Number of deaths rise at hospitals hit by coronavirus outbreak

TWENTY-FIVE patients have now died with coronavirus following an outbreak at a South Wales hospital.

New figures showed there have now been 135 cases linked an outbreak at the Royal Glamorgan

Hospital, near Llantrisant, a rise of six on last Thursday’s figure, with the death toll having risen by one.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board also reported three new deaths related to an outbreak at its Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, bringing the total there to four.

The number of cases at the hospital stood at 18, up by one from Thursday.

And at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, there has been one death and 16 cases.

Meanwhile, a ward at Maesteg Hospital has been closed after a small cluster of coronavirus cases – fewer than five – was identified.

The health board’s medical director Dr Nick Lyons said staff are working with Public Health Wales to “closely monitor” Covid-19 cases at its hospitals and apologised to families and the wider community. He also thanked staff for working “incredibly hard” to tackle the issue and said “immediate measures to contain the spread of the virus have been put in place”.

He added: “We are appealing to the public to take seriously their responsibilities by ensuring their behaviour does not contribute to the spread of Covid-19. We remain grateful to all members of our community who are continuing to adhere to the guidance in order to help control this virus.”