Author: Rhys Gregory

The number of confirmed new Coronavirus cases have risen by 112 in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,563. There has also been 7 further deaths of people who had tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Aneurin Bevan health board is still at the centre of the highest number of confirmed cases in Wales. However, it is understood that this board was conducting a higher number of tests earlier on in the pandemic, and is the reason why the number of cases remain the highest in the area. Dr Giri Shankar, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus…

On Friday (27 March), officers from Ceredigion County Council`s Public Protection Team came across a country public house serving customers alcohol, and open for business in contravention of the recently issued Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020. Police assistance was called and the landlord will now be served with a prohibition notice. A number of other offences were identified and a report will be made to the Council`s Licencing Committee. Inspections by the Council’s Public Protection Team during the week have shown that the overwhelming majority of local businesses have voluntarily closed when they have been required to do so…

WHILE frontline services and NHS staff go above and beyond to support and care for the general public there is another group of workers beavering away in the background. At Coleg Cambria’s sites in Northop and Llysfasi, lecturers, practitioners and animal technicians are out in all weathers, feeding, maintaining and observing more than 200 different types of animal. These include a wide range of invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, primates and mammals, livestock, alpacas, rodents and poultry. Animal Centre Manager Wendy Gacem said Spring is a vital time for the north east Wales college and while they are social distancing…

This Friday (3 April), Tŷ Hafan is hosting a Disney© virtual quiz to support its hospice for children in Wales. The charity is asking people at home to get behind an urgent appeal to help fund the charity’s care for life-limited children who are some of the most “at risk” in the country. The quiz, which is not only a lovely thing for families to do and get involved in, but it will also help to raise vital funds for the hospice. Tŷ Hafan are asking for a £2 donation for people to join in. The charity, which provides care and support…

Councils are being given new powers to support the NHS and increase hospital capacity as Wales responds to the coronavirus pandemic. Housing and Local Government Minister Julie James has introduced emergency permitted development rights, which will allow local authorities to change the use of buildings or erect temporary structures on their land without planning permission. The new powers mean local authorities can use leisure centres as temporary hospitals if they are needed to prevent or control an emergency. The Crown already has these rights on its estate. The Minister said: “Local authorities in Wales are doing an excellent job of…

The Welsh Government has announced urgent measures to support public transport through the coronavirus pandemic. NHS staff will receive free travel on buses throughout Wales in return for hardship funding from the Welsh Government over the next three months, with free travel already available on Transport for Wales trains. Transport for Wales will receive additional funding support and a hardship fund has been set up to help bus companies as passenger numbers have fallen by up to 90% as passengers follow the stay-at-home rules in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The combined support is worth up to £69m. The bus…

Quitting smoking now could save your life – that’s the message to Wales’ 440,000 smokers from health chiefs as Covid-19 continues to spread. Public Health Wales is urging smokers to quit the habit as a way of reducing the risks from Covid-19 as emerging evidence shows smokers are more likely to develop more serious lung illnesses compared to non-smokers. Smokers are more at risk from Covid-19 because they have weakened lung defences as a result of smoking which damages the cells protecting their nose, upper and lower airways. They also have more regular hand-to-mouth contact, giving more chances for picking…

Carmarthenshire based pet food company Burns Pet Nutrition has announced a new partnership with one of Britain’s most high-profile animal welfare charities, Mayhew, in which it will provide high quality-food to animals in need. The family-run firm based in Kidwelly, which already runs a Charity of the Year scheme to support animal charities and regularly donates its specialist line of natural pet food to over 40 rescue centres across the UK, will support the London-based charity by supplying pet food for animals at the centre for the whole of 2020. Mayhew, which works to improve the lives of dogs, cats…

British Airways aircraft are being parked up at the Northside maintenance area at Cardiff Airport. The move comes as a collapse in air travel has seen the airline suspend all of its Gatwick flights, although a reduced timetable of flights are being flown from Heathrow. Pictures show the 747 aircraft being moved and parked up at Cardiff Airport. A similar move by EasyJet has seen all of its flights suspended after the government advised against all but essential travel. In statement on the British Airways website, they said: “To allow greater flexibility you can change the destination, date of travel,…

The Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s has gone into administration, putting 2,000 jobs at risk. Carluccio’s has two restaurants in Wales, with one in Cardiff Bay’s Mermaid Quay and the other in the city centre. It is understood that most of the employees will be paid through the Government’s job renting scheme announced last week, while administrators assess options. Geoff Rowley, joint administrator and partner at FRP, said: “We are operating in unprecedented times and the issues currently facing the hospitality sector following the onset of Covid-19 are well documented. “In the absence of being able to continue to trade Carluccio’s,…