Virus outbreak death toll at hospital up to 21
THE number of deaths linked with a coronavirus outbreak at a hospital in South Wales has risen to 21.
A total of 127 cases of the virus are also now directly linked to transmission on site at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant since the outbreak was reported there last week.
All elective surgeries, except a “very small number” of urgent cancer cases, have already been suspended, while adult emergency admissions and ambulance patients are being diverted to other hospitals in order to contain the spread of Covid-19.
However, there is no change to the self-contained paediatric wards at the Royal Glamorgan, which remain open.
Yesterday, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said it was also monitoring a number of cases at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil and Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
To date, the health board said there have been 17 cases linked to the outbreak at Prince Charles and one death, while there were 15 cases linked to the Princess of Wales outbreak and one death.
The health board’s medical director, Dr Nick Lyons, said: “In conjunction with Public Health Wales, we continue to closely monitor cases at Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Prince Charles Hospital and Princess of Wales Hospital sites.
“The safety of our patients and staff remains our first priority and immediate measures to contain the spread of the virus have been put in place.
“We are taking the outbreaks extremely seriously and the stringent and robust mitigating actions which have been taken across our sites are being closely observed.
“Given the nature of coronavirus, there is an inevitable time delay in when we will see the positive impact of these measures.”
He added: “We apologise for the concern that this will cause to families and our communities.
“Infection rates also continue to rise in our communities and we are appealing to all members of the public to take seriously their responsibilities by ensuring their behaviour does not contribute to the further spread of Covid-19.
“We remain grateful to all members of our community who are continuing to adhere to the guidance in order to help control this virus.”
The Welsh Conservative shadow health minister, Andrew RT Davies, criticised Welsh Labour for not learning from an earlier outbreak at Wrexham Maelor Hospital in North Wales.
He said: “In the summer, there was a similar outbreak at Wrexham Maelor and Labour’s health minister claimed lessons would be learnt. “Tragically, this has not happened.” Dr Frank Atheron, Wales’ chief medical officer, confirmed at the Welsh Government’s Covid-19 press briefing that the outbreak at the Royal Glamorgan was still being “brought under control”.
But despite saying he was seeing “some improvements” in the rate of viral transmissions in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area, in which the hospital is located, the number of new cases there and across Wales was still “high”.
A helpline has been set up for anyone who has concerns relating to the Covid-19 outbreak at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. Call 01685 726464 between 9am and 4.30pm (Monday-Friday).