Author Topic: General Covid 19 news  (Read 96104 times)

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Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #30 on: April 15, 2020, 10:47:42 am »
GSK and Sanofi, two of the world's biggest pharmaceutical giants, are joining forces to try and create a vaccine to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The bad news is that the vaccine - even if it is successful - will not be ready till the second half of next year.
GSK's chief executive Emma Walmsley told the BBC that vaccines usually take a decade to develop and test.
A plan to make a vaccine available in just 18 months was a huge acceleration of the normal process, she said.

GSK is also involved in a tie-up with the UK's other pharma giant AstraZeneca to help the government hit its target of conducting 100,000 tests by the end of April.             cont.   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52286217

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #31 on: April 15, 2020, 02:41:10 pm »
INDIVIDUALS aged 70 or over who are self-isolating can obtain support from a community service being run by the council.

More than 200 Conwy County Borough Council staff have been redeployed to provide this essential support, to ensure those who need help in our community can contact a trusted source.
The service is receiving an average of 150 calls a day from members.

The request for assistance is passed to a Conwy staff member who then collects the prescription, or shops on behalf of the resident at a convenience store.

Cllr Sam Rowlands, council leader, said: "It’s a difficult time for everyone right now, but can be even worse if you can’t leave the house to buy some essentials or pick up a prescription.
“We want you to know there is someone who can help – please get in touch and we’ll match your needs with one of the team members in your area.
“We’re thrilled with the feedback from residents who have used the service, to know how reassured people are they won’t go without.”

Find out what’s available within your community on (01492) 575544 or visit www.conwy.gov.uk/communitysupport

Lines are open 9am- 5pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.                                  ref Pioneer


Husband of former Conwy MP Betty Williams dies from Coronavirus - after twice being told he didn't have it

On April 14, Mrs Betty Williams, who lives near Penysarn near Caernarfon, said she was pleading with the Welsh Government to send North Wales samples to Liverpool – and not nearly 200 miles away to Cardiff.
cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18381011.husband-former-conwy-mp-betty-williams-dies-coronavirus---twice-told-didnt/


Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #32 on: April 16, 2020, 11:02:01 am »
A look at our local pharmacies.

"The last month has been the hardest of my 35 years in pharmacy," said Dai Williams.
He runs two pharmacies in Rhondda in South Wales and while demand has increased massively since the lockdown, that's not been good for business.

That's because the wholesale price of medicine has shot up, cutting margins and putting financial pressures on.
Meanwhile, longer hours and twice as many deliveries have meant higher staff costs.

Thousands of independent community pharmacies across the country are facing a cash crunch.
The net result could be closures, leaving communities around the country with no local chemists.

That raises the prospect of heavy losses, especially for the majority of community pharmacies that make around 95% of their income from the NHS.

"Suppliers have increased prices since the lockdown," said Mark Burdon, who operates five independent pharmacies in Tyne and Wear.
"The price of paracetamol wholesale climbed from around 50p to £2," he said.

The ramp in the price of hydroxychloroquine - the malaria drug mentioned by Donald Trump as a possible Covid-19 cure - was even more dramatic.

"It used to cost us £2. Now it costs up to £32.49," Mr Burdon said.       cont     https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52304690

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #33 on: April 16, 2020, 04:33:12 pm »
Welsh Ambulance Service's plea for heavy duty plastic aprons​

The Welsh Ambulance Service is pleading with residents to help them 'protect their people'.

The Service is asking manufacturers, suppliers, companies or individuals for their help in accessing materials.

A spokesman said they urgently need heavy duty sleeved plastic aprons/moisture repellent gowns.

They added: "We urgently need long sleeved plastic or moisture repellent aprons/gowns to help protect our hard working teams. Please get in touch on: amb_HensolStoresCovid19@wales.nhs.uk"

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #34 on: April 18, 2020, 10:23:29 am »
How to watch Lady Gaga's star-studded One World: Together at Home coronavirus concert in the UK
Billie Eilish, Sir Elton John, Lizzo and Michael Bublé are just some of the celebrities contributing to the Covid-19 event

Local efforts include the business community rallying together and individuals helping frontline staff.

Celebrities and national organisations have also been campaigning, with Katherine Jenkins re-releasing her We'll Meet Again duet with Dame Vera Lynn to raise money for the NHS.

But perhaps the biggest example is yet to come, as One World: Together at Home will air this weekend.

The virtual concert, curated by Lady Gaga, has been dubbed a socially-distanced and modernised Live Aid - with participants set to appear from the comfort of their own homes whilst in lockdown.

Created in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and poverty charity Global Citizen, the two-hour event is part of a major campaign to support communities across the world.

Our version will be hosted by Dermot O’Leary, Clara Amfo and Claudia Winkleman.
The concert is expected to be available for international viewers online during their respective broadcasts.

You can watch One World: Together at Home on BBC One from 7.15pm on April 19.

Full story    https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/how-watch-lady-gagas-star-18087164

The full list of participating musicians and celebrities can be found on https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/connect/togetherathome/

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #35 on: April 20, 2020, 10:15:36 am »
A small step forward..................

Thousands of Airbus Broughton staff returning to work today after nearly a month
More than 5,000 workers at Broughton and Filton were sent home for an early 'summer' shutdown last month.

"It has been confirmed that manufacturing sites are categorised as acceptable to travel to and from and continuing operations will help contribute to the national call for businesses to support the economy by continuing operations where it is safe to do so."

They said the measures implemented included:
Deep cleaning
Establishing new cleaning regimes with increased resource
Ensuring social distancing at all times in all areas
All Work Content Trackers have been reviewed and amended to enable social distancing
Ensuring PPE is available in the very few instances where 2 metres distancing is impossible
Digital thermometers available for all business areas to be used for self-check in the event an employee feels unwell
Increased hand washing and sanitizer facilities.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/thousands-airbus-broughton-staff-returning-18116046

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #36 on: April 20, 2020, 12:01:27 pm »
The country is crying out for PPE, again in this mornings news,  "There is "relatively low confidence" a delayed delivery of 400,000 protective gowns will arrive on Monday, " ........... volunteer groups of sewers are making scrubs and laundry bags, out of any material, they can find, duvets and sheets etc, bit of a sad state, the price paid for relying on cheap overseas manufacturing, I suspect there will be a great many changes, when we get ourselves sorted........Well I hope so.

Government 'ignores' UK textiles firms desperate to make PPE
Too much emphasis placed on brand names to help during coronavirus crisis, say industry sources.

The government has been too slow to enlist British textile firms to make protective gear for the NHS, according to industry figures, who say they have been desperate to contribute to the “war effort”.

Faced with a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), the Cabinet Office has only recently begun scrambling to source it from UK suppliers and has now outsourced the process to consultants from accountancy group Deloitte.

Industry figures said too much emphasis had been placed on high-profile names such as Burberry, the luxury fashion house that Matt Hancock said on 3 April was producing medical gowns.

Kate Hills, the founder of Make It British, which promotes brands that manufacture in the UK, said the government was ignoring less well-known textile specialists in favour of household names that play well with the public. “They’re just picking out brand names,” she said.

“The people who can make this PPE are not well-known names, they are contract manufacturers behind the scenes. They’ve filled in the government’s request forms and heard nothing back.”

Full article https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/apr/16/government-ignores-uk-textiles-firms-desperate-to-make-ppe

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #37 on: April 21, 2020, 02:23:14 pm »
Some interesting info from Health Minister Vaughan Gething giving the Welsh Government's coronavirus update briefing today.

Last updated: 14 mins ago
Latest coronavirus news with updates regionally, nationally and around the world.

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18393367.coronavirus-latest-dozens-covid-cases-confirmed-north-wales/


PS 
Tough new second home owner lockdown rules on the way
First Minister Mark Drakeford said an announcement would come at the weekend

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/tough-new-second-home-owner-18124962

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #38 on: April 22, 2020, 10:26:15 am »
Firm works against the clock to deliver 1000 beds for North Wales in fight against Covid-19.

Now nearing completion, the facilities at Ysbyty Enfys Glannau Dyfrdwy (Rainbow Hospital Deeside), Ysbyty Enfys Llandudno (Rainbow Hospital Llandudno), and Ysbyty Enfys Bangor (Rainbow Hospital Bangor) will open their doors next month.

cont  https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18396135.firm-works-clock-deliver-1000-beds-north-wales-fight-covid-19/?ref=rss

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #39 on: April 23, 2020, 10:35:31 am »
New guidance will block thousands of second home owners from accessing lockdown grants
Only those who can prove the majority of their income derives from the property will be able to access Welsh Government financial support.

Thousands of second home owners will not be able to take advantage of an  “unethical loophole” allowing them to access taxpayer-funded grants during the lockdown, the Welsh Government has confirmed.

Fears were raised by several local authorities earlier this week that a "gap" in the £1.1bn financial support package for small business would allow holiday home owners to apply for £10,000 grants, designed to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on the local economy.
cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/new-guidance-block-thousands-second-18134797


Coronavirus: Social restrictions 'to remain for rest of year'

The UK will have to live with some disruptive social measures for at least the rest of the year, the government's chief medical adviser has said.

Prof Chris Whitty said it was "wholly unrealistic" to expect life would suddenly return to normal soon.
He said "in the long run" the ideal way out would be via a "highly effective vaccine" or drugs to treat the disease.
But he warned that the chance of having those within the next calendar year was "incredibly small".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52389285

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #40 on: April 24, 2020, 10:27:30 am »
During last nights Thank You "clap" for the NHS, someone let off loud fireworks, very unexpected, a bit later, we heard about an autistic boy who loves being outside for the 8pm "Clap", who had to be taken inside, and will probably not join in again, also pet owners who were caught out, being unprepared, don't want to spoil anybody's fun, but perhaps a time and place.

On a lighter note.......

AN iconic North Wales bridge turned blue to say thank you to NHS staff and other key workers.

The Network Rail-owned Britannia Bridge, which spans the Menai Strait between Anglesey and the mainland carrying the railway line from Chester to Holyhead, was illuminated at 8pm on Thursday (23 April) to coincide with the nation’s weekly Clap for Carers.
https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18402656.north-wales-britannia-bridge-goes-blue-nhs-key-workers/


CADW and town council light up Conwy Castle in rainbow colours during Clap for Carers

A CONWY landmark has become a colourful beacon of hope in honour of NHS heroes and key workers.

The fifth consecutive week of the national 'Clap for Carers' tribute saw Conwy Castle illuminated in rainbow colours for the first time in a awe inspiringdisplay of appreciation.
https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/18402923.cadw-town-council-light-conwy-castle-rainbow-colours-clap-carers/

Offline Ian

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #41 on: April 24, 2020, 10:54:34 am »
From the ‘you couldn’t make it up’ department.

Donald Trump’s latest idea: “I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?”

Trump has previously hyped a malaria medication, hydroxycloroquine, as a possible treatment for coronavirus, though he has stopped touting that drug recently.

This week a study of coronavirus patients in a US government-run hospital for military veterans found more deaths among those treated with hydroxychloroquine than those treated with standard care.

We know Trump is of very, very low intelligence;  it's just a shame that so many of his ardent supporters also appear to be. And they vote...
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline mondie

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #42 on: April 24, 2020, 02:00:27 pm »
The castle was spectacular last night. I went for my daily walk late to minimise contact with other people and am glad I did, it was worth seeing. There were a lot of people driving around for a look, inevitable I suppose. It is very noticeable that people are becoming less bound by the lockdown, I can see noticeably more traffic on my daily walks. Early on I could walk along roads with no bother, now I have to be more wary and let cars past regulalry;

castle1 by Simon Gee, on Flickr

castle by Simon Gee, on Flickr

Offline SteveH

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #43 on: April 24, 2020, 04:33:49 pm »
From the ‘you couldn’t make it up’ department.
Donald Trump’s latest idea: “I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?”

Trump has previously hyped a malaria medication, hydroxycloroquine, as a possible treatment for coronavirus, though he has stopped touting that drug recently.

This week a study of coronavirus patients in a US government-run hospital for military veterans found more deaths among those treated with hydroxychloroquine than those treated with standard care.

We know Trump is of very, very low intelligence;  it's just a shame that so many of his ardent supporters also appear to be. And they vote...

I saw the statement on the lunch time news, followed by disclaimers from disinfectant companies, do not drink/ingest or inject these products, I suppose it had to be done, if they voted for trump, they might be daft enough, to do what he suggested.

Offline Ian

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Re: General Covid 19 news
« Reply #44 on: April 24, 2020, 05:55:05 pm »
I understand some are suggesting the president follows his own advice: injects himself with dettol then drinks a cup of Jeyes fluid.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.