Author: Rhys Gregory

Hundreds of Denbighshire families have taken part in a livestream story and singing session for babies and toddlers. Denbighshire County Council’s library service streamed a Bookstart Rhymetime session for parents and children on Facebook on March 24 with 200 watching live and more than 4,000 views in the following days. The library service’s Donna Hughes-Jones shared stories, songs and rhymes and gave happy birthday greetings to some of the children who usually attend the sessions in the county’s libraries. Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s lead member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said: “I’m pleased the livestream rhymetime session…

Banished Brits are more dependent on their internet and broadband provider than ever before, with three in five (59%) increasing their internet use due to the restrictions of Covid-19, a new study reveals. As of Monday 23rd March 2020, UK residents were put under strict guidelines to stay at home. The study, from leading price comparison website, Moneyexpert.com, found that 41% of Brits are using the internet for different means because of Covid-19,  and that a third (31%) are finding it a lot more challenging to use the internet for things such as video calls or shopping for food online.…

Marks & Spencer Cardiff foothalls will remain open during the UK lock down in order to provide a vital service to the community. Standalone food stores and Foodhalls in larger stores are open. However, outlet stores that only sell clothing and homeware are temporarily closed, but customers can still shop online. M&S have implemented additional social distancing measures for the safety of customers and its staff, so that people remain 2m apart when they shop. At the tills, they are also installing sneeze guards to protect staff, and are asking customers to pay via guard where possible. Contactless payments are increasing…

Mental health teams across the Swansea Bay University Health Board are joining in the unprecedented effort to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic. Significant changes are being made to reduce the spread of the disease within our hospitals and clinics. All Out Patient appointments up until April 30 have been cancelled and replaced with case note reviews and referrals over the phone. Patients will be contacted via telephone to follow up on their care and treatment. Janet Williams, associate service director, said:  “At this time we want to reduce the number of face to face contacts that we undertake to protect staff…

The South Wales Chamber of Commerce has created a dedicated platform for businesses to connect and support each other during the coronavirus pandemic. The Supply and Demand Resource Hub, available on the business organisation’s website, allows businesses to share their resources, services and supplies with other companies. The Chamber has created the Hub, not only for their members, but for all businesses in Wales to access free of charge. The Hub is split, for ease of use, into two categories: services and supplies that are being offered and services and supplies that are requested. Businesses can share their supply and…

Health Minister Vaughan Gething has announced plans to introduce a smart test to identify if people have had coronavirus in Wales – helping them get back to work. The new antibody blood test, which will be tested in the UK next week, will show if people have recently had the virus and potentially if they have immunity. The current antigen test can only tell if someone has the virus and is only used if someone has symptoms of coronavirus or is living with someone who has those symptoms. Wales has been screening frontline staff with this test for a number…

Education Minister Kirsty Williams has called on school staff to do what they can to keep schools open for NHS staff and carers during the two weeks that should have been the Easter holidays. The Minister thanked all school staff who had met the challenge of keeping more than 700 schools open to support with the immediate response to coronavirus before asking for help in what she described as a ‘time of national need’. The Minister said: “It takes a community to raise a child and that statement has never been more true. “In this time of national need, our…

The Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates has today 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…

Police in Cardiff are investigating the unexplained death of a 44 year-old man who was found dead at an address on Clare Road shortly before 9.00am on Wednesday 25th March. The man has been named as Paul O’Brien and detectives are appealing for information with regard to his movements in the days preceding March 25th. Detectives are keeping an open mind concerning the cause of Mr O’Brien’s death but are keen to hear from anyone who may have met or been with Mr O’Brien in the days before he died. Anyone with any information is asked to contact South Wales…

New powers to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives have now come into force in Wales.  The new laws around social distancing apply to all individuals, including when walking your dog. People are only permitted to leave their homes for the following reasons: Shopping for basic necessities and supplies, which should be as infrequently as possible; One form of exercise a day – for example, a run, walk or cycle – alone or with members of their household; Any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and Travelling to and…