Author: Rhys Gregory

Doctors’ leaders are calling on Welsh Government to change their position on face coverings, saying that they should be worn in areas where people cannot socially distance. Yesterday, Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, announced that it will be compulsory to wear face masks on public transport in England from 15 June. During the daily coronavirus briefing, he said that face masks would be a ‘condition of travel’ and that not wearing one could lead to receiving a fine. BMA Cymru Wales council chair, Dr David Bailey said: “BMA Cymru Wales advocates the wearing of face coverings by the public in…

The RSPCA Llys Nini Animal Centre has urged the public to help “safeguard” its future, as usual income streams remain unavailable amid the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19 restrictions mean Llys Nini’s charity shops have been closed since March, and fundraising events have been postponed – placing the charity in a “challenging position”. Despite this, Llys Nini is continuing to provide care for some 50 animals – and has launched an urgent new fundraising drive to “avert a local animal welfare crisis”. The Swansea-based centre has launched a Safe Haven Scheme – a monthly giving programme, where members of the public can…

Dozens of patients at Morriston Hospital with Covid-19 have given blood to help discover why some people are more susceptible to it than others. Scientists and clinicians believe the answer can be found in our DNA and are recruiting patients worldwide to study their genetic differences. The pandemic has triggered a series of urgent research studies, which experts from across Swansea Bay are participating in. Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care, known as GenOMICC, is the largest study of its kind. It has been recruiting patients since 2016 to study emerging infections such as SARS, flu and now, Covid-19, as…

Currys PC World has opened a new order and collect service from Cardiff Newport Road and Swansea stores. The the electronic retail chain has launched the service at 32 further stores, following the success of the 20 stores it reopened in May. As of Friday 5th June, Currys PC World is offering this service at 52 locations across the UK. The drive-thru order and collect service is providing a zero-contact way customers can purchase items online and collect them from their chosen local store, with pickup availability ranging from an hour after purchase to the next day depending on stock.…

Facilities services provider’s deep-cleaning service brings UK businesses peace of mind in fight against Coronavirus. The leading facilities services provider Vorsor, headquartered in Wales, is one of the few FS providers in the UK with the specialist bio-misting equipment, which delivers a complete sterilising solution for every kind of working environment; giving a deep clean that kills 99.99999% of bacteria, viruses and fungi, including Coronavirus, Norovirus, MRSA, Swine Flu, Ebola and Clostridium Difficile. Their hand-held, bio-misting systems, can be used to sanitise any surface or equipment in offices, shops, warehouses and factories, machinery and plant, and outdoor areas. Mark Rudge,…

A team of chemists from the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science are working together to make hand sanitiser during the coronavirus pandemic. Emily Wood, Gareth Williams, David Noakes, and Stacey Huish have been busy in the laboratory making the hand sanitiser with surplus alcohol (ethanol and propanol), following recipes on the World Health Organisation’s website. An essential tool in the prevention of transmitting coronavirus, the team have produced 30 litres so far. The sanitiser has been bottled up and distributed toPrincess of Wales Intensive Care unit, Nuffield Health hospital, Aberdare police station, Merthyr local school hub, Pontypridd local school…

Principality Building Society has teamed up with the UK’s leading enterprise charity Young Enterprise to bring an entrepreneurial challenge to students at home in Wales. The Fiver from Home initiative asks students aged 5-11 years to create, research and plan a business with just £5. As the sponsor of Fiver from Home in Wales, Principality has provided funding allowing Young Enterprise to bring the challenge to Wales on a larger scale and in the Welsh language. Fiver from Home has been created in response to the coronavirus pandemic in place of the Fiver Challenge which would have usually been run…

A business leader with a severely autistic son has set up a social enterprise to help companies tap into the £249 billion of spending power of disabled people in the UK. Davina Carey-Evans, who runs the Anglesey-based event and marketing company Sbarc, set up Piws (Welsh for purple) as a Community Interest Company to help businesses make venues more accessible to everyone. The aim is to  reduce isolation and encourage access so everyone, including those with hidden disabilities, can enjoy community lifestyle activities across North Wales. Mum-of-three Davina, who hails from Criccieth, has first-hand knowledge of the difficulties faced by…

A supergran who lost her son to cancer is inspiring people to Race for Life at Home and carry on the fight against the disease in these unprecedented times. Constance Fouracre, 89, will take on a 5K walk in a playing field near her home in Cwmafan, Port Talbot to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK. She’s vowed to complete the challenge in honour of her son Christopher Fouracre who was just 63 when he died from oesophageal cancer in October 2018. Constance, who has eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, was hoping to take part in the Cancer…

Swansea’s popular leisure centres, including the LC, are in good hands during the lockdown. The facilities, managed by Freedom Leisure for Swansea Council, are being kept in prime condition thanks to ongoing work by Freedom staff. They include facilities at Bishopston, Cefn Hengoed, Elba, Morriston, Penlan and Penyrheol. All, like the LC, are temporarily closed in line with government restrictions.  Nic Beggs, area manager for Freedom Leisure, said: “We’re keeping the LC and other Swansea leisure centres in excellent condition in readiness for the future when it’s safe to reopen to the public. “We’ve made great strides with the facilities that we’ve…