Covid-19 briefing note

How’s it going? Basically, things are still improving 👌 …but we need to remain careful.

Pubs, restaurants and cafes will be able to serve outdoors from this Monday, April 26 as restrictions continue to ease.

It’s a major step, and if we’re all sensible and cautious, we can once again enjoy being able to eat and drink out with friends and family, while staying safe.

Earlier this week, Welsh Government also confirmed that six people will be able to meet outdoors from this Saturday, April 24 and the number of households will no longer be limited to two.

We’re on the right road. Let’s stay on it.

When you meet up outdoors…

Social distance. Stick to the ‘rule of six’ (no more than six people).

When you go to a pub or restaurant…

Book in advance. Provide your details for contact tracing. Social distance. Stick to the ‘rule of six’.

When you go shopping…

Social distance. Use hand sanitiser. Wear a mask unless you’re exempt.

When you go to school…

Avoid car-sharing. Don’t hang around at the gates. Keep your child at home if they feel unwell (arrange a test if they have symptoms).

Outdoor Hospitality getting ready to welcome customers back

Key dates and changes

Today, Welsh Government also confirmed that some relaxations will be brought forward from May 17 to May 3.

This includes the resumption of indoor supervised activities for children, indoor organised activities for up to 15 adults (such as exercise classes), and the re-opening of community centres.

Here’s a quick summary of key changes in Wales over the next week or so:

Saturday, April 24

  • Six people (not including children under 11) from more than two households can meet up outdoors.

Monday, April 26

  • Pubs and restaurants will reopen for outdoor service (indoor hospitality will remain closed).
  • Organised outdoor activities and outdoor wedding receptions for up to 30 people will be allowed.
  • Outdoor attractions, including outdoor swimming pools, funfairs and theme parks, will be able to reopen.

Monday, May 3

  • Gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities will be able to reopen.

Note that in Wrexham, Waterworld and Chirk leisure centres will open on May 3 from 9am until 4pm, and all other Freedom Leisure facilities in the county borough will reopen on May 4.

Indoor group exercise classes will start at selected sites on May 3, and Learn to Swim classes on May 4. Contact your local leisure centre for more info.

  • Indoor supervised activities for children, and indoor organised activities for up to 15 adults (such as exercise classes), will be allowed.
  • Community centres will be able to reopen.
  • Extended households will be allowed again, enabling two households to meet and have contact indoors.

It’s also been indicated that bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes will be able to open indoors from May 17.

However, this will be subject to confirmation by the incoming Welsh Government after the May elections.

Make sure you know about changes to Covid-19 restrictions in Wales.

Trailers at Brymbo recycling centre

Since the start of this week (April 19), we’ve been allowing trailers at Brymbo recycling centre.

This means they’re allowed at all three recycling centres in the country borough (Brymbo, Bryn Lane and Plas Madoc).

Read more…

Popping to Chester this weekend?

You might be thinking about popping over the border into England this weekend, where pubs, restaurants and cafes are already open for outdoor service.

Cheshire West and Chester is welcoming visitors, but is urging caution and care. Here’s some advice:

  • Plan your journey in advance and only travel to England if you don’t have Covid-19 symptoms.
  • Social distance during your visit and on public transport.
  • Wear face coverings when indoors and on public transport.
  • Pubs, restaurants, cafés and bars can all serve customers, but for outdoor service only.
  • All businesses have strict controls in place to ensure they operate in line with national guidance to ensure staff and customer safety.
  • Book in advance, as many premises will only accept bookings.
  • Expect to wait in long queues if you don’t book in advance.
  • Visitors to Chester are urged to get a coronavirus test at Chester Cathedral for their own and others’ safety, and to self-isolate if they test positive.

Vaccination update

To ensure vaccine supplies are put to use as quickly as possible in North Wales, the local health board is running two streams for people aged 18-49.

One delivers the Pfizer vaccine to those aged under 30, and the other delivers the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged 30-49.

This is to ensure vaccines aren’t left for long periods unused, and is consistent with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Aged 40-49?

The local health board is contacting people aged 40-49 with appointments for first doses.

Please only contact the health board if you want to cancel or re-arrange your appointment once you’ve received it.

Aged 18-39?

If you’re aged 18-39 please be patient – you shouldn’t have to wait much longer now.

No invitation yet?

Please complete this online form if you haven’t been able to take up an appointment yet, and you’re one of the following:

  • Over 16 and living with individuals with severely weakened immune systems.
  • Aged 50 or over and haven’t received an invite.
  • Aged 16-64 years with certain underlying health conditions.
  • An unpaid carer who is unknown to the health board.

If you don’t have internet access, call the Vaccination Contact Centre on 03000 840004.

Please attend your appointment

If you have any concerns or last-minute worries, please still attend your vaccination appointment so staff can discuss these with you before you make a decision.

You can read more about the vaccination programme in North Wales on the local NHS health board website.

Coronavirus where you live

Wrexham as a whole is now tenth in Wales, with 11.8 cases per 100k population on a seven-day rolling basis (the lowest since September).

That’s brilliant news and shows how much things have improved. But we all know the risk of a third wave is there, so we all have to be careful.

If you want to check the figures where you live, visit the Public Health Wales data dashboard and click on the ‘MSOA’ tab.

Free self-test kits if you can’t work from home

If you can’t work from home, you can pick up free ‘lateral flow’ self-test kits from the testing centre at the Memorial Hall in Wrexham.

Take a look at the local NHS health board website for more info.

Have symptoms or identified as a ‘contact’?

If you have coronavirus symptoms – or you’re identified as a ‘contact’ by the Track, Trace and Protect service – please 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.

Useful sources of information

😷 Restrictions in Wales are gradually easing. Make sure you understand what you can and can’t do 👈

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