Clusters ‘caused by illegal parties and gatherings’
A CLUSTER of coronavirus cases in the Swansea Bay area is believed to be linked to a birthday party and other “illegal household gatherings”.
Local health leaders are urging people to stick to the latest lockdown rules, which do not allow mixedhousehold gatherings to take place indoors, following suspected breaches by members of an extended family and groups of friends meeting in the Briton Ferry area.
Swansea Bay University Health Board has traced 23 confirmed cases of Covid-19 – 22 in Neath Port Talbot and one in Swansea – back to birthday celebrations and people visiting each other indoors.
There are concerns that the number of cases linked to the alleged illegal gatherings may be even higher than the official figures as there has been a “reluctance amongst some of those who’ve tested positive to share details of their close contacts”, according to a statement released by the health board.
People living in the Briton Ferry, Cimla and Resolven areas who have Covid-19 symptoms – a fever/new cough/loss of taste/smell or any flu-like symptoms – are being advised to get tested straight away.
Under the current lockdown restrictions, households cannot meet indoors, but four people from two households can meet locally outdoors if maintaining a social distance.
Swansea Bay UHB director of public health, Dr Keith Reid, said: “We’re aware of an extended family and friends who have apparently been going in and out of each other’s homes, which is not currently allowed.
“Being so familiar with each other, there has also been little or no compliance with social distancing, wearing face coverings, etc, which has increased the likelihood of the virus being passed on. If you test positive, please be open and honest with the tracing team. The details remain confidential and are used for contact tracing purposes to stop the virus in its tracks.”
Dr Reid added that the “majority of people do stick to the rules” but said we are “not out of the woods yet”.
“The numbers of positive cases in the Neath Port Talbot and Swansea areas have started to go in the wrong direction again, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure they come back down. The rules are there for a reason – to safeguard people and slow the spread. A significant number of cases now are down to household gatherings which should not be happening in the first place.
“You might think that because it’s your family member you’re meeting up with that it doesn’t matter, you couldn’t infect each other. But that’s wrong, and a totally false sense of security. The virus doesn’t care if you’re related. In fact, it thrives on close contact. Which is why we’re now dealing with this cluster in the Briton Ferry area.”
‘‘ Being so familiar with each other, there has also been little or no compliance with social distancing, wearing face coverings, etc, which has increased the likelihood of the virus being passed on. If you test positive, please be open and honest with the tracing team. The details remain confidential and are used for contact tracing purposes to stop the virus in its tracks
– Swansea Bay UHB director of public health, Dr Keith Reid