AS THE elderly and vulnerable are advised to limit their social contact to avoid the spread of coronavirus, meals on wheels services have said they could step up their provision by several hundred people.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that members of the public “should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues” which sparked fear among many high street businesses.

Supermarket deliveries have been booked up for weeks while hotels and restaurants across Denbighshire had already begun to see cancellations since last week with customers saying they are worried about being in public spaces.

Elderly residents and vulnerable people particularly with underlying cardiac and respiratory conditions have been advised to carry out social distancing for three months.

Sarah Hughes, owner of Barllaeth said Ruthin has become “very quiet” over the last week as members of the public become increasingly cautious of being in public spaces.

She has run a ‘meals on wheels’ service since last year which has delivered on average 15 meals a day including lasagne, fish and chips, cottage pie and steak.

It is offered to residents in Ruthin but also surrounding villages including Gellifor, Pwllglas and Llanfair.

The dishes are priced at £4.50 with an extra £1 for a dessert and free delivery.

Mrs Hughes said: “While the café has become quiet we are still hoping to be able to keep the meals on wheels service going. There are elderly people that don’t want to come to the high street now but we could deliver to them instead.

“We have had up to 30 customers a week but we could increase this to 300.”

Mrs Hughes said she is also in discussions with Denbighshire County Council over providing free hot meals for schoolchildren who received the benefit and may go without if schools close.

The South Denbighshire Community Partnership which provides a meals on wheels service in Corwen said it is looking for volunteers to increase its provision in the Edeyrnion area. Community development manager Sally Lloyd Davies said the social enterprise will be working with the community “to do as much as we can to support those in need”.

She said it is looking to recruit volunteers who will also carry out shopping deliveries and make daily phone calls to vulnerable people.

The meals cost £6.50 per day with a hot or cold meal and a pudding. It is available five days a week but this could be increased.

“We are sure that communities and people will be coming together to do as much as they can for our communities,” Mrs Lloyd Davies said.

“The meals on wheels is currently available five days per week but we have set up a task force group and are recruiting more volunteers as this may need to be increased to seven days, depending on the need by the community.”

DENBIGHSHIRE County Council is urging people to keep an eye on each other over the coming weeks and months as coronavirus continues to affect communities.

The council has reviewed its care calls to deliver essential care only to minimise contact wherever possible. This may mean that staff will visit less often with some face-to-face care and support calls replaced by “telephone wellbeing checks”.

The council also suspended its face-to-face homeless prevention service at the Ask Centre in Rhyl so that officers can provide services during the Delay Phase of the outbreak.

A Denbighshire County Council statement said: “The council is encouraging residents to keep an eye on other people in the community by ensuring they are safe and warm.

“A call to check on people’s welfare, checking their shopping needs and general friendship can have a significant positive impact on individuals’ well-being and general health.”