Saturday’s Public Health Wales update – now 60 confirmed cases in Wales

Public Health Wales have issued their now regular update on the Coronavirus situation in Wales this morning.

Thursday saw the first confirmed case in Wrexham, with no further confirmed cases yesterday in the now regular Public Health Wales updates, and today Wrexham again is not on the list of new case areas.

Official advice now states anyone with a “new, continuous” cough or high temperature is now advised to self-isolate for seven days, stay away from your GP, pharmacy or hospital. This means the new figures will not contain those with the virus who are self isolating and have not been tested, with PM Johnson announcing widespread testing will no longer be applicable, so testing is now being focused on specific groups such as healthcare workers and suspected cases in hospitals.

Only contact 111 – which is available in the Wrexham area – if your condition worsens considerably.

For those with concerns https://gov.wales/coronavirus is a good starting point for official information.

Yesterday the Health Minister said Wales could see 20,000 deaths as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and announced a range of measures coming in, including non-urgent hospital appointments and routine surgery to be cancelled in Wales – you can read more here. The Welsh Government also announced new measures to relax supermarket delivery hours during the Coronavirus outbreak.

This morning Dr Chris Williams, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:

“We can confirm that 22 new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 60.

“The process of identifying and contacting close contacts of the new cases is underway, and we are taking all appropriate actions to protect the public’s health.

“The local authority locations of the new cases are:

Two in Neath Port Talbot local authority area
Ten in Swansea local authority area
Two in Caerphilly local authority area
Two in Monmouthshire
One in Conwy local authority area
One in Cardiff local authority area
One in Bridgend local authority area
One in Carmarthenshire local authority area
Two in Powys local authority area

The local authority locations of all confirmed cases to date:

11 cases in Neath Port Talbot local authority area
14 in Swansea local authority area
One in Blaenau Gwent local authority area
Seven in Caerphilly local authority area
Four in Monmouthshire local authority area
Two in Newport local authority area
One in Conwy local authority area
One in Flintshire local authority area
One in Isle of Anglesey local authority area
One in Wrexham local authority area
Five in Cardiff local authority area
One in Bridgend local authority area
Four in Carmarthenshire local authority area
Two in Pembrokeshire
Five in Powys local authority area

“All patients are being managed in clinically appropriate settings based on the assessment of a specialist infectious disease consultant.

“No further details regarding these individuals will be released, and we ask those reporting on the situation to respect patient confidentiality.

“Public Health Wales is working with our partners in the Welsh Government, the wider NHS in Wales, and others now that we have entered the delay phase of the UK Coronavirus Action Plan. This is now not just an attempt to contain the disease, as far as possible, but to delay its spread.

“The most common symptoms of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough, and/or a high temperature.

“For most people, Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild infection. If you have symptoms of coronavirus infection, however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for seven days from when your symptoms started. This action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious.

“The public has a crucial role to play in containing the spread of the virus, and we are encouraging people to wash their hands more often, and for 20 seconds. Use soap and water or a hand sanitiser when you get home or into work, blow your nose, sneeze or cough, eat or handle food. This advice will help you to protect yourself and others.”

“As of 12 March 2020, 945 people in Wales have been tested for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

All the latest information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws.