‘STAY HOME’
As warm weather returns, message is simple:
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LEADERS have pleaded with the public to ignore today’s good weather and stay indoors as Wales’ death total from coronavirus went past 150. Temperatures are set to reach nearly 200C in Wales this weekend, but the message is clear: “Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”
Forecast maps show Aberystwyth, Barmouth and Caernarfon may be as warm as Rome, Lisbon and Marseille today, but people were reminded not to travel unless it is essential.
First Minister Mark Drakeford tweeted yesterday: “This week we reached an incredibly sad milestone in Wales, as the coronavirus death toll exceeded one hundred.
“They were someone’s son, daughter, parent or grandparent.
“Don’t be tempted this weekend – stay at home, protect our NHS, save lives.”
He echoed the message of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said: “This country has made a huge effort, a huge sacrifice, and done absolutely brilliantly well in delaying the spread of the virus.
“But in this fine weather, please don’t be tempted to break the regulations. I urge everyone to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”
The Welsh Ambulance Service reiterated the advice on Twitter, writing: “We know it’s going to be a sunny weekend. We know it’s frustrating that normal life is on hold. But PLEASE heed the advice. Our teams are working 24/7 to care for those who need us most. Don’t risk the lives of others. Show your support for our people and #StayHomeSaveLives.”
And a scientist advising the Government has warned the coronavirus infection rate will remain high for “weeks and weeks” if people flout social distancing rules this weekend.
Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said while the epidemic was expected to plateau in the next week to 10 days, people’s behaviour was critical to determining what happens next.
Asked what would happen if people flout the social distancing rules this weekend, Prof Ferguson told BBC Radio 4: “That moves us to a slightly more pessimistic scenario.
“We still think things will plateau but we’ll be at quite high levels of infection for weeks and weeks rather than seeing quite a rapid decline as the type seen in China.”
He said he was “hopeful” that some of the intense social distancing measures could be substituted with rapid access to testing and contact tracing in a few weeks’ time – once case numbers are lower.
“We want to move to a situation where at least by the end of May that we’re able to substitute some less intensive measures, more based on technology and testing, for the complete lockdown we have now,” he explained.
The pleas come as 13 more people died in Wales due to Covid-19.
Dr Chris Williams, incident director for the Covid-19 outbreak response at Public Health Wales said: “387 new cases have tested positive for novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,853, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher.
“Thirteen further deaths have been reported to us of people who had tested positive for novel coronavirus (Covid-19), taking the number of deaths in Wales to 154.
“Public Health Wales has conducted more than 13,000 tests for novel coronavirus (Covid-19) on more than 11,000 individuals since the start of this outbreak.
“The single most important action we can all take in fighting coronavirus is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.
“We know that staying at home can be hard and we want to thank each and every person across Wales for doing their bit to help slow the spread of the virus.
“Members of the public must adhere to social distancing rules about staying at home, and away from others, introduced by the UK and Welsh Government. These rules are available on the Public Health Wales website.”
To help combat the spread of the virus on Friday, the Welsh Government announced the introduction of a new law compelling all employers to make sure their workers keep two metres apart.
Mark Drakeford said the social distancing legislation, the first in the UK, will require bosses to “put the needs of their workforce first” when it comes into force on Monday or Tuesday of next week.
Yesterday, the UK’s coronavirus
death toll rose to 4,313 in the deadliest day since the outbreak began.
Department of Health and Social Care figures show that 708 people have died in UK hospitals since 5pm on Friday, when the total was 3,605.
A five-year-old child was among the latest casualties and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said seven healthcare professionals have now lost their lives during the outbreak.
In the Government’s daily briefing he reiterated calls to stay inside.
Mr Gove said: “When we look at the death rate, the number of increasing fatalities, when we consider the pressure on our NHS, everyone has to ask themselves the question: ‘What am I doing to relieve pressure on the NHS, how am I helping in this shared national effort?’.
“I know that lockdown is challenging, I know it’s very difficult, particularly for families with children.
“But people must at every stage respect these guidelines because that is the only way of making sure we restrict the spread of the disease.”