Public Health Wales statement on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

This statement will be updated daily at 2pm

Updated: 2:00pm Thursday 9 July

Dr Robin Howe, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:

“Following the Incident Management Team meeting on Wednesday 8 July, we have recorded a small number of additional positive cases identified at the Kepak Merthyr meat processing plant, with the total now standing at 138 positive cases since April. 

“This is not unexpected - focused testing as part of the management of clusters and outbreaks of Coronavirus will inevitably identify new cases, but this does not mean that there has been a significant increase in the level of infection in the community. 

“If we look at other data such as hospital admissions or bio surveillance indicators, there is no evidence of a surge of infections in the wider community in Merthyr. 

“It is too early to draw precise conclusions, but our monitoring does show a historic correlation between levels of infection in the plant and previous background levels of infection in the wider community. There is no evidence to suggest any ongoing transmission in the plant.

“The Incident Management Team’s investigations are continuing. No outbreak has been declared but all necessary investigations and control measures are being undertaken.

“The outbreak of Coronavirus associated with Rowan Foods Ltd in Wrexham has recorded a modest increase of 13 confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection since Friday last week. This brings the total number of positive cases in the outbreak to 302. This is in line with what we would expect to see from a focused testing process.

“The multi-agency team managing the outbreak of Coronavirus associated with the 2 Sisters meat processing plant has reported consistently good news for a number of days and operations have resumed at the site. 

“The Food Standards Agency advise that it is very unlikely that you can catch coronavirus from food.  Coronavirus is a respiratory illness.  It is not known to be transmitted by exposure to food or food packaging.

“We all have a vital role in preventing the spread of Coronavirus by always sticking to social distancing guidelines – that’s staying two metres away from others and washing hands regularly.  You should also avoid car sharing with people outside your household.

“Contact tracing continues in Wales as part of the Welsh Government’s Test, Trace, Protect strategy.  Anyone who has a positive Coronavirus test will be contacted by a team of contact tracers, and asked for details of everyone they have had close contact with while they have had symptoms.

“Please keep a note of your activities so you can easily remember your whereabouts on a given day, along with who you were in contact with.

“If you are asked to self-isolate, you should also comply with this request to prevent further spread of the virus.

“Tracers are trained staff and personal information that you provide will handled in line with data protection regulations and will not be shared widely.

“Information about the symptoms of Coronavirus is available on the Public Health Wales website, or members of the public can use the NHS Wales symptom checker.

“Anyone experiencing Coronavirus symptoms can apply for a home testing kit by visiting www.gov.wales/coronavirus, or by calling the national 119 phone service.

“Anyone with suspected coronavirus should not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.  They should only contact NHS 111 if they feel they cannot cope with their symptoms at home, their condition gets worse, or their symptoms do not get better after seven days.

“Only call 999 if you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, do not call 999 just because you are on hold to 111. We appreciate that 111 lines are busy, but you will get through after a wait.”

Diweddarwyd: 2:00yp Dydd Iau 9 Gorffennaf 

Dywedodd Dr Robin Howe, Cyfarwyddwr Digwyddiad ar gyfer yr ymateb i'r achos o'r Coronafeirws Newydd (COVID-19) yn Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru:

“Yn dilyn cyfarfod y Tîm Rheoli Digwyddiadau ddydd Mercher 8 Mehefin, rydym wedi cofnodi nifer bach o achosion positif ychwanegol a nodwyd yn ffatri brosesu cig Kepak ym Merthyr, bellach mae cyfanswm o 138 o achosion positif ers mis Ebrill. 

“Nid yw hyn yn annisgwyl - mae'n anochel y bydd profi â ffocws fel rhan o reoli clystyrau ac achosion o Coronafeirws yn nodi achosion newydd, ond nid yw hyn yn golygu y bu cynnydd sylweddol yn nifer yr achosion yn y gymuned. 

“Os edrychwn ar ddarnau eraill o ddata, megis derbyniadau i'r ysbyty neu ddangosyddion bio-oruchwylio, nid oes tystiolaeth o ymchwydd o bobl sydd wedi’u heintio yn y gymuned ehangach ym Merthyr. 

“Mae'n rhy gynnar i ddod i gasgliadau manwl gywir, ond mae ein monitro'n dangos cydberthynas hanesyddol rhwng lefel yr haint ar y safle a lefel blaenorol yr haint yn y gymuned ehangach. Nid oes tystiolaeth i awgrymu bod trosglwyddiad parhaus yn digwydd ar y safle.

“Mae ymchwiliadau’r Tîm Rheoli Digwyddiadau yn parhau. Ni ddatganwyd bod achosion yn mynd ar led yn y gymuned, ond mae'r holl ymchwiliadau a mesurau rheoli angenrheidiol yn cael eu cynnal.

“Mae'r achos o'r Coronafeirws sy'n gysylltiedig â Rowan Foods Ltd yn Wrecsam wedi cofnodi rhywfaint o gynnydd o 13 o achosion wedi'u cadarnhau o'r haint Coronafeirws Newydd (COVID-19) ers dydd Gwener wythnos diwethaf. Daw hyn â chyfanswm nifer yr achosion positif yn yr achos i 302. Mae hyn yn unol â'r hyn y byddem yn disgwyl ei weld o broses brofi gyda ffocws pendant.

“Mae'r tîm amlasiantaeth sy'n rheoli achosion o'r Coronafeirws sy'n gysylltiedig â gwaith prosesu cig 2 Sisters wedi nodi newyddion da cyson am nifer o ddiwrnodau ac mae'r gweithrediadau'n ailddechrau ar y safle.

“Mae'r Asiantaeth Safonau Bwyd yn dweud ei bod yn annhebygol iawn y gallwch ddal coronafeirws o fwyd.  Mae Coronafeirws yn salwch anadlol.  Nid yw'n hysbys ei fod yn cael ei drosglwyddo drwy ddod i gysylltiad â bwyd neu ddeunydd pacio bwyd.

“Mae gan bob un ohonom ran hanfodol i'w chwarae wrth atal Coronafeirws rhag lledaenu drwy ddilyn canllawiau o ran cadw pellter cymdeithasol bob amser – sef aros dau fetr i ffwrdd oddi wrth eraill – a golchi dwylo'n rheolaidd.  Dylech hefyd osgoi rhannu ceir â phobl y tu allan i'ch cartref.

“Mae olrhain cysylltiadau yn parhau yng Nghymru fel rhan o strategaeth Profi, Monitro, Olrhain Llywodraeth Cymru.  Bydd tîm o olrheinwyr cysylltiadau yn cysylltu ag unrhyw un sydd wedi cael prawf positif am Coronafeirws, a gofynnir am fanylion pawb y mae wedi bod mewn cysylltiad agos â nhw tra bod symptomau gyda nhw.

“Cadwch nodyn o'ch gweithgareddau er mwyn i chi allu cofio’n hawdd ble oeddech chi ar ddiwrnod penodol, ynghyd â gyda phwy yr oeddech mewn cysylltiad â nhw.

“Os gofynnir i chi hunanynysu, dylech hefyd gydymffurfio â'r gofyniad hwn er mwyn atal y feirws rhag lledaenu ymhellach.

“Mae olrheinwyr yn staff hyfforddedig a bydd yr wybodaeth bersonol rydych chi'n ei darparu yn cael ei thrin yn unol â rheoliadau diogelu data ac ni fydd yn cael ei rhannu'n eang.

“Mae gwybodaeth am symptomau Coronafeirws ar gael ar wefan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, neu gall aelodau'r cyhoedd ddefnyddio  gwiriwr symptomau GIG Cymru.

“Gall unrhyw un sydd â symptomau Coronafeirws wneud cais am becyn profi gartref trwy fynd i www.gov.wales/coronavirus, neu trwy ffonio’r gwasanaeth ffôn 119 cenedlaethol.

“Ni ddylai unrhyw un yr amheuir bod ganddo/ganddi coronafeirws fynd i bractis meddyg teulu, fferyllfa nac ysbyty.  Dim ond os yw'n teimlo na all ymdopi â'i symptomau gartref, fod ei gyflwr yn gwaethygu, neu os nad yw ei symptomau’n gwella ar ôl saith niwrnod y dylai gysylltu â NHS 111.

“Peidiwch â ffonio 999 oni bai eich bod yn profi argyfwng sy’n peryglu bywyd. Peidiwch â ffonio 999 dim ond oherwydd eich bod yn aros i 111 ateb eich galwad ffôn. Rydym yn deall bod llinellau 111 yn brysur, ond bydd rhywun yn ateb eich galwad ar ôl i chi aros.