Council implements contingencies in response to COVID-19

Carmarthenshire County Council is preparing and implementing a comprehensive response to coronavirus (COVID-19) to prevent and limit the spread of the outbreak as far as possible.

A tactical command group bringing together the council’s leadership team is implementing contingency plans and taking special measures to help protect residents.

The council continues to take advice and direction from Public Health Wales and Welsh Government, and is working with multi-agency partners to prepare for what may be a lengthy period of disruption.

Council Leader, Cllr Emlyn Dole, said communities should be reassured by the wide-scale contingency planning being implemented to deal with the developing situation.

“We have a strong team of officers working together to prepare and respond to what is a unique and evolving situation,” he said.

“At this time, it is important that we continue to take all necessary precautions to ensure the most vulnerable people in our communities are protected.

“Inevitably, there will be some disruption to council-run services and we ask that people understand that any decisions we make are with the over-riding consideration of the health and wellbeing of our staff and our communities.

“We have the flexibility to make local decisions, and would rather be over cautious in efforts to prevent spread.

“Already we have implemented some early measures, including restricting visits to our residential care homes, suspending day centre services, and asking headteachers to rearrange events that would involve large gatherings of pupils, parents and guests.

“We are also increasing cleansing of our buildings and public spaces.

“We continue to take advice from Public Health Wales and Welsh Government relating to schools and other settings. Please be assured that we are taking all necessary precautions.”

He added: “I am proud of how our staff are pulling together to rise to this challenge. This is an unprecedented situation for us, but we are preparing well and staff are responding admirably, working differently – simple measures such as holding video conferences, for example – and supporting colleagues where needed.”

Communities are being urged to look to official sources for advice and information, including the council’s website and social media feeds, Public Health Wales and Welsh Government, to avoid unnecessary spread of misinformation.

Regular updates will be made as and when required to inform communities about disruptions to council-run services.

Wendy Walters, the council’s Chief Executive, said: “I’m sure that people will appreciate that our focus and priority at the moment will be on dealing with our preparation and response to this evolving situation.

“Whilst we will try to maintain a level of business as usual, I hope people will understand that we may be unable to respond as quickly as usual to routine enquiries whilst our teams maintain their focus on issues of priority.”