STAFF from Powys County Council (PCC) have been helping out Wrexham Borough Council’s effort to track and trace people for coronavirus.

This follows an outbreak of Covid-19 at Wrexham food factory, Rowan Foods.

The Welsh Government have said that 1,000 people linked to Rowan Foods had been tested, and of these 166 were confirmed cases of coronavirus.

At the Health and Care scrutiny committee on Thursday, June 25 councillors were told that Welsh local authorities were offering “mutual aid” to each other, and helping with the testing effort.

This followed questions by Councillor Ange Williams, who was chairing the meeting.

Cllr Williams, (Knighton, Action for Powys) said: “If we do get a second coronavirus wave, I and a lot of people will be hoping  that we will be doing more of the track and trace.

“That seems to have worked very well in Ceredigion and would be good to move that in to Powys.”

“Or at least promote it more.”

Director of Social Services, Ali Bulman, said: “Since June 1 we have had Test Track and Protect (TTP) fully up and running,.

“It seems to be doing really well at the moment.

“I’m not sure what actions Welsh Government will take if we have another surge of Covid19, but I imagine that TTP would be a key part.”

“We are also doing mutual aid to help other authorities that have seen spikes.”

Director of legal and democratic services, Clive Pinney, added “We are supporting Wrexham at the moment.

“In relation to TTP we were informed this morning that 100 per cent of the traces that we needed to do have been done.”

Ceredigion have become a coronavirus success story having the lowest figures for infection and deaths in Wales.

Part of this, is attributed to Ceredigion Council setting up their own track and trace system.

To help stop the spread of the virus, people who test positive are asked to report their recent contacts so that they can be contacted and notified to self-isolate.

If they are displaying symptoms they should also be tested for coronavirus.