Welsh lockdown extended by a further three weeks

Lockdown measures in Wales will be strengthened as a new, highly infectious strain of coronavirus continues to circulate, the First Minister has said.

Speaking at the Welsh Government's daily press briefing, Mark Drakeford said the new strain has quickly taken a "firm foothold" in north Wales, where cases of the virus are rising quickly.

He added that the new strain is expected to become the dominant form of the virus in south Wales too.

It had already been confirmed that the level four lockdown restrictions introduced at midnight on December 19 will remain in place until at least January 29.

Today, Mark Drakeford told journalists that safety measures would be strengthened for shops, workplaces and schools.

Mr Drakeford told journalists: "We will be strengthening the alert level four measures in three main areas.

"First, we will work with our major supermarkets and retailers to make sure that people are safe when we go out shopping.

"I want to see at least the same level of protection today as was very visible in the early period of the pandemic.

"Those who work and shop in supermarkets need to be confident that the numbers in those stores are carefully and consistently controlled and that all other measures are in place to keep us all safe."

Mr Drakeford said he has received more correspondence on safety in shops than almost any other issue.

He there was some "anxiety" from the public that the visible protections in shops in the early days of the pandemic were, in some cases, no longer as apparent.

Although there is no evidence that the new strain causes a more serious illness, it is adding to the pressure on the Welsh NHS, the First Minister said.

He added: "Most young people will now be taught online until January 29. Unless there is a significant reduction in cases of coronavirus by the next review, this will continue until the February half term.

"Vulnerable learners and children of critical workers will continue to have face-to-face learning and childcare remains open.

"We will use the coming weeks to work with our scientists, unions and local authorities to plan for the future.

"This will not be a simple choice between closing schools and colleges now and reopening them in February."

He said the Welsh Government was looking at the "possibilities for a phased and safe return of some students during this period, such as those studying for qualifications, the youngest children who find distance learning the most difficult and vulnerable children."

Mr Drakeford told journalists:

• More than 2,700 coronavirus-related patients are being cared for in Welsh hospitals today

• There are now 143 people with coronavirus in critical care beds.

• The number of people in critical care has reached the highest point in the pandemic.

Ministers have just carried out a three-weekly review of the current restrictions. The next update will be on January 29.

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.

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.”

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.

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.