24 more die as law will force firms to keep workers apart
TWENTY-FOUR more people have died from Covid-19 in Wales, it emerged yesterday, as the Welsh Government confirmed all employers will now have to make sure their workers keep two metres apart.
It will be the first such move in the UK as the coronavirus pandemic tightens its grip with a surge in deaths across the UK to more than 3,500, as almost 40,000 have tested positive for the virus.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “It is simply saying to employers they must put the needs of their workforce first.” He also announced that temporary mortuaries are being set up to deal the virus’ “extraordinary
pressures”.
“We are planning, right across Wales, with the NHS, our local government colleagues and with people who work in the funeral industry to find some temporary capacity because we know it’s going to be needed,” said Mr Drakeford.
Meanwhile, the grieving son of an 81-year-old man who died after contracting coronavirus in hospital has blamed his father’s death on a lack of testing and protective equipment for frontline NHS staff. Mark Lavington described his father Jeff’s death as “heartbreaking”.
THE Welsh Government is to introduce a law compelling all employers to make sure their workers keep two metres apart amid the coronavirus pandemic, Wales’ First Minister has said.
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.
At the Welsh Government’s daily coronavirus briefing yesterday, the First Minister said the new law is in response to people in Wales saying they are fearful their health is being compromised in the workplace.
Public Health Wales said a further 24 patients have died after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in Wales to 141.
It also said 345 new cases have tested positive for the disease, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Wales to 2,466.
The total number of deaths in the UK rose by 684 to 3,605 as of 5pm on Thursday, the Department of Health said yesterday. It said that, as of 9am yesterday, a total of 173,784 people have been tested for coronavirus, of whom 38,168 tested positive.
Mr Drakeford said: “We are going to put into law the two-metre requirement in the workplace, requiring employers to take all reasonable actions to comply with that two-metre rule.
“It’s been advice up until now, and now it’s going to be part of the regulations.
“We will publish fresh guidance alongside the regulations, and the regulations we will pass today will come into force on Monday evening or Tuesday morning.”
He added: “It is simply saying to employers they must put the needs of their workforce first, that their health and wellbeing must be top of their agenda, and the two-metre rule is there to protect that.
“But if they take all reasonable actions and comply with the guidance we’re giving them their business can continue.
“This is not about stopping business from operating, it’s about business operating in a way that is safe for their employees.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said the new law will extend current social distancing laws, which are currently in place for essential foodbuying locations such as supermarkets.
Institute of Directors Wales director Robert Lloyd Griffiths said following the announcement: “Employers have a duty of care to their people and should be doing what they can to help stop the spread of the virus.
“These are unprecedented times and directors are having to react quickly so it’s important firms have the support and clear guidance in place to put these rules into practice.”
Unison Wales regional secretary Tanya Palmer said: “Every employer has a duty to keep their staff safe and it’s important for all of us to follow Government advice on Covid-19.
“People need to do everything they can to stay healthy and out of hospital so our healthcare workers can concentrate on those most severely affected by the virus.”
Dan Shears, the GMB union’s health, safety and environment director, said: “This is welcome news, but as always the devil will be in the detail.
“We know only too well that there are many employers who are simply ignoring this rule because it is merely guidance.
“Those companies will now need to fall into line or fear the consequences.”
At the briefing, Mr Drakeford also issued a rallying call to industry to help with the manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers, as well as other equipment to help with the fight against Covid-19. He called for those
willing to help create a new “made-in-Wales” supply chain for PPE.
More than five million items of PPE, including eyewear, gloves, aprons and face masks, have been delivered to frontline health and care staff from pandemic stocks in recent weeks – over and above the normal supplies available to the NHS, says the Welsh Government, with deliveries made to GP surgeries, pharmacies and to local authorities to be sent to every care home in Wales.
Mr Drakeford said: “This is a time like no other – as a nation we must stand up and respond to the huge challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic... Welsh business has an important role to play in delivering the products needed.”
Warning of a “difficult month” for families, Mr Drakeford called for an urgent review of restrictions for the public as the three-week lockdown continues.
He said: “By the time we get into the beginning of next week, across the UK we need to be aiming at a decision about what will happen beyond Easter Tuesday.
“And while I don’t at the moment see a ramping up of restrictions, I don’t myself believe these restrictions are likely to simply come to an end when the three weeks originally announced is reached.”
England’s chief nursing officer, Ruth May, urged members of the public not to be tempted to go outside in the forecast sunny weather this weekend and remember the two nurses who died after contracting Covid-19. Two nurses, Areema Nasreen and Aimee O’Rourke, both in their thirties, have died after contracting the virus.
In the daily Downing Street press conference, Ms May said: “This weekend is going to be very warm and it will be very tempting to go out. But please, remember Aimee and Areema. Please stay at home for them.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is recovering from coronavirus, urged the public to stick with social distancing in the warmer weather predicted for this weekend.
As he continues to self-isolate with a temperature, he said: “I reckon a lot of people would rather be getting out there, particularly if you’ve got kids, everybody may be getting a bit stir crazy, and there may be a temptation to get out, hang out and start to break the regulations.
“I urge you not to do that. Please, please stick with the guidance now.”
ALMOST a fifth of people with Covid-19 in Wales are healthcare workers. First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed yesterday the number of care workers who have tested positive for the disease.
At a press conference he confirmed figures showing the stark reality for frontline NHS workers who are battling to tackle the virus.
When the First Minster was challenged as to why Public Health Wales had said they were not recording how many healthcare workers were tested he said: “We have tested over 1,500 healthcare workers in Wales.
“The figure I have seen says that 7/10 tests prove negative.”
This would mean that at least 450 healthcare workers in Wales have the disease, with the true figure likely to be higher.
This follows criticism from healthcare workers over a lack of personal protection equipment (PPE).
There have been 2,466 cases of Covid-19 in Wales means that almost 20% of cases in Wales are healthcare workers.
Mr Drakeford was also questioned on testing numbers after a deal with the company Roche to provide 5,000 tests a day collapsed.
He said he expected Wales to be up to 9,000 tests by the end of the month.
He told the press conference: “We are producing 1,100 tests a day at the moment and 5,000 by middle of the month and on our way to 9,000 towards the rest of April.”
He added: “5,000 is what we can generate ourselves. The extra 4,000 comes from a UK-wide arrangement.”
Mr Drakeford was questioned on test numbers after the UK Government mistakenly said on Thursday evening that 100,000 tests a day would be happening in the UK when it only applied to England.
He said: “Let me take two things. I absolutely understand that colleagues across the UK are acting under enormous pressure. It is really important that our colleagues in London check and check again if what they are saying is an announcement for England or for the United Kingdom.”