Caerphilly lockdown: everything we know so far about the new restrictions

The Caerphilly county district is expected to be the first area in Wales to come under a local lockdown following a “significant increase” in coronavirus cases.

Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething made the announcement Monday night after 133 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the past seven days, equating to a rate of 55.4 cases per 100,000 residents. .

When does the lockdown start?

People will not be allowed to enter or leave the area without a reasonable excuse when the restrictions take effect from 6pm on Tuesday, the Government of Wales said.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething has said it will be reviewed again in the next two to three weeks, but it is likely to run until “at least October”.

What does the lockdown mean for local residents?

• All people over the age of 11 will be required to wear face covers in stores, marking the first time this will be mandatory in Wales.

• Gatherings with other people inside and extended homes will not be allowed, while overnight stays will also be prohibited.

• The travel restrictions included in the closure mean that people cannot enter or leave the Caerphilly County City Hall area without a “reasonable excuse.”

• This includes work, if people are unable to work from home, as well as paying compassionate visit to a loved one or providing care.

• People will only be able to meet other people outdoors, with indoor meetings and restricted meetings.

The new measures will be applied by the local authority and the police.

The blockade has been placed in the county and not just in the city of Caerphilly.

This is a map of the county area:

Going to work if you cannot work from home would be considered a “reasonable” excuse, as would going to care for a loved one who lives in a different area.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said pubs were allowed to stay open because most of the broadcasting occurred in people’s homes and not in pubs.

Will the schools stay open?

Numerous schools have been affected by the coronavirus since the beginning of the fall term in Wales, including a class of 21 students in a primary school in the Caerphilly area that was told to self-isolate for 14 days.

But the schools will remain open and there are no imminent plans to close schools in Caerphilly or alter any of its safety or social distancing guidelines, despite the county being locked down locally.

Will bars, restaurants and shops still open?

Yes. They won’t be closed, but people will have to cover their faces when entering county stores.

Why was the lock introduced?

The rate of 55.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants is the highest in Wales and one of the highest in the UK.

The Government of Wales believes that the number of cases is expected to increase.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “We have seen a significant increase in cases in the Caerphilly district in a very short period of time, which are related to holiday trips abroad and people socializing indoors and not following social distancing guidelines.

“Many of these cases are in younger people and, fortunately, at the moment, most are mild.

“But the coronavirus is now circulating in the community and it is only a matter of time before we start to see more serious cases, which need hospital treatment.

“We need the help of everyone in the Caerphilly district to prevent the rise and spread of the coronavirus.

“We can only control this local outbreak if everyone gets together and follows these new steps.

“If we don’t see the cases decrease, we may need to take more steps to control this local outbreak.”

Was this a surprise?

No. There were warnings on Friday that a local lockdown could be introduced and community testing was introduced in Caerphilly over the weekend.

On Saturday, 450 people were tested and 19 had the virus, yielding a positivity rate of 4%, indicating that Covid-19 is circulating in the community.

A similar number of people were tested on Sunday and results are expected shortly.

Do you think the Caerphilly district should be blocked? Leave your comments here.

What is the city council doing?

The Caerphilly Council has already introduced measures such as suspending nursing home visits and introducing weekly tests for nursing home staff, in response to the increase in cases.

Philippa Marsden, Leader of the Caerphilly Council, said: “We need to create a break in the cycle of infection that we are seeing in the Caerphilly district at the moment and sadly that means introducing new stricter restrictions.”

“I urge everyone who lives in the area to follow these new measures, follow social distancing guidelines, and wash their hands regularly.

“If we all work together, we can control this outbreak and reduce cases of the virus.”

What should people with symptoms do?

Dr Giri Shankar, from Public Health Wales, urged everyone in the Caerphilly area to use a local test drive at the town’s leisure center if they experienced “even the mildest” of symptoms or if they felt ” generally wrong without explanation. “

A temporary driving test facility is scheduled to open Tuesday.

The Aneurin Bevan University Board of Health has confirmed that it will open the new facility at the Penallta House council offices in Ystrad Mynach starting Tuesday, September 8.

At the drive through center, patients can stop and get tested through their car window. The board of health said there are strict security measures in place to protect both staff members and people who come for a test.

Are there other areas of Wales with increasing numbers?

There is some concern about a growing number of cases in parts of Rhondda Cynon Taf over the past seven days.

The council will maintain reduced access agreements to independent nursing homes managed by local authorities.

This decision means that no friend or family member will be able to visit residents within the premises of a local authority or private residence.

Meanwhile, the Carmarthenshire County Council is calling on people to take responsibility for social distancing, as a cluster of positive Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in the county.

The group focuses on a presentation night held on August 29 at Drefach Cricket and Football Club, organized in breach of coronavirus regulations.

To date, 12 people who are linked to the night have tested positive for Covid-19 and all those who attended the event will need to self-isolate for 14 days.

The Cardiff Council said five popular bars in central Cardiff received upgrade notices for failing to comply with Covid-19 health and safety measures. You can read more about it here.