Wind Street pub-goers warned to look out for symptoms and get tested after Covid-19 cases linked to bar

Customers and visitors to a Wind Street, Swansea, bar are being urged to get a Covid-19 test straight away if they feel unwell following investigations into a cluster of cases of Covid-19.

At least 13 people, including some staff, at Jack Murphy’s bar have tested positive for Covid-19. It has emerged that a small number of staff were working and serving customers during the infectious period leading up to their symptoms, and also while they were symptomatic.

Swansea Test, Trace, Protect teams are doing all they can to trace known contacts, but there are concerns that some customers might not be traced and may not recognise symptoms. Testing is available to people, even if they only have mild symptoms.

People who visited Jack Murphy’s between 26th of May and 1st June are being urged to get a test immediately if they develop a high fever, sudden, persistent cough or loss or change of taste and smell, any flu-like symptoms or in fact any symptoms which are unusual for them.

Those who are identified as a close contact of the positive cases, and contacted by the TTP team, will be given instructions to isolate and must follow the instructions strictly to avoid the risk of passing the virus on to others. Even if they are not showing symptoms, they could still be infected – and infectious.

Meanwhile, officers from Swansea Council’s Public Health Team are working with the bar’s managers to ensure all Covid-19 safeguards are in place.

Siôn Lingard, Consultant in Health Protection with Public Health Wales, said:

“Over the course of the Bank Holiday weekend and the days leading up to it, hundreds of people are likely to have visited Jack Murphy’s. Many of these people may not realise that they could have been exposed to the virus, and the TTP team may not be able to trace everyone who went there.

“So it is extremely important that we warn people about the risk so they can get tested if they feel unwell - not only with the classic Covid symptoms but any symptoms which are unusual for them.

“Please also remember that it is far safer to be outside in the fresh air than indoors. So if you are going out socialising, choose tables outside if you can.”

Mr Lingard said that while the vaccination roll out was continuing at pace, the virus had not gone away. It continued to be extremely important to follow social distancing rules – handwashing, face-coverings and keeping a safe distance from people you don’t live with.