September 27, 2020 - 862 views
362 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the past day across Wales and no new deaths.
In today's update from Public Health Wales, North Wales cases have increased further with 46 reported.
In the locality Conwy has 8 whilst Denbighshire reported 10. Elsewhere, Flintshire and Wrexham had 10 new cases each with 5 in Gwynedd and 3 in Anglesey.
Dr Giri Shankar, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales supports the announcement by the Welsh Government today of local restrictions in Neath Port Talbot, the Vale of Glamorgan and Torfaen. These arrangements are necessary in order to bring transmission of the virus under control in these areas.
“We thank the public in advance for sticking to these new restrictions, which are essential in reducing spread of the virus, protecting older and vulnerable people, and keeping Wales safe.
“These new restrictions will come into effect from 6pm tomorrow. Previously announced restrictions also come into force in Cardiff and Swansea at 6pm tonight.
“The new restrictions mean that people living in these areas will not be allowed to enter or leave their local authority area without a reasonable excuse.
“They will not be able to meet indoors with anyone they do not live with for the time being – extended households (sometimes called a ‘bubble’) are suspended for the time being.
“Pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises must stop selling alcohol at 10pm, and offer table service only. Off licenses, including supermarkets and other retail outlets, must also stop selling alcohol at 10pm.
“People who can work from home must do so. Those who cannot reasonably work from home can continue to travel to a place of work, whether that is within our outside the areas affected by local restrictions.
“Local restrictions are already in place in seven other areas of South Wales - Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly borough, Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil borough, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Newport.
“Further details of these rules can be found on the Welsh Government website.
“The multidisciplinary Incident Management Team (IMT) for the Gwent area is encouraging anyone living in Blaenau Gwent and who has symptoms of COVID-19 to get a test, following a rapid rise in cases.
“A mobile testing unit has been set up in the area. Local residents can book a test by calling 0300 303 1222.
“The symptoms of COVID-19 are a new, continuous cough, a fever and a change in taste or smell (anosmia), but as these can be preceded by more minor symptoms, so the IMT is encouraging people with any flu-like symptoms, or that are feeling generally unwell, to book themselves in for a test.
“As well as observing the current and new restrictions coming into place, I would also urge people to download the new NHS COVID-19 app which launched on Thursday.
“The app forms a central part of the NHS Wales Test Trace Protect programme. We would encourage as many people to download and use the app as possible, to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The app also informs users of the current risk level in their postcode district.
“The ‘rule of six’ means that only six people from the same extended household can meet indoors. This applies throughout Wales, although there are additional measures in place in the areas affected by local restrictions.
“In addition, the Welsh Government has announced strengthened regulations and support for employees and employers who are required to self-isolate.
“In the areas where local restrictions have been announced or brought into place (the council areas of Neath Port Talbot, Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly County, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Rhondda Cynon Taf and the town of Llanelli), then those rules must be followed. Details of these rules can be found on the Welsh Government website.
“We are continuing to see a steady increase in cases in many communities across Wales, and our investigations show that many of these have been transmitted due to a lack of social distancing.
“The council areas of Anglesey, Carmarthenshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, and Flintshire are all areas of concern to us and we are watching the data from there carefully, but numbers of cases are increasing in all parts of Wales so there is no room for complacency in any area.
“We are also seeing an increase in the number of people who are seriously ill and have been admitted to hospital with COVID-19.
“We are concerned that much of the good work conducted over the past few months is at risk of going to waste. If the situation continues to worsen, we may find ourselves at the same levels of infection that we experienced earlier this year in March and April, and with that comes the potential for more extended restrictions to be imposed nationally."
