Coronavirus

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have now approved the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. We now know we have a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine which can be used in Wales.

LATEST NEWS:

Written Statement: Return to school and college arrangements

The advice to those who are clinically extremely vulnerable, previously ‘shielding’ has changed from today (22/12/20) to advise those within this group that they should no longer attend work or school outside the home. This is particularly the case for those whose work requires them to be in regular or sustained contact with other people, or where individuals share a poorly ventilated workspace for long periods. Letters from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales (CMO) will be issued confirming this advice but will take some time to reach individuals due to the festive period. These letters can be used as evidence for the purposes of claiming statutory sick pay.

This decision has been taken based on number of factors but has been influenced most recently by the significant recent growth in rates of infection, possibly due to the new variant of the coronavirus. We have also taken account of the pressures we see on our health service with increasing hospitalisations. This advice will be reviewed on a three weekly basis aligned to the Welsh Government reviews of alert levels across Wales.

For the full statement: https://gov.wales/written-statement-new-advice-those-who-are-clinically-extremely-vulnerable-previously-shielding?_ga&fbclid=IwAR31SDcETcUuGdSNWHVUfmlrH3JqTK0sXAY-YNCJV7JLWpAhoSM1xnOFtiM

As of midnight 19/12/2020 all of Wales was put into Alert Level 4.

For full information visit https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-guide

What you must do at alert level 4

At alert level 4 you must:

Follow social distancing rules with people you don’t live with or who are not in your support bubble.
Wear a face covering (if you are able to) in all indoor public places.
Stay at home.
Not create an extended household (single adults or single parents may join with one other household to form an exclusive support bubble).
Meet only the people you live with or your support bubble indoors.
Meet only your household or support bubble in private gardens.
Meet only your household or support bubble outdoors.
Work from home if you can.
Not travel without reasonable excuse.
Not travel internationally without reasonable excuse.

What can open at alert level 4

Schools, colleges and childcare providers (informal childcare should only be essential only).
Higher Education Institutions (mix of in-person and remote learning).
Places of worship.
Community centres – limited opening (for example, for essential public services).
Crematoriums
Playgrounds and public parks
Weddings and funerals (ceremony limit set by venue).

What must be closed at alert level 4

Venues for events and conferences
Theatres and concert halls
Indoor and outdoor visitor attractions
Entertainment venue
Wedding reception or wake
Sport courts, golf courses
Leisure and fitness facilities
Outdoor visitor attractions
Holiday accommodation (open only if essential only, for example for work or other reasons)
Hospitality (except for takeaway and delivery)
Close contact services
Non-essential retail (click and collect allowed)
Licenced premises. Takeaway and delivery only between 6am and 10pm
Libraries and archive services (click and collect only)
Organised activities limited to public and voluntary services
Nightclubs and adult entertainment venues

New continuous cough
High temperature
Loss of taste and/or smell

Book a test here https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test

If you are asked to self-isolate, you should do so to prevent further spread of the virus. Please remember to self-isolate while awaiting the results of a test.

For information which will answer a lot of questions, please visit