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

This statement will be updated daily at 2pm

Updated: 2:00pm Sunday 12 July

Dr Giri Shankar, 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 yesterday (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 Friday’s OCT meeting (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 Sul 12 Gorffennaf

Dywedodd Dr Giri Shankar, 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 ddoe (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 ar ddydd 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.”