Welsh Government's latest coronavirus update

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

·         Childcare and play at alert level four lockdown – your questions answered: https://gov.wales/childcare-and-play-alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions

·         Updated guidance: Taxis and private hire vehicles: https://gov.wales/taxi-and-private-hire-vehicle-guidance

·         Updated guidance: Care home visiting: https://gov.wales/visits-care-homes-guidance-providers-html

·         NHS activity and capacity statistics: https://gov.wales/nhs-beds-admissions-and-hospitalisations-during-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic

 

Coronavirus in numbers

·         The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 2,069 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 159,278 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.

o   Very sadly, there were 17 further deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 3,662.

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.

 

French beauty with the wow factor

Peugeot 208 road test by Steve Rogers

If wow factor is what you want then feast your eyes on this French beauty.

As superminis go there is nothing to match the reigning European Car of the Year. Not that we should be surprised, the French have been churning out head turners for decades - Citroen DX, Renault 16, Peugeot 405 - I could fill a page, and the fifth generation 208 is the best in its 37 year history.

Just to clear up any confusion for those who think this model should be called 209, Peugeot decided a couple of years ago to stop at eight for every model in its line up.

The body styling is not even the best feature, it's the cabin where the real wow comes in. The futuristic switch free i-Cockpit broke cover on the 308 seven years ago and has been tweaked and honed so much so that no one comes close to matching its chic design, while the quality of materials has pushed the 208 towards the premium division.

That is where this love-in with 208 has to take a breather. The i-Cockpit is certainly fabulous to look at but has its critics and I am one. The driver's binnacle sits on top of the dashboard so it is a case of looking over rather than through the small steering wheel which has a flat top to make it easier to see the display.

It means you have two choices: sit low or high and getting it right, or rather close to right, takes too long and is even more irritating when a partner has a different preference. If ever there was a case for powered driver's seat with memory function this is it.

The original i-Cockpit design came in for a lot of stick because every function was controlled through the touchscreen which took the driver's eye away from the road for too long. That was partly resolved with stylish quick keys and the set up in the 208 has been further refined with touch pads as well although they need to be angled rather than flat for ease of selection.

Once the driving position is sorted and the controls mastered the 208 is driving pleasure. There is a tremendous feel good factor right through the cabin both with the sparkling design features and premium quality materials while the driver's interchangeable 3D head up display has to be seen to be believed

It is good to drive as well and I like the small steering wheel. It harks back to the sixties and seventies when a steering wheel did nothing more than steer, so us young bucks in our bangers swapped the ungainly big one for the tiny rally styles of the day in the misguided hope you would drive faster. How silly we were.

Even though the Peugeot supermini's reputation was built on the handling prowess of the sublime 205GTI the latest version airs more on the side of comfort but can still be thrown around with confidence and in many ways is the ideal compromise.

There is a GT badge on the back of my test car though this was a long way from its speed machine ancestor. Times have changed, now it is all about smaller engines giving a lot from a little with as few nasty carbon emissions as possible and Peugeot has been leading the charge.

This three-cylinder 1.2 petrol is no flyer compared to some hybrid rivals, and while it won't give GT performance of old it meets the demands of modern day driving. That said the week's average of 47mpg with a best of 52mpg was down on what I was expecting.

Cabin space is no better than average so if your family has lanky youngsters get them in the back for a trial before signing on the dotted line. All the seats are well shaped and comfortable.

On price the 208 is at the top end of its class but is well equipped right from entry level with many safety features, and the engine line up is strong. My choice would be this 101bhp petrol even though the diesel will give better economy.

So a desirable car although I would be inclined to move up to the 2008 crossover for the extra space.

Need to know

208 GT Line 8sp auto

£22,100 (range starts £17,155)

1.2 litre; 101bhp

0-62mph 10.8secs; 117mph

50.3mpg combined

99g/km. 1st tax £130

Insurance group 20

Boot: 311 litres

 

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."