Festival crowds told to ‘stay safe, stay home’

With this year’s Elvis Festival cancelled, Bridgend County Borough Council and South Wales Police are telling people not to travel to Porthcawl over the weekend of 25-27 September, and to avoid gathering in large numbers in the town.

It follows a rise in cases of Covid-19 across the South Wales area that have already seen a local lockdown declared in Caerphilly and new changes to Welsh Government rules on how many people can meet people indoors.

While organisers cancelled the popular privately-run festival last month as a result of the Covid-19 coronavirus, authorities remain concerned that people may still travel into Porthcawl in large numbers.

Our message to anyone who may be disappointed that the Elvis Festival is not taking place this year but who plans to visit Porthcawl to celebrate anyway is not to do so - think twice, stay safe, and stay home. Despite the hard work and efforts of the last five months, we are starting to see an increase in positive cases of Covid-19 across South Wales, largely because not everyone is following the simple steps required to keep people safe.

How we behave in coming weeks and months will largely determine whether the outbreak worsens, or whether we can continue to work towards overcoming it once and for all. We can do this by acting responsibly, and thinking sensibly.

Whether it is by not gathering in large numbers, always keeping two metres apart, washing our hands regularly, using sanitiser, working from home as much as possible or wearing a face covering in an enclosed public space, every simple effort helps. The Welsh Government website offers a range of resources and up-to-date pandemic information as well as advice on how you can access support. Anyone who develops a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or who notices a change in their sense of smell or taste should get a coronavirus test as quickly as possible, and self-isolate immediately.

Bridgend County Borough Council Leader Huw David