WREXHAM remains the worst in Wales for its rate of coronavirus.

The latest update from Wrexham Council on January 18 confirmed that Wrexham is still the highest in Wales for the rate per 100,000 population (792.2) and positivity (28.9% today) and second for new cases. However, the rate is lower than reported on January 14 (867.9) and positivity about the same (28.8%).

Lawrence Isted, the council's Chief Officer Planning and Regulatory, said the key driver for the spread of the virus is the ‘UK’ variant, which now accounts for most, if not all, ofnew cases in North Wales.

Hospital admissions for Covid-19 in North Wales were 147 for the week up to January 10, which are the highest they have ever been during the pandemic.

Most of Wrexham's 18 sub-areas have seen slight improvements since Friday but the figures remain high.

The 11 'hot spots' in Wrexham with more than 700/100,000:

  • Gwersyllt West & Summerhill has 1,232 - down from 1,249 on January 15th
  • Caia Park has 1,064 - down from 1,087 on the 15th
  • Wrexham West has 1,056 - up from 912 on the 15th
  • Hermitage & Whitegate has 1,040 - down from 1,337 on the 15th
  • Rhos and Johnstown South has 1,024 - down from 1,110 on the 15th
  • Town North, University & Rhosddu has 923 - down from 1,137 on the 15th
  • Acton & Maes-y-dre has 890 - up from 791 on the 15th
  • Coedpoeth & Brymbo has 844 - down from 855 on the 15th
  • Pen-y-cae & Minera has 786 - down from 820 on the 15th
  • Gresford, Marfoed & Rossett has 714 - down from 749 on the 15th
  • New Broughton & Bryn Cefn has 709 - down from 1,044 on the15th

The update from Mr Isted also explains what the council is doing to address the situation in supermarkets and schools.

Supermarkets

Council Public Protection officers will be writing to and visiting supermarkets to offer advice and, where necessary, enforce compliance with the regulations.

Schools

Schools continue to provide education to pupils via remote learning. On-site provision continues for those children who are vulnerable and for the children of key workers. Unless there is a significant reduction in cases of Covid-19 before 29 January these arrangements will continue until the February half term (week beginning 15th February), which seems likely.

Other Council Services

The Council is continuing to provide critical services as publicised on its website.

Vaccinations

The update adds that the vaccination programme in Wrexham and Wales is fast-moving and subject to daily change.

A National Vaccination Plan was published last week and a Regional Vaccination Plan is due to be published tomorrow.

The current intention is to utilise the Pfizer vaccine in the Mass and Local Vaccination Centres (MVCs and LVCs) and the Oxford vaccine in care homes and GP practices and other primary care locations.

Vaccinations within care homes will continue as the regulations allow and the position of each care home is being monitored regularly to ensure that residents are vaccinated as soon as possible. Health & Social Care staff continue to be vaccinated through the hospital sites (health staff) and the MVCs (health & social care staff).

All GPs in Wrexham have signed up to giving the vaccine. Each practice will receive a supply of Oxford vaccines this week and be able to begin vaccinating their practice populations in the most vulnerable categories. A letter has been sent to all residents explaining that they will be contacted when it is time for them to receive their vaccination.

Plans are being made to open a Local Vaccination Centre in the Catrin Finch Centre on the university campus. The exact date for this is yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to be within the next two weeks.