Coronavirus: Caerphilly lockdown could be implemented 'if necessary'

Caerphilly has 43.1 cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people

A local lockdown could be put in place in Caerphilly county if "necessary", the leader of the council has warned.

Philippa Marsden told BBC Radio Wales any decision would be made after advice was taken from Public Health Wales.

She was speaking after a class of 21 pupils was told to self-isolate for two weeks after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

There were 31 new cases in Caerphilly on Monday, with a total of 98 reported in the last seven days.

Its seven-day figure for cases per 100,000 people now stands at 54.1, and total cases since reporting started stands at 905.

One class at St Gwladys Primary School in Bargoed must stay at home, although the school remains open.

A school in Cardiff has also told 30 pupils to self isolate.

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"Local authorities cannot act alone," Ms Marsden said.

"It's about us doing this together through Public Health Wales, the health board and, ultimately, Welsh Government."

Children at St Gwladys Primary School in Caerphilly county have been told to self-isolate

Ms Marsden said she would "absolutely" consider closing bars and clubs if social distancing rules were not followed.

Dr Giri Shankar, from Public Health Wales, had earlier told BBC Radio Wales "a very close eye" was being kept on Caerphilly.

Following the publication of Monday's figures, Dr Shankar said: "I would appeal to everyone in the Caerphilly area that if you have even the mildest of Covid-19 symptoms, a high temperature or fever, a new and persistent cough, or a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste, or even if you feel generally unwell with no explanation, to make use of the local testing unit at Caerphilly Leisure Centre.

"As children return to schools, I understand that parents will be concerned at reports of positive cases.

"I would urge you to follow advice from the school or local authority and only withdraw children from school when asked to do so.

"Social distancing measures that are in place are designed to prevent the spread of the disease beyond the 'bubbles' established in schools."

Caerphilly council said it "fully" appreciated the situation at St Gwladys Primary School "will cause concern to parents and children at the school".

How many cases have there been in Caerphilly?

Caerphilly county has had more new cases in the past week - 98 - than anywhere else in Wales and more than the area has seen since the end of April.

The number of cases on Friday - 31 - was the highest in the county for a single day since the pandemic began.

The case rate for the past seven days - 54.1 cases per 100,000 people - is also one of the biggest increases in the UK, after Bolton and Rossendale in Lancashire and Hertsmere in south-east England.

Where there have been local interventions or lockdowns so far - mostly in north-west England and the Midlands - the case rate has been usually been between 70 and 90 cases per 100,000.

Birmingham was put on a "watch list" when it reached 31 cases per 100,000 but the issues were in particular neighbourhoods.

More than 1,600 people have been tested in Caerphilly county in the past week

Caerphilly is still outside the highest 10 case rates in the UK, which is topped by Bolton (116 per 100,000 at the most recent count) and includes Manchester and Tameside (both 50 cases per 100,000).

Rhondda Cynon Taff has also seen a recent spike, although with fewer positive tests than Caerphilly.

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Public health officials have also been concerned at the numbers of young people testing positive.

Just under 14% of those tested in Wales are in their 20s. Nearly 28% of positive tests are people in their 20s and 30s.

But this does not translate into hospital cases. Currently, only 5.5% of positive cases in Welsh hospitals are people in their 20s and 30s, according to Public Health Wales figures. Nearly two-thirds are aged over 70.

A walk-in test centre opened outside Caerphilly Leisure Centre on Saturday.

The school and council said the parents of all the affected children had been contacted and they were working with the contact tracing system to protect other pupils and the wider community.

Cases have also been confirmed at schools in Bridgend, Maesteg, Cwmbran and Carmarthen.

Meanwhile, a cafe in Caerphilly has closed after one of its staff tested positive for Covid-19.

Caerphilly Mountain Snack Bar has shut for 14 days, but it said all other members of staff have tested negative.

'Closing before we are forced to'

Calvin Evans, who owns the Aviary bar on Cardiff Road, said he had decided to close temporarily, less than four weeks after it reopened.

"There's no point in putting the staff and customers... in jeopardy for the sake of another week's worth of business," he said.

"It is a hard decision, but it's just not worth it for a bit of profit.

"We've got young members of staff there, we've got staff with elderly family members, it's just not worth that risk."