A HEART OF GOLD
Tributes paid to healthcare worker being treated for Covid-19 as virus claims another 28 lives in Wales
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A TOTAL of 534 people have died with confirmed coronavirus in Wales, an increase of 28 deaths since Friday’s figure.
Public Health Wales said the figures related to people who had a laboratory-confirmed case of Covid-19, with the majority of the deaths occurring in hospital settings.
It came as tributes were paid to an “inspiring” lecturer at Swansea University and a healthcare assistant with a “heart of gold” at Morriston Hospital, who both died after being treated for Covid-19.
By health board area, the deaths were located as follows
195 in Aneurin Bevan;
113 in Cardiff and Vale;
129 in Cwm Taf Morgannwg; and 84 in Swansea Bay.
The 13 other deaths were in three health board areas – Betsi Cadwaladr, Hywel Dda and Powys – that have seen a “very small” number of fatalities.
Figures for these health boards are not being shown to protect the identities of those who died there, Public Health Wales said.
Dr Chris Williams, incident director for the novel coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said it supported the three-week extension of lockdown measures.
He said: “Novel coronavirus is still circulating in every part of Wales, and the single most important action we can all take in fighting the virus is to stay at home.
“We want to thank each and every person across Wales for doing their bit to help slow the spread of the virus.
“While emphasising the importance of staying at home, we also want to reinforce the message from NHS Wales that urgent and emergency care services for physical and mental health are still open and accessible.”
He added: “For parents, if your child is unwell and you are concerned you should seek help. If you have urgent dental pain you should still call your dentist. If you have a health complaint that is worrying you and won’t go away you should call your GP practice. If you or a family member are seriously ill or injured you should dial 999 or attend your nearest Emergency Department.
“Public Health Wales is working with our partners in Welsh Government, the wider NHS in Wales, the other UK nations and others to monitor and respond to the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales.
“This includes working with Welsh Government to ensure we test the
right people, at the right time, in the right place, to reduce the spread of Covid-19. “
The announcement comes after First Minister Mark Drakeford said although the country is seeing positive signs, it is “still too early to change course”, but Wales can “cautiously and carefully” look ahead to a post-lockdown world.
He said the country is planning a “coordinated” easing of lockdown restrictions as hospital admission numbers continue to drop.
The First Minister said the highest number of new hospital admissions for suspected Covid-19 was on April 7 (196). Since then, the figures have been below that every day, with the daily figure dropping to 105 on Thursday.
He added that critical care admissions have also dropped every day since their highest to date, on April 9 (161).
Mr Drakeford said the next three weeks would see public health surveillance improved, so new localised outbreaks of Covid-19 could be identified and responded to quickly.
Yesterday, tributes were paid to Brian Mfula, a lecturer in mental health nursing at Swansea University, who died with coronavirus on Friday.
Professor Ceri Phillips, head of the college of human and health services, said the institution had been “inundated with messages of condolence”.
“Students have described Brian as an inspiring teacher and role model who taught from the heart, and had a passion for mental health and nursing,” Prof Phillips said.
“Colleagues from across the college have made reference to his generous spirit, his warm personality and his highly infectious laugh, all of which made others feel good simply by being in his presence.
“His colleagues have also described him as a lovely man who will be sorely missed by themselves and his students.
“Brian was also recognised as a dedicated family man, and our thoughts and prayers are extended to his wife Mercy and children Kato, Nkweto, Thabo and Thandiwe for their tragic loss.”
Mr Mfula’s son Kato said he was “honoured” to be his son and described him as his “hero”.
He wrote on Twitter: “I never even got to say goodbye to my hero, my dad Brian Mwila Mfula. I’m so broken right now I don’t know what we’re going to do without. I love you so so so much and I’m honoured to call you my father but I’m even more honoured to be called your son.”
Abbie Drummond wrote how Mr Mfula had “the biggest heart and passion for nursing”.
She wrote on Twitter: “Today we lost one of our nursing lecturers to Covid-19, Brian Mfula. He had the biggest heart and passion for nursing. Please donate what you can to help his family during this hard time. And please, please, please stay at home to protect our NHS.”
And Swansea Bay University Health Board paid tribute to Jenelyn Carter, a 42-year-old healthcare assistant who died after being treated for coronavirus.
The health board said she had worked on the admissions ward at Morriston Hospital and was “loved by all her colleagues and patients”.
Mark Madams, nurse director of the hospital, said: “Jenelyn would go the extra mile for anyone, and was a lovely caring person inside and out, with a heart of gold.
“We are devastated by her death and offer our sincere condolences to her family and friends.”
On Twitter, AMAU Morriston Hospital wrote: “Our tears are falling and our hearts broken. We lost a beloved member of our AMAU family. Rest easy my darling, your halo is shining bright. You shall be missed.”
Elsewhere, the Welsh Government yesterday announced that Wales would become the first part of the UK to make a once-a-month injection for heroin addicts routinely available.
The service will replace daily oral medication, helping to relieve pressure on pharmacy and NHS services, as well as reducing contact with individual and frontline staff.
Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “This new service will help to ensure people continue to receive support for their addiction and we continue to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.”