Winter weather update from county council

Winter weather update Friday, January 8 at 10am:

Snow has fallen across much of Denbighshire overnight and is expected to continue throughout today. Here is the latest situation in the county.

Roads: All routes have been treated twice overnight and gritting teams are on duty and are patrolling all routes today.

We are experiencing some difficulties on the following routes across the network:

Road Closures:

Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen

All routes to Moel Famau

These roads remain open at present and are passable with care:

Nant y Garth Pass

Rhydtalog

Llandegla

Clwyd Gate (Ruthin-bound from Mold)

Bus services: Passengers attempting to use bus services this morning are asked to plan for some disruption, owing to snowfall.

The X51 service between Denbigh and Wrexham is currently suspended south of Ruthin.

All services between Ruthin and Mold are currently using the A494 main road and are not diverting via villages.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The 192 service Melin y Wig to Llangollen will not operate.

Waste Collection: Owing to the weather there will disruption to waste collection services in the south of the county. Further updates will be provided throughout the day.

Schools: Ysgol Bro Famau, Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Ysgol Tremeirchion, Ysgol Bodfari, Ysgol Pant Pastynog, Ysgol Betws Gwerful Goch, Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn and Ysgol Bro Cinmeirch are closed to children required to be on school premises. Online learning continues unaffected for all schools.

Housing: The Council’s housing contact centre is still open but presently only responding to urgent and emergency calls.

Updates on coronavirus from Welsh Government

Latest coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) are: 

• Updated: Alert level four lockdown frequently asked questions: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions
• NHS activity and capacity statistics: https://gov.wales/nhs-activity-and-capacity-during-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic
• PPE statistics: https://gov.wales/personal-protective-equipment-items-issued
• Latest TTP figures: https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-contact-tracing-coronavirus-covid-19
• Latest testing data: https://gov.wales/testing-data-coronavirus-covid-19  

 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,718 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 163,234 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Very sadly, there were 63 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 3,801.
• 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
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• 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
• 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.

Health board admits to delays in Llan Covid test results

* The testing centre which was set up on Market Street car park.

A health board admits there have been delays in returning results to some people who attended the Covid testing centre in Llangollen.

The Besto Cadwladr Health Board in partnership with Public Health Wales, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Denbighshire County Council, set up the centre on Market Street car park in mid-December and it eventually closed earlier this week before moving to Denbigh.

Bur a number of people have contacted llanblogger to complain of long delays in obtaining their test results.

One local woman was tested last Saturday along with her elderly mother as the result of contact with a suspected Covid case but by late yesterday still hadn’t received notification of the results. 

She therefore phoned the local GP practice and they obtained the results for her – both negative, thankfully.

In response, Debra Hickman, Acting Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, said: “We are aware of some delays in returning results from recent tests carried out in Llangollen. 

"All outstanding test results should be returned as expected over the coming days.”

Llan Health Centre gives Covid vaccine update

* 91-year-old Mair Evans was the first to receive the vaccination at Llangollen Health Centre earlier this week.

Llangollen Health Centre has just posted on a Facebook an update about the Covid vaccine situation.

It says: "As you may know, until recently, Wales’ approach to the roll out of the Covid vaccine has been to use mass vaccination centres set up and run by health boards. 

"This approach is now changing and earlier this week we were selected to be one of four sites across North Wales to pilot the giving of the Covid vaccine by GPs. 100 doses of the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine were delivered to us on Tuesday and over the past couple of days we have vaccinated 100 patients aged 80 and over against Covid.

"We are not due to receive any more vaccines until the end of January but from then we very much hope that we will receive a steady supply which will enable us to roll out the vaccine to all 9 priority groups identified by the Welsh Government. Having tested out a couple of delivery models this week, we will use this time to refine our plans for the full roll out.

"Please be patient. When we do get the vaccines we will have to work our way through the priority groups in order. As a practice we are 100% committed to doing this as quickly as we possibly can as soon as we have the vaccines.

"In the meantime, please do not contact us about the vaccine – we will contact you when it is your turn.

"There is lots of information about the vaccine on the Public Health Wales website:

COVID-19 vaccination information - Public Health Wales (nhs.wales)

"Thank you for your support and cooperation."

Covid testing centre moves from Llan to Denbigh

* Kerry Williams of the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Cllr Mark Young. 

A Covid-19 testing centre opened in Denbigh on Wednesday.

The centre is based in the car park at the council offices at Caledfryn and will operate between 9.30am and 3.30pm with no appointments necessary, but the walk in/drive-through session is open to those with symptoms that need a test.

The testing centre is being operated in partnership between Public Health Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Denbighshire County Council.

It replaces the testing site at Market Street Car Park, Llangollen, which closed on January 3.

Cllr Mark Young, Cabinet Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “Testing centres are extremely important facilities in the fight against coronavirus in the county. They are so convenient and will provide some peace of mind to residents.

“The centres have worked extremely well, with many residents taking the opportunity to come and have a test. We look forward to working with our partners on the new centre in Denbigh and would encourage anyone displaying symptoms to come and take advantage of the services offered at the testing centre.”

Residents who have tested positive or have been given self-isolation advice are asked to stay at home until the end of the self-isolation period.

Police warn of scam COVID vaccine emails and texts

* One of the scam emails. 

People across Wales have been alerted to a scam relayed to the COVID-19 vaccine.  

Dyfed Powys Police Economic Crime Team reports that it has become aware that criminals have been sending texts and emails attempting to lure people to apply for the vaccine.

DC Gareth Jordan, from the Cyber Crime Unit, said: “The text is made to look like it comes from the NHS and states ‘we have identified that you are eligible to apply for your vaccine’ and advises you to follow a link to get more information and ‘apply’.

“If you follow the link, you are taken to a convincing-looking, but fake NHS website that asks for your personal details.

* Another scam email.

“After entering your details, it then requests bank/card details to ‘check your identity’.

“But as with all scams, if you look a little closer, you will see it is not real. In this instance, note the URL is not www.nhs.uk/

“As multiple vaccines are now being approved for use in the UK, these types of fraud attempts will continue as criminals look to take advantage of the vaccine roll out.

“It’s not only texts, beware of cold calls and emails regarding the vaccine as scammers are also asking people to pay for it over the phone. Remember – the vaccine is free of charge and there is no way to jump the queue by paying for a ‘priority slot’.

“If you receive one of these calls, hang up and block the number.

“If you have received an email, which you are not quite sure about, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk

“Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to 7726. This free-of-charge short code enables your provider to investigate the origin of the text and take action, if found to be malicious.”

Advice from the police is:

Always:

Stop: Take a moment to think before parting with your money or information - it could keep you safe.

Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam and report it to the Police.

Remember – The NHS, The police, or your bank, will never ask you to withdraw money or transfer it to a different account. They will also never ask you to reveal your full banking password or PIN.

Do not click on links or attachments in unexpected or suspicious texts or emails.
Confirm requests are genuine by using a known number or email address to contact organisations directly.

Coronavirus latest from Welsh Government

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

·    People who were previously shielding in Wales are received a letter from Health Minister Vaughan Gething setting out further advice as Wales is at alert level four lockdown.

o   People who are extremely clinically vulnerable are advised not to go to work or attend school for the time being while cases of coronavirus are very high

o   Written statement: https://gov.wales/written-statement-letter-those-who-are-clinically-extremely-vulnerable-previously-shielding-0

o   Letter: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/inline-documents/2021-01/210105%20-%20Changes%20to%20advice%20for%20the%20clinically%20extremely%20vulnerable%20in%20Wales%20from%20the%2022nd.pdf

o   Guidance: https://gov.wales/guidance-protecting-people-defined-medical-grounds-clinically-extremely-vulnerable-coronavirus

·         Updated guidance: Schools: https://gov.wales/schools-coronavirus-guidance

 

Coronavirus in numbers

·         The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 2,238 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 161,516 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.

o   Very sadly, there were 76 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 3,738.

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

·         The Office for National Statistics has today published statistics on provisional weekly deaths, including deaths involving Covid-19, for the week ending 25 December.

o   The cumulative number of deaths involving Covid-19 occurring in Welsh residents up to 25 December was 4,732.

o   Of the deaths registered in the week ending 25 December, there were provisionally 278 deaths involving Covid-19. This was 34% of all deaths and 22 more than the previous week.

o   For the period 29 February to 25 December, there were a total of 3,900 excess deaths (15%) above the five-year average. The excess death rate in Wales is lower than in England for this period.

o   https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest

 

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   Dr Frank Atherton, Wales’ chief medical officer and Dr Andrew Goodall, chief executive of NHS Wales, held today’s press conference. You can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1346792394461564930

o   Slides used in today’s press conference are here: https://gov.wales/slides-and-datasets-chief-medical-officer-and-nhs-wales-chief-executives-coronavirus-briefing-6-january-2021