Residents have been warned that their waste may not be collected by the council on time this week.

Powys County Council posted on its website to advise resident that there is ongoing disruption to waste and recycling collections as a result of staff shortage and Covid-19 outbreaks.

The public notice says: “We may not be able to complete all our rounds today.

“If you have not received a collection by 5pm, please check online for details of when we will be returning to collect: Bin collection day.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Covid-19 cases have continued to rise across Wales and the UK in recent weeks.

Lateral Flow Test. Picture: John Cameron (Unsplash)
Lateral Flow Test. Picture: John Cameron (Unsplash) (Unsplash)

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), around 183,500 people tested positive for Covid-19 across Wales in a rolling seven-day-period ending on Wednesday, July 6.

This equates to 6.04 per cent or around one in 17 of the population according to the latest data which was released today - Friday, July 15.

This is approximately 22.5 per cent increase on the previous week, ending June 29 with the data published on July 8, which saw 149,700 people across Wales test positive - 4.93 per cent of the population or around one in 20 people.

The ONS said about its Covid-19 survey: “The positivity rate is the percentage of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at a point in time.

“We use current COVID-19 infections to mean testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, with or without having symptoms, on a swab taken from the nose and throat. This is different to the incidence rate, which is a measure of only the new PCR positive cases in a given time period.”

ONS also said on its website that the data is based on confirmed Coronavirus results from people in private households - this does not include those living in care homes or other communal establishments.

According to the ONS survey, 2,873,600 people tested positive for Covid-19 in England that week meaning that around one in 19 people or 5.27 per cent of the population across the border had the virus at that time.

According to Public Health Wales, there were 16,845 positive lateral flow tests officially registered in the seven-day period ending on Wednesday, July 6 - equating to 531 in 100,000 of the population - and 1,406 positive PCR tests equating to 44 per people per 100,000.

Meanwhile, in Powys, there were 568 positive lateral flow tests recorded in the same period - equating to 427 per 100,000 of the population, and 34 positive PCR tests which translates to 26 people in 100,000.

Face mask
Face masks are set to return in non-clinical areas in Powys (.)

Changes to visiting arrangements following a rise in COVID-19 cases

With the increase in COVID infections in the community, Powys Teaching Health Board has taken the decision to strongly recommend that masks are worn in all non-clinical areas to reduce the spread of the virus.

Marie Davies, Deputy Director of Nursing for Powys Teaching Health Board said: “We know it is important for you to visit your loved ones. Our plea is that you do so safety to protect the most vulnerable from infection.

“Our policy is that all visitors to our hospitals and clinics are required to wear face coverings, to continue to wash their hands frequently, and to respect social distancing.

“As the current wave of COVID-19 infection continues, visiting may be amended or cancelled at any time in order to maintain safety.”

The local policy enacted by the health board covers the following key points for visitors:

  • Do not enter hospital or clinical sites if you are feeling unwell, have symptoms associated with any respiratory infection such as COVID-19 and flu, or are experiencing cold-like symptoms, diarrhoea and vomiting, fever or have a rash and are in a period of isolation.
  • Be aware that visiting rules may change at short notice due to COVID-19 transmission rates, hospital COVID-19 admission numbers and any outbreaks that may be experienced in the hospital. The situation can change rapidly hence it is important that members of the public check with the ward / department before visiting. These steps are in place to prevent infections and to make visiting as safe as possible.
  • All visiting will be by appointment only and all visitors will require an individual risk assessment to be completed both in advance of and on arrival of an agreed visit for both exceptional and general visiting arrangements, in order to keep patients, staff and visitors safe.