Fears Wales could be hit harder by coronavirus
WALES’ health minister has told of his fears that coronavirus could have a “larger impact” on the country than anywhere else in the UK.
In a press conference at Cardiff Bay, Vaughan Gething urged people to stay at home in a bid to control the spread of the virus.
He said that the population of Wales is “typically older, sicker and poorer”, meaning the country faces more of a challenge than other parts of the UK.
A Welsh health board is experiencing a “cluster” of coronavirus cases and has warned the area is seeing “the same pattern as was seen in
Italy”. Dr Sarah Aitken, director of public health at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, issued the stark message in a video posted online.
As of yesterday, the area had 309 confirmed cases of Covid-19, almost half of the total cases in Wales and more than twice the number of any other area.
Public Health Wales said 150 new cases of Covid-19 had been confirmed across the country yesterday, meaning there is now a total of 628.
The deaths of five more people who tested positive for coronavirus were also announced, raising the nation’s death toll to 22.
Aneurin Bevan UHB covers the areas of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and south Powys. Mr Gething acknowledged there was a “particular
cluster within the Gwent area” but said it was not expected to be an “outlier” as the outbreak continued.
He added: “We are pretty confident, unfortunately, that the community transmission that is taking place will be seen in other parts of the UK and other parts of Wales.
“My bigger concern is actually that
we potentially have a larger impact in Wales because Wales compared to other UK nations is typically older, sicker with more health challenges, and poorer. On every other public health indicator that means there’s more challenge.
“My concern is that people heed the advice because otherwise we could potentially see a larger impact in Wales than other parts of the UK, so it really is important people follow the advice.”
In the video posted online, Dr Aitken said: “In Gwent, we are seeing a rapidly rising increase in the number of cases of coronavirus in all our communities and a daily increase in the number of people being admitted to hospital and the number of people dying from the virus.
“The pattern we are seeing in Gwent is the same pattern as was seen in Italy, where their healthcare system is now overwhelmed.
“Without a huge effort by all of us, we are heading for the moment in Gwent where our NHS will be overwhelmed too.
“We won’t have enough hospital beds for everyone who needs lifesaving ventilators and intensive care.”
She urged people to stay at home to give the health board “essential time” to bring more doctors and nurses into the workforce, as well as additional ventilators and intensive care beds.
Her calls came as the British Medical Association (BMA) warned doctors and patients will die without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) across the NHS.
It said doctors are risking serious illness and death due to a lack of stock, and it warned many more could go off sick unless immediate steps are taken.
The BMA said there is “growing evidence that thousands of GPs and hospital staff are still not being provided with the kit they need to properly protect themselves and their patients”, despite Government assurances.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said millions of pieces of PPE have been sent out in recent days and a hotline has been set up so staff can report where there are shortages.
The Government’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries also insisted yesterday there is enough PPE available for all.
Mr Gething told a press conference in Cardiff yesterday that PPE held in the pandemic stockpile had been released to frontline NHS staff and social care workers in Wales.
Face masks, gloves, aprons and eye protection is going to the 640 GP clinics and 40 out-of-hours services, while 715 pharmacies have also been sent PPE.
A hotline has been set up at the Welsh Government Emergency Coordination Centre to assist when PPE supplies are disrupted or there is an unplanned surge in use, he said.
Helen Whyley, the director of RCN Wales, said she was “pleased” with Mr Gething’s statement on PPE.
“I was disappointed, however, to read that the minister said the resupply timeframe in respect of some of the PPE is uncertain. This is not acceptable,” she said.
She called for greater communication on the schedule of the rollout of supplies, for nurses and healthcare staff to know “when it will reach them on the frontlines”.
Tanya Palmer, regional secretary of Unison Cymru Wales, also wel