NO NEW WELSH COVID DEATHS
FIRST DAY SINCE MARCH THAT OFFICIALS HAVE NOT REPORTED ANY DEATHS WITH CORONAVIRUS ANYWHERE IN WALES
NO NEW deaths of people with coronavirus have been reported by Public Health Wales (PHW) in its daily update for the first time since lockdown began.
Officials confirmed yesterday there were no deaths in patients with labconfirmed Covid-19 recorded between 5pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday, keeping the total at 1,531 since March.
It is the first day since March 19 there have been no deaths reported on a single day by PHW in its daily update.
At that time, only two people in Wales had died with lab-confirmed Covid-19.
But over-counting and delayed reporting of new cases and deaths has meant that daily figures have been retrospectively adjusted in the past, with current data showing there are now also no deaths recorded by Public Health Wales for June 18, or July 3, 4 or 5.
Separate figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows the number of deaths registered in Wales with mention of Covid19 up to June 19 in Wales is much higher than those reported by Public Health Wales, and stand at 2,408.
The latest figures were announced on the day that the five-mile “stay local” rules were lifted by the Welsh Government.
It means people can now travel across the country and visit popular beauty spots – the first time this has been allowed since March 23.
The Welsh Government said the measures will pave the way for the tourism sector to begin reopening from July 11 “if conditions allow”.
People from two separate households are also able to meet indoors and stay overnight with each other as part of o n e “extended household” from yesterday.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said he wanted to restore freedoms as soon as possible in Wales but only when the threat of coronavirus has “sufficiently receded”.
A fifth review of coronavirus regulations will be carried out towards the end of this week.
“We look closely at a number of factors which tell us how much headroom we have and how that headroom can be used,” he said.
“These include the latest scientific and medical evidence about the transmission of coronavirus in Wales, as well as the proportion of tests that are returned as positive.
“At the peak of coronavirus, 45% of all tests processed by NHS Wales laboratories were positive. By the end of June that had fallen to 3.5%.
“We also look at new confirmed cases, the number of people dying from the disease and excess deaths.
“We also look at the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus and the number of people treated in critical care units.”
He said the more the public continues to follow the rules, the more “headroom” the Welsh Government will have to ease restrictions.
“When compliance falls away, then our ability to do new things falls away as well,” he said.
On Friday, the First Minister said he took part in a “fast and furious” Facebook live session with the public where he was asked a number of questions.
These included when beauty salons could reopen and when sports, such as swimming and junior football, can restart.
But Mr Drakeford added: “I do not want to offer anyone false hope, or the false security of far-off dates in the future which may be snatched away at the last moment by a virus which could suddenly change course as we have seen it do elsewhere in the world.
“We must remain hopeful that we are over the worst, but we must all be realistic that we could yet see a further resurgence of coronavirus later in the year, which is why it is so important that we all continue to take measures to protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
He said the Welsh Government continues to advocate the “fives golden rules”, which consist of – avoiding unnecessary travel; working from home where possible; keeping distance from one another; always washing hands; and only meeting one other household outdoors unless part of an extended household. Mr Drakeford also highlighted three key dates for the week ahead. He confirmed that on Thursday the Welsh Government would complete its latest 21-day review of regulation. Under ministers’ plans, Saturday would see self-contained holiday accommodation reopen. On Monday pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes are set to reopen outdoors, as well as hairdressers by appointment.
The First Minister added that he hoped not to see large gatherings on streets when bars, pubs and restaurants open outdoors in Wales next Monday.
He said would look “very carefully” at the experience in England over the weekend and would draw a “rounded lesson” from it.
Mr Drakeford said because Wales has done things differently, he hopes there won’t be discouraging scenes when these places will be able to open in the outdoors next week. The sector knows
We must remain hopeful that we are over the worst, but we must all be realistic that we could yet see a further resurgence of coronavirus later in the year
its own prospects of doing more depend on its ability to open safely in the outdoors, he said, adding that he’s been very encouraged by the list of mitigating measures the sector has put in place.
“We want people to have a good time,” but this has to happen in a way which doesn’t increase risk, he said.
Meanwhile, the First Minister said a plan for what will happen with schools in September will be published before the end of this term.
As reported in yesterday’s Echo, there is a growing clamour among some education and medical experts for schools to reopen fully in the new academic year, with some warning the dangers of a lack of formal education could be greater than the effects of Covid-19 on children in Wales.
Asked when the Welsh Government will announce a plan for schooling in the autumn, the Mr Drakeford said the lessons of the past fortnight – which has seen pupils return to school for limited time in the classroom – would inform the plan for September.
He confirmed the plan will be published before the end of this term.
“But it’s really important when you have real-life experience to draw on that you use that opportunity to the maximum,” he said.
Mr Drakeford was also questioned on wider health issues during yesterday’s briefing.
Asked about the plan for field hospitals – which have remained largely unused during the pandemic – moving forward, the First Minister said the Government’s current thinking is that the nation will want to retain field hospital capacity in Wales in case of a second spike of coronavirus in the autumn or winter.
However, he said it might not be needed on the scale provided for during the first wave. He said the Welsh Government will decide how much, and where, capacity needs to be retained, and will make announcements accordingly.
The First Minister also reiterated that cancer services are resuming in Wales, as he answered concerns that undiagnosed cancer could lead to excess death in Wales.
He said there were concerns over fewer people coming forward and fewer people being put forward, and admitted some aspects of this remain very challenging.
However, referrals and screenings are resuming, he said.
And when asked how Wales’ share of the money the UK Government has announced for the arts sector will be used, Mr Drakeford said he has not allocated the money yet.
“When you get money from the UK Government, sometimes there are things that don’t come your way,” he said.
Mr Drakeford used last week’s announcement of a “new deal” as an example, adding that Wales did not see a “single penny” of new money.
He said the Cabinet needs to wait to see the full package and what other announcements the Chancellor will make.
Meanwhile, PHW reported the number of lab-confirmed positive cases of coronavirus in Wales has risen by just eight to bring the total to 15,898.
Conwy, Denbighshire, Wrexham, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, RCT and Ceredigion all had one new reported positive case, while all the rest had none. One other positive case was from an “unknown” area.