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PHW: Transmission in Wrexham community lower than thought, as two new cases identified so far

Press release: Public Health Wales

Transmission in Wrexham community lower than thought, as two new cases identified so far

Just two new cases of Coronavirus have been identified so far at easy-access community testing centres in Wrexham, suggesting that transmission of the virus in the community is lower than previously thought.

Health officials have been delighted by the response from the community in Wrexham, with over 800 people having been tested in the first two days at two mobile testing centres in Hightown and Caia Park. 

Testing is continuing until Saturday, but the results from the first day, when around 400 people were tested, have resulted in the identification of just two new cases.

Dr Chris Johnson, Consultant in Health Protection for Public Health Wales, and Chair of the multi-agency Outbreak Control Team, said:

“A big thank you to the community in Wrexham for their enthusiastic response to this opportunity to be tested for Coronavirus. 

“We are very reassured by the emerging picture from these sessions, which appears to indicate that transmission is significantly lower than thought.  Just two new cases was identified on the first day of testing.  We will be contacting individuals with their test results over the next few days.

“Testing is continuing, so please take advantage of the opportunity to get tested and help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 in the Wrexham area - even if your symptoms are mild. 

“The more cases we find, the more people can then be referred into the Test, Trace, Protect programme, allowing contact tracers to take action to put a stop to the spread of Coronavirus in the area.

“We remind the public and business-owners not to become complacent in light of these results.  We all have a vital role in preventing the spread of Coronavirus by sticking to social distancing guidelines – that’s staying two metres away from others, and washing hands regularly.”

Symptoms to look out for include a new continuous cough, high temperature, and a lost or change in your normal sense of taste or smell.

The mobile testing centres are at Caia Park Health Centre on Prince Charles Road, and at Hightown Community Resource Centre, Fusilier Way, off Bryn Y Cabanau Road.  Sessions are currently scheduled until Saturday, and anybody who wants a test is invited to turn up between 9am and 6pm.

The work is being co-ordinated by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Public Health Wales, Wrexham Council, and other partners, with support from local voluntary sector organisation AVOW and community groups.  As in other parts of the country, the army have helped to set up the mobile testing units.

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CONTACT: For media enquiries please contact the Public Health Wales Communications team on 02920 348755 (24 hours)

Editor’s notes

Public Health Wales is an NHS organisation providing professionally independent public health advice and services to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the population of Wales.

Public Health Wales has four statutory functions:

  • To provide and manage a range of public health, health protection, healthcare improvement, health advisory, child protection and microbiological laboratory services and services relating to the surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases;
  • To develop and maintain arrangements for making information about matters related to the protection and improvement of health in Wales available to the public; to undertake and commission research into such matters and to contribute to the provision and development of training in such matters;
  • To undertake the systematic collection, analysis and dissemination of information about the health of the people of Wales in particular including cancer incidence, mortality and survival; and prevalence of congenital anomalies; and
  • To provide, manage, monitor, evaluate and conduct research into screening of health conditions and screening of health related matters.

More information on Public Health Wales is available at www.publichealthwales.org