Author: Rhys Gregory

As the Easter bank holiday approaches, South Wales Police continues to have one simple request for our communities: Please, stay home and save lives. We and our partners – particularly those in health and social care – are working around the clock to care for and keep people safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Each and every one of us must continue to do everything we can to support those on the frontline of caring for those most in need; doing so will protect them and our NHS and ultimately save lives. The vast majority of the public have understood the…

GP surgeries and pharmacies in Swansea will remain open to provide emergency cover over Easter. Doctor surgeries and pharmacies in the Swansea Bay University Health Board area have volunteered to put in extra hours over Easter, as Primary Care continues to rise to the unprecedented demands of fighting Coronavirus. Many GPs are open on Good Friday and Easter Monday, with some also opening up on Saturday and Easter Sunday. It’s the same with pharmacies, despite working flat out for weeks, many have volunteered to be added to the Easter rota. Not all GPs and pharmacies have been able to do…

Super-strength hand sanitisers are rolling off the production line as a Welsh business helps battle the coronavirus pandemic. BCB International has dedicated its Llanelli factory to making high-strength Dr Brown’s Hand Sanitiser with 80% alcohol, which kills all viruses including COVID-19. Working on shifts around the clock, BCB is working to support the country’s heroes in the NHS, police, fire and rescue services and defence forces as they fight the killer disease. An extra 30 staff have been recruited to deliver the potentially lifesaving product. BCB International Managing Director, Andrew Howell said: “COVID-19 is an on-going battle for the UK,…

The Principality Stadium has started its transformation into a field hospital for coronavirus patients in Wales. In March, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board revealed that the pitch famous for hosting international Welsh rugby matches would be covered. The stadium has been named the Dragon’s Heart Hospital. It is expected to start taking patients from next week and will have beds for 2,000 patients. There have been over 60,000 reported cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the United Kingdom and over 7,000 deaths. The country is in its third week of lockdown measures aimed at slowing the spread of the virus. Len…

During these unprecedented times, fire services across Wales are urging the public not to be tempted to burn garden or household waste. What may have been intended to be just a small fire, or just a bit of fun, can quickly spread to become out of control. Last year, there were nearly 4000 rubbish fires across Wales, with the main causes being household bin bags, fly tipped furniture and litter which are consequently being deliberately set alight. It can all start with those extra bin bags, or that broken sofa left out the back, out of sight, out of mind…without thinking, you…

Four people in Cardiff are celebrating today after winning £1,000 each thanks to their lucky postcode. The Ton-Yr-Ywen Avenue neighbours netted the windfall when CF14 4PA was announced as a Daily Prize winner with People’s Postcode Lottery on Thursday 9th April 2020. People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Judie McCourt sent her well-wishes to the winners. She said: “What lovely news to start the day! Congratulations to all our winners.” A minimum of 32% of ticket sales goes directly to charities and players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £500 million to date for thousands of good causes in Britain and…

A group of Welsh entrepreneurs have come together to develop a new app that will bring businesses and consumers together to support their local communities. iTown is a free app for towns, villages and high streets that collates up to the second information from all the businesses in each local area that, during these unprecedented times, have had to adapt to the changing needs of the Covid-19 lockdown. By creating a digital shop window, iTown enables consumers using the app to see what products are on offer locally in businesses such as corner shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops, bakers,…

The Covid-19 situation has led to a crisis in the dairy sector and urgent support measures are needed to save the industry, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has stressed.  Following the closure of pubs, clubs and restaurants across the UK at the end of March, some dairy processors supplying the service sector found that their market had disappeared and orders have been cancelled overnight. The Government enforced closures have led to rapid drops in the spot market price for milk and some farmers have been forced to dispose of their milk down the drain due to processors not being able…

HUNDREDS of small businesses are seeing millions of pounds dropping into their bank accounts as Swansea Council works flat-out to support them during the Coronavirus pandemic. Already around £13.2m in grants has been paid out to businesses in the city under arrangements announced by the Welsh Government. At least another £10m in grants are being approved and they should be arriving in accounts over the coming days. However, businesses are being urged to be patient while a mountain of applications are sorted and payments continue to be made. Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said: “We are in unprecedented times…

People stuck at home during lockdown are being urged to play their part in protecting the NHS by taking care when cooking, not setting fire to waste and reducing their overall fire risk. Burns can lead to emergency admission to hospital, surgery including skin grafts and months of rehabilitation, putting an extra strain on services as patient numbers surge due to COVID-19. Both Mid and West Wales and South Wales fire and rescue services said cooking fires are the main cause of blazes in the home. Electrical fires and overloaded sockets are also a cause for concern. And the closure…