Public Health Wales statement on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
This statement will be updated daily at 2pm
Updated: 2:00pm Saturday 11 July
Dr Chris Williams, Incident Director for the
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales welcomes the gradual easing of
lockdown measures with the opening of self-catering accommodation in Wales from
today (11 July) and hairdressers, pub gardens and outdoor cafes from Monday (13
July).
“However, we continue to caution and remind the
public and business-owners that we all have a vital role in preventing the
spread of Coronavirus by always sticking to social distancing guidelines - staying
two metres away from others, and washing hands regularly. When travelling you
should also avoid car sharing with people outside your household.
"Anyone with suspected symptoms of COVID-19
infection - a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss of smell or
taste (anosmia) - must self isolate and seek an urgent test.
"Confirmed cases must isolate for seven days,
with members of their household isolating for 14 days until the risk of passing
on further infection has gone. Combined these simple but effective actions will
ensure the virus does not spread.
Updates
on current incidents
“The outbreak associated with the workforce at the
Rowan Foods plant in Wrexham remains active, although the number of reported
cases has slowed considerably.
“At yesterday’s OCT meeting (Friday 10 July), three
more positive cases of infection were reported, which brings the total number
associated with the outbreak to 305.
“We want to reassure the workforce and wider
population of Wrexham that the cases we have identified are entirely what we
would expect to see when a focused and robust testing regime is put in place.
There is no evidence that the infection is factory-based.
“The picture emerging from the 2 Sisters factory continues to improve.
“As an OCT we are reassured by the proactive approach of the management
team at the site, and their willingness to work alongside our multi-agency
partners to protect the health of their employees and the wider community.
“The Health & Safety Executive has conducted a detailed examination
of the new systems and procedures in place and is content that they now meet
legal compliance. We continue to monitor, but are confident that the 2 Sisters
factory does not present any additional risk to the workforce or local
population.
“The total number of positive cases associated with the outbreak is now
221. This is to be expected when any focused testing process is put in place
and is not a cause for concern.
“There is no evidence of community transmission, with positive cases
associated with the outbreak reducing to match background levels in the
population as a whole. This is extremely positive news, and if this trajectory
continues we hope to bring the outbreak to a formal close in the near future.
“In addition, the total number of positive case
identified at the Kepak Merthyr meat
processing plant is 138 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 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.
Contact
tracing and general information
“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 Sadwrn 11 Gorffennaf
Dywedodd Dr Chris Williams, y Cyfarwyddwr Digwyddiadau ar
gyfer yr ymateb i'r achosion o’r Coronafeirws Newydd (COVID-19) yn Iechyd
Cyhoeddus Cymru:
“Mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus
Cymru yn croesawu’r llacio graddol ar y cyfyngiadau symud drwy agor llety
hunanarlwyo yng Nghymru o heddiw (11 Gorffennaf) ymlaen a siopau trin gwallt, gerddi
tafarndai a chaffis awyr agored o ddydd Llun (13 Gorffennaf) ymlaen.
“Fodd bynnag, rydyn ni’n
parhau’n ofalus ac yn atgoffa’r cyhoedd a pherchnogion busnes bod gennym ni i
gyd rôl hanfodol i’w chwarae mewn atal lledaeniad y Coronafeirws drwy lynu bob
amser wrth ganllawiau cadw pellter cymdeithasol – cadw ddau fetr oddi wrth
eraill a golchi’r dwylo yn rheolaidd. Wrth deithio, dylech hefyd osgoi rhannu
ceir gyda phobl o’r tu allan i’ch cartref.
"Rhaid i unrhyw un
sy’n amau bod ganddo symptomau haint COVID-19 – tymheredd uchel, peswch newydd
parhaus, neu wedi colli’r synnwyr arogli neu flasu (anosmia) – hunanynysu a
gofyn am brawf ar frys.
"Rhaid i achosion a
gadarnheir ynysu am saith diwrnod, gydag aelodau eraill eu cartref yn ynysu am
14 diwrnod nes bod y risg o drosglwyddo’r haint wedi mynd. Gyda’i gilydd, bydd
y camau gweithredu syml ond effeithiol yma’n sicrhau nad yw’r feirws yn lledaenu.
Diweddariad ar yr achosion presennol
“Mae’r achosion
cysylltiedig â gweithlu Rowan Foods yn Wrecsam yn parhau’n weithredol, ond mae
nifer yr achosion sy’n cael eu cofnodi wedi arafu’n sylweddol.
“Yng nghyfarfod y Tîm Rheoli Digwyddiadau ddoe (dydd Gwener 10 Gorffennaf),
cofnodwyd tri achos positif pellach o’r haint, sy’n gwneud y cyfanswm sy’n
gysylltiedig â’r achosion yn 305.
“Rydyn ni eisiau rhoi
sicrwydd i’r gweithlu ac i boblogaeth ehangach Wrecsam bod yr achosion rydyn ni
wedi’u canfod yn union fel byddem yn ei ddisgwyl pan mae trefn brofi gadarn,
gyda ffocws, ar waith. Nid oes unrhyw dystiolaeth bod yr haint yn seiliedig yn
y ffatri.
“Mae’r
darlun sy’n dod i’r amlwg o ffatri 2 Sisters yn parhau i wella.
“Fel
Tîm Rheoli Digwyddiadau rydyn
ni’n falch iawn o ddull rhagweithiol y tîm rheoli ar y safle o weithredu, a’u
parodrwydd i weithio gyda’n partneriaid amlasiantaeth er mwyn amddiffyn iechyd eu
cyflogeion a’r gymuned ehangach.
“Mae’r Gweithgor Iechyd a
Diogelwch wedi cynnal archwiliad manwl ar y systemau a’r gweithdrefnau newydd
sydd yn eu lle ac yn fodlon eu bod yn cydymffurfio yn awr â’r gyfraith. Rydym
yn parhau i fonitro ond yn hyderus nad yw ffatri 2 Sisters yn creu unrhyw risg ychwanegol i’r gweithlu na’r boblogaeth
leol.
“Mae cyfanswm yr achosion
positif sy’n gysylltiedig â’r haint yn 221 yn awr. Mae hyn i’w ddisgwyl gydag
unrhyw broses brofi â ffocws ac nid yw’n achos pryder.
“Nid
oes unrhyw dystiolaeth o drosglwyddo cymunedol, gyda’r achosion positif
cysylltiedig â’r haint yn lleihau i gyfateb i’r lefelau cefndir yn y boblogaeth
yn gyffredinol. Mae hyn yn newyddion eithriadol bositif ac os bydd y patrwm yn
parhau, rydyn ni’n gobeithio dod â’r achosion i ben yn ffurfiol yma yn y
dyfodol agos.
“Hefyd, cyfanswm yr
achosion positif sydd wedi’u canfod yn ffatri prosesu cig Kepak Merthyr yw 138 ers mis Ebrill.
“Nid yw hyn yn annisgwyl
– bydd profion ffocws fel rhan o reoli clystyrau ac achosion o’r Coronafeirws
yn arwain yn anochel at ganfod achosion newydd, ond nid yw hyn yn golygu bod
cynnydd sylweddol wedi bod yn lefel yr haint yn y gymuned.
"Os ydyn ni'n edrych ar ddata eraill fel derbyniadau
i'r ysbyty neu ddangosyddion cadw golwg ehangach, does dim tystiolaeth bod
ymchwydd yn nifer yr heintiau yng nghymuned ehangach Merthyr.
“Mae'n rhy gynnar dod i gasgliadau manwl, ond mae ein
gwaith monitro yn dangos cydberthynas hanesyddol rhwng lefelau’r haint yn y
ffatri a lefelau cefndir blaenorol yr haint yn y gymuned ehangach. Nid oes
tystiolaeth i awgrymu unrhyw drosglwyddiad parhaus yn y ffatri.
"Mae ymchwiliadau'r Tîm Rheoli
Digwyddiadau yn parhau. Nid oes unrhyw achos wedi'i nodi ond mae'r holl
ymchwiliadau a’r mesurau rheoli angenrheidiol yn cael eu cynnal.
"Mae'r
Asiantaeth Safonau Bwyd yn dweud ei bod yn annhebygol iawn y gallwch ddal y
coronafeirws o fwyd. Salwch resbiradol yw COVID-19. Nid oes tystiolaeth ei fod
yn cael ei drosglwyddo drwy ddod i gysylltiad â bwyd neu becynnau bwyd.
Olrhain
cysylltiadau a gwybodaeth gyffredinol
“Mae
olrhain cysylltiadau yn parhau yng Nghymru fel rhan o strategaeth ‘Profi, Olrhain, Diogelu’ Llywodraeth
Cymru. Bydd tîm o olrheinwyr cysylltiadau’n cysylltu ag unrhyw un sydd wedi cael
prawf positif am y Coronafeirws Newydd (COVID-19), a gofynnir am fanylion pawb
y mae wedi bod mewn cysylltiad agos â nhw tra oedd ganddo symptomau.
“Gwnewch nodyn o'ch
gweithgareddau er mwyn i chi allu cofio’n hawdd ble oeddech chi ar ddiwrnod
penodol, ynghyd â gyda phwy y buoch mewn cysylltiad.
“Os gofynnir i chi
hunanynysu, dylech hefyd gydymffurfio â'r cais hwn er mwyn atal y feirws rhag
lledaenu ymhellach.
Mae’r olrheinwyr yn
staff hyfforddedig a bydd yr wybodaeth bersonol rydych chi'n ei darparu’n cael
ei thrin yn unol â rheoliadau diogelu data ac ni fydd yn cael ei rhannu'n eang.
“Mae gwybodaeth am symptomau’r Coronafeirws
Newydd (COVID-19) i gadw llygad amdanynt ar gael ar wefan Iechyd Cyhoeddus
Cymru, neu gall aelodau'r cyhoedd ddefnyddio gwiriwr symptomau GIG Cymru.
“Gall unrhyw un sy’n profi symptomau’r
Coronafeirws Newydd (COVID-19) wneud cais am becyn prawf cartref drwy fynd i www.gov.wales/coronavirus, neu
drwy ffonio’r gwasanaeth ffôn 119 cenedlaethol.
“Ni
ddylai unrhyw un sy’n amau bod ganddo/ganddi salwch y coronafeirws fynd i
feddygfa, 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 eich 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.”