Additional COVID-19 Measures for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

A series of new measures are being introduced by Cardiff and Vale’s Test, Trace and Protect Services (TTP) in a bid to stem the sudden increase in Covid-19 cases being seen across the two counties.

• Dydd Mercher, 23 Mis Medi 2020

  Bro Morgannwg

As the rate of new cases in Cardiff today rose to 27.5 (per 100k over 7 days) and to 22.5 in the Vale, fears are growing that both areas are on the same lockdown path as experienced by Caerphilly, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, and Bridgend.

Following a meeting earlier today of the Cardiff and Vale TTP Senior Leadership Group the following additional measures and enhanced activity to try to stop the rise in infections is being introduced for Cardiff and the Vale:

• Restrictions on visiting premises with vulnerable people. Indoor visits to care homes and hospitals limited to essential visits only;
• Increased engagement with businesses on the current risks and their responsibility to ensure social distancing legislation is followed. Enforcement action to be ramped up for non-compliance;
• Enhancing partnership work with Higher Education and Further Education sectors to strengthen messages to students on the importance of complying with regulations and the penalties for not doing so;
• Enhancing local communication of key messages. Specifically stressing the importance of social distancing, not mixing with people indoors who aren’t part of an extended household, sticking to the rule of six, emphasising that those with symptoms, and those waiting for a test result, or people asked to isolate by TTP contact tracing team must stay at home.

Chair of the Cardiff and Vale TTP Service and Chair of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Charles Janczewski, said: “Each and every one of us has a personal responsibility to follow the simple rules to protect our families, friends, and the most vulnerable in our communities. If we all act responsibly and work together we can keep our local areas safe, our communities open and prevent increased lockdown measures happening here.”

Cllr Neil Moore, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: “My message for residents of the Vale is a simple one. This is our last chance to prevent similar measures being imposed on our towns and villages. 

“Slowing the spread of the virus is not difficult, but it requires us all to work together and follow the same basic guidelines.  

“I know the vast majority of Vale residents want to do what is right. Earlier this year we all made great sacrifices to stop the spread of Covid-19 and protect our families, friends, and the most vulnerable in our communities.  

“We have made huge progress towards a return to life as we once knew it in the months since.  

“We must not now undo all of this hard work. The Vale of Glamorgan Council will be doing everything it can to share this message as widely as possible.”

Cllr Huw Thomas, Leader of Cardiff Council, said: “Over the past 5 days the situation in Cardiff has changed rapidly with the number of new positive cases rising sharply and the test positivity rate also increasing from 2% under a week ago to 2.4%.

“Emergency Unit attendance has also risen and Covid-related calls to 111 and GP surgery consultation rates have reached their highest rates since June.

“The evidence in Cardiff indicates that the spread of the infection is most frequently seen within households and extended households.   There has also been a change in the age profile of those infected, with a significant rise in the number of those aged 35-50 now testing positive.  The transmission of the virus to older or vulnerable people and the consequent rise in emergency attendances, hospital admissions, and deaths is a serious concern. It’s vitally important that we all do what we can to try to stop the rise now. I ask everyone to follow the guidelines, keep safe and keep your families safe.

“Taken together, these measures represent a balanced and proportionate response to the nature of the risk in Cardiff right now, but this will be kept under close review and may change at any time. It’s entirely possible that we may have to go much further, imposing lockdown measure with the backing of Welsh Government if the situation doesn’t stabilise or improve.”

The implementation and impact of these additional measures will be reviewed twice a week and an assessment made on whether they should be continued will be undertaken two weeks from now.