ALTHOUGH the coronavirus vaccine is being rolled out successfully in Powys, social distancing and personal hygiene are still the best solutions to avoiding the virus, say the local health board.

The Powys mass vaccination programme is gathering pace across the county, with over 7,000 people having received their first vaccination at one of three main centres in Newtown, Builth Wells and Bronllys so far. This includes over 1,000 care home residents and in-patients in the county’s community hospitals.

Next week, all 16 GP practices in Powys will also be joining the programme to help deliver Powys Teaching Health Board’s goal to provide a vaccination for everyone in the nine national priority groups by the spring.

While the new vaccines will provide a level of protection from coronavirus, however, residents are being reminded that following national guidelines on personal hygiene, maintaining social distancing and limiting the amount of people we come into contact with are still the best ways to avoid catching the virus and passing it on to family, friends or colleagues.

Alison Merry, deputy director of public health in Powys, said: “Vaccines offer a good level of protection from the virus, strengthening our immunity to combat future infection.

“But good personal hygiene, regular hand washing, using sanitising gels and liquids where possible, wearing a face mask and maintaining a two metre distance from one another in all public areas still offers the best protection from catching the virus.

“We know the new variant spreads more easily from person to person, and the rate of infection remains high in Powys. We urge residents to self-isolate and to get a test if they feel unwell and are showing any of the signs and symptoms of the virus. These include a new continuous cough, high temperature (fever), loss of or change to sense of smell or taste.”

There are three national testing centres in Powys; Newtown, Builth Wells and Brecon where you can walk, drive or cycle for a test and two mobile testing units that are currently situated in Llansantffraid and Llandrindod Wells for drive-through only. If you are unable to travel to a testing centre or mobile testing unit, you can request a home testing kit, delivered to your home.

Please remember, all of Wales is in lockdown (alert level 4) where people must follow national guidelines and:

• stay at home

• meet only the people you live with

• work from home if you can

• wear a face covering where required

• wash your hands regularly

• stay 2 metres from anyone you do not live with

More information about what we will all need to do at alert level 4 is available from the Welsh Government website.

Appointments in Llansantffraid, Llandrindod, Newtown, Builth and Brecon can be booked through the UK Government national booking portal, either online at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test, by phone on 119, or 18001 119 for people with hearing or speech difficulties. This is also the way to request a home testing kit.

For more information about Covid-19 testing in Powys, visit the health board’s website at www.pthb.nhs.wales/coronavirus/coronavirus-testing.