Day care centres in Powys are to remain closed until next February, despite Wales' impending move to Covid alert level zero.

Following advice and an updated review of the risks in re-starting the service, adult social care portfolio holder Cllr Myfanwy Alexander has confirmed that the centres will remain closed in a delegated deicision.

The decision will come into force next Wednesday, August 4, even though it’s expected that Wales will move to Covid alert level zero on Saturday, August 7.

A report by head of adult services, Michael Gray, explains that there are not enough staff available at present to run the centres safely.

Mr Gray said: “Due to staffing vacancies, deployment of staff to business-critical roles, staff ill health and staff shielding, it is not possible to safely resource both in terms of premises and transport these settings at pre-pandemic capacity levels.

“Re-opening these settings relies, amongst other things, on sufficient staff availability.

“This is not currently possible. There are 32 staff in substantive day centre/service posts who remain redeployed to business-critical activities.”

“A number of these staff are not currently able to deliver care within two metres.

“The service will continue to review this position and respond accordingly as the alert levels and pandemic dictate.”

Mr Gray added that discussions will continue with the people who were attending the day centres and that “no assumptions” are made on whether they will actually want to return to the buildings in the future.

Day centres include Park and Bethshan in Newtown, Maesywennol at Llanidloes, Arlais at Llandrindod Wells, East Radnor at Presteigne, and Hafal Crossroads in Machynlleth. The Ann Holloway Day Centre shut in Welshpool last year.

Mr Gray said staff will continue to develop “alternative day opportunities.”

The centres have been closed since March 2020 when the first coronavirus lockdown was announced, and Powys County Council went into emergency business continuity mode.

Due to calls to reopen them last summer, an assessment was made, and it was decided that it was not possible to open them safely, since then there have been two six monthly reviews.