Exclusive: Llan woman one of first to receive new Covid jab

* llanblogger exclusive 

* 91-year-old Mair Evans receives the vaccination from Dr Alec Jones at Llangollen Health Centre.

A 91-year-old Llangollen woman became one of the first in her age-group to receive the new Oxford, AstraZeneca vaccine earlier this afternoon (Tuesday).

Earlier in the day Llangollen Health Centre was appointed by the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board as one of only four pilot GP practice vaccination centres in North Wales and immediately began notifying people in the over-80s group that they could come in for the Covid-beating jab just after 4pm.

And first in line for the revolutionary vaccination was Mrs Mair Evans who rolled up her sleeve to receive it from practice member Dr Alec Jones.

Mrs Evans said: “It was all very sudden and when I got up this morning I wasn’t expecting to be getting the injection. However, it’s a good feeling to know that I am one of the first.”

Practice manager Tessa Orton-Jones said: “It’s a great honour for us to be chosen as one of just four pilot centres in the whole of North Wales.

“We’ve made appointments for 48 people in the over-80s age-group to come in to the centre for vaccination today and will continue from here.

“In the practice area we have 5,000 people in the age-groups who will be receiving the vaccination as a priority.

“As one of the pilot centres the health board will obviously be observing how this process goes in a GP practice like ours.”  

County invites feedback on active travel schemes

* Wider pavements installed in Castle Street, 

Llangollen as part of the scheme.

Residents are being asked to share their views on temporary active travel schemes in Llangollen, Ruthin and Rhyl.

Work is underway on a trial of town centre improvements after Denbighshire County Council was successful in its bid for Welsh Government funding.

The funding, part of the Local Sustainable Transport COVID Response Fund 2020-21, is being used to introduce improvements that facilitate social distancing and make it easier for people to travel actively within town centres.

Work to install the temporary schemes in Llangollen, Ruthin and Rhyl has now been completed and the Council is beginning to monitor their effect and asking residents for feedback.

Councillor Brian Jones, the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “These temporary schemes aim to support social distancing and it is vital we ensure our residents feel safe to visit our towns so they can accesses services and local businesses.

“The scheme will also encourage active travel around the centres of Llangollen, Ruthin and Rhyl. Encouraging active travel helps reduce car journeys, improves air quality and offers safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists as well as providing health and well-being benefits.

“The measures also allow for some businesses to be able to move all or part of their business activity to outside areas. When circumstances allow, we hope these measures will encourage people to support their local businesses and to shop and spend time locally. Collecting feedback from residents, visitors and businesses to each of the three towns will be vital in helping to understand what the temporary schemes mean for people.

“We plan to monitor feedback in blocks of approximately 6-8 weeks throughout the trial period. This will allow us to review and report back to communities regularly on what’s been said, as well as provide us with an opportunity to update on any adjustments being made to the schemes, should these prove necessary.”

In addition to the online surveys, those who responded to a consultation on the proposals in July and provided their contact details, will be written to.

Local residents and businesses in streets where the temporary schemes have been installed will be sent a newsletter by mail early in January 2021, and signage will also be installed early in the new year on location at the temporary schemes to promote the opportunity to provide feedback so that passers-by are aware they can have their say also.

The Council will also accept feedback in writing to: The Active Travel Team, Denbighshire County Council, Caledfryn, Denbigh, LL16 3RJ.

* Further information and feedback surveys are available at https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/ and the first round of feedback ends on January 31, 2021.

 

Chancellor announces help for lockdown businesses

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has this morning announced £4.6bn in new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs.

Those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are to receive a one-off grant worth up to £9,000.

This follows the Prime Minister’s announcement last night that these business will be closed until at least February half-term in order to help control the virus, and, together with the wide range of existing support, provides them with certainty through the Spring period.

The cash is provided on a per-property basis to support businesses through the latest restrictions, and is expected to benefit over 600,000 business properties, worth £4 billion in total across all nations of the UK.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "The new strain of the virus presents us all with a huge challenge - and whilst the vaccine is being rolled out, we have needed to tighten restrictions further.

"Throughout the pandemic we’ve taken swift action to protect lives and livelihoods and today we’re announcing a further cash injection to support businesses and jobs until the Spring.

"This will help businesses to get through the months ahead – and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen."

A further £594 million is also being made available for Local Authorities and the Devolved Administrations to support other businesses not eligible for the grants, that might be affected by the restrictions. Businesses should apply to their Local Authorities.

The new one-off grants come in addition to billions of existing business support, including grants worth up to £3,000 for closed businesses, and up to £2,100 per month for impacted businesses once they reopen.

The government has also provided 100% business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, £1.1 billion existing discretionary funding for Local Authorities, the furlough scheme now extended to April and 100% government backed loans, extended until March.

Further information

• the one-off top-ups will be granted to closed businesses as follows:
• £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under
• £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
• £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000
• business support is a devolved policy and therefore the responsibility of the devolved administrations, which will receive additional funding as a result of these announcements in the usual manner:
• the Scottish Government will receive £375 million
• the Welsh Government will receive £227 million
• the Northern Ireland Executive will receive £127 million
• this is on top of the increased funding which has already been guaranteed by the UK Government, to continue to provide the devolved administrations the certainty they need to plan for their COVID-19 response in the months ahead
• small businesses in the devolved administrations should also be able to benefit from other UK-wide measures in the government’s unprecedented package of support for business, including the various business lending schemes (where the repayment terms were made easier as part of the Winter Economy Plan), and the extension of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme.

Latest Covid-19 update from Welsh Government

Latest coronavirus update from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) is:

·        As the four UK chief medical officers today agreed the UK’s level of risk has reached the highest level, Education Minister Kirsty Williams has confirmed all school and college students will receive online learning until January 18.

o   The Welsh Government made the announcement following consultation with the WLGA and Colegau Cymru. The next fortnight will be used to plan for the rest of term.

o   Universities in Wales have already agreed a staggered start to the term.

o   Schools statement: https://gov.wales/written-statement-return-school-and-college-arrangements

o   Joint CMO statement: https://gov.wales/joint-statement-uk-cmos-recommending-uk-covid-19-alert-level-move-level-4-level-5

 

·         The first Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines were given to people in Wales today as clinics are set up across the nation, just five days after the vaccine was approved for use in the UK.

o   There are now two Covid-19 vaccines in use in Wales – the Oxford vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine.

o   https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-vaccine-deployment-data-wales and https://gov.wales/second-covid-19-vaccine-arrives-wales

o   Watch Health Minister Vaughan Gething’s press conference: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1346067991822102528

o   Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/

 

·         First Minister’s New Year message: https://gov.wales/new-year-message-first-minister-wales-mark-drakeford

 

Coronavirus in numbers

·         The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,898 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 157,209 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.

o   Very sadly, there were 25 further deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 3,645.

o   These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

·         The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.

·         If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days from when your symptoms started.

·         Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus

o   Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

o   You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus once you are self-isolating. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test

o   You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.

·         Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
 

Where to find the latest information

·         Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4

·         Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/

·         Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws

·         Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/

·         Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/

·         The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.

o   Health Minister Vaughan Gething held today’s press conference. You can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1346067991822102528

o   The slides from today’s press conference are at: https://gov.wales/slides-and-datasets-minister-health-and-social-services-coronavirus-briefing-4-january-2021

New way for patients to contact health centre is trialled

Llangollen Health Centre is notifying patients it is trialling a new way to contact the practice.

In a Facebook post it says: "During the Covid-19 pandemic it has become clear that patients appreciate having an alternative method of contacting us other than the telephone and we have been encouraging patients to email us with non-urgent requests. 

"However, there are issues with emails and we have been looking for an alternative which gives patients the same flexibility but also ensures the query has some structure and contains all the necessary details.

"From 4th January 2021, we are trialling a new system for contacting us regarding non-urgent queries and we would like patients to use this system instead of emailing us. Please note you are still able to phone us on 01978 860625.

"If you need to contact us regarding a non-urgent issue please use the following link:

https://florey.accurx.com/p/W91010

"You will see three options:

· I have an admin query – please use this for requests for repeat prescription, sick notes, test results or anything else that is not related to a medical issue

· I want help for a medical issue – please use this to go on triage regarding a medical issue. If your query is regarding a skin lesion, mole, rash or lump please upload a photo if you can

· I want to see online advice – please use this for advice and guidance on condition, symptoms and treatments, including self care advice

"You will be asked some standard questions to ensure that you do not need an ambulance and then you will be asked to provide some further information regarding your query. We will aim to deal with your query within two working days.

"For urgent queries please continue to ring us on 01978 860625."

Minister's statement on arrangements for schools and colleges

Education Minister Kirsty Williams (pictured) has issued this statement on arrangements for schools and colleges:

The situation in Wales and across the UK remains very serious. Today, the four UK Chief Medical Officers have agreed that the UK is now at the highest level of risk, Joint Biosecurity Council level 5.

In the light of that decision the Welsh Government, in consultation with the WLGA and Colegau Cymru, has agreed that all schools, colleges and independent schools should move to online learning until January 18th.

As a government we will use the next two weeks to continue to work with local authorities, schools and colleges to plan for the rest of term.

This is the best way to ensure that parents, staff and learners can be confident in the return to face to face learning, based on the latest evidence and information.

Schools and colleges will remain open for children of critical workers and vulnerable learners, as well as for learners who need to complete essential exams or assessments. On this basis Special Schools and PRU’s should remain open if possible.

We had initially given schools flexibility in the first two weeks of term to decide when to reopen based on local circumstances.

But it is now clear that a national approach of online learning for the first fortnight of term is the best way forward.

We know that schools and colleges have been safe and secure environments throughout the pandemic.

However, we also know that education settings being open can contribute to wider social mixing outside the school and college environment.

We are confident that schools and colleges have online learning provision in place for this immediate period,

Universities in Wales have already agreed a staggered start to term. Students should not return to universities for face to face learning until they are notified that they can do so.

Wales remains in the highest level of restrictions. Everyone must stay at home.

I will continue to update members.

This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.

Minister says Wales "not left behind" in vaccine roll-out

* Health Minister Vaughan Gething gives today's press conference.

Wales’ health minister has denied the nation is “behind the pace” in rolling out Covid-19 vaccines and promised a “significant acceleration” in the coming weeks, reports the BBC online news.

This comes as the number of new cases in north Wales continues to climb,

Giving the Welsh Government's latest coronavirus update Vaughan Gething said he believed the Welsh NHS would have vaccinated people within the “first” priority groups, including care home residents, “at about the same time as every other UK nation”.

Letters going to every household about the vaccine rollout “will provide people with a measure of assurance” and would explain how they would be contacted, he told the Welsh Government press conference on Monday.

Amid concern about the rollout, Mr Gething said he hoped to publish more detail on numbers and “a better indication of how we’re going through all those occupational groups”.

“So I appreciate everyone has questions, but I think that people at the end of this will see that we have not been behind the pace," he said.

“And actually the significant acceleration that we'll see over the coming weeks will give people even an even greater measure of confidence about the coming months.”

* Mr Gething said the number of mass vaccination centres in Wales will be increased to 22 and more than 60 GP surgeries will offer the Oxford vaccine.

He said mobile units would be set up throughout Wales.

Health boards and local authorities would be writing to everyone in Wales with more information about the vaccine in the coming days, he said.

“We are training a range of healthcare workers to give the vaccine and we have plans to work with local pharmacists, dentists and optometrists to provide vaccination clinics.

“We will continue to provide the Pfizer vaccine at the mass vaccination centres across Wales," he added.

“We are working to the priority list agreed by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation. The rest of the UK is working to the same list."

Mr Gething said the immediate priority was to vaccinate front-line health and care staff, care home residents and staff, and people over the age of 80, which would save the greatest number of lives.

He said everyone would get two doses up to 12 weeks apart.

* Schools in Wales will continue with the phased return to face-to-face learning over the first two weeks of the new term unless the "evidence changes", according to Mr Gething.

Teaching unions have voiced concern about sending pupils back to class while a new variant of coronavirus continues to spread.

Vaughan Gething said closing schools remained a "last resort" but added: "If the evidence changes then we'll have to take account of that evidence and that may lead to a different choice."

* OVER 300 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed across our region by Public Health Wales (PHW) today, reports the Denbighshire Free Press.

There have now been almost 19,570 lab-confirmed cases of the virus from the combined counties that make up the North Wales region since the outbreak of the pandemic - after more incidents were confirmed in the latest figures released today.

Public Health Wales confirmed that the 304 of today’s 1,898 newly confirmed Welsh cases were from the northern region.

They can be broken down as such:

• Anglesey – 14 (20.0 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Conwy – 29 (24.7 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Denbighshire – 62 (64.8 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Flintshire – 91 (58.3 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Gwynedd – 15 (12.0 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Wrexham – 93 (68.4 per 100,000 population as of today)

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – the largest health board in Wales – has reported 595 people have sadly died to date according to PHW data.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics, which are considered a stronger indicator of the overall impact of the virus, and which are based on all deaths where COVID is mentioned on the death certificate, stand at 773 for the health board area.