General Covid 19 news

[Ian]

North Wales coronavirus test frustrations as people booked in are turned away after driving miles
Health chiefs say the system is facing 'a significant demand'

Golly. If only there'd been some sort of warning...

[SteveH]

North Wales coronavirus test frustrations as people booked in are turned away after driving miles
Health chiefs say the system is facing 'a significant demand'
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-coronavirus-test-frustrations-18905840

Golly. If only there'd been some sort of warning...

Exactly, an important piece of our defence for beating this Pandemic is being dangerously mismanaged.

[Dave]

According to figures published today the number of UK fatalities of the under 65's is around 5600. The number of over 65's is put at nearly 47,000.
Of the under 65's most had underlying health conditions.

Surely the answer lies in trying to separate the two groups?

Those of working age, carry on as near normal as possible but still maintain safety procedures where possible.

Those over 65 need to stay away from the masses to protect themselves further. Impose the more severe restrictions ( and penalties for breaches) on them but make safe shopping, hospitality, entertainments etc available exclusively to that group at certain times and days.

Hopefully this would only be necessary for a limited time but in the meantime the virus could spread through the younger population who would survive and hopefully get immunity?

Just a though from a pensioner!

[SteveH]

A TEMPORARY hospital in Llandudno may used to support the flu vaccination programme to protect vulnerable people and protect the NHS this winter.

Dr Paul Emmett, a GP from Craig y Don Medical Practice in Llandudno, and member of the BMA’s GP Committee, said his surgery is looking at using Ysbyty Enfys Llandudno (Rainbow Hospital Llandudno) to ‘safely deliver’ a minimum of 3,000 flu jabs.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) did not confirm that the venue would be used as a flu clinic, but did not rule out it being an option on the table.

Flu remains a very real risk and with flu season approaching, we’re very aware of the importance of protecting as many people as possible. It’s vital that people take this seriously and get their flu vaccinations.

“It’s not unusual for practices to use external venues for flu clinics, and with the pandemic ongoing, we support efforts to roll out flu vaccinations as efficiently and safely as possible, whether this takes place within practices, externally or via ‘drive through’ clinics, with Covid-19 measures in place to ensure the safety of people in Wales.”

In July, Welsh Government minster for health, Vaughan Gething, spoke about Wales' largest ever flu campaign which will see more people benefit from the free flu vaccine programme.

Subject to confirmation by the UK Government, that additional vaccine supply will be available, those who will additionally be included in this year’s flu programme include: Households of people in the shielded group lowering the eligibility age from 65 to over 50 year olds – who will be vaccinated in a phased approach.                                                         ref Pioneer

[SteveH]

Coronavirus infections have increased in recent weeks in the UK, according to new estimates.

The government's latest R number is between 1 and 1.2 which means the epidemic is growing.

And a study of thousands of people in England found cases doubling every seven to eight days, with a marked rise in the north and among young people.
New laws on how many people can socialise indoors and outdoors are being introduced from Monday.

Full story  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54116939


Coronavirus: England and Wales' contact-tracing app gets launch date

The app will let people scan barcode-like QR codes to register visits to hospitality venues and will implement Apple and Google's method of detecting other smartphones.
Businesses are being asked to display QR code posters to support the app.

"We need to use every tool at our disposal to control the spread of the virus including cutting-edge technology," said Mr Hancock.
"The launch of the app later this month across England and Wales is a defining moment and will aid our ability to contain the virus at a critical time."
According to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics, there were an estimated 3,200 new cases a day in England during the first week of September, compared with 2,000 the week before.

BBC news https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54118022

local news Pioneer   https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18714075.businesses-wales-urged-prepare-new-nhs-covid-19-app/

[Hugo]

Inverness must be a lovely place to go for a holiday but not just for a Covid test, especially if you live in Bangor  N Wales   


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/bangor-school-worker-offered-coronavirus-18922858

[mull]

Well Boris did say it would be world beating.
Sightseeing tours of the UK when going for a test, whats not to like !

[SteveH]

Reading this story, I was surprised by this sentence, which I find hard to believe.............

"The latest figures for Britain from the Office for National Statistics suggested 96% of adults who had left their homes in the past week had worn a face covering."


Full article "Disposable masks 'causing enormous plastic waste'   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54057799

[Fester]

Reading this story, I was surprised by this sentence, which I find hard to believe.............

"The latest figures for Britain from the Office for National Statistics suggested 96% of adults who had left their homes in the past week had worn a face covering."


Full article "Disposable masks 'causing enormous plastic waste'   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54057799

That’s an absolute and utter nonsense.
No wonder the general public don’t believe a word that comes from any politician these days.

[Hammy]

I think this might be a problem with the demographic of the ONS survey population and their response to the survey question;
'Do you wear a mask when you go out?'

They probably felt that this was the required/expected response!!

[SteveH]

Winter plan          Welsh Government's briefing on the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Gething said they had been getting ready for their winter plan, and had to look at a range of what is possible.

He said they have looked at increasing critical care capacity, looking at use of field hospitals and the changing of different parts of the health system.
He said they had suppressed the virus pretty well in the summer, but he said some people are relaxing too much.

Posted at 13:1513:15
Lockdown in seven weeks?
Wales could have to lockdown in less than seven weeks' time if there is no change in behaviour, the health minister has warned.

“If we see cases continue to rise… then we may be in a position to make that decision and need to make that decision sooner than the seven-week period of time," Vaughan Gething said.

“It does, I think, say to the public there is a limited period of weeks for us to reconsider the choices we're making, and to behave in a different way, if we are to avoid more local lockdowns or a national lockdown.”

He added: “You want to engage with people to persuade people but ultimately if people want to break the rules, then they’ll find there are consequences that come from that.”

more  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-wales-54146421

[SteveH]

Welsh Government 'prepared for the worst' as it looks to stop second Covid-19 lockdown
Patients will be discharged from hospital quicker and more GP consultations will take place online as NHS faces 'extraordinary' winter pressure.

Some of Wales 17 field hospitals will be retained this winter, providing half of the extra 5,000 NHS beds that may be needed in a worst-case scenario.

In setting out the Welsh Government’s Winter Protection Plan, health minister Vaughan Gething warned the challenges were “truly extraordinary” and that the country must be “prepared for the worst”.

With Covid cases now rising steadily, he said Wales had only a "narrow window of opportunity" to prevent a second wave of infection and a new national lockdown.

Again he urged people to change their behaviour, and respect social distancing, to avoid more deaths in the community.

“Let me be clear, the challenges this winter will be even greater, given the need to respond to the coronavirus outbreak and the resurgence of the virus over recent weeks,” said Mr Gething.

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/welsh-government-prepared-worst-looks-18940069

[Ian]

The really important fact is that the NHS has been tragically underfunded for years, leading to the annual winter struggle.

[Dave]

The really important fact is that the NHS has been tragically underfunded for years, leading to the annual winter struggle.

There's no doubt your views are left of centre to mine Ian. Fair enough, but the NHS hasn't been underfunded, its's a case of the money being wasted

So many areas where they could redirect funds to the cutting edge. Even now, corvid testing is being held up by those who request a test to enable them to go on holiday and meet their destination's demands rather than a case of having symptoms and do I need to quarantine or need health care.

If you look at our local health board why do we have an ex high(very high) ranking officer who has a big fat pension  ( carefully engineered during his final year by making sure the NWP met the targets in specific areas required) and is now earning a big fat salary for a couple of day's consultancy? What does he know about health care? What has he achieved?

[Blongb]

There are also a great number of overseas health tourists using the NHS when they have no right to do so, without paying for the treatment they receive.  But the NHS makes no effort to collect whats owed, which all adds up.