Things are improving (slowly)…but please don’t be tempted to break the rules
Wrexham still has the highest coronavirus levels in Wales (438 per 100k population on a rolling seven-day basis)…but things are improving.
We’ve been in lockdown in Wales for more than a month now, and cases are coming down slowly in Wrexham. That’s good news.
But a lot of people are still getting sick, and some are dying…so we all need to stick to the rules and be ultra-careful.
Because if the virus starts going up again, we’ll be back to square one…and we’ll have to go through this all over again.
Nobody wants that.
Local vaccination centre opens in Wrexham
The first Local Vaccination Centre (LVC) in North Wales opened in Wrexham this week.
The council has been pressing for an LVC in the county borough to help rollout the local vaccination programme.
The facility is managed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and will play a key part in the rollout – alongside GP practices and the Mass Vaccination Centre (MVC) in Deeside.
Staff and residents at care homes continue to be vaccinated. Over 72% of residents and 48% of staff have been vaccinated so far.
As previously reported, all GP practices have agreed to provide vaccinations and have received some supplies. This will expand in the coming weeks.
You can read more about the rollout on the local health board website.
When it’s your turn, you’ll be contacted
When it’s your turn to be offered the vaccine, you’ll be contacted to arrange an appointment.
Please don’t just turn up at the Local Vaccination Centre, and please don’t contact your local GP or hospital to ask about an appointment.
When it’s your turn, you’ll be contacted by the NHS or your GP…by phone or letter.
Remember that Welsh Government is aiming to vaccinate:
- All care home residents and staff, health and social care workers, people over 70 and people with underlying health conditions by mid-February.
- People over 50 by the spring.
- All other adults by the autumn.
Vaccination is free…don’t get scammed
Sadly, there are people out there who might try to scam you with fake vaccination emails.
Remember…you’ll never be asked to ‘sign up’ or pay to be vaccinated.
When it’s your turn, you’ll be contacted by the NHS or your GP.
⚠️ Help us stop the spread of Coronavirus vaccine scams❗
Remember, you will never be asked to ‘sign up’ or pay to get vaccinated.
When it’s your turn to get protected, you will be contacted by your health board or GP. https://t.co/wgYW9r8LVO
— Public Health Wales (@PublicHealthW) January 29, 2021
Once you’ve had the jab, keep sticking to the rules
Once you’ve had the jab, you still need to be extremely careful and stick to all the current restrictions and guidelines in Wales.
Protection isn’t instant (the vaccine takes time to work) and it still might be possible to catch or spread the virus.
Keep being ultra-careful and stick to all the rules…even after you’ve had your jab.
Coronavirus levels where you live
Most areas of Wrexham continue to improve, but the figures are still high.
The areas with more than 700 per 100k population are:
- Hermitage & Whitegate has 811 cases
- Caia Park has 714 cases
If you want to check the figures where you live in more detail, visit the Public Health Wales data dashboard and click on the ‘MSOA’ tab.
In Wrexham, the virus is still mainly finding its way into people’s homes and spreading between family members.
Schools and remote learning
Like the rest of Wales, schools in Wrexham continue to provide remote learning for pupils.
As a council, we’d like to say a big thank you to parents and carers.
We know it’s really tough juggling home and work commitments with home-schooling. So thank you for everything you’re doing.
We’ve also issued an important reminder about the limited circumstances in which children of key workers and vulnerable learners are able to attend school for face-to-face education.
This is what we all need to do
Act as if you – and everyone you meet – might have Covid-19.
Keep sticking to the current restrictions in Wales and:
- Don’t mix with people from other households.
- Don’t travel except for essential purposes…such as work, health reasons or caring duties.
Bus services – Arriva Wrexham depot reopens
The Arriva Wrexham depot will reopen on Sunday (January 31), as drivers start to return to work following the voluntary firebreak at the depot.
Additional services will be up and running again, with extra journeys added to some routes.
Visit the Arriva website for more info and to plan your journey.
Remember…you should only travel for essential purposes.
#Wrexham depot re-opens on 31 Jan, additional services will be put back in place running to special timetables & extra journeys added to some services. Details https://t.co/GND0Js7YGY We are committed to running vital services so essential journeys can be made at this time. pic.twitter.com/uj71UA1S0L
— Arriva Buses Wales (@arrivabuswales) January 26, 2021
If you have symptoms…
If you have coronavirus symptoms, make sure you self-isolate and get a test.
It could be the most important thing you ever do.
Read more on the Welsh Government website.
Persistent cough, high temperature or loss of taste or smell? You may have #coronavirus.
Please self-isolate immediately and book a test if you have any symptoms.https://t.co/WYmmH7RQJr#KeepWalessafe #TestTraceProtect pic.twitter.com/a3LKlRilOr
— Welsh Government Health and Social Care (@WGHealthandCare) January 29, 2021
Useful sources of information
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board website – vaccination updates (North Wales)
- Welsh Government website – Alert Level 4 restrictions FAQs
- Public Health Wales website – daily statement