Author Topic: Covid 19  (Read 68760 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline SteveH

  • Management Board Member & Newsgroup Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 12989
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #270 on: July 09, 2020, 10:34:05 am »
There is a small poll in this article "Should face coverings be made mandatory in public in Wales?" surprisingly it is showing 59% for, 41% against, out of 104 who have voted.

Wearing a face mask is not a "magic bullet" in preventing the spread of coronavirus, the First Minister of Wales has said.

Mark Drakeford said the Welsh Government would keep the guidance on the wearing of face masks in public under review.

cont/poll  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18571259.face-masks-not-magic-bullet-preventing-spread-coronavirus-says-first-minister-mark-drakeford/

Offline Dave

  • Member
  • Posts: 863
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #271 on: July 09, 2020, 11:31:49 am »
This story appeared on the BBC Wales news today about prisoners possibly rioting because of the lockdown.   
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53323771

I find the idea bemusing to say the least!!


Offline Dave

  • Member
  • Posts: 863
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #272 on: July 09, 2020, 11:38:38 am »
There is a small poll in this article "Should face coverings be made mandatory in public in Wales?" surprisingly it is showing 59% for, 41% against, out of 104 who have voted.

Wearing a face mask is not a "magic bullet" in preventing the spread of coronavirus, the First Minister of Wales has said.

Mark Drakeford said the Welsh Government would keep the guidance on the wearing of face masks in public under review.

cont/poll  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18571259.face-masks-not-magic-bullet-preventing-spread-coronavirus-says-first-minister-mark-drakeford/

104 is hardly a representative poll but I'm sure that it might get bigger support from the Welsh people or those from any other part of the UK than we might imagine. It would cost peanuts to implement so why not do it for all public enclosed spaces or where social distancing is not possible, ie crowds outside. I don't see why it's necessary on public transport but nowhere else.

Offline Ian

  • Administrator
  • Posts: 8949
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #273 on: July 09, 2020, 11:40:23 am »
Agreed. Should be mandatory in all enclosed spaces
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline SteveH

  • Management Board Member & Newsgroup Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 12989
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #274 on: July 10, 2020, 03:36:48 pm »
Demand for flu vaccine soars as countries plan for second Covid-19 wave
Manufacturers warn they will struggle to meet demand as governments seek to ease pressure on health services.

Fears of a second wave of coronavirus have sparked a global scramble for influenza shots from countries that hope to vaccinate great swathes of the population to reduce pressure on their health services.

Health officials in the UK are considering whether to offer flu shots to everyone as part of planning for a resurgence of coronavirus in the autumn, but with other countries hitting on the same strategy, demand for flu vaccines has soared.

Mass immunisation would aim to slash the number of people hospitalised with the flu this winter, giving the NHS a better chance of coping with any surge in Covid-19 patients that follows the easing of lockdown restrictions. The flu vaccine does not protect against coronavirus infection.

Cont   https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/14/countries-scramble-for-flu-vaccines-to-ease-pressure-of-second-coronavirus-19-wave

Offline SteveH

  • Management Board Member & Newsgroup Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 12989
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #275 on: July 11, 2020, 11:49:18 am »
What can different statistics tell us about coronavirus in Wales so far?

We seem to be bombarded with different measures, but what do they mean and how does Wales compare with other parts of the UK?

Here, we try to answer some of the questions and explain what the different measures are and also give some of the most recent figures.

full article  1 hour ago       ref BBC   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52380643?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/wales/north_west_wales&link_location=live-reporting-story

Offline SteveH

  • Management Board Member & Newsgroup Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 12989
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #276 on: July 14, 2020, 10:14:37 am »
The cost of establishing and maintaining temporary hospitals within North Wales, to cope with an anticipated rise in the number of Covid-19 positive patients, has been revealed.

A circular sent out by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board chief Mark Polin revealed £60m has been earmarked for the region’s three Rainbow Hospitals in Bangor, Llandudno and Deeside, including £23.6m to build, equip and set up.

More details and information from the circular sent out by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board chief Mark Polin...........

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18580105.huge-cost-north-wales-temporary-coronavirus-hospitals-revealed/?ref=rss

Offline SteveH

  • Management Board Member & Newsgroup Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 12989
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #277 on: July 15, 2020, 03:42:59 pm »
Wales’ new coronavirus testing strategy has been published today by Health Minister Vaughan Gething. 

Over the past three months, the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales (PHW) have worked together to build a national testing infrastructure.

Welsh Government chiefs said that meant anyone who displays coronavirus symptoms can get a test "quickly and easily".

Today’s new strategy builds on the latest scientific evidence, the Welsh Government said and focuses on four priority areas:

Contact tracing - to prevent the spread of the disease among the wider population
Delivering NHS services - to support the safety of staff and patients
Protecting vulnerable groups - to safeguard groups at greater risk of Covid-19
Developing future delivery - to use surveillance and new technologies to improve our understanding of the virus.

Full story   https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/welsh-governments-new-covid-19-18600299

Offline Hugo

  • Management board member
  • *
  • Posts: 13885
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #278 on: July 15, 2020, 06:51:46 pm »
A headline on a page in today's Daily Mirror caught my attention so I decided to read the article

IT'S SO LITTLE TO ASK
JUST WEAR A MASK


It started by telling about an American called Richard Rose aged 37,  a prolific social media user who on the 27th April posted a defiant message which said "  Let me make this clear I'm not buying a f******  mask.    I've made it this far by not buying into this damn hype"
At the start of July he posted that he had been very ill and had tested positive for Covid 19 but on 3rd July 2020 his death was posted on social media.

In Japan where everybody wears a mask there have been fewer than 1000 deaths,  this despite having a population twice that of the UK.      They also have a more elderly population than any other country and have never been in full lockdown


What is wrong with our politicians?       They should follow the examples of other countries who have coped better than us and not be so stubborn in doing so.

Offline SteveH

  • Management Board Member & Newsgroup Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 12989
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #279 on: July 16, 2020, 10:38:05 am »
A couple of "face mask" stories this morning, one debunking some social media fake news, that wearing a mask reduces your oxygen levels, and the other basically saying we have to police ourselves re masks, the government will not make the decision themselves.


The reason why forcing people to wear face masks is far more difficult than it sounds
Health minister Vaughan Gething has said it will be up to staff and public to 'police' wearing coverings on trains and buses
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/reason-forcing-people-wear-face-18601113


Face masks help prevent the spread of Covid-19, but some people claim not to be able to breathe while wearing one
“So ignore all the utterly mad social media scaremongering. Masks don’t affect your oxygen levels.
"They do however reduce the risk of you unknowingly infecting someone around you though.
"So on balance, the good they might do outweighs the sweaty faces they might cause.”
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/face-masks-public-doctor-debunks-18603035

Offline SteveH

  • Management Board Member & Newsgroup Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 12989
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #280 on: July 24, 2020, 10:06:08 am »
Health chief says coronavirus second wave in North Wales 'almost certain' - and this is why
Dr Chris Stockport made the claim at a meeting of regional health leaders.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/health-chief-says-coronavirus-second-18653837

Offline SteveH

  • Management Board Member & Newsgroup Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 12989
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #281 on: July 29, 2020, 10:02:27 am »
The UK government has signed a fourth coronavirus vaccine deal, securing up to 60 million doses of an experimental treatment being developed by drug giants GSK and Sanofi.

The government has already signed up for 100 million doses of the Oxford University vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca.

It has also secured another 90 million doses of two other promising vaccines.

However, it is still uncertain which, if any, of the vaccines may work.

Governments around the world have pledged billions of dollars for a Covid-19 vaccine and a number of pharmaceutical firms are in a race to develop and test potential drugs.

cont   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53577637

Offline SteveH

  • Management Board Member & Newsgroup Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 12989
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #282 on: August 03, 2020, 10:24:22 am »
PATIENTS and visitors are being encouraged to wear face masks when visiting all hospitals in North Wales.

From tomorrow (Monday, 3 August), all visitors and patients going into hospitals across North Wales are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings or masks.

Face coverings are different to face masks in that they can be homemade, made of cloth, and be reusable. If a patient or visitor does not have a face covering when they come into the hospital, a facemask will be available and offered by a member of staff on arrival.
(Mrs H and some friends are making face masks for Ysbyty Gwynedd after they made an appeal)

“We have taken the decision to actively encourage the wearing of face coverings, or face masks, for all staff and patients in the public or communal areas of our hospitals.

“Evidence has shown that people infected with COVID-19 can have very mild or no respiratory symptoms and can transmit the virus to others without being aware, so it is important that we take steps to reduce the risk of transmission.

“We want the safest possible environment for our patients and visitors and we will be taking extra steps to ensure social distancing and encouraging the use of hand sanitisers on entering and leaving the hospital.”

Hospital visiting is still strictly limited to control the spread of COVID-19. For more information visit: https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/health-advice/covid-19-patient-advice/hospital-visiting-suspended/                                 ref Pioneer


Offline Hugo

  • Management board member
  • *
  • Posts: 13885
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #283 on: August 03, 2020, 12:12:54 pm »
I wonder if it is the Wrexham Hospitals that have been affected mostly by the Coronavirus and that is why they are encouraging people to wear face masks
In the Glan Clwyd Hospital they insist on you wearing a mask and if you don't have one with you then they provide one for you and only the patient is allowed in there.  The partners etc have to remain outside the hospital building.
In addition I am not certain if the hospital has any patients with the virus so on that point that hospital is doing well.    I've no idea about Ysbyty Gwynedd but the Wrexham area and the hospital there does not have the best track record

Offline SteveH

  • Management Board Member & Newsgroup Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 12989
Re: Covid 19
« Reply #284 on: August 07, 2020, 11:50:36 am »
Symptom-less cases 'have same amount of virus'         ref BBC
A South Korean study has found people who have Covid-19 but do not show any symptoms have as much of the virus in their nose and throat as those who are obviously unwell. While it is thought a significant number of coronavirus cases are asymptomatic, the researchers were unable to say how much these people pass the virus on. One expert suggested those without symptoms represented a lower risk to other people's health because they were not coughing droplets everywhere.         


Interesting information in this BBC link.........
Coronavirus: A user's guide to wearing a face mask

There is now almost no excuse for not wearing a face mask while out shopping in the UK - covering your face is as essential as remembering your cash or bank card.

The rules differ a little around the UK. But wherever you live, it's going to be hard to avoid covering up your mouth and nose. And that raises a host of dilemmas.

How do I put it on correctly?................ Deciding on the right one................How to stop it fogging up my glasses.....and more QA's

Well worth checking this link out ..............   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53395513