Testing of frontline health staff to start this month

Health Minister Vaughan Gething has announced routine testing of asymptomatic frontline health and social care staff will start this month in Wales.

Lateral flow tests (LFTs) will be made available to test frontline health and social care workers twice weekly.

Mr Gething said: “I am pleased to announce that we will now be introducing a programme of regular asymptomatic testing of frontline health and social care staff and others in contact with patients and those receiving social care. This builds on the asymptomatic testing of health workers in Wales to assist with outbreak control and those working in care homes.

“This will be done using lateral flow testing devices, which can produce results in 30 minutes with the potential to be self-administered. While LFTs are not as sensitive as lab-based RT-PCR tests, scientific advice has indicated that by testing more frequently with LFTs their accuracy is on a par with RT-PCR tests.

It is vital everyone understands that testing alone cannot eradicate the risks associated with Covid-19 and testing needs to be carried out alongside other infection prevention control measures, such as the use of PPE, social distancing and hand hygiene. 

Protecting our NHS staff and our most vulnerable citizens in Wales is at the heart of our Covid response and a key element of our Test, Trace, Protect strategy.”

The new testing programme will be available for:

• Clinical NHS staff (doctors, nurses and allied health professionals) and those working with high-risk groups such as haematology staff working with transplant patients.
• Non-clinical staff including porters, cleaning staff, catering staff and volunteers.
• Social care workers, including domiciliary care workers, social workers and inspectors visiting care homes and other social care settings.

Mr Gething added: “We will begin rolling out the programme for these groups from 14 December, starting with those working in services with high risks of transmission, and introducing in lower risk settings in January.  We will also be introducing regular asymptomatic testing of staff working in hospice inpatient units and those delivering hospice at home services.”

Bridge to be lit up to support #lovelivelocal

* Llangollen bridge will be lit up as part of the #lovelivelocal campaign.

Llangollen's famous bridge is amongst a number of key sites across Denbighshire towns being lit up in December as part of an overall winter shopping marketing campaign launched to support local businesses.

In the absence of some of the Christmas activities normally held in the county’s towns, Denbighshire County Council has been working with its partners on an alternative approach to boost the recovery of town centres, in support of the Winter Shopping campaign already underway.

The Light Up Denbighshire project will aim to boost the number of people visiting town centres and to enhance the work already carried out by Denbighshire County Council to make commercial centres safe places to shop and enjoy hospitality.

The lights are expected to be switched on from today (Friday) and will run for a month, to try and reap the benefits of additional visitors, not only in the run up to Christmas but into the New Year as well, says the council. 

Locations due to be lit up are:

·        Llangollen – Main town bridge

·        Prestatyn – Churches and chapels

·        Rhuddlan – Rhuddlan Castle (Currently closed to the public)

·        Rhyl -  Town Hall

• Denbigh -  Denbigh Castle  (Information on opening hours at:   cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/denbigh-castle  )

·        Ruthin – St Peter’s Square, St Peter’s Church

·        St Asaph – St Asaph Cathedral

·        Corwen – The Square

The scheme is funded by Denbighshire County Council.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans BE, said: “The lead up to Christmas is going to be a bit different this year, with large events normally held during switch on of town lights unable to take place.

“Whilst the towns will have their own traditional Christmas lights, the council came up with the idea of adding a little sparkle and bringing some additional Christmas cheer by lighting up historic and iconic buildings and structures in our main towns.  We are delighted to have received support from many city and town councils across Denbighshire to carry out the project.

“Our aim is to bring people into the town and to promote our Winter Shopping marketing campaign, designed to encourage residents to support their local shops through this crucial buying period. This campaign will also look at supporting wider businesses activities, including online sales and forms part of the #lovelivelocal initiative.

“ We hope people enjoy the lighting experience and are tempted to visit the town centre for themselves to see what’s on offer and add some festive cheer."

House fire has tragic consequences

 

* Firefighters at the scene of the tragic fire in Chapel Street last night.

The Leader’s online news site Leaderlive reported just after midnight that a man in his seventies has sadly died following the house fire in Llangollen reported on by llanblogger late last night. 

The story says that firefighters were called to the blaze on Chapel Street at 8.42pm last night. 

It adds: “Firefighters from Llangollen, Chirk, Johnstown, Corwen and Wrexham attended the incident and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property using hose reel jets to extinguish the fire and carry out a search for casualties.

“The crews found a casualty who was sadly later pronounced dead.

“A joint investigation is now being carried out into the cause of the fire by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police.”

The man who passed away has not been officially named.

 

Fire crews tackle major blaze in Chapel Street

* Firefighters pump water onto the burning building from the Hand car park.

* Above and below: Fire crews hose water onto the burning building from the Chapel Street side.

Fire crews are currently tackling a major fire at a property in Chapel Street, Llangollen.

It is understood the blaze began at around 8.30pm.

At least four fire appliances are at the scene and firefighters, a number equipped with breathing apparatus, are tackling it with hose-reels from Chapel Street while others, using a high monitor are pouring on water from the Hand Hotel car park.

It is not known whether anyone is inside the burning building.

Police have closed off Chapel Street and the hotel car park and thick smoke has been billowing down Regent Street.    

Latest update on coronavirus at Llangollen Fechan care home

Denbighshire County Council says in its latest update on Coronavirus at Llangollen Fechan Care Home that there has been one further death, taking taking the total since the beginning of this incident to 21.

The statement adds: "There have been no new positive coronavirus tests amongst residents and two members of staff, resulting in a total of 60 residents and 42 staff.

"The Incident Management Team (IMT), comprises of Denbighshire County Council, Public Health Wales and BetsiCadwaladr University Health Board

"These organisations are still working together with the owners of the home to co-ordinate the response. It will take time for the impact of this work to bring this incident fully under control.

"Co-chair of the IMT, Nicola Stubbins, said: “Control measure are starting to have an impact with numbers of infections and deaths reducing. Even so we are still very sad to report this additional death, and to report that there are still residents who are very unwell.

“It is still the case that residents in Llangollen Fechan and other settings, already vulnerable through their age or pre-existing conditions, are more likely to suffer the worst outcomes from this deadly virus. Our thoughts continue to be with all of those affected.

“We expect to see cases in other settings going forward, and we manage any clusters of Coronavirus consistently. 

“Anyone who meets the definition of a contact will be contacted as a routine part of the Test, Trace and Protect process and provided with additional advice for themselves, their household and other contacts. 

“We remind the public that they have a vital role in preventing the spread of Coronavirus.  They can do this by adhering to Welsh Government regulations currently in place in Wales, and by observing social distancing guidelines – that’s staying two metres away from others – and washing hands regularly.”

Travel outside Wales now possible, says story

People in Wales will be able to visit parts of England and Scotland but not all areas, according to a story this morning on the Businesslive website.

Wales's new travel rules have been revealed in the latest coronavirus regulations.

The Welsh Government cabinet met on Wednesday to decide on the latest travel restrictions as England's lockdown came to an end.

Over the past month travel over the border has been banned - except for essential purposes - due to Covid rules in England and Wales. 

Tourism businesses had been pressing for answers from Welsh Government about what regulations would be in place when England's lockdown ended.

Now new coronavirus regulations published by Welsh Government have revealed the new restrictions, says the story.

And it adds: "Under the rules coming into force from Friday at 6pm people will be able to travel between Wales and Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas of England.

"But the regulations bar travel into Tier 3 zones like Manchester - unless it is for work or another essential purpose.

"It means visitors from the Tier 1 and 2 areas of England can now take holidays in Wales.

"When it comes to Scotland people cannot travel from Wales to Level 3 or Level 4 areas of the country - and visitors from those areas cannot come here.

"The whole of Northern Ireland is also restricted as they are currently in a new lockdown."

SM challenges First Minister over "harsh" new Covid restrictions

* Mark Isherwood, Senedd Member for North Wales.

North Wales Member of the Senedd, Mark Isherwood, has challenged the First Minister over his "harsh" new Covid restrictions announced this week, highlighting some of the many messages he has received from constituents objecting to them.

Speaking in the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood quoted North Wales residents and businesses owners who have contacted him since the new restrictions were unveiled on Monday and called on the First Minister to respond to their concerns.

He said: “In England, the proposals for pubs and hospitality are not the same with an absolute ban. It's a tiered approach based upon pragmatic considerations and real evidence.

“Typical amongst the deluge of messages I've received since your announcement are, and I quote, 'I appreciate this is a serious risk to ill or vulnerable people, but the measures put in place are far more worrying’. 

"‘Mr Drakeford has destroyed the well-being of a nation’. 

"‘My family runs two hospitality businesses, and we really can't afford any more restrictions. We have invested so much to make our establishment COVID safe. So, this is a final plea to you - please speak to our First Minister’.

“And perhaps the cruellest blow is to weddings. How do you therefore respond to the bride who wrote to me last Friday, 'I was meant to get married on 30th October and reduced the guest list to 30, but due to the Welsh circuit breaker, our venue closed. We have now pushed it back to 19th December and reduced it to 15 guests. I'm now playing “guess the date I can get married" ’, or to her father, who wrote to me today stating 'My daughter's wedding ruined for the second time!'?”

In his response the First Minister said: “The Member is entirely disingenuous in trying to pretend that restrictions in England are somehow not as strict as they are here in Wales. If you're in tier 3 in England, you will be in a far greater level of restriction than you will be here in Wales. And the position in Wales is as serious as that, and getting more serious by the day.”

Speaking afterwards, Mr Isherwood added: “He had the cheek to accuse me of being ‘disingenuous’, when his disingenuous statements completely misrepresented the situation in England once lockdown lifts there on 2nd December. Whereas almost 60% of people in England will be able to visit pubs and restaurants until last orders at 10pm, with an 11pm curfew, subject to table service (Tier 1) or alcohol being served as part of a meal (Tier 2), he is blanket banning every pub, bar and restaurant in Wales from selling alcohol and forcing them all to shut at 6pm from Friday. 

"He is also wrong to say that the position across Wales is as serious as Tier 3 in England, when the latest ‘cases per 100,000’ figures in Wales (Nov 23-29) show a spectrum ranging from 453.8 in Blaenau Gwent to 30.7 in Conwy.”