Shops, businesses, pubs and restaurants throughout the county have been closing down following the latest advice regarding the relentless march of the coronavirus pandemic.

And for good reason too as south-east Wales has recorded the highest number of cases of coronavirus outside of London and has more positive results for Covid-19 than the rest of Wales put together.As the Beacon went to press, 248 people have tested positive for the virus in the Aneurin Bevan Health Board area with a rise of 28 recorded yesterday alone and a statement from the Prime Minister on Monday March 23, restricted all movement to shopping for basic items, exercising once a day, or for medical reasons only.This has left the elderly and front-line workers vulnerable with the availability of basic food supplies erratic at best.There has been no guarantee that essential foods such as bread, pasta, eggs, flour and necessities such as toilet roll, tissues, paracetamol and hand sanitiser are available when those who need it most look to shop.But adversity brings out the best in people and slowly but surely, a network of willing volunteers and businesses is building up to provide assistance to neighbours and families, the elderly and the vulnerable and especially those front-line workers who literally put their lives on the line in an increasingly overburdened NHS.A non-profit-making website, MonmouthCorona.com has been set up by Monmouth resident Chris Powles who realised that an elderly friend of his was missing out on the wealth of information currently available on social media and has listed restaurants that now offer a take-away service, pharmacies and grocers that offer delivery services and those businesses that have closed, and those still open, with telephone numbers to contact.Other volunteer networks have sprung up such as the Monmouth COVID-19 Community Volunteers Facebook Group, who offer assistance to the elderly and vulnerable to find help at this difficult time and includes anyone who has had to self-isolate.The network of volunteers is being overseen by Kate McKinley, Emma Arrand, Gloria Sheppard and John Bateman who help co-ordinate support such as collection of groceries and prescriptions and offers of dog walking for the vulnerable, elderly and those families facing self-isolation. The volunteers are banded into areas of town - Rockfield, Osbaston, Wyesham, Overmonnow and Hereford Road - that they are willing to help in, with other areas of town being added as others step forward to help with deliveries and shopping for anyone that needs it.They are currently planning a letterbox drop for residents explaining what help is available.Supermarkets and food shops have dedicated hours exclusively for the elderly and are giving NHS front-line workers priority over other shoppers.Waitrose is now restricting the number of shoppers allowed in at any one time to 37, asking NHS workers to identify themselves at the front door.Iceland has set aside exclusive shopping between 9am and 10am Monday to Saturday for elderly shoppers and between 5pm and 6pm for NHS workers.Beacon editor, Gina Robertson stated: "As it says on our masthead today, we are all in this together. "The Beacon has been part of the tapestry of Monmouthshire through good times and tough times since 1837. Our job, as always is to support our communities and keep everyone informed through factual, researched and verified news."