COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus)
If you are looking for help and support at this difficult time please see the information below. Please make sure you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the screen as this page includes a number of different organisations which can help/advise you
If you are looking for help and support at this difficult time please see the information below. Please make sure you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the screen as this page includes a number of different organisations which can help/advise you
On this page you will find:
- information from Wrexham County Borough Council
- information from the Welsh Government
- information from Alyn Family Doctors/key public health messages
- information to help you stay safe, and to avoid scams
- information from AVOW
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You might find it useful to follow the Welsh Government and Wrexham Council on Twitter for up-to-date information.
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Read about Wrexham Council's latest COVID-19 Briefing Note: 17th December
GIVE CHRISTMAS A BOOST! Get your Booster!
OVERVIEW
Over the coming days hundreds of additional NHS staff and volunteers will join the vaccination effort in North Wales. The aim is to offer a booster to every eligible adult by the end of this month – helping to limit the impact of the highly infectious Omicron variant. It’s a huge undertaking for our health service staff, who continue to work incredibly hard to keep us safe. So please – when you get your chance, get your booster.
HOW TO GET YOUR BOOSTER
If you haven’t been invited for a booster yet, you can now book online or attend a drop in clinic.
Or you might be invited directly by your GP practice or community pharmacy. If you already have an appointment in December, please keep to it and, if you already have been given an appointment in January, you might be invited to book an earlier appointment during December. If you’re housebound, there’s no need to contact the NHS; the local health board already has your details and is working as quickly as possible to get to you before the end of December.
"FLOW BEFORE YOU GO"!
The Welsh Government is asking you to “flow before you go" and take a lateral flow device (LFD) test before you head out. So, whether you’re going shopping, visiting friends or family, or going to any crowded or busy place, please try and take a test first. You can order test kits for free on the UK Government website or from selected local pharmacies. You can also pick them up from:
- Tŷ Pawb
- Wrexham Museum
- Wrexham Library
- Chirk Leisure Centre
- Gwynn Evans Leisure Centre
WEAR A MASK
Unless you’re exempt, you need to wear a mask in most indoor spaces in Wales – including shops and on public transport.
SCHOOLS MOVE TO REMOTE LEARNING FROM MONDAY 20th DECEMBER Schools across Wrexham will switch to remote learning from next Monday (December 20) to help keep everyone safe in the run-up to Christmas. The decision has been taken following an increase in COVID cases in the county borough, and across much of the UK, with many children and young people having to isolate.
There’s also the possibility that keeping schools open next week will mean more people catching the virus and having to isolate over Christmas – which would have a huge effect on many families and local communities. As a result, the decision has been taken to switch to remote online learning from Monday for the last few days of term. Read more…
USEFUL LINKS
Vaccination updates:
read the latest on the N Wales vaccination rollout on the local NHS health board website.
Other useful sources of information:
Other useful sources of information:
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board website – vaccination updates (North Wales)
- Welsh Government website – FAQs about current restrictions in Wales
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Where is the virus in Wrexham? Find local updates and data
Public Health Wales publishes data on the number COVID tests, cases, hospital admissions, etc, broken down to the local level (headed MSOA).
You can find statistics for Wrexham on the Public Health Wales website's Dashboard. The Dashboard includes coronavirus levels in your local area (click on the tab that says ‘Cases by MSOA’ and use the ‘Local Authority’ drop-down box on the right to select ‘Wrexham’. You can then hover over the Wrexham part of the map to find the Gresford and Marford figures.)
Public Health Wales publishes data on the number COVID tests, cases, hospital admissions, etc, broken down to the local level (headed MSOA).
You can find statistics for Wrexham on the Public Health Wales website's Dashboard. The Dashboard includes coronavirus levels in your local area (click on the tab that says ‘Cases by MSOA’ and use the ‘Local Authority’ drop-down box on the right to select ‘Wrexham’. You can then hover over the Wrexham part of the map to find the Gresford and Marford figures.)
Information from Welsh Government
Briefing note from Lesley Griffiths AM
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Wrexham County Borough Council issues regular briefing notes about the virus.
You can sign up to receive information from WCBC, including these briefing notes:
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Information from Alyn Family Doctors/Key public health messages
This important message was posted on the AFD Facebook page on June 2
Advance Notice
From 23rd June, our telephone number for patients changed to 03333 323260. This telephone number will be the permanent number for all three of our surgeries in Llay, Rossett and Gresford. All calls will be handled centrally.
Don't worry; our old telephone numbers will continue to work for a while, but if you use them to contact us after the 23rd June, you will first hear a message about the new number. We'll give plenty of warning when they are to be deactivated permanently.
The new telephone service has unlimited capacity, so that should mean no more engaged tone! As we're using the 'phones so much more during Covid-19, it will be a dramatic improvement for patients and staff. The new service also has a 'dynamic hold facility'. If the call wait time is greater than 5 minutes, the system will tell you to hang up, hold your place in a virtual queue, and call you back when you approach the front. That should mean a fairer and easier system of contacting us in the morning.
As with any new system, there will inevitably be a bedding-in period, but we thank our patients and NHS colleagues in advance for bearing with us as we implement this positive change.
Advance Notice
From 23rd June, our telephone number for patients changed to 03333 323260. This telephone number will be the permanent number for all three of our surgeries in Llay, Rossett and Gresford. All calls will be handled centrally.
Don't worry; our old telephone numbers will continue to work for a while, but if you use them to contact us after the 23rd June, you will first hear a message about the new number. We'll give plenty of warning when they are to be deactivated permanently.
The new telephone service has unlimited capacity, so that should mean no more engaged tone! As we're using the 'phones so much more during Covid-19, it will be a dramatic improvement for patients and staff. The new service also has a 'dynamic hold facility'. If the call wait time is greater than 5 minutes, the system will tell you to hang up, hold your place in a virtual queue, and call you back when you approach the front. That should mean a fairer and easier system of contacting us in the morning.
As with any new system, there will inevitably be a bedding-in period, but we thank our patients and NHS colleagues in advance for bearing with us as we implement this positive change.
Welsh Blood Service – please keep giving blood
WCBC has been asked by the Welsh Blood Service, here in Wrexham, to ask those of you who are fit and healthy to keep giving blood. They have sessions scheduled for May - Pembroke House is our Wrexham centre - and you can make an appointment online here; i t's located in Elice Way, Wrexham Technology Park, LL13 7YT.
Donations will be by appointment only, and public health guidelines regarding social distancing will be in place.
Blood donation is classed as an essential journey. At present blood stocks are healthy, but we are all currently going through unprecedented times and we need to ensure that blood and platelet donations continue to treat people in need. Take a look at their video which shows you the measures they will be taking to protect both your health, and that of their staff, when you make a blood donation.
WCBC has been asked by the Welsh Blood Service, here in Wrexham, to ask those of you who are fit and healthy to keep giving blood. They have sessions scheduled for May - Pembroke House is our Wrexham centre - and you can make an appointment online here; i t's located in Elice Way, Wrexham Technology Park, LL13 7YT.
Donations will be by appointment only, and public health guidelines regarding social distancing will be in place.
Blood donation is classed as an essential journey. At present blood stocks are healthy, but we are all currently going through unprecedented times and we need to ensure that blood and platelet donations continue to treat people in need. Take a look at their video which shows you the measures they will be taking to protect both your health, and that of their staff, when you make a blood donation.
Public Health Wales (PHW) is a great source of accurate, up-to-date, information
PHW - read latest information HERE
Gwybodaeth yn Gymraeg YMA
PHW - read latest information HERE
Gwybodaeth yn Gymraeg YMA
Essentials Mag
Has a great deal of really useful information on services and contacts for you - check it out
Has a great deal of really useful information on services and contacts for you - check it out
Information to help you stay safe, and to avoid scams
“HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A CALL FROM A
CONTACT TRACER IS GENUINE?”
FOLLOW THIS ADVICE…
Wrexham Council has published some important advice on how to be sure that, if a contact tracer gets in touch, they are genuine, and not a fraud.
If you’ve had a test, or been in contact with someone whose been confirmed as having COVID-19, you might get a call. The contact tracing teams here in Wrexham are based within the council. Our contact tracers will NEVER :
Key messages
CONTACT TRACER IS GENUINE?”
FOLLOW THIS ADVICE…
Wrexham Council has published some important advice on how to be sure that, if a contact tracer gets in touch, they are genuine, and not a fraud.
If you’ve had a test, or been in contact with someone whose been confirmed as having COVID-19, you might get a call. The contact tracing teams here in Wrexham are based within the council. Our contact tracers will NEVER :
- Ask you to dial a premium rate number.
- Ask you to make any type of payment.
- Ask you for any bank account details.
- Ask you for any passwords or pins, or to set up any passwords/pins whilst on the phone.
- Ask you to purchase a product.
- Ask you to download any software to your device.
- Ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet.
- Ask you to access any website that doesn’t belong to the NHS or Government.
Key messages
- If you’re contacted as part of the Test, Trace, Protect programme, you’ll never be asked to give any financial information, bank details or passwords. Testing is free.
- If you receive a call from a contact tracer in Wrexham, and you’re worried it might not be genuine, you can check by hanging up and calling us on 01978 292000.
Wrexham Trading Standards and the Eastern Community Safety department of North Wales Police are working together to try and keep you safe and to prevent you from becoming victims of scams. They have sent a letter for us to share - you can see the whole letter by clicking on the PDF link, below. Here is some great advice for you, taken from the letter:
Don’t be scammed. Here are a few of the scams to be aware of. Criminals come in all shapes and sizes. They can contact you at the door, by ‘phone, post or online
If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and if you need advice, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. For a Welsh speaking advisor, call 0808 223 1144. If you are in immediate danger, contact the police on 999. Contact your bank if you think you have been scammed.
Don’t be scammed. Here are a few of the scams to be aware of. Criminals come in all shapes and sizes. They can contact you at the door, by ‘phone, post or online
- Home cleaning services.
- There are lots of fake products available to buy online that say they can protect you or cure coronavirus. These will not help and are designed to take your money.
- People impersonating healthcare workers, police officers, utilities officials.
- Emails saying that you can get a refund on taxes or utilities. They are usually bogus and they want your personal and bank details.
- Your bank or the police will never ask for your bank details over the ‘phone.
- Offers by strangers to do your shopping; they are after your money.
If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and if you need advice, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. For a Welsh speaking advisor, call 0808 223 1144. If you are in immediate danger, contact the police on 999. Contact your bank if you think you have been scammed.
Key messages from AVOW
AVOW Community Information
This information has been supplied by AVOW - it gives contact information for lots of voluntary organisations which might be able to help you. Have a look - click on the small image to enlarge it
This information has been supplied by AVOW - it gives contact information for lots of voluntary organisations which might be able to help you. Have a look - click on the small image to enlarge it
AVOW has really useful newsletters
Please have a look at AVOW's news page and briefings - they are packed with useful and interesting information for you. Find briefings here