General Covid 19 news

[Ian]

I agree. The wearing of face masks outside at any time ought by now to be compulsory.

[Ian]

"The highest daily increase in worldwide coronavirus cases yet was recorded on Sunday, with 136,000 new cases confirmed, World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists yesterday. “Although the situation in Europe is improving, globally it is worsening,” he said. Almost 75 per cent of the cases confirmed on 7 June were from only 10 countries, mostly in the Americas and South Asia, The Guardian reports."

[Dave]

I agree. The wearing of face masks outside at any time ought by now to be compulsory.

I didn't say that, I said inside public places they should be compulsory and when necessary where social distancing is impossible outside ( which is actually the new guidance although again it's a rather vague statement).

I see Knowsley safari park are questioning, quite rightly, that you are allowed to go to a Drive-in MacDonalds but not there. Ridiculous.
Places like the Welsh Mountain Zoo could allow the public in and with the current 5 mile limit in Wales it would be a fantastic opportunity to build up local interest and support too. They are really struggling at the moment with huge overheads and no income. I haven't been in years but a special local offer would certainly tempt me .

[Ian]

The EU has a population of 446,000,000.  As of today it's recorded a total of 1,444,710 infections and 169,207 deaths.  The USA, by comparison, has a population of 330,000,000 and, as of today, has recorded a total of almost 2.000.000 infections and 111,375 deaths.

Let's hope those who voted for Trump see these statistics.

[SteveH]

I see Knowsley safari park are questioning, quite rightly, that you are allowed to go to a Drive-in MacDonalds but not there. Ridiculous.
Places like the Welsh Mountain Zoo could allow the public in and with the current 5 mile limit in Wales it would be a fantastic opportunity to build up local interest and support too. They are really struggling at the moment with huge overheads and no income. I haven't been in years but a special local offer would certainly tempt me .

Following huge public pressure, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to announce on June 15, that all zoos will be allowed to reopen as part of the latest easing of the coronavirus lockdown.

In addition, all safari parks and drive-in cinemas will be allowed to reopen, meaning attractions such as Knowsley Safari Park can reopen, but the Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire Oaks will still be forced to keep its doors closed.

more  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18506814.chester-zoo-reopen-next-monday-following-dramatic-government-u-turn/

[SteveH]

Welsh zoos need 'public confidence to return' before reopening, says minister.

THE minister for economy, Ken Skates, has addressed what the future holds for zoos in Wales – including the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay.

At the daily coronavirus press conference held by the Welsh Government, Mr Skates spoke in detail about the decision made by UK Government following a week of reports surrounding the future of zoos.

It comes after English attractions – such as Chester Zoo - were recently given the green light to reopen in the days to come by English ministers providing they were able to put the required safety procedures in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

Cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18508523.ken-skates-says-welsh-zoos-need-public-confidence-return-reopening-coronavirus-briefing/


Welsh Government say 'attractions' can re-open in summer but there are conditions
And zoos face uncertain future as Cardiff showing no sign of following UK government's decision on Chester Zoo.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/welsh-attractions-can-re-open-18394419

[Ian]

I don't think anything demonstrates the sheer absurdity of devolution quite as a well as when dealing with a virus. This needs a UK-wide approach. Devolution is fine for most things; not a pandemic.

[Dave]

I'm pretty positive the pandemic is being used to demonstrate the Assembly's power, something it doesn't usually get the chance to do.

Hopefully it will stay limited too. They are not doing a good job in the areas they have been delegated control.

[SteveH]

The equivalent of "three large hospitals" worth of patients are still being treated for Covid-related illnesses in Wales, the country's health boss has warned.

Dr Andrew Goodall, the chief executive of the NHS in Wales, said that a total of 885 people remained in hospital being treated for illnesses related to the coronavirus outbreak.

During a press conference in Cardiff on Thursday, he said this was the equivalent of three large hospitals being filled with such patients.

cont    https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/welsh-nhs-boss-reveals-shocking-18402357

[Hugo]

It's strange that the UK with the longest social distancing limit of 2 metres has arguably the worst death rate in the world from Coronavirus   yet Thailand with a population similar to the UK has only 58 recorded deaths from Coronavirus.
Not yet, but sometime in the future when circumstances allow it we must have a full public enquiry so that we can learn from our mistakes and make sure that we are prepared for this type of thing in the future

[SteveH]

An increase in littering since fast food outlets began to reopen is "disappointing", some councils and Keep Wales Tidy have said.

It follows a "wonderful" few weeks of "no rubbish anywhere", Keep Wales Tidy said.

But it added public anger at littering had also increased after people spent time getting to know their local area during their daily exercise.

The charity said that anger could be used to fuel a permanent change.

"For the first few weeks of lockdown everything was wonderful. There was no rubbish anywhere," said Louise Tambini, Keep Wales Tidy's deputy chief executive.

"Unfortunately, as we've been allowed to come out for longer and to stay out, some people have begun leaving litter everywhere.

"We've had a lot more complaints... about litter being left in our parks and beaches."

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52969144

[SteveH]

Something positive for a change.................

Coronavirus: Dexamethasone proves first life-saving drug
Health editor, BBC News online
2 hours ago

A cheap and widely available drug can help save the lives of patients seriously ill with coronavirus.

The low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone    ( http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/dexamethasone.aspx  ) is a major breakthrough in the fight against the deadly virus, UK experts say.

The drug is part of the world's biggest trial testing existing treatments to see if they also work for coronavirus.

It cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. For those on oxygen, it cut deaths by a fifth.

Had the drug had been used to treat patients in the UK from the start of the pandemic, up to 5,000 lives could have been saved, researchers say.

And it could be of huge benefit in poorer countries with high numbers of Covid-19 patients.

Cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53061281

[Ian]

Excellent news.

[SteveH]

Testing for coronavirus antibodies has started in North Wales

BLOOD Sciences staff across North Wales have started taking tests of NHS staff and key workers as part of a national programme to improve our understanding of the coronavirus.

Antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to infections. The tests can be used to establish whether a person has developed antibodies, having been infected with COVID-19 novel coronavirus.

A limited capacity of tests are being made available, with staff groups prioritised for testing following Welsh Government guidance.

Initially, tests will be offered to some teaching staff from all six North Wales local authorities. Selected teaching staff across North Wales will be contacted by the local authority which employees them to arrange testing.

Cont   https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18520970.testing-coronavirus-antibodies-started-north-wales/

[SteveH]

Health minister Vaughan Gething giving today's briefing.     ref DP

Excess deaths, compared to how many people have died on average over five years. Wales has seen more than 2,100 excess deaths in Wales over the course of the pandemic.

Mr Gething said he was aware of the outbreak at the Anglesey plant and showed the importance of people following the advice, getting tested and self-isolating.

Field hospital question
Mr Gething said he has ordered a review of them, which he will get by the end of the month and then make a statement on their future.
With the possibility of future outbreaks, it would not be sensible to dismantle them.

The shielding programme continues up to the middle of August in Wales, for vulnerable people. The shielding advice has kept many people alive. That has to be balanced with mental and physical health of this group of people.

There has been a later peak in North Wales, but a lower peak. Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board is also a larger health board in Wales and the outbreak figures are under the Welsh average, said Mr Gething.

Public Health Wales (PHW) says it has identified 51 cases of Covid-19 associated with the 2 Sisters abattoir on Anglesey.
North Wales Live revealed last week that three workers had tested positive for Covid-19 at the Llangefni chicken processing site.
The outbreak spread among the workforce with 13 positive cases confirmed on Monday and this morning it was confirmed the site would close for two weeks.