Covid-19 briefing note – remember the basics this bank holiday (hands, face, space, fresh air)

We’re still in a good place. Virus levels remain low and life feels a little more ‘normal’ at the moment.

But this week, we’ve seen a slight increase in coronavirus cases in Wrexham, with 22.1 cases per 100k population, compared to 11.8 last week. We’ve also gone up from tenth in Wales to third.

The figures are still extremely low, but it’s a reminder that things can turn bad…very quickly.

So sticking to the basics – social distancing, fresh air, wearing a mask and washing our hands – is more important than ever, and will help us keep the figures down.

And with more of us being vaccinated every day, we can hopefully stay on track for a good summer.

Enjoy the bank holiday, but remember the basics – hands, face, space, fresh air.

Stay safe.

Car-sharing

Earlier this week, workers were given renewed advice after clusters of cases were linked to car-sharing.

Government guidance says car-sharing should be avoided. Sitting in a confined space with someone from another household is a bad idea, and you could easily catch or spread the virus.

You might end up having to isolate, and you could become seriously ill.

So try to avoid it at all costs. If you can’t work from home, try to drive to work alone –or walk or cycle and reap the benefits of fresh air and exercise.

If you do have to car-share, here are some tips:

• Keep car windows open.
• Wear a mask.
• Try not to touch surfaces that others touch – keep door handles and steering wheels clean.
• If you do come within two metres of each other, keep it to the minimum time possible, avoid contact and try to face away from each other.

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

Vote safely on Thursday, May 6

Next week, the Senedd and Police and Crime Commissioner elections will take place.

A lot of work has gone into making sure polling stations are as safe as possible on May 6, but you can help by following a few simple steps when you go to vote:

• Wear a face covering.
• Bring your own pen or pencil.
• Clean you hands when entering and leaving the polling station.
• Keep a safe distance from others.

Please don’t go to the polling station if you have any Covid symptoms, or if you’ve been asked to isolate.

If you develop symptoms or have to isolate last minute, you have until 5pm on polling day to apply for an emergency proxy vote. This allows you to nominate someone you trust to vote on your behalf.

For info on how to apply for an emergency proxy vote, contact our electoral registration team on 01978 292020.

Key dates and changes

Here’s a quick summary of key changes in Wales over the next few days.

Monday, May 3

• Indoor supervised activities for children (e.g. groups and clubs), 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.
• Gyms, leisure centres, fitness facilities, spas and swimming pools will be able to reopen.

In Wrexham, Waterworld and Chirk leisure centres will open on May 3 from 9am until 4pm.

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.

From Monday, gyms and leisure facilities can reopen and indoor activities for up to 15 people can resume.

You'll also be able to bubble with one other household and meet up with them indoors.

Coronavirus hasn't gone away- let's continue to work together to keep Wales safe. pic.twitter.com/PisB3mY5c3

— Welsh Government #KeepWalesSafe (@WelshGovernment) April 30, 2021

Vaccination update

Around 70% of adults in North Wales have now received at least one dose of vaccine.

This week, the health board continues to vaccinate people aged 18-49 years (Priority Group 10), as well as others who couldn’t receive their vaccination when it was first offered.

Second dose appointments

It’s important you have both doses of the vaccine to get the best protection.

There’s currently an eleven week gap between first and second doses, so please be patient.

However, if you’ve been waiting more than eleven weeks for your second dose, you should contact:

• Your GP if you received a first dose at a GP surgery.
• The Vaccination Contact Centre on 03000 840004 if you received your first dose anywhere else (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and Saturday to Sunday, 9am to 1pm).

An appeal to employers

If you help run a business, please be sympathetic to requests from staff to take time off to attend vaccination appointments.

Vaccination offers our best route out of this pandemic, and will also help reduce staff sickness.

Questions about the vaccine?

If you’re nervous about getting vaccinated or have any questions, join the local health board for an online Q&A session on Wednesday, May 5.

The session will be held using the popular meetings app Zoom, and will take place between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.

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 third in Wales, with 22.1 cases per 100k population on a seven-day rolling basis.

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 delivered to your home

If you can’t work from home, you can order free ‘lateral flow’ self-test kits to be delivered to your home address.

Take a look at the Welsh Government 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 ‘PCR’ test.

It could be the most important thing you ever do.

Read more on the Welsh Government website.

Useful sources of information

• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board website – vaccination updates (North Wales)
• Welsh Government website – FAQs about current restrictions in Wales
• Public Health Wales website – regular statements.

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

[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=” https://gov.wales/current-restrictions “] SEE LATEST COVID RULES [/button]