Four Gwynedd Council care homes have been dealing with outbreaks of Covid-19, a new report has revealed.

A meeting of the cabinet on Tuesday was told that while the situation facing residential homes continues to be “challenging”, the portfolio holder for adult services paid tribute to staff who are continuing to “fight fires of various sizes.”

It was confirmed that three residential homes for the elderly have been dealing with outbreaks of Covid-19, namely Plas Pengwaith in Llanberis, Llys Cadfan in Tywyn and Plas y Don in Pwllheli.

Meanwhile, Caernarfon’s Frondeg care home for those with learning disabilities was also said to have faced the same situation, affecting mainly staff, with the department currently supporting all four homes including making use of the available testing system.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that the number of deaths in Gwynedd care homes due to Covid-19 by April 24 stood at 12.

Cabinet members were also told, however, that the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) situation was said to have “vastly improved” over recent weeks thanks to regular supplies now being made available by the Welsh Government, with the authority now “more comfortable” its ability to respond to the needs of internal and external providers and to urgent requests.

PPE equipment received continues to be “insufficient,” however, with some items appearing to be “scarcer from one week to the next.”

It was also warned that public expectations may need to be managed over the coming months, with officers stressing that “things will not be as they were before the crisis” even after some of the lockdown measures are gradually lifted at such care homes, with every step having to be “considered carefully to ensure the welfare and safety of the individuals being supported.”

Cllr Dafydd Meurig, addressing Tuesday’s virtual cabinet meeting, added: “We decided to name the homes that have experienced outbreaks as I believe in being open and accountable every time and its right to inform these communities.

“In regards to PPE the department has been remarkably efficient and there are very stable arrangements in place with some staff, to all intents and purposes, working as stock control and controlling the supply of PPE to care homes and establishing their specific needs.

“The Siambr Dafydd Orwig debating chamber is acting as our unofficial warehouse as its not being used for meetings, so cleaning staff and workers from the housing and property department have been redeployed to assist with the process.”

He added that the process of testing had also seen improvement over recent weeks,  but warned of the possibility of staff “burnout” with the department expecting absence levels of around 15%, with the added complication of workers having had little time off and working very long hours in the meantime.

The report concluded that managers are “keeping an eye on the situation” and, in some cases, having forced staff to take a day’s respite for their own welfare.

The head of service, Aled Davies, reiterated that Gwynedd was in a position to ramp up testing where necessary and was working with neighbouring councils to measure the specific situation in north west Wales, as well as being on hand to assist any homes who were facing their own particular problems.

The council leader, Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn, concluded: “I’d like to thank the whole department for its hard work and dedication.

“These members of staff have been our front line and facing very sad and difficult situations and as a council we can’t thank them enough for keeping things going throughout this all.”