COVID 19 - Coronavirus

National Measures for Wales - Alert Level 4

New national measures came into effect in Wales from midnight on 19th December.

The First Minister statement issued on 19 December can be viewed here.

Welsh Government have produced the following Alert level 4: frequently asked questions which provide guidance on how you can keep safe and what rules are in place to protect people at alert level 4.

A list of what can open and what must close during alert level 4 is available here.

COVID-19 Testing Centres

Mobile Testing Units (MTU)

From the 3rd - 16th March 2021, mobile Covid-19 testing units will be available at Greenmeadow Community Farm, Union Street Car Park in Abersychan and Blaenavon Ironworks.

Further details about the Mobile COVID-19 Testing Centres in Torfaen (3-16 March) are available here.

Local Testing Site (LTS)

Torfaen’s first Local Testing Site (LTS) has opened in the Old Mill Car Park on Trosnant Street, Pontypool.

The LTS in the Old Mill car park replaces the use of a temporary mobile testing unit on the same site.

The local testing sites are a semi-permanent structure and will remain on site for long periods to improve access for Torfaen residents. The LTS will be open 7 days a week from 8am-8pm and will be operated by the Department of Health and Social Care using self-swab PCR tests.

To book a test phone 119 or visit: www.gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-test

ABUHB Vaccination Weekly Updates

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board are producing weekly vaccination updates containing information on the rollout across Gwent. Copies are available on the ABUHB Vaccination Weekly Update page.

Self Isolation Payments

If you have been contacted by NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service (TTP) and have been told to self-isolate, you may be entitled to financial support.  Apply for a Self Isolation Payment here.

If your child has been asked to self isolate and you have been financially impacted as a result of having to look after them, you may also be entitled to financial support. Apply for a Self Isolation Payment (for Parents/Carers) here.

Data Dashboard

The council have created an interactive data dashboard to help demonstrate the prevalence of COVID-19 in the borough. 

The dashboard is based on Public Health Wales daily data and shows the distribution of positive COVID-19 tests across our communities over a rolling 7-day period. 

The data can be seen on a map and bar charts, with an animation function that show how this changes over a 10 day period.

Hovering over the map or bar charts will show further detail.

View the data dashboard here.

Torfaen Community Support

The Torfaen Community Support Hub is part of the council’s response to the Government’s Shielding Scheme and Test, Trace and Protect strategy in order to safeguard our most vulnerable residents.

With shielding paused from the 16^th August 2020, the demand for support through our Community Support Hub due to the effects of Coronavirus has significantly reduced at this time. As a result of this we have reduced the capacity of the team who were the first point of contact for requests for help.

However, some staff continue to be available to provide guidance and help to individuals who need emergency support and will ensure that they are connected with services that are still operating across the borough. 

Both volunteers and those that need support can apply to participate in the scheme by downloading our Community Support App and provide some basic information, which will be securely stored and managed.

Residents who sign up to the app for support will be able to make requests for:

• Collection of medication
• Shopping for food and other essentials
• Someone to chat with to help counter isolation and loneliness

Staff will be able to provide help to access support and assistance where possible and put people in touch with agencies who can help.

Find out more about Torfaen Community Support here.

What happens when you get a test for Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Download a copy of the easy read explanation of when to get tested and what the NHS will ask if you test positive.

Gwent Contact Tracing Service

To keep track of Coronavirus in Wales, on Monday 1 June, in response to the Welsh Government’s Test, Trace, Protect strategy, partners including Public Health Wales, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and the five Local Authorities in Gwent began working together to develop the Gwent Contact Tracing Service.

The new service enables partners to track and trace any new Coronavirus cases that emerge. Being able to pinpoint those who have come into contact with someone showing symptoms of Coronavirus can help reduce the spread of the virus.

Find out more about the Gwent Contact Tracing Service here.

Building Closures

Civic Centre, Ty Blaen and all public facing buildings are closed to the public.

The following building closures are also in place until further notice.

Grants

A number of grants are available to help with the impact of COVID-19.  You can view a list of grants to help with the impact of COVID-19 here.

Coronavirus Symptom Tracker App

Help us fight Coronavirus by reporting your health daily, even if you feel well, on the Welsh Government Coronavirus symptom tracker app. The app is available to download from the Apple Store, Google Play Store and from the links at covid.joinzoe.com

Multi-agency arrangements

Torfaen Council is now working as part of the Gwent Local Resilience Forum (GLRF) as part of a wider Government, Welsh Government and NHS strategy in response to COVID-19. Find out more about the Multi-agency arrangements here.

Your support is vital

The Welsh Government has asked us all to Keep Wales Safe:

• stay at home
• meet only the people you live with
• maintain social distancing
• wash your hands regularly
• work from home if you can