WE can beat this virus by depriving it of the one thing it needs - the means to spread.

As the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown on Monday his message was reinforced by health professionals and others throughout Monmouthshire.

The simple message is stay at home as our communities, along with the rest of the country, does its bit in the war against Covid-19.

Gwent Police have reiterated the isolation message, stating: ‘‘This is such an important message that all our communities need to follow. By remaining at home, we are all helping protect each other. Please also remind your children while they are off school, this is not a holiday, lives are at risk, keep them at home.’’

A temporary opening of part of the new Grange University Hospital complex in Llanyrafon is set to take place next month to accommodate up to 350 patients.

Health minister, Vaughan Gething issued a statement saying: ‘‘We are pleased to announce that plans are being put in place to enable the partial and temporary opening of The Grange University Hospital, as part of our planned response. We are hoping that this will provide us with up to an additional 350 beds by the end of April 2020.’’

Health Board deputy chief executive, Glyn Jones said: ‘‘We welcome the support from Welsh Government and Laing O’Rourke in enabling us to make earlier use of the new hospital, which will be an important part of our local plans in responding to the coronavirus outbreak.’’

The community and commercial spirit of Abergavenny has shone through since the tightening of measures designed to curtail the spread on the Covid-19 virus.

While Aneurin Bevan Health board has stressed the isolation message, many businesses, permitted under the new rules, throughout Abergavenny are remaining open and in many cases offering deliveries to allow essential food supplies the reach the most vulnerable.

Abergavenny butchers, Neil Powell stated: ‘‘We will be rolling out our free home delivery service across Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. Our delivery drivers will carry out sensible measures to ensure your delivery is done so safely.

‘‘We have a short, local supply chain, with much of our produce travelling just a few miles to our Ewyas Harold plant. As always, we will work closely with, and support our farmers, and sustainable British farming, during this uncertain time and we will continue to uphold the highest hygiene standards in our cutting plant and across all of our stores, which will remain open across Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.’’

Owner of the Coffee Pot on Nevill Street, Bryan Harris, told the Chronicle he had been hoping to remain open and was monitoring the situation however has this week closed his business until further notice.

The Abergavenny branch of McDonalds had issued a statement saying it wanted to stay open however a decision was taken by their UK head office to close all McDonalds stores from 5pm on Monday.

Some supermarkets are reserving time slots for those who have no choice but to go out for supplies with Morrisons introducing an NHS hour from 7am-8am Monday-Saturday

All customers with an NHS badge will be able to get into the store to stock up on the products they need.

Waitrose announced a dedicated first hour of opening as a priority shopping time for the elderly, the vulnerable and those who look after them stating: ‘‘Our waitrose.com team is also looking into ways to support vulnerable customers who need food delivered to them.’’

Tesco is launching what they describe as a ‘Browsing Hour’ every Sunday, before checkouts open, for NHS staff.

Waitrose is the latest retailer to announce limits on the purchase of some items amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes after rivals Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Asda and Morrisons all announced similar measures to ease stockpiling pressures.

Many retailers’ web operations have also come under significant pressure from surging use of online deliveries.

As reported last week, Abergavenny Round Table and Abergavenny Ladies Circle have thrown their hat into the ring of volunteers for food delivery.

Matt Lane of the Round Table told the Chronicle: ‘‘Each day, seven days a week, we will be offering a free service if you need anything, this could be prescriptions collecting, shopping for sanitary products and food items.

‘‘You will need to contact us via our Facebook page or our website www.abergavennyroundtable.co.uk and we will then arrange to collect money for the items then deliver the same day wherever possible. We will call when outside and leave items on the doorstep.

‘‘There is no charge for the service, we are just a bunch of local guys and girls doing our bit for our community.’’

Nevill Street-based Cwtch Angels have issued a statement saying: ‘‘If you are in need of help during these times please contact Annie Hartwright on 07983 425560 or via my Facebook page.

‘‘We will do our very best to help you with shopping, errands, paying bills, or just a friendly ear to listen. Please get in touch. Also if there are any volunteers out there who wish to help with this, please message me.’’

If you know of anyone, individuals or organisation who are offering help during these times please get in touch with the Chronicle so that we can play our part in keeping everyone informed.

Chronicle editor, Gina Robertson said: ‘‘As it says on our masthead today, we are all in this together.

‘The Chronicle has been part of the tapestry of Abergavenny through good times and tough times for the last century and a half.

‘‘Our job, as always is to support our communities and keep everyone informed through factual, researched and verified news. Please keep in touch and stay safe.’’

Every effort is being made to keep the Abergavenny Chronicle in the shops for readers.

If you know of someone who can’t get out to buy the paper they can subscribe to read online.