12 MORE DIE AS COVID-19 CASES RISE
THE number of people who have died in Wales after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 1,203.
Public Health Wales reported 12 new deaths yesterday, and 162 new cases, taking the total number of cases to 12,304.
Dr Robin Howe, incident director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “The Welsh Government announced on Friday, 8 May that lockdown arrangements would continue in Wales for a further three weeks: in Wales stay-athome guidance remains that, wherever you can, you should stay at home.
“Although we appear to have passed the peak of new cases in Wales, Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) is still circulating in every part of the country.
“The single most important action we can all take in fighting the virus is to stay at home, and we thank each and every person across Wales for doing their bit to help slow the spread of the virus.
“Public Health Wales continues to support the implementation of the Critical Workers Testing Policy to make sure we use the current testing capacity in Wales to the full, ensuring we test the right people, at the right time, in the right place, to reduce the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
“We are encouraging everyone to download the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Study app, which has been supported by Welsh Government.
“The app allows users to log daily symptoms to help build a clearer picture of how the virus is affecting people. For more information, including how to download the app, visit covid.joinzoe.com.
“Public Health Wales is working to address the negative impact of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the social, mental and physical wellbeing of people in Wales. Our latest campaign, ‘How are you doing?’ is now live and offering practical advice from phw.nhs.wales/howareyoudoing.
“People no longer need to contact NHS 111 if they think they may have contracted Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Information about the symptoms to look out for is available on the Public Health Wales website, or members of the public can use the NHS Wales symptom checker.
“Anyone with a suspected coronavirus illness should not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. They should only contact NHS 111 if they feel they cannot cope with their symptoms at home, their condition gets worse, or their symptoms do not get better after seven days.
“Only call 999 if you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, do not call 999 just because you are on hold to 111. We appreciate that 111 lines are busy, but you will get through after a wait.
“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.
“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.”
Yesterday’s latest figures came a day after it was announced that coronavirus testing will be extended to all care home residents and staff in Wales.
Health Minister Vaughan Gething said that from this week onward every care home in Wales would have access to testing.
The move comes following the latest scientific evidence, according to a statement from the government.
Care homes which have not reported an outbreak or any cases of coronavirus will be able to use an online portal to order testing kits for residents and staff.
Test kits will be provided for the whole care home, this includes all residents and staff.
Mr Gething said: “How we tackle coronavirus continually changes as we receive more emerging evidence and scientific advice.
“We have been very clear in our approach that our strategy is about reducing harm first and we will adapt policies in order to do this.
“Today is a step change in how we will be testing in care homes, adapting our policy so that every resident and member of staff can be tested for coronavirus.
“I hope this brings further reassurance to those living and working in care homes and their families.”
The new policy, which will be “rolled out shortly”, will be in addition to the existing testing arrangements that test:
■ All residents and staff of care homes with ongoing cases prior to May;
■ All residents and staff members of care homes reporting an outbreak;
■ All residents and staff in the larger care homes, with more than 50 beds;
■ All individuals being discharged from hospital to live in care homes regardless of whether or not they were admitted to hospital with Covid-19;
■ All people who are being transferred between care homes and for new admissions from the community.
Testing in Wales had been more restrictive than in England, where all care home residents and staff have been eligible for testing regardless of symptoms since the end of April.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said at the time there was not a “clinical value” in testing everyone where no-one was displaying symptoms.
The Office for National Statistics said there were 532 deaths up to May 1 involving Covid-19 among care home residents in Wales – the lowest regional total across England and Wales.
Plaid’s Delyth Jewell said: “This is a long-awaited recognition of what we have consistently argued for.
“The tragic cases of Covid-19 in care homes and its prevalence within them should have been a wake-up call for the Welsh Government that testing everyone was a necessary lifesaving step.
“The refusal to do so up to now should be the subject of examination in the future inquiry.
“While it is a welcome change of approach, ministers must now publish the advice which informed the previous policy of not testing in every care home and how it has now changed.”
Conservative shadow minister for social care Janet FinchSaunders said: “Care homes have some of society’s most vulnerable and for that reason I have been urging the Welsh Government for weeks to extend coronavirus testing to cover all care home residents and staff.
“As I said at the time, expanding the testing in care homes can reduce the spread of Covid19 among our most vulnerable and incredible staff.
“It is about time that my calls have been answered by the Welsh Government, but it is shameful that the expansion could not have been implemented sooner given that capacity in testing is increasing.”
Dr Howe added that Public Health Wales “welcomes the announcement yesterday by the Health Minister of the extension of coronavirus testing to all care home residents and staff.
“In conjunction with the Welsh Government’s ‘Test, Trace, Protect’ strategy published last week, Public Health Wales will continue to work in partnership with our communities, the Welsh Government, the wider NHS and local government in Wales to focus on protecting the health of the people of Wales as we support the implementation of the strategy.
“We have been working hard to increase our testing capacity, and as of Monday, 11 May, 2020, our capacity was at 5,330 tests a day in Wales. We know there is more to do as demand increases, and we will continue to ramp up this capacity.”