No new Covid deaths seen in Wales
WALES has recorded no new deaths for people who tested positive for coronavirus – the first time no additional deaths have been reported since the start of lockdown, Public Health Wales said.
The total number of deaths remains at 1,531, while the total number of cases in the country increased by eight to 15,898.
Yesterday’s statistics came on the day Wales lifted its five-mile travel restriction and “stay local” guidelines, allowing residents and visitors to travel freely across the country for the first time since March 23.
Public Health Wales data showed zero deaths had been recorded between 5pm on Saturday
and 5pm on Sunday.
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 Covid-19 up to June 19 in Wales is much higher at 2,408.
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 that there were no deaths of patients with lab-confirmed 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 that 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 have 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 for July 3-5.
Separate figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the number of deaths registered in Wales with mention of Covid-19 up to June 19 in Wales is much higher than those reported by Public Health Wales, and stands 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 one “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 “five 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 regulations.
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 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 Western Mail, 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, Mr Drakeford said the lessons of the past fortnight – which has seen pupils return to school for a very 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 Welsh 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 deaths 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 about 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.
Meanwhile, even though testing capacity stands at 15,000 each day in Wales, just 3,054 tests were carried out on Sunday.
A WELSH MP has called the Government’s £1.57bn support package for the arts “too little, too late” for many organisations and performers “teetering on the brink”.
Labour Shadow Culture Secretary and Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens said she welcomed the “much-needed” cash injection, but added: “The Government needs to ensure that this vital funding gets to those theatres and other organisations currently teetering on the brink, and fast – especially those across the towns and small cities where live performance venues and other arts organisations are so valuable to local economies, providing many interdependent jobs, particularly in hospitality.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour, Ms Stevens added she was concerned that the scheme lacked any support for freelancers.
“One other thing which is missing from the announcement – freelancers, which dominate this sector across all types of arts and culture,” she said. “Many of them have been excluded from the Treasury schemes to date, they’ve had nothing and it doesn’t seem that there’s anything in this announcement, particularly in terms of Government action, to help freelancers who are struggling so badly.”
It came as UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden warned that the return of theatre performances without social distancing remains “some way off” following the Government’s announcement.
Mr Dowden told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the relaxation of guidelines, such as on planes, has only been implemented in “exceptionally limited circumstances” and insisted “slow and baby steps” must be taken.
Theatres, along with museums, galleries, music venues, independent cinemas and heritage sites, will be eligible for the emergency grants and loans.
Mr Dowden also told BBC Breakfast that it would be difficult to get theatres reopened in time for the
Christmas pantomime season.
He added: “I would love to be able to announce that pantos can return but I have to say it will be quite challenging to be able to get to that point. Because if you think about a panto, and we all love going to the panto for the joy of it, but it also supports local theatres, you’ve got granny through to grandchild all packed in together, you know how kids are encouraged to shout and scream at panto season, there’s lots of sort of interaction.”
Mr Dowden said he is working with Public Health England to see if the risks can be mitigated but he wants “to be realistic about the challenges of getting us back to that point any time soon”.
A large number of cultural institutions have welcomed the Government announcement on the lifeline for the arts sector.
Arts Council England, the Royal Opera House, the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, and the Music Venue Trust were among those praising the move.
Guidance for a phased return of the performing arts sectors is expected to be published by the Government shortly.
The package comes after some theatres – which are not yet able to stage live performances – closed down, making staff redundant, amid the pandemic.
Museums have also said they face an uncertain future, while 1,500 artists and acts signed a letter to the Culture Secretary calling for a road map for the live music industry.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “From iconic theatre and musicals, mesmerising exhibitions at our world-class galleries to gigs performed in local basement venues, the UK’s cultural industry is the beating heart of this country.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the arts and heritage sectors employ more than 700,000 people and were “critical” to the UK’s economy.
The announcement was welcomed by various industry leaders, including Arts Council England chairman Sir Nicholas Serota, who said the package was a “very significant investment”.