Sharp rise in rate of coronavirus in Chirk and Ceiriog Valley

Chirk and Ceriog Valley has recorded its worst figures since October 20, with a rate of 972 cases of coronavirus per 100,000 members of the population. This is up from 602 on Friday, putting the area in the list of seven covid hot spots where the rate is more than 700 per 100,000.

Hospital admissions in North Wales are now almost double than during the peak in May last year.

In the latest update on the coronavirus situation in the county, Wrexham Council said the key message remains that "any reduction in the spread of the virus is purely because of everyone’s sustained efforts to abide by the lockdown regulations and any relaxation in behaviour will send the figures soaring again".

Residents are reminded “Don’t call us; we’ll call you” meaning that they should contact their GP for a vaccine but rather should wait to be called.  

The third key message is that it will take months before the vaccination programme significantly reduces the rate of transmission so everyone should continue to "act as if you, and everyone you meet, has Covid-19". 

Lawrence Isted, the authority's Chief Officer Planning and Regulatory, said: Wrexham remains worst in Wales for the rate per 100,000 population (660.5 today) and positivity (26.5% today). The ‘UK’ variant accounts for most new cases, but there are not, as yet, any known cases of the ‘South Africa’ or, much more worrying, ‘Brazil’ variants.

"The figures are better than reported on Monday (867.9 and 28.8) and the trend over the last few weeks suggests that the virus has peaked.  

"Hospital admissions for Covid-19 in North Wales (167 week ending 17th January) are almost twice the peak of last year (91 in May), placing even greater strain on an over-stretched NHS in general and local hospitals in particular. This figure has been updated by PHW and is even higher than reported in this note on Monday. The figure for week ending 17th January (152) is probably an under-estimate and will not be finalised until next week. We should expect hospital admissions to remain high for several weeks to come. 

"Sadly, deaths are rising in North Wales too (29 for week ending 10th January, though this is a tentative figure)."
Coronavirus rates in ost of the 18 sub-areas of Wrexham have improved since the last report on Monday, but the figures remain very high.

The seven hot spots in Wrexham with more than 700/100k:

• Gwersyllt West & Summerhill has 1,198 - down from 1,232 on January 18t
• Chirk and Ceirog Valley has 972 - up sharply from 602 on the 18th
• Caia Park has 896 - down from 1,064 on the 18th 
• Wrexham West has 888 - down from 1,056 on the 18th  
• Hermitage & Whitegate has 811 - down from 1,040 on the 18th 
• Town North, University & Rhosddu has 743 - down from 923 on the 18th
• Acton & Maes-y-dre has 732 - down from 890 on the 18th

In terms of managing the virus, the update says the Level 4 Alert lockdown has finally begun to have an effect on the rate of infection.  

Schools continue to provide education to pupils via remote learning. On-site provision continues for those children who are vulnerable and for the children of key workers. Unless there is a significant reduction in cases of Covid-19 before January 29 these arrangements will continue until the February half term. This seems likely.

On Tuesday, January 26, the Local Vaccination Centre in Wrexham will be opened operating at the Catrin Finch Centre on the university campus. For next week it will operate between Tuesday and Thursday, 8am to 6pm. Opening times will expand as vaccination supplies allow. People cannot just turn up; they must wait for an invitation.

All GP practices have agreed to provide vaccinations and will have received some supplies this week. This will continue and expand in the coming days with priority groups being contacted to attend for vaccinations. Again, people cannot just turn up; they must wait for an invitation.