Resident and former councillor Carole Hopkins, who has been isolating with husband Roger since March, has now been advised to remain in isolation until Easter. “I feel upset to see the cases go up and you do wonder when it will end, it’s another few months shielding for us now,” she said. “When you live in a village like this and you see those cases going up, you don’t look at them as numbers. They’re people – potentially very poorly people, and it’s awful to think of them struggling.” On spending almost a year in isolation, she said: “It’s been a difficult year – as it has been for many people here. But living here has brought me a tremendous amount of joy – even now.
RESIDENTS and traders in one of worst hit spots in Gwent for coronavirus in recent weeks, have spoken about the impact a spike in cases has had on their lives. Since the start of the pandemic, Magor and nearby Rogiet have recorded 232 cases, which seems a relatively normal number in comparison to the rest of Wales. But figures from Public Health Wales shows at least 148 of those have come since November 20, making it one of the highest areas of concern across Gwent. In the seven days up to December 12 The Elms and Mill council wards recorded 33 and 31 cases respectively, the highest in Monmouthshire.