Hopes for easing of due to fall in deaths

WALES could see some lockdown restrictions lifted next week if the number of coronavirus cases continues to fall, the First Minister said on Monday.

Mark Drakeford’s comments came as the nation reported the lowest number of deaths with Covid19 since the lockdown began in late March.

But he cautioned that Wales was still on the alert for the possibility of a second “spike” in the virus later this year.

Addressing the Welsh Government’s daily briefing in Cardiff, Mr Drakeford revealed he was meeting with officials “to look at the long list of potential ideas” for easing lockdown measures at the end of the current three-week cycle – which ends next week.

Officials will then trim that to a shortlist which will be examined in greater detail next week.

Referring to the reopening of Wales’ pubs and restaurants – after it was announced that those in England may reopen earlier than planned – Mr Drakeford said it was something that will be “on the list with many other things” and he could not make “any promises”.

“Whether it will be possible to do something at the end of this three-week cycle, I certainly can’t make any promises about that because there are many, many other requests that are being made of us,” he said.

“It will depend on whether the number of new cases in Wales continues to fall and whether that creates any additional headroom for us and then we will have to select in that careful way we have those measures which we can offer people in Wales while remaining safe from the risk that coronavirus could accelerate away from us again.”

Across Wales, the total number of deaths of people with lab-confirmed coronavirus since the outbreak began has reached 1,410, Public Health Wales said on Tuesday - a rise of nine on the previous day’s figures.

However, the actual figure - including people who didn’t die in hospitals or care homes - is known to be far higher, and has already exceeded 2,000.

The total number of positive cases in Wales was 14,480 as of Tuesday, a rise of 42 from Monday.

There was cause for cautious optimism on Monday as officials reported the lowest number of deaths with coronavirus in more than two and a half months.

Public Health Wales (PHW) said the total number of deaths of people with lab-confirmed coronavirus since the outbreak began had reached 1,401 – an increase of three on the previous day’s figure.

That daily death toll rise was the lowest since March 24, when there was one death.

PHW’s daily figures on coronav i r u s - re l a ted deaths reflect the number of people who have died with lab-confirmed coronavirus which have been reported to them.

As it can take two or three days for reports to reach them, the deaths have not all happened in the last 24 hours.

In the latest 24 hours for figures, Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taf reported the most cases of the virus, with 10 and seven respectively.

Both the Swansea Bay University Health Board and the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board each recorded no new cases of the virus.

The First Minister said he would like to see test results turned around quicker in Wales.

“Accelerating the speed at which we can turn tests around is an ambition of the Welsh Government,” he said, adding that while at least 90% are completed within 48 hours, he would like more to be completed within 24 hours.

“We have more tests available, more tests being carried out and now we want the results to arrive more quickly,” he said.

He added that by June 12, the Welsh Government will have completed testing of all care homes and all care home staff.

It came as Wales is preparing for the possibility of a second coronavirus spike this year.

Mr Drakeford said it is “impossible to predict” where Wales will be by the autumn.

But he said: “Our Chief Medical Officer very regularly says to me that we cannot for one moment afford to set to one side the risk there will be a second spike in coronavirus and therefore we have to prepare for the day that might be the case.”

Mr Drakeford gave three examples of how NHS Wales is preparing for a second spike.

Firstly, Mr Drakeford said the Welsh Government is reviewing the capacity of field hospitals.

He said the way the first wave was managed meant Wales did not have to use most of this capacity.

“Does that mean we should now shut it all down? No.

“We still need to preserve some of that extra capacity is available to us should that be needed in the autumn,” he said.

The 1,500-bed Dragon’s Heart field hospital at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff was recently downgraded to standby status with most staff deployed elsewhere.

At its peak, the maximum number of patients being treated was 34.

In his second example, Mr Drakeford said health boards in Wales are taking the opportunity, while the number of coronavirus cases are low and falling, to train more staff to deploy them in critical care if there was to be a surge.

Alongside the coronavirus measures, Mr Drakeford said they are also preparing for the flu season this autumn. If there is a second wave of coronavirus it will be just as flu is rising, he said.

“Coronavirus this time began to take hold just as the risk of flu was receding. If there is a second wave it’ll be happening just as the risk of flu is rising.”

The First Minister said they will now need to think about a campaign to get more people to take the flu vaccine and take it earlier in the season so they can minimise the pressure on