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People in Newport are urged to be vigilant as coronavirus cases rise in the city.
Many people in the city told WalesOnline that they feared a local shutdown was “imminent” and that they had had the feeling “everything was back to normal.”
Public Health Wales has published a list of seven bars and pubs in the city that have been visited by people subsequently diagnosed with Covid-19 who may have been infectious when they visited.
He urged people who had been in pubs at the time to be on the lookout for symptoms and said there was “evidence that some people are ignoring social distancing guidelines, failing to isolate themselves when they have symptoms and in a small number of cases are not frank and honest with contact trackers about who they met while contagious. “
Public Health Wales, Newport City Council and the Aneurin Bevan University Board of Health have launched an investigation into the rise of the coronavirus in the area.
On Saturday and Sunday, Newport recorded 35 new positive cases, raising its closely watched seven-day coronavirus rate to 43.3 cases per 100,000 people.
Caerphilly remains the area with the most cases per 100,000 residents at 88.4, but Newport is not far behind.
The other two highest areas, Merthyr Tydfil (56.4) and Rhondda Cynon Taf (48.5), have introduced stricter restrictions, such as using only public transport for essential travel and wearing masks indoors, in an attempt to avoid a blockade similar to the by Caerphilly.
In April, Newport was statistically the hardest hit area in the UK, with a higher number of cases per 100,000 people than any other area in the UK.
Cases were almost always in double figures through March and April, with a peak of 37 cases on March 25.
At the time, the Welsh government attributed this in part to a high level of evidence in the area of the Aneurin Bevan University Board of Health.
But cases have started to rebound again last week, and this weekend’s numbers are clearly troubling.
(Image: Richard Swingler)
Amid rising numbers, there is a cautious mood among members of the public in Newport on Sunday afternoon.
Stuart James and his partner Carmen Ferreira agree that another lockdown is likely due to people not complying with regulations.
“I think it’s imminent, it’s gone downhill,” says Carmen, while James adds:
“I have been to England recently and have been yelled at for not wearing a mask or for being in the wrong queue.
“That is not happening at all here, it is much more forgiving.”
“I’m a caregiver and he works from home, so it wouldn’t affect us too much,” adds Carmen.
“I think we will probably go out less. We went to Cardiff yesterday and it was packed, and no one was social distancing. “
(Image: Richard Swingler)
Shelley Methuen has come from Cwmbran to go shopping, but says she may not do it for long.
“I came here yesterday and I think this will be my last weekend. I will come, there are so many people around that now I am afraid.
“I don’t think people take it seriously here. Many people are, but many are not. It’s awful.
“No one is watching him. You see the police out there, but there is no one in the city center to make sure that people follow the guidelines. Nobody with masks, nothing. “
Marc Fishwick is traveling to Bristol from Newport for work and says he feels a local shutdown would be the right thing to do.
“I would support a local blockade, absolutely.
“Many people think that everything is back to normal. Beforehand and during the confinement you had all the stores making a distance of two meters, people were careful.
“Now some key stores are still joining, and some smaller ones too, but many are not.
“I was in Germany three weeks ago, and wherever you went there were masks and that was it.
“Yes, their cases are increasing, but everyone is doing everything they can to protect each other, and it should be.”
(Image: Richard Swingler)
But what do merchants think?
Weeks after easing restrictions allowed most companies to welcome customers for the first time in months, how would a tightening of the rules affect them?
Annette Farmer runs Xclusive Jewelers on Main Street, and says her business will be fine if there is a local shutdown, as she has put the correct measurements in place, with various methacrylate displays, sanitizer, and even bleaching of the areas around the store. .
“I am not worried at all. I have done everything I can as a shop owner, I can’t do more.
“We have to stick together, right? People have to put on a mask and that’s it.
“I am 100% sure that we will be fine. I think it will really help as people will really buy locally and support their local businesses.
“We hope to lose some [business]but they will come back again. We’ve been through the lockdown before and we made it through, staying in touch with our customers online and doing a bit of delivery, dropping stuff here and there. “
(Image: Richard Swingler)
Others are not so optimistic.
While the local authority or the Welsh government has not said anything about a local closure in Newport, the feeling is that the rising numbers are only going one way.
Tiny Rebel, one of Newport’s most popular pubs, announced Sunday afternoon that its downtown bar would be closed “for the foreseeable future.”
Tamsin Holloway works behind the bar at McCann’s Rock ‘n’ Ale Bar on High Street.
“To be honest, I think we’re going to be blocked again,” he says.
“We are taking all the precautions we can here, and everyone has been very good at following the rules, but I think we should go back to drinking outside for everyone’s safety.
“It would have an effect on all businesses, because there are no sales, no business, nothing. But it’s for safety, you can’t be too cautious.
“Not that I’m scared, but I’m cautious. This is my main income, so if we close there is the financial side and the business will also be affected. But if we go back to the confinement, I think it will be the best for everyone. “
(Image: Richard Swingler)
Tamsin adds that she believes the mandatory wearing of masks, which will go into effect in Wales from Monday 14 September, will help.
“I’m totally for it. I have a little boy at home so I’ll do my best to make sure I don’t put him in danger when I get home.
“Our regular customers who come here have been good as gold. If it’s someone we don’t know, they’ll test the waters a bit.
“People will try to stand up and dance and stuff, which you can’t do. If they are regulars and they know the rules, that’s fine. If not, then it’s a different story. “
Yan Murphy works at the Asaga noodle bar on Commercial Street, and he says a shutdown will be the right thing to do if it protects people.
“It wouldn’t be good for business, but everyone who comes here is talking to them about the rules and wearing masks. It’s about protection and keeping everyone safe.”
“At first, people didn’t think it was that bad, but it got better and more people started to understand. We were closed for three months, but that kept everyone safe.”
Heather Lewis, Public Health Wales Public Health Consultant and Chair of the Multi-Agency Incident Management Team, said: “We are grateful to the vast majority of Newport residents for adhering to social distancing guidelines and for cooperating with the investigations into the spread of the coronavirus in the area. They have played an important role in protecting the elderly and vulnerable from the coronavirus.
“Unfortunately, there is evidence that some people ignore social distancing guidelines, fail to isolate themselves when they have symptoms, and, in a small number of cases, are not upfront and honest with contact trackers about who they met while infectious.
“Our message to the public is that the coronavirus has not disappeared and it can be a very serious disease, especially for the elderly and vulnerable.
“The public plays a vital role in preventing the spread of the coronavirus by always observing social distancing guidelines, that is, staying six feet from others, washing hands regularly with soap, or using an alcohol-based disinfectant. , and work from home if they can.
“If you or a member of your household has symptoms of a cough, fever, or changes in your sense of taste or smell, you should book a coronavirus test right away to help control the spread of the infection.
“We must all do our part, consistently and over an extended period of time, to protect our vulnerable or elderly friends, family and loved ones.”
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