown great commitment and professionalism to get their work done in very difficult circumstances.

"I would also like to recognise the efforts of our children and young people in their efforts to learn at home.   This has been a challenging and unsettling time for them, uncertainty about examinations, working away from their friends and needing to work to a brand new routine.   As a parent, I fully empathise with our children and young people, but their resilience and ability to adapt has been superb.

"The announcement that schools will re-open on June 29^th has inevitably generated plenty of questions and some concern.

"I wish to reassure you that the Council and schools had already started work on planning for the re-opening of schools. However, the guidelines issued by Welsh Government have given us a framework to follow and we must ensure our plans are fit for purpose.   This is a major challenge, practically and logistically. I cannot emphasise enough the size of the challenges we face. It means more than just re-arranging classrooms - there are many issues to consider, such as catering, buildings, curriculum, transport, free school meals, re-writing policies – to name but a few.

"Most of all, I wish to reassure you that the safety of our children, young people and our staff is paramount and their health and safety and mental health and well-being is at the forefront of our minds and everything that we do.

"Each school will decide its own arrangements for how they will re-open, but they have the full support of the local authority.   We have been told that the school capacity will be a third of pupils at any one time and we’ll adhere to that. We also recognise that some children may not return until September, if that is the wish of the parents/ guardians. We fully respect that this is a tough call for many parents and guardians and we respect their decision, either way.

"The period from June 29^th until the end of the school term will allow opportunity to slowly re-introduce pupils back into the classroom and to really test our arrangements.   Schools will not return to normal, there will be new arrangements and new ways of doing things, but together we will make it work.

"Meanwhile, we need to inform you that there will be a change in arrangements for the childcare provision in our hub schools. As of Monday, 22^nd of June, parents and guardians will be asked to send their child(ren) to their normal school for childcare provision, rather than the hubs. This will allow the schools used as hubs to prepare to welcome back their children when all schools re-open. Those currently registered need not re-apply, the information will be passed to your child’s school. Parents are asked to contact their child(ren)’s normal school to make these arrangements directly in future.

"We recognise many of you will have questions and over the coming days and weeks and in time, we hope you will have answers to these.   Colleagues in education are working closely with Welsh Government and with other councils across North Wales to comply with the national guidance and to offer reassurance that everything is being done to minimise any risk of covid-19, to manage social distancing and to protect everyone’s health and safety.

"Schools will be contacting parents /guardians directly to talk about the local arrangements and how they affect their child(ren). School’s will make decisions regarding their re-opening arrangement, based on a wide range of factors e.g. staffing levels, this is therefore likely to vary from school to school. Schools are unable to offer nursery ‘check-in and catch –up’ but will be able to continue to provide key worker and vulnerable learner childcare if the child is registered at the school. Your on-going support is very much appreciated as we overcome any hurdles over the coming few weeks and months. Key to all of this is getting your child(ren) back into education and to make sure they have the best start in life."

Survey predicts lockdown will cost tourism thousands of jobs

* Jim Jones, chief executive of North Wales Tourism.

Around 10,500 jobs will be lost in the tourism and hospitality industry in North Wales even if it’s allowed to start trading again on July 1 – with another 2,000 at risk if it’s a month later.

That’s the stark conclusion of a survey conducted by North Wales Tourism with support from the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council.

More than 320 businesses from across the region responded to the survey this week about the dire impact of the Covid-19 lockdown.

The analysis showed that when they’re allowed to open, 60 per cent of them will be trading at 50 per cent or less capacity with the current social distancing guidelines.

The study looked at the impact of two different scenarios, reopening on July 1 and August 1, assuming the two meter social distancing rule was in place, that there were no domestic travel restrictions within the UK and that the UK Government furlough scheme would end in October.

According to Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism, the survey had underlined the “cataclysmic” impact the pandemic was having on the sector.

He said: “If businesses are allowed to open on 1^st July, average turnover loss for the year will be 58% and the forecast is for 10,500 job losses which represents 25 per cent of those currently employed in the sector in North Wales.

“If the opening date is delayed to August 1, the number of job losses increases by approximately 500 a week to 12,500 for the year, or around 30 per cent of the people employed in the sector.

“These job loss forecasts do not include job losses in the businesses supplying into the tourism sector.

“Not surprisingly, nearly half of businesses are very concerned about their financial viability opening under current social distancing rules which would mean additional costs and reduced capacity.

“The results of the survey present a very stark picture of the impacts on the tourism sector, even if businesses are free to open.

“The figures suggest that reviews of both a continuation of the furlough scheme beyond October for the tourism sector and the two metre social distancing rule are carried out, if these major job losses are to be avoided.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Ashley Rogers, the commercial director of the North Wales Business Council.

He said: “The tourism sector responded with incredible speed to this call for live feedback on what is likely to happen in North Wales and should be applauded for their support.

“We will now work with North Wales Tourism, Business Council members and partners in the public sector to see how we can use this valuable data, to best support the region.”

Continuum Attractions CEO, Juliana Delaney said “If the closed sign is not removed from the Tourism sector in Wales, it will jeopardise both this and next year’s season. That would be an economic car crash for Wales”.

Sean Taylor, President at Zip World UK said "I appreciate there is a lot of pressure on the First Minister at the moment from different opinions throughout Wales. I’m hopeful that the First Minister has the confidence to lift the 5 mile restriction on Friday and allow the Welsh Visitor economy to avoid a catastrophic economic depression. This will be based on consumer, community and staff confidence."

Coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government

Latest coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government are:

Health Minister Vaughan Gething has published a written statement update about face coverings, the NHS Wales Test, Trace and Protect service, mortality rates across UK nations and screening services: https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-update

Education Minister Kirsty Williams has launched the updated School and Community-Based Counselling Operating Toolkit

The toolkit is available at https://gov.wales/school-and-community-based-counselling-operating-toolkit
More information: https://gov.wales/written-statement-school-and-community-based-counselling-operating-toolkit-revised-2020

All care homes in Wales have been offered coronavirus testing: https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-testing-care-homes
The winners of the annual St David Awards have been announced https://gov.wales/heroes-recognised-in-st-david-awards-2020

Grant funding of £150,000 has been announced to help strengthen cyber resilience skills across the public sector by Finance Minister Rebecca Evans today: https://gov.wales/new-cyber-training-grant-for-welsh-public-services

Public Health Wales confirmed 48 new cases of coronavirus in Wales, bringing the total number to 14,970, although the actual number will be higher.

o Sadly, there were five deaths of people with confirmed coronavirus reported by Public Health Wales, bringing the total reported by Public Health Wales to 1,471.