Published: 27 February 2021
Public Health Wales, in partnership with Swansea Council, Swansea Bay University Health Board and the Health and Safety Executive, has been meeting regularly to assist the DVLA with managing the impact of COVID-19 in the workplace.
At a multi-agency outbreak control meeting held on Wednesday 24 February, the current outbreak was declared as over.
Since the 1 September 2020 a total of 560 cases of COVID-19 amongst DVLA employees have been identified. An outbreak in the DVLA’s Swansea Vale Contact Centre was declared on the 21st December 2020 and since the 1 December 2020 96 cases have been identified amongst employees that normally work in that building.
Siôn Lingard, Consultant in Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said:
“All agencies have been working in close collaboration with the DVLA to reduce the number of cases in this workforce.
“As a result of there being no linked cases amongst Contact Centre staff within the last 28 days, we can confirm that the decision has been taken to declare the outbreak over.
“We will continue to actively monitor the situation and the multi-agency Incident Management Team will continue to meet regularly and liaise with the DVLA.
“Workers in any workplace may be at risk from infection in social or household settings and so we remind members of the public in Wales that under tier 4 of Welsh Government’s tiered response to coronavirus everyone has a vital role in preventing the spread of Coronavirus. They can do this by always observing social distancing guidelines, washing hands regularly, and adhering to the new restrictions.
“If you or a member of your household develop a cough, fever or change in sense of taste or smell, you must self-isolate immediately and book a free Coronavirus test, either by calling 119 or visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
“As we all work to continue to drive down COVID case numbers generally and ease restrictions it is important we identify as many cases as possible to give advice and assistance to reduce transmission. Therefore Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda University Health Boards have worked with Welsh Government to extend the offer of COVID testing for those living in their areas. Here it is extended to those who have flu like illness, this includes headache, muscle aches, tiredness, sore throat and sneezing. The public can access testing in the same way they normally would.
“We remind the public that the more people that you mix with, the higher the risk of both transmitting and contracting Coronavirus.