Coping in a virus hotspot
Rhondda Cynon Taf now has the UK’s most confirmed cases of coronavirus per head of population. Lewis Smith and Philip Dewey caught up with residents and politicians to find out how people are coping with the crisis
RHONDDA Cynon Taf now has the UK’s most confirmed cases of coronavirus per head of population.
In a special report, we catch up with residents and politicians to find out how people are coping with the crisis.
“OF COURSE we’re not perfect, but no one is”, says retired coal miner Bert Dee.
The 73-year-old, like many others, was out on Treorchy High Street to grab some essentials while the weight of the coronavirus pandemic weighs on their minds.
As of this Tuesday, Public Health Wales said a further 16 people had died after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths to 1,132.
Nationally, 32,415 people have now died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK.
While the respective governments of the four home nations suggest the Covid-19 peak has now passed and the number of new cases are starting to fall day by day, some areas of the country have been hit more than others.
According to figures from Public Health Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) has now overtaken Cardiff and Newport to have most cases of coronavirus – when compared to the amount of people in the area.
The borough has seen 528 cases for every 100,000 people who live in the region, with neighbouring Merthyr Tydfil in second place with 511.8. The figure for RCT is the highest in the UK.
It has been suggested some of the most deprived areas in the country have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, while others claim that lockdown measures have not been tough enough.
Bert, from Treherbert, believes people in the county have been trying their best to adhere to the rules but messages from the Welsh and UK Governments could have been clearer.
He said: “It’s sad to hear that we are the worst affected area in Wales but I do think people have been trying to stick to the rules as much as they can.
“It’s tough, but I think the government must take some responsibility, as they could have acted sooner to shut things down. They also need to stop messing us about with different rules in different parts of the UK as it just creates confusion.
“This is a very serious matter and instead of turning it in to a political mess, they should have one clear message for everyone right across Britain.”
Florist and business owner Kirsty Rees, of Flowers By Kirsty in Treorchy, said she thought people had not been taking the lockdown as seriously as they should be.
She said: “A lot of people here are not taking this lockdown seriously at all, and we’ve seen hundreds of people walking up and down the high street every day.
“To be honest it doesn’t surprise me to hear we are the worst affected area in Wales as the footfall in the town has been staggeringly high during this time.
“It’s crazy but that’s what we’re faced with at the moment.
“I think people did listen to the rules initially when this all started, but as time has gone on the novelty has worn off and that’s why it’s gotten so bad here.
“I’ve seen gangs of kids up the mountains hanging around together, and even older people in the town queuing for shops pretty much face to face. Many have no regard for the two metre rule, which really is astounding at this time.
“We’re hoping it’s going to get better so we can get on with our lives but if people don’t respond to the safety measures in place then who knows how long this will all last.”
Aspiring paramedic Carys Evans, 18, was hoping to begin her training later this year but the pandemic has left matters up in the air.
The teenager, from Pentre, said: “It’s annoying, but to be honest I don’t think people have followed the guidelines here as closely as they could have.
“The shops have all been absolutely crazy since this began, and with the virus causing so much mayhem right across the world it’s just not on.
“In a way I think they are just too laid back, and they have the attitude that they can carry on about their lives as normal without causing any harm, but that’s obviously not the case. Anyone of us could be spreading this around now if we’re not careful, and I feel sorry for those most at risk who are likely to suffer because of it.”
Carys spoke about her admiration for NHS workers and the sacrifices they have made in fighting this cruel virus.
She said: “For me I’m very conscious of what’s going on, as I want to be a paramedic and have applied to begin my training later this year. I think now more than ever the work they do is amazing and I’ve really been inspired by the way everyone in the NHS has responded.
“They work so hard and the best way for us to repay that work is to fol
lowing the rules that are in place and look out for one another as much as we can.”
Sukhdev Singh Purewal, owner of Treorchy Fish Bar, said he was concerned about the figures but at the same time felt a responsibility to keep his business going during the crisis. He said: “It’s a very strange time and it’s definitely a worry for me and my family in a number of ways.
“Firstly because I want to stay as healthy as possible and look after my loved ones, but also because I want to look after the business and make sure there is something for me to come back to when this is all over.
“So far I think we’ve got the balance right in the shop using social distancing measures to remain open, but obviously that’s not the case for everyone in the area.
“Could the government have been a bit stricter throughout this period? I think maybe a little bit, but at the end of the day the people have to listen to what they’re told as well if we’re going to come out of this in a good shape.
“Treorchy is a beautiful place and I’ve always loved being here so I’m sure we can get through this together and come back stronger when the lockdown has ended.”
Rhondda MP Chris Bryant stressed that the people who had been most affected in the pandemic were the most vulnerable in society.
Research by the Office for National Statistics has shown that across the UK the areas hardest hit by Covid-19 have been the most vulnerable.
He said: “It’s been obvious from the start that the virus hits the poorest and most vulnerable hardest.
“We have an elderly population and a large number of people with poor health.
“What seems particularly unfair is that many of the worst paid are those who are contracting the disease because they are the key workers who keep the country running.”
Leanne Wood, Member of the Senedd for Rhondda, said she feared a second spike if people did not adhere to social distancing measures.
She added: “These figures are alarming, particularly when you combine them with the high level of respiratory problems in Rhondda Cynon Taf due to our industrial legacy.
“These figures underline the need to adhere to the simple but effective message to ‘stay at home and save lives.’ It also underlines the irresponsible nature of the Tory UK Government to be pushing the confusing slogan to ‘stay alert’ without clarifying that it does not apply in Wales.
“I fear that unless people maintain social distancing we will be seeing a big spike in cases over the next week and a half and many more lives will be lost.”