Author Topic: General Covid 19 news  (Read 96070 times)

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Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #15 on: April 06, 2020, 11:11:31 am »
BETSI Cadwaladr University Health Board is urgently appealing to businesses who are able to change their production lines to make personal protective equipment (PPE).

The health board is echoing a plea by First Minister Mark Drakeford for support from businesses to create a new Welsh supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to support NHS and social care staff.

Examples of PPE needed includes visors, masks, aprons and gloves.

Mark Polin, chair of BCUHB, said: "This is a rallying call for arms for companies to change their production lines where possible and start making this hugely important protective equipment. It is paramount that our brave and committed frontline colleagues feel safe and are safe so that they can in turn protect and provide the best care they can to those requiring their help.

“Whether it is visors, masks, aprons or gloves, a change in government guidance explaining when PPE should be worn will no doubt see demand for these items rise further throughout the country in the coming days, weeks and months.

“As we are all aware, this virus shows no discrimination as each and every one of us is vulnerable towards it, some more than others.

"We all have a part to play in making sure our loved ones continue to receive the best care we can give and that our colleagues remain as safe as possible for those of us that will sadly require specialist frontline care.”

New guidance has been issued in the UK which simplifies when health and social care staff should use PPE.

Mr Drakeford said: "This is a time like no other – as a nation we must stand up and respond to the huge challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

"I want to thank the many businesses and manufacturers in Wales who have already made offers of help to produce PPE and other equipment. We are responding as quickly as we can to the offers we already have, but we want and need more.

"Welsh business has an important role to play in delivering the products needed."
There are a number of ways for companies for companies to respond:

Visit bcuhb.nhs.wales; awyrlas.org.uk or email the procurement department on nwssp.nwales.procurement@wales.nhs.uk

BCUHB has expressed their thanks to organisations and individuals who have already been in touch.

Further volunteers and trained return to practice clinical staff are still needed.

Visit the BCUHB website to become a volunteer.

Trained healthcare staff wanting to join the staff bank can contact BCU.TemporaryStaffingAdmin@wales.nhs.uk
ref Pioneer

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #16 on: April 07, 2020, 10:24:07 am »
AROUND 700 visors have been donated to the Health Board to help protect frontline staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to a huge effort by the North Wales community.

A joint-project was set up just a week ago by North Wales Tech, Bangor University, Grwp Llandrillo Menai, schools in Gwynedd and Anglesey and private companies to create the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Within only five days the visors were delivered to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital, Bangor, to be distributed across the other hospitals in North Wales.
cont     https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18362964.coronavirus-700-visors-donated-protect-frontline-north-wales-staff-outbreak/


Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #17 on: April 07, 2020, 02:34:58 pm »
13:35
Toyota to make face shields
Car maker Toyota, which has an engine plant in Deeside, has announced plans to make face shields and hands-free door openers at European plants.

The firm said it would use 3D printer technology to make the items in demand due to the pandemic.

It’s not yet clear how the announcement will affect the Deeside factory, which employs about 600 people and ceased production last month.  ref BBC


The car park at Venue Cwmry during transformation into a coronavirus field hospital.

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #18 on: April 07, 2020, 05:06:48 pm »
This is a sobering story........

Wife of healthy firefighter left in intensive care with Covid-19 tells how virus can attack 'anyone'
Becky Landon's husband Steve is starting a drug trial to help others with coronavirus and is urging everyone to stay at home.

A 'fit and healthy' firefighter spent 10 days in intensive care after being struck down by coronavirus.

Children's nurse Becky Landon today told how her husband Steve suffered with cold-like symptoms before collapsing twice and struggling to breathe.

The 39-year-old Deeside firefighter was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital where he is still being treated.

Becky said the virus was like a "roller coaster" that could make a patient's health deteriorate just when they appear to be getting better.

The dad-of-four, who lives in Wrexham, came out of intensive care yesterday, but is still receiving oxygen on another ward.

And Becky revealed "superhero" Steve has agreed to trial a new drug that could help other Covid-19 patients in future.   

full story    https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/wife-healthy-firefighter-left-intensive-18055711

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #19 on: April 08, 2020, 03:04:12 pm »
A TEMPORARY hospital renamed after the symbol of hope has been lit up in rainbow colours.

Work has started on transforming Llandudno's Venue Cymru into a hospital to help deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The building has been renamed Ysbyty Enfys Llandudno, meaning Rainbow Hospital Llandudno.

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18366746.lights-send-message-hope-llandudnos-venue-cymru-transformed-rainbow-hospital/

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #20 on: April 08, 2020, 05:02:35 pm »
A SCHOOL is producing protect masks and bags for nurses in a bid to help NHS workers on the frontline.                &well&

Dave Humphreys, headteacher at Ysgol Bryn Elian in Old Colwyn, delivered 50 visors to Glan Clwyd Hospital.             $good$

A total of 40 bags for nurses - enabling staff to place their uniform in after work and then straight washing machine - were also handed over.              (Mrs H and some friends are going to have a go at these, just a cotton bag with draw cord)

Mr Humphreys said: “When we started making these products members of the community asked if they could help in anyway in terms of donations. We set up a JustGiving page and put a very ambitious target of £1,000.

“To our surprise the community were so generous that the target was met in under 24 hours. We then upped the target to £1,500 and this was met 25 minutes later.
“We have increased the target to £3,500 and we are already at nearly £3,200.
“This will allow us to order more materials to make the visors and bags as the school has used up all of its own stock.

“We are making over 40 to 50 visors and bags a day and are delivering to hospitals and healthcare services.

"We have requests for over 500 visors and bags in at the moment.”

Staff have been busy creating protective masks                                                                           $good$

The headmaster added that Glan Clwyd Hospital were extremely grateful when they dropped off the items.

He added: “We are very proud of what the school is able to do to help the NHS in this strange time and their emails and letters of thanks keeps us going with our production line.

“The community’s generosity has meant also that we can but even more stock to make our products to get to the front line of the NHS.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ysgolbrynelian

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18367305.old-colwyns-ysgol-bryn-elian-make-protective-masks-uniform-bags-nhs-staff-north-wales/


     

Offline Bri Roberts

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #21 on: April 08, 2020, 05:59:05 pm »
Plenty of local labour this afternoon putting in a special effort to help Ysbyty’r Enfys get up and running.

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #22 on: April 09, 2020, 04:33:11 pm »
From today's press conference ref Pioneer

NHS volunteers
AG: "We've also had thousands of offers of additional support. People are offering to provide support in field hospitals, but also more localised volunteers helping with support and delivery.

"It's an extraordinary response and we've got a very strong tradition of voluntary work in our communities."

Quality of PPE and scale
AG: "We have now issued PPE at a scale of 11 million, which is more than I've ever seen before.

"We are doing a number of things; trying make sure supply can work, seeing if Welsh manufacturing expertise can be adapted, and our ability to work alongside all of the UK to maximise supply.

"We have to continue these efforts to ensure we can continue the level of supply and also the quality of the equipment as well."

Offline Bri Roberts

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #23 on: April 09, 2020, 05:45:13 pm »
Fair play again, work is still carrying on past 5pm today on Ysbyty’r Enfys.

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #24 on: April 10, 2020, 10:02:39 am »
Community midwifery teams across North Wales are to move into locations such as disused sports centres to minimise the risk of infection during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over the next few weeks, the services will be moving away from community hospitals to locations “as close as possible” to their previous sites.

The changes to the way community midwifery services are operating are being introduced as part of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s work to reduce the risk of infection from Covid-19, it says.
Home-from-home midwifery units will also temporarily close for the duration of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Women with appointments are being asked not contact community midwives about the changes as with they will be called personally about any changes to their appointments.

(Community Midwives in Colwyn Bay are now temporarily based at Eirias Park)

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18372364.community-midwifery-teams-move-holywell-leisure-centre-minimise-risk-covid-19-infection/

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #25 on: April 10, 2020, 04:48:37 pm »
'Boost' for Wales tourism after lockdown   ref BBC

People will want to holiday in Wales once the lockdown is over, a campsite owner says.

Rob Grove, owner of the Skysea campsite in Gower, said he felt optimistic despite losing business due to the coronavirus lockdown.
"Moving forward, if we're opening in the beginning of June then I foresee us being very busy," he said.

"People will be very, very anxious to get out and about. People who've got caravans or tents, they are going to want to get out and use them, and I think after being locked up for several weeks are going to appreciate them that much more. "

Mr Grove believes people will feel safer staying closer to home.
"I think people are going to be very fearful of booking European holidays and holidays further afield really," he said.


£200m in extra Covid-19 cash for Welsh businesses - see if your firm is eligible
Start-ups are among those that could be helped in phase two of the Welsh Government's £500m Economic Resilience Fund

But one concern already being raised is that companies need to be VAT registered - which will exclude thousands of micro businesses.

Full story   https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/200m-extra-covid-19-cash-18074852


Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #26 on: April 11, 2020, 10:24:09 am »
App to track and trace coronavirus         ref DP
First Minister Mark Drakeford and NHS Wales are appealing to the Welsh public to download a new COVID Symptom Tracker app to help the NHS response to COVID-19 in Wales.

People across Wales are being asked to log their daily symptoms to help build a clearer picture of how the virus is affecting people.

Data from the COVID-19 Symptom Tracker app will be shared daily with the Welsh Government and NHS Wales. It will give early indications of where future hospital admissions are going to be.

The app is available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play from the links at covid.joinzoe.com.

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #27 on: April 12, 2020, 04:12:32 pm »
Colwyn Bay Rydal Penrhos school opens boarding accommodation for critical keyworkers during coronavirus pandemic

school opens boarding accommodation for critical keyworkers during coronavirus pandemic

A Colwyn Bay school has opened up its boarding accommodation for critical frontline keyworkers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision comes after a local firefighter, who lives with an elderly relative, came to the school requesting assistance as he is unable to go home due to the risk of infection.

Coincidentally, the firefighter is also a former pupil and Rydal Penrhos will now offer this service to the wider community to assist further in the community effort relating to Covid-19. 

  cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18375543.colwyn-bay-school-opens-boarding-accommodation-critical-keyworkers-coronavirus-pandemic/

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #28 on: April 13, 2020, 10:08:15 am »
How St John Ambulance is helping               ref BBC
Members of St John Ambulance in Wales have been volunteering to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some, like Teresa Easter, are volunteering their time to deep clean ambulances which are used to transport Covid-19 patients.
She said it takes three people about three hours to clean the ambulances.

While others, such as Trisha France, are volunteering to plug gaps in Wales' new field hospitals which have been set up for the pandemic.
Ms France said: "Now's the time to stand up and do what you can."

James Shaughnessy, the director of operations at St John Cymru Wales, said it was the charity's "largest ever operation".


UK confirms coronavirus contact tracing app plans

The app will send yellow and red alerts to those who have come into contact with a suspected carrier.

At present, the idea is that people who have self-diagnosed as having coronavirus will be able to declare their status in the app.

The software will then send the equivalent of a yellow alert to any other users who they have recently been close to for an extended period of time.

If a medical test confirms that the original user is indeed infected, then a stronger warning - effectively a red alert - will be sent instead, signalling that the other users should go into quarantine.

The BBC has learned that NHSX - the health service's digital innovation unit - will test a pre-release version of the software with families at a secure location in the North of England next week.              ref BBC


Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #29 on: April 14, 2020, 02:36:41 pm »
Can I recommend reading today's Pioneer..........Coronavirus latest as UK continues into fourth week    there are to many points of interest to link them individually .

Last updated: 4 mins ago      14.32pm
Latest coronavirus news updates regionally, nationally and around the world.
https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18377598.coronavirus-latest-uk-continues-fourth-week-lockdown/



New pictures show progress inside Venue Cymru as it's transformed into Ysbyty Enfys coronavirus hospital
It is understood contractors are working to complete the work by the end of April

New images show the progress being made to convert Llandudno's Venue Cymru into a temporary coronavirus hospital.

Contactors continue to kit out Ysbyty Enfys after it was announced two weeks ago that the theatre would be used as one of three field hospitals to treat patients with Covid-19 across North Wales.

Ysbyty Enfys will provide an additional 350 beds to support Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board ’s response to the pandemic.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/new-pictures-show-progress-inside-18088567