Sent on behalf of Public Health Wales
Please follow the link to today’s daily update and latest dashboard figures. I have also attached the updated published guidance document, as usual.
This week’s update contains:
- How Are We Doing in Wales?
- Beat Flu
- Test, Trace, Protect messaging
- Welsh Language Standards Annual Report
How Are We Doing in Wales?
Public Health Wales has resumed its public engagement survey as part of a raft of measures implemented to support public health and wellbeing through Coronavirus.
Every two weeks, Public Health Wales conducts interviews with hundreds of people aged 18 or over across Wales, to understand how Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the measures being used to prevent its spread are affecting the physical, mental and social wellbeing of people in Wales.
96 per cent of people in Wales have said they always wear a face covering in shops, the latest national engagement survey conducted by Public Health Wales has revealed.
The survey also shows that 62 per cent of people report that most or all of the people they know are following social distancing guidelines.
The latest Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) public engagement survey report from Public Health Wales covers the period of 21 – 27 September, when 601 people were surveyed.
The full report is available on the Public Health Wales website.
Beat Flu
This year, more flu vaccinations will be available to people in Wales than ever before.
Demand for a flu vaccine this autumn is significantly higher than we have seen in previous years. And because the demand is very high, it may take longer to get an appointment for a flu vaccination.
All Welsh residents who are currently eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine can be assured that enough vaccines have been ordered this year. To check your eligibility for a free NHS flu vaccine visit www.beatflu.org.
Vaccine supply is staggered throughout the flu season, which happens every year.
With COVID-19 safety measures in place, appointments for a flu vaccine this year may take a little longer than usual. To help address this, more clinics are being held.
This year Welsh Government has obtained extra flu vaccines which are scheduled to arrive in November. This will be used to make sure uptake in those most at risk is as high as possible. The vaccine will then be offered to the under-65s in phases, with the ambition to vaccinate down to 50 year olds, if stock levels allow.
We are asking people to be patient with community pharmacies and GP surgeries who are working hard to arrange appointments as their supplies arrive, and as more appointments become available.
Please do let us know if you have any questions or would like to discuss the campaign further via:
hannah.lindsay@wales.nhs.uk and jodie.phillips2@wales.nhs.uk
Test, Trace, Protect messaging
We play a key role in amplifying key Welsh Government messaging around Test, Trace, Protect, particularly on social media. Examples from the last couple of weeks include messaging on:
- The NHS COVID-19 app – EXAMPLE
- Messaging around testing such as what to do if you get a positive test result
- Local lockdowns – EXAMPLE
We have been continuing to reiterate the message that there is support available for those having to self-isolate due to a positive test result.
We are also continuing to push out messaging around contact tracing to help people better understand the process and what it means for them if they get contacted by the contact tracing team.
We ask that you continue to help us amplify these important messages through your social media channels by retweeting and sharing as appropriate.
Colleagues in the Welsh Government’s Education team have prepared a series of easy-share messages on Covid-19 guidance for school settings. These messages are designed to allow parents and guardians to quickly and easily share the guidance with their social groups via social media or platforms like What’s App. The messages can be copied from the attached Word document and pasted to the relevant platform, ready to be sent. Please feel free to share this document with your networks.
Welsh Language Standards Annual Report
Public Health Wales Board approved our Welsh Language Standards Annual Report on 24 September. This report (2019-20) outlines Public Health Wales’ progress in relation to meeting the requirements of the Welsh Language Standards.
95.09% of the organisation’s entire workforce has received Welsh language awareness training. 89% of the workforce has recorded their Welsh language skills. 188 employees have Welsh language skills at Levels 4 and 5.
The Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2019-20 is available on the Public Health Wales website.
COVID 19 Published Guidance.xlsx
Reassurance campaign – Easy share messages WhatsApp – Phase 3 with emojis CYM.pdf
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