Public Health Wales statement on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
This statement will be updated daily at 2pm
Updated: Thursday 10 September 2020
Dr Robin Howe, Incident
Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public
Health Wales, said:
“We are concerned at the
significant rise in positive coronavirus cases in the Merthyr Tydfil and
Rhondda Cynon Taf areas over the past few days, and our investigations indicate
that a lack of social distancing by people of all age groups in a range of
different locations has resulted in the spread of the virus to other parts of
the population.
“It appears that as lockdown restrictions have eased, people have taken advantage of the greater possibilities for activities, but they seem to have forgotten the importance of social distancing – resulting in possible transmission in the wider community.
“It is clear that the virus spreads more easily in indoor settings, and people should take extra care to socially distance in these cases to keep themselves and their friends and families as safe as possible.
“Due to the recent rise in the number of cases of coronavirus in the Lower Rhondda area, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, working in partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council will be setting up a temporary testing centre at Oldway House car park, Porth, CF39 9ST from Thursday 10 September.
“This testing facility is intended for people living in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area only.
“It is important that you only attend if you have COVID-19 symptoms – a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of or change to your normal sense of smell or taste.
“Appointments will need to be made in advance via an online portal – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/
“Public Health Wales supports the restrictions which have been put in place by the Welsh Government and Caerphilly Council. These measures are essential to limit the spread of Coronavirus and bring transmission under control.
“The measures include the mandatory wearing
of face coverings in indoor spaces such as shops by everyone over the age of 11,
limitations on travel in and out of the county, and only allowing people from
different households to meet outdoors, not indoors – this includes extended
households.
“In line with local lockdown measures, Public
Health Wales would encourage members of the public living in Caerphilly County
Borough to attend any booked medical appointments, including visits to
screening clinics. In addition to the three measures outlined by the Minister
for Health and Social Care, screening clinics throughout Wales have implemented
additional COVID-safe measures to help protect all of those that attend.”
“Coronavirus can be a very serious illness,
especially for older people or those with existing conditions, and a decision
to introduce wide ranging restrictions such as these is not taken
lightly. We remind the public that they have a vital role in preventing
the spread of Coronavirus, and that adhering to these restrictions is of the
utmost importance.”
“I would appeal to
everyone in the Caerphilly area that if you have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms
– a high temperature or fever, a new and persistent cough, or a loss or change
in your sense of smell or taste, or even if you feel generally unwell with no
explanation, to make use of the local testing units.
“In order to manage high
demand for testing in the county, then the walk-in local testing unit at
Caerphilly Leisure Centre will continue operating until Tuesday 15 September.
“An additional
drive-through testing unit has also been established at the Caerphilly County
Borough Council offices in Tredomen Business Park, Ystrad Mynach. This site will also be operational until
Tuesday 15 September, and its opening hours are 8am to 6pm.
“As children return to
schools, I understand that parents will be concerned at reports of positive
cases. I would urge you to follow advice
from the school or local authority and only withdraw children from school when
asked to do so. Social distancing
measures that are in place are designed to prevent the spread of the disease
beyond the ‘bubbles’ established in schools.
“Again it is important
that children maintain regular handwashing throughout the day, and on returning
home, and parents’ help with this is vital.
“We are now seeing a steady increase in cases in a number of communities
across Wales, and our investigations show that many of these have been
transmitted due to a lack of social distancing.
“This has resulted in the spread of the virus to other groups of people.
“We continue to appeal to everyone to please remember that, even if you
feel that you would not be badly affected by COVID-19 if you were to test
positive, should you pass it on to older or more vulnerable family members,
friends or colleagues it could be extremely serious and even fatal.
“Coronavirus has not gone away.
It remains the responsibility of everyone to help prevent the spread of
this virus – that is, by self-isolating when asked to do so, staying two metres
away from others, and by washing hands regularly.
“I also want to remind the
public that if you have recently travelled outside the UK there may be
restrictions on your return – these restrictions may be different in Wales than
in other parts of the UK, and now include Portugal and some Greek Islands. Advice on travelling abroad, including the
latest information on quarantine requirements on returning home, can be found
on the Welsh Government
and FCO
websites.
“Anyone returning to Wales
from countries which have been identified as high risk must quarantine in
accordance with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regulations even if they
are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have had a negative test result.
"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.
“Getting a
coronavirus test is free and simple to do, either by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling the free number 119.
"Confirmed cases must
isolate for 10 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
“Public
Health Wales can confirm that we are responding to cases of Novel Coronavirus
(COVID-19) in Drefach Cricket and Football Club. We manage any clusters
of Coronavirus appropriately, including by providing advice around infection
prevention and control, and by supporting contact tracing where required.
“We are aware of a small
number of COVID-19 cases in Porth and Penygraig in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Where
clusters of cases are identified, Public Health Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf County
Borough Council and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board work
with local partners to implement our planned response.
“Test Trace Protect teams
are working with those affected and contacting those people
who have been in contact with a person who has tested positive.
A proportion of the positive cases in this incident are from the young
adult age group and disappointingly, some have been reluctant to share
details of where they have been and who they have been in contact
with.
“By not giving the Test
Trace Protect teams accurate information, these people are placing
their own family members and friends at risk. We are urging them to think about
other members of their communities, put simply, they are risking other people's
health and other people's lives, especially if
they are symptomatic, not staying at home and mixing in the
local community.
“As we move
through the recovery phase of the Coronavirus pandemic, we expect to see
clusters in different settings, as with the incidents described above. We
manage any clusters of Coronavirus appropriately, including by providing advice
around infection prevention and control, and by supporting contact tracing
where required.
“We remind
the public and business owners that Coronavirus is still circulating in the
community.
Contact
tracing and general information
“Contact tracing
continues 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 do so 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 via
the NHS 111 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.
“Public Health Wales’ user-friendly data dashboard takes information from a range of different sources. The total number of positive cases now includes those reported from non-NHS Wales laboratories, which are subject to ongoing de-duplication, refinement and reconciliation. This may result in fluctuation of the total positive cases as this process takes place.”
Diweddarwyd: Dydd Iau 10 Medi 2020
Dywedodd Dr Robin
Howe, Cyfarwyddwr Digwyddiad ar gyfer yr ymateb i'r achos o'r Coronafeirws
Newydd (COVID-19) yn Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru:
“Rydym yn bryderus am
y cynnydd sylweddol yn nifer yr achosion positif yn ardaloedd Merthyr Tudful a
Rhondda Cynon Taf dros yr ychydig ddiwrnodau diwethaf, ac mae ein hymchwiliadau
yn dangos bod diffyg cadw pellter cymdeithasol gan bobl o bob grŵp oedran mewn
ystod o wahanol leoliadau wedi arwain at ledaenu’r feirws i rannau eraill o’r
boblogaeth.
“Wrth
i gyfyngiadau symud lacio, ymddengys fod pobl wedi cymryd mantais o’r
posibiliadau mwy i ymgymryd â gweithgareddau, ond mae’n debyg eu bod wedi
anghofio pwysigrwydd cadw pellter cymdeithasol, gan arwain at drosglwyddiad
posibl yn y gymuned ehangach.
“Mae’n
glir bod y feirws yn lledaenu’n haws mewn lleoliadau dan do, a dylai pobl fod
yn hynod o ofalus wrth gadw pellter cymdeithasol yn yr achosion hyn er mwyn
cadw eu hunain a’u teulu a’u ffrindiau mor ddiogel â phosibl.
“Oherwydd
y cynnydd diweddar yn nifer yr achosion o Coronafeirws yn rhan isaf Cwm
Rhondda, bydd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg, gan weithio mewn
partneriaeth â Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf, yn sefydlu canolfan
brofi dros dro ym maes parcio Tŷ Oldway,
Y Porth, CF39 9ST o ddydd Iau 10 Medi.
“Mae'r
ganolfan brofi ar gyfer pobl sy'n byw yn ardal Rhondda Cynon Taf yn unig.
“Dylech
chi fynd i'r ganolfan brofi dim ond
os oes gyda chi symptomau COVID-19 - peswch newydd, parhaus, tymheredd uchel
neu os ydych wedi colli neu wedi sylwi ar newid yn eich synnwyr arogli neu
synnwyr blasu.
“Bydd angen gwneud apwyntiadau ymlaen llaw dros
borth ar-lein – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/
“Mae
Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn cefnogi’r cyfyngiadau sydd wedi cael eu rhoi ar waith
gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Chyngor Caerffili. Mae'r mesurau hyn yn hanfodol i
gyfyngu ar ymlediad Coronafeirws ac i ddod â throsglwyddiad dan reolaeth.
“Mae’r mesurau’n
cynnwys ei gwneud yn orfodol gwisgo gorchuddion wyneb mewn lleoedd dan do fel
siopau i bawb dros 11 oed, cyfyngiadau ar deithio i mewn ac allan o’r sir, a
dim ond caniatáu i bobl o wahanol aelwydydd gwrdd yn yr awyr agored, nid y tu
mewn – mae hyn yn cynnwys aelwydydd estynedig.
“Yn unol â mesurau
cyfyngiadau symud lleol, hoffai Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru annog aelodau o’r
cyhoedd sy’n byw ym mwrdeistref sirol Caerffili i fynd i unrhyw apwyntiadau
meddygol a drefnwyd, gan gynnwys ymweliadau â chlinigau sgrinio. Yn ogystal â’r
tri mesur a amlinellwyd gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, mae
clinigau sgrinio ledled Cymru wedi gweithredu mesurau ychwanegol yn erbyn
COVID-19 er mwyn helpu i ddiogelu’r rhai sy’n mynd iddynt.”
“Gall Coronafeirws fod
yn salwch difrifol iawn, yn enwedig i bobl hŷn neu’r sawl sydd â chyflyrau
presennol, ac ni phenderfynir cyflwyno cyfyngiadau eang fel y rhain heb gryn
ystyriaeth. Rydym yn atgoffa’r cyhoedd bod ganddyn nhw rôl hanfodol i’w
chwarae wrth atal Coronafeirws rhag lledaenu, a bod cadw at y cyfyngiadau hyn
o’r pwys mwyaf.”
“Byddwn yn gofyn i
bawb yn ardal Caerffili, hyd yn oed os oes gennych symptomau ysgafn o COVID-19
– tymheredd uchel neu dwymyn, peswch newydd a pharhaus, neu os ydych wedi
colli’ch synnwyr arogli neu flasu, neu ei fod wedi newid, neu hyd yn oed os
ydych chi'n teimlo'n sâl yn gyffredinol ac nid oes esboniad, i fynd i gael
prawf yn yr unedau profi lleol.
“Er mwyn cwrdd â’r
galw mawr am brofion yn y sir, bydd yr uned brofi gerdded i mewn leol yng
Nghanolfan Hamdden Caerffili yn parhau i weithredu tan ddydd Mawrth 15 Medi.
“Mae uned brofi drwy
ffenest y car ychwanegol hefyd wedi’i sefydlu yn swyddfeydd Cyngor Bwrdeistref
Sirol Caerffili ym Mharc Busnes Tredomen, Ystrad Mynach. Bydd y safle hwn hefyd yn weithredol tan
ddydd Mawrth 15 Medi, a'i oriau agor yw 8am tan 6pm.
“Wrth i blant
ddychwelyd i’r ysgolion, rwy’n deall y bydd rhieni’n pryderu oherwydd
adroddiadau o achosion positif. Byddwn
yn eich annog i ddilyn cyngor yr ysgol neu'r awdurdod lleol a dylech chi dynnu
plant o'r ysgol dim ond pan ofynnir i chi wneud hynny Mae’r mesurau cadw pellter cymdeithasol sydd
ar waith wedi’u cynllunio i atal yr afiechyd rhag lledaenu y tu hwnt i’r ‘swigod’
a grëwyd mewn ysgolion.
“Unwaith eto mae’n
bwysig bod plant yn parhau i olchi eu dwylo’n rheolaidd drwy gydol y dydd ac
wrth ddychwelyd adref, ac mae’n hanfodol i rieni eu cynorthwyo gyda hyn.
“Rydym bellach yn gweld cynnydd cyson mewn achosion mewn nifer o
gymunedau ledled Cymru, ac mae ein hymchwiliadau’n dangos bod llawer o’r rhain
wedi cael eu trosglwyddo oherwydd diffyg cadw pellter cymdeithasol.
“Mae hyn wedi arwain at ledaenu’r feirws i grwpiau eraill o bobl.
“Rydym yn parhau i ofyn i bawb gofio, hyd yn oed os ydych yn meddwl na
fyddai COVID-19 yn effeithio'n wael arnoch pe baech yn profi'n bositif am y
feirws, pe byddech yn ei drosglwyddo i aelodau hŷn neu fwy agored i niwed o
deulu, ffrindiau neu gydweithwyr, gallai fod yn hynod o ddifrifol a hyd yn oed
yn angheuol.
“Nid yw Coronafeirws wedi diflannu.
Cyfrifoldeb pawb o hyd yw helpu i atal y feirws hwn rhag lledaenu. Hynny
yw, trwy hunanynysu pan ofynnir i unigolion wneud hynny, aros dau fetr i ffwrdd
oddi wrth eraill a thrwy olchi’ch dwylo yn rheolaidd.
“Yn ogystal, hoffwn atgoffa’r
cyhoedd os ydych chi wedi teithio y tu allan i’r DU yn ddiweddar, gallai fod
cyfyngiadau wrth i chi ddychwelyd – gallai’r cyfyngiadau hyn fod yn wahanol yng
Nghymru o’u cymharu â rhannau eraill o’r DU, ac maent bellach yn cynnwys
Portiwgal a rhai Ynysoedd Groeg. “Gellir
dod o hyd i gyngor ar deithio dramor, gan gynnwys yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y
gofynion cwarantin wrth ddychwelyd adref, ar wefan Llywodraeth
Cymruac ar wefan y Swyddfa Dramor a Chymanwlad.
“Rhaid i unrhyw un sy’n dychwelyd
i Gymru o wledydd y nodwyd eu bod yn risg uchel osod ei hun dan gwarantin yn
unol â rheoliadau’r Swyddfa Dramor a Chymanwlad hyd yn oed os nad oes ganddo
unrhyw symptomau COVID-19 neu os yw wedi cael prawf negyddol.
“Rhaid i unrhyw un yr amheuir bod
ganddynt symptomau COVID-19, sef tymheredd uchel, peswch newydd a pharhaus neu
golli synnwyr blasu neu arogli (anosmia), hunanynysu a chael prawf ar unwaith.
“Mae mynd ati i gael prawf Coronafeirws yn rhad ac am ddim ac yn syml, a
gellir gwneud hyn naill ai trwy ymweld â www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test neu trwy ffonio'r rhif
rhad ac am ddim 119.
“Rhaid i achosion a gadarnhawyd
ynysu am 10 diwrnod, a rhaid i aelodau o’u cartrefi ynysu am 14 diwrnod hyd nes
bod y perygl o drosglwyddo’r haint ymhellach wedi mynd. Gyda’i gilydd, bydd y
camau syml ond effeithiol hyn yn sicrhau nad yw’r feirws yn lledaenu.
Diweddariadau ar ddigwyddiadau cyfredol
“Gall Iechyd Cyhoeddus
Cymru gadarnhau ein bod yn ymateb i achosion o Coronafeirws Newydd (COVID-19)
yng Nghlwb Criced a Phêl-droed Drefach. Rydym yn rheoli unrhyw glystyrau
o Coronafeirws yn briodol, trwy roi cyngor ar atal a rheoli heintiau a thrwy
gefnogi olrhain cysylltiadau pan fo angen.
“Rydym yn ymwybodol o
nifer fach o achosion o COVID-19 ym Mhorth a Phenygraig yn Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Lle mae clystyrau o achosion yn cael eu nodi, mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru,
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf a Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf
Morgannwg yn gweithio gyda phartneriaid lleol i weithredu ein hymateb wedi’i
gynllunio.
“Mae timau Profi
Olrhain Diogelu yn gweithio gyda’r rhai yr effeithiwyd arnynt ac yn cysylltu
â’r bobl hynny sydd wedi bod mewn cysylltiad ag unigolyn sydd wedi cael prawf
positif. Mae cyfran o’r achosion positif yn y digwyddiad hwn o’r grŵp
oedran oedolion ifanc ac, er mawr siom, mae rhai wedi bod yn gyndyn o rannu
manylion o ble maen nhw wedi bod ac â phwy maen nhw wedi bod mewn
cysylltiad.
“Trwy beidio â rhoi
gwybodaeth fanwl i’r timau Profi Olrhain Diogelu, mae’r bobl hyn yn rhoi eu
teuluoedd a’u ffrindiau eu hunain mewn perygl. Rydym yn eu hannog i feddwl am
aelodau eraill o’u cymunedau – yn syml, maen nhw’n rhoi iechyd a bywydau pobl
eraill mewn perygl, yn enwedig os ydyn nhw’n dangos symptomau, os nad ydyn
nhw’n aros gartref ac os ydyn nhw’n cymysgu yn y gymuned leol.
“Wrth i ni symud at gyfnod adfer pandemig y Coronafeirws, byddwn yn
disgwyl gweld clystyrau mewn gwahanol leoliadau, fel gyda’r digwyddiadau a
ddisgrifir uchod. Rydym yn rheoli unrhyw glystyrau o Coronafeirws yn
briodol, trwy roi cyngor ar atal a rheoli heintiau a thrwy gefnogi olrhain
cysylltiadau pan fo angen.
“Rydym yn atgoffa’r cyhoedd a pherchnogion busnes bod Coronafeirws yn
mynd ar led yn y gymuned o hyd.
Olrhain cysylltiadau a gwybodaeth gyffredinol
“Mae olrhain
cysylltiadau yn parhau fel rhan o strategaeth Profi, Olrhain, Diogelu
Llywodraeth Cymru. Bydd tîm o swyddogion olrhain 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 ganddo symptomau.
“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 wneud hyn 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 drwy holiadur
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.
“Mae dangosfwrdd data
hawdd ei ddefnyddio Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn casglu gwybodaeth o ystod o
ffynonellau gwahanol. Mae cyfanswm nifer yr achosion positif bellach yn cynnwys
y rhai yr adroddwyd amdanynt o labordai nad ydynt yn eiddo i GIG Cymru, sy’n ddarostyngedig
i ddad-ddyblygu, mireinio a chysoni parhaus. Gallai hyn arwain at amrywiad yng
nghyfanswm nifer yr achosion positif wrth i’r broses hon fynd rhagddi.”