Call to Rural communities to follow Coronavirus guidance
Rural communities are being urged to be on their guard for Coronavirus and follow social distancing guidelines to slow the spread of the virus.
Recent increases in cases in Powys have been linked to social contact in rural settings including sites associated with agriculture and farming, resulting in numbers of residents having to self-isolate.
Stuart Bourne, Director of Public Health for Powys Teaching Health Board, said:
“We have seen an increase in case numbers in Powys where the route of infection is social contact in the farming community. These cases have a significant impact on our economy and also on education as many pupils have to self-isolate as confirmed contacts.
“Living in a remote or rural area, it can be tempting to think that Coronavirus will not reach us.
“But, Coronavirus can affect anyone. People in villages and farming communities in Powys are contracting the virus, and they are passing it on to others.
“It is vital that we do all that we can to prevent the spread of the virus within Powys. Limiting contact with others whilst maintaining social distancing is a key measure along with wearing face coverings and regular hand washing,”
“It is important for all of us to remember that Coronavirus is still a very real threat to public health and the best way to stop the chain of infection is to come into contact with fewer people. We need to do all that we can to prevent a further rise in coronavirus cases.”
NFU Cymru President John Davies said: “The threat of Coronavirus has surfaced in our rural communities and I urge everyone to adhere to social distancing, carry out regular and thorough hand washing/sanitising and wear a face covering. When attending livestock marts or sales and whilst carrying out other necessary business matters, please follow relevant Covid guidance made by individual operators. I urge everyone to stay safe.”
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high temperature: this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough: this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste: this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.
If you have any symptoms, ensure that you and your immediate household self-isolate immediately.
Home testing kits, and drive through tests in Brecon and Newtown, can be booked online at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test or by phone on 119.
Drive through tests in Builth Wells can be booked by contacting the Powys testing hub on powys.testing@wales.nhs.uk or calling 01874 612228.
We can all help to reduce the spread of coronavirus:
- Stay at home
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Keep a social distance from others.
- Do not meet anyone you do not live with
- Wear a face covering in shops, in indoor public spaces and on public transport unless there is a reasonable excuse not to do so
- Work from home if you can.
“We all share a personal responsibility to controlling the spread of the virus. The situation can change very quickly. By following Welsh Government guidance, we can help keep Powys safe.”
Our Test Trace Protect team here in Powys is working tirelessly to ensure that positive cases are contact traced, and that symptomatic contacts are offered testing. If you are identified as a confirmed contact, our Powys contact tracing team will call you from 02921 961133.
If you are called by a contact tracer, please help them in their vital work to Keep Powys Safe.