WARNING AS TOP 3,000 FOR
MORE than 3,000 coronathere have been no deaths in Sepvirus cases have been tember of anyone who had been recorded in the UK for diagnosed with coronavirus in the the second day in a row past month. as a top scientist warned the country Two people died with Covid-19 on is “on the edge of losing control” of He told BBC Radio 4’s Today proAugust 31.
Covid-19. gramme: “You’ve only got to look RCT had the highest number of
It is the first time since mid-May across the Channel to see what’s hapnew cases at 25. that recorded cases have been above pening in France, what’s happening The county borough of Caerphilly, 3,000 on consecutive days, and the in Spain.” which has been under lockdown figures come as the public is urged In Wales positive coronavirus since 6pm on Tuesday, recorded not to have a “party weekend” before cases have risen sharply. 20 new positive cases, as did Newthe “rule of six” restrictions come Public Health Wales (PHW) has port. into force tomorrow. revealed that 164 new lab-confirmed Powys, which has seen an outbreak
The Government said that as of cases of the virus were reported yesin Welshpool, had 16. Cardiff had 12 9am on Saturday, there had been a terday. and Bridgend 10. Ceredigion and further 3,497 lab-confirmed cases in That is up on the 130 cases on Conwy had eight cases, Blaenau the UK, slightly lower than the 3,539 Friday and the 102 cases announced Gwent, Flintshire and Merthyr had cases recorded on Friday. six.onThursdayandtakesthenation’s
Former chief scientific adviser weekly rate of infections to 20.3 for Carmarthenshire and Swansea and member of the Scientific every 100,000 people – past the rate have five, with Gwynedd, Wrexham Advisory Group for Emergencies at which a quarantine would be and Neath Port Talbot on three. (Sage) Sir Mark Walport said the only imposed on a foreign country. Monmouthshire had two while way to stop the virus spreading is to Caerphilly remains the area of Torfaen, Anglesey, Denbighshire, reduce the number of people we all Wales with the most cases per Vale of Glamorgan and Pembrokeshcome into contact with, adding 100,000 of population with 88.4. ire had one. there is an “extremely strong arguHowever, Merthyr Tydil (56.4), NewThese are the areas with the highment” that home working should port (40.1) and RCT (37.7) are also est seven-day rolling totals for new continue. high. cases. All figures are reported as
When asked whether the UK was Yesterday’s figure brings the total cases adjusted for population (per still in control of the spread of the number of cases to 19,228 in Wales 100,000 people): virus, Sir Mark said: “I think one since the beginning of the pandemic. Caerphilly: 88.4 (Down) would have to say that we’re on the There were once again no reported Merthyr Tydfil: 56.4 (Up) edge of losing control.” Covid-19 deaths by PHW. So far, Newport: 40.1 (Up)
■ Rhondda Cynon Taf: 37.7 (Up)
■ Powys: 22.7 (Up)
■ Blaenau Gwent: 17.2 (Up)
■ Wrexham: 16.9 (Down)
■ Bridgend: 15 (Up)
■ Cardiff: 13.9 (Up)
■ Ceredigion: 13.8 (Up)
■ Conwy: 13.7 (Up)
■ Flintshire: 12.2 (Up)
■ Carmarthenshire: 11.7 (Unchanged)
■ Denbighshire: 11.5 (Down)
■ Gwynedd: 11.2 (Up)
■ Neath Port Talbot: 10.5 (Down)
■ Anglesey: 7.1 (Unchanged)
■ Vale of Glamorgan: 6.7 (Unchanged)
■ Torfaen: 6.4 (Unchanged)
■ Swansea: 5.3 (Down)
■ Pembrokeshire: 4.8 (Down)
■ Monmouthshire: 3.2 (Up)
■ Wales: 20.3 (Up)
Dr Christopher Williams, incident director for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales welcomes the new action being taken from Monday, September 14, by Welsh Government to prevent further rises in positive coronavirus cases.
“These include the mandatory wearing of face coverings by people over 11 in public places, like shops,
and that only six people from an extended household can meet indoors.
“As children return to schools, I understand that parents will be concerned at reports of positive cases. I would urge you to follow advice from the school or local authority and only withdraw children from school when asked to do so. Social distancing measures that are in place are designed to prevent the spread of the disease beyond the ‘bubbles’ established in schools.
“Again it is important that children maintain regular handwashing throughout the day, and on returning home, and parents’ help with this is vital.
“We are now seeing a steady increase in cases in a number of communities across Wales, and our investigations show that many of these have been transmitted due to a lack of social distancing.
“This has resulted in the spread of the virus to other groups of people.
“We continue to appeal to everyone to please remember that, even if you feel that you would not be badly affected by Covid-19 if you were to test positive, should you pass it on to older or more vulnerable family members, friends or colleagues it could be extremely serious and even fatal.
“Coronavirus has not gone away. It remains the responsibility of everyone to help prevent the spread of this virus.
“That is, by self-isolating when asked to do so, staying two metres away from others, and by washing hands regularly.
“In addition to the national measures taken by Welsh Government, enhanced public health action is being taken in Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil local authority areas to limit the spread of coronavirus following an increase in cases.
“The enhanced action includes asking people to limit the use of public transport to essential purposes only, such as for education, work, essential medical appointments and food shopping.
“Local people are also being advised that they should not visit care homes, unless it is an end-of-life visit. In such cases full PPE will be required.
“Due to the recent rise in the number of cases of coronavirus in the lower Rhondda area, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, working in partnership with
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has set up a temporary testing centre at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council offices at The Pavilions, Clydach Vale, CF40 2XX.
“This testing facility is intended for people living in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area only.
“It is important that you only attend if you have Covid-19 symptoms, ie “a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of or change to your normal sense of smell or taste”.
“Public Health Wales supports the restrictions which have been put in place by the Welsh Government and Caerphilly council.
“These measures are essential to limit the spread of coronavirus and bring transmission under control.
“These local restrictions are different to those measures introduced nationally.
“People in the Caerphilly county borough area should not host people from any other household in their home.
“The full list of rules for this area can be found on the Welsh Government website.
“In line with local lockdown measures, Public Health Wales would encourage members of the public living in Caerphilly county borough to attend any booked medical appointments, including visits to screening clinics.
“In addition to the three measures outlined by the Minister for Health and Social Care, screening clinics throughout Wales have implemented additional Covid-safe measures to help protect all of those that attend.
“I would appeal to everyone in the Caerphilly area that if you have even the mildest of Covid-19 symptoms – a high temperature or fever, a new and persistent cough, or a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste, or even if you feel generally unwell with no explanation – to make use of the local testing units.
“In order to manage high demand for testing in the county, then the walk-in local testing unit at Caerphilly Leisure Centre will continue operating until Tuesday, September 15.
“An additional drive-through testing unit has also been established at the Caerphilly County Borough Council offices in Tredomen Business Park, Ystrad Mynach.
“This site will also be operational until Tuesday, September 15, and its opening hours are 8am to 6pm.”