Covid-19 (Novel Coronavirus) – public briefing note 29.5.20

This note provides an update on the information posted on this blog last week (22.5.20).

Key messages for today

• From Monday (June 1), people in Wales from two different households in the same local area will be able to meet outdoors.
• Next week is Volunteers’ Week. It’s a chance to say thank you to volunteers in Wrexham and across the UK.
• If you have extra cardboard to recycle, it must be in a container that our bin crews can empty straight into the correct vehicle compartment…without having to touch the cardboard itself.
• A big thank you to everyone for sticking to the rules at our recycling centres.
• If you’re registered for business rates and were trading up until lockdown kicked-in, you might be missing out on a grant of up to £25,000. We’ve already paid 22m to over 1,800 businesses. Make sure you apply by June 30.
• If you, or someone you know, is at risk of domestic abuse during the coronavirus emergency, the Live Fear Free helpline is available 24-7. Call 0808 80 10 800.
• We’ve issued free school meal direct payments for over 3,300 children since the scheme started on May 4. Payment to cover the next four weeks should be in people’s bank accounts on June 1.

Ian Bancroft – Chief Executive

Mark Pritchard – Leader of the Council

By the time you read this…

By the time you read this, you’ll probably know about the changes to lockdown from next week.

Earlier today, Welsh Government announced that from Monday (June 1), people from two different households in the same local area will be able to meet outdoors.

You must continue to maintain social distancing and strict hand hygiene.

You’ll also have to stay local – which as a general rule, means not travelling more than five miles from home.

Having to stay away from friends and family has been really tough, and we’ll all welcome this slight easing of restrictions.

But it’s important we don’t get carried away, and that we keep following the rules to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Stay local to help keep Wrexham – and the rest of Wales – safe.

Thank you to volunteers everywhere

Next week is Volunteers’ Week. It’s a chance to say thank you to the millions of volunteers across the UK.

Here in Wrexham, volunteers play a crucial role…helping community projects and charities, and supporting local services like the council, health and emergency services.

They make a difference to lives all over the county borough, and are always ready to step up and help when new situations arise.

This has never been more evident than during the current emergency.

Volunteers co-ordinated by the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) have helped deliver food, pick up prescriptions and do all kinds of other work to help the most vulnerable.

So let’s say thank you to volunteers all over the county borough, and use next week to think about what they do for us.

There are lots of heroes in our midst at the moment. Volunteers are definitely among them.

To contact AVOW, email VB@avow.org or call 01978 312556.

GET THE LATEST COVID-19 INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC HEALTH WALES

Why we can’t collect loose cardboard

When it comes to collecting your waste and recycling, our priority is to keep you and our refuse crews safe.

We have very strict hygiene precautions in place, but we need your help with some of these.

For example, our operatives can’t touch any of your recyclables…so they can’t pick up loose cardboard.

If you have extra cardboard to recycle, it must be in a container that our crews can empty straight into the correct vehicle compartment.

Read this article for more information.

Thanks for sticking to the rules at our recycling centres

As you probably know, our household waste recycling centres at Bryn Lane, Plas Madoc and Brymbo reopened earlier this month.

We just want to say a big thank you to everyone for sticking to the rules, and helping to keep everyone safe.

Only visit our sites if you really need to, and remember to book in advance if you want to visit the Brymbo site (call 01978 801463).

Here’s a quick reminder about the rules…

Could this money help your business? Apply by June 30

We’ve helped over 1,800 businesses and sole traders in the county borough by providing £22m in business grants since lockdown began.

This includes small charities and community sports clubs following recently revised eligibility rules.

However, Welsh Government recently announced that the grants scheme will close for applications on June 30.

So this is a call for any businesses out there who haven’t already received a business loan or funding from the Economic Resilience Fund, to go to our website to check if they’re eligible and – if they are – make a claim.

You’ll find all the relevant information on our site, including revised criteria for small charities and community amateur sports clubs.

We’re particularly asking owners of shops, offices, hairdressing salons, garages and petrol stations, and non-council community centres or buildings to consider claiming.

Lockdown lunches in the Ceiriog Valley

Communities all over the county borough have been coming together during the current emergency.

For example, volunteers in the Ceiriog Valley have rallied round to prepare, cook and deliver 100 roast-beef dinners to people who are self isolating.

Read the article we posted earlier this week.

#LiveFearFree

If you, or someone you know, is at risk of domestic abuse or sexual violence during the coronavirus emergency, help and support is available.

The Live Fear Free helpline is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, and is free to use. Just call 0808 80 10 800.

Read the article we posted earlier this week for more information.

Free school meal direct payments

We’ve issued direct payments for over 3,300 children since the scheme started on May 4.

Those eligible will be receiving a further payment to their nominated bank accounts on June 1, to cover the next four weeks.

If your child attends a school in Wrexham, is entitled to free school meals and you haven’t applied for direct payments yet, please take a look at the information on our website.

Reminder – reliable sources of information about Covid-19

Latest information on the virus and what people should do about it is provided by:

• Daily TV statements by the Government (including by Government ministers) at around 5pm.
• Daily statements by Welsh Government at around 12.30pm.
• Daily official briefings from the Department of Health and Social Care at 2pm, and Public Health Wales at 3pm.

Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.

[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=” https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/”] LATEST INFO ON COVID-19 [/button]

Covid-19 (Novel Coronavirus) – public briefing note 22.5.20