Dear Colleagues, 

As you may already be aware the number of Covid-19 cases in the Vale of Glamorgan has been increasing rapidly over the past week. The rate of new cases is now at 163.2 per 100,000 over the last 7 days, with the number of positive tests at 14.9%.

These figures are well over the Welsh Government’s red alert thresholds and the continued increase in the number of cases is a cause for real concern. In recent days, the Cardiff and Vale Test, Trace and Protect Service has been working to identify what additional steps could be taken to support Vale residents.  

Tomorrow (05 November) a mobile testing unit will open in Barry to make it is as easy as possible for those residents that require a test to access one. The temporary facility is based in the Art Central gallery at King Square and will be in place for at least seven days.  

The facility will be promoted to all residents of the Vale. However, as Council staff are recognised as being key workers in the response to the pandemic, should you require a test you should access this via the key worker portal administered by our Human Resources team. This is really important, so we can continue to make best use of all of the testing facilities available for everyone.  

If you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19 – a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss of taste or smell – you should speak to your line manager who can arrange a test for you or email the testing team via covid-19testing@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk. You should not book a test online.  

Staff within our Property, Learning and Skills, Legal, Neighbourhood Services, and Finance teams have all worked at great pace this week to support the Cardiff and Vale Test, Trace, Protect Service in getting the testing centre up and running so quickly. I would like to thank them for all of their efforts.   

The deployment of the mobile testing unit is one of a number of steps being taken to protect residents in the Vale from the pandemic. The Test, Trace, Protect Service for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan has been rapidly expanded in recent weeks to ensure it has the capacity to cope with rising case numbers. Within this partnership the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Shared Regulatory Services, Cardiff & Vale UHB, Public Health Wales and Cardiff Council all continue to work together very effectively. 

From next week we will be working with Welsh Government and a range of other national and regional partners to ensure that all residents understand what the new rules mean for them, and how they can live with this virus. I hope to be able to update all staff on this work in my next weekly update.   

Thank you for your ongoing support in our work to protect and support residents of the Vale. Diolch yn fawr iawn.  

Rob Thomas