Covid-19 outbreaks hit two Welsh hospitals

Two Welsh hospitals have been hit with outbreaks of Covid-19.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has confirmed it is dealing with outbreaks of the deadly virus.

Two wards at Ysbyty Gwynedd and one at Ysbyty Eryri in Caernarfon, in the same county have been hit.

The health board said it was caring for 34 patients with Covid-19 infections across both sites.

Of these patients, 14 have confirmed hospital-acquired infections.

The affected patients are being isolated and wards are currently closed while visiting remains restricted.

The health board’s executive director of nursing and midwifery Gill Harris told the BBC: “A programme of staff and patient testing is under way and our priority is to bring this outbreak to a close as soon as possible.

“In recent weeks, cases of Covid-19 have continued to increase in our community and we have seen a rise in the number of patients admitted to our hospitals needing treatment due to contracting the virus.

“This is a timely reminder that the virus has not gone away and we would urge anyone who has not received their vaccination to visit our website to book an appointment or visit one of our drop-in clinics.”

‘Terrible reminder’ 

Responding to news that Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board are currently dealing with outbreaks of Covid-19 in Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and Ysbyty Eryri in Caernarfon, Sian Gwenllian, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for Arfon, said: “These latest hospital outbreaks are a terrible reminder that Covid is not gone, and great care is still needed.

“This is of particular concern given the backlog that we know that every hospital is facing, and the increased pressure from so many visitors to tourist areas such as north west Wales.

“Across Wales, cases are rising and we’re starting to see a corresponding increase in hospital transmission. It’s vitally important that Welsh Government continues its outreach programme to ensure as many people as possible receive the vaccine.”

Welsh Conservative spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with those concerned, from the patients and their families to staff in the two hospitals.

“We’ve constantly been told by Labour ministers that they are learning lessons from hospital-acquired infections, yet here we are a year and a half later with more troubling outbreaks, which have tragically accounted for a quarter of the Covid-related deaths in Wales.

“This area of the Covid response in Wales should now be fully investigated in the independent public inquiry Labour are so desperate to avoid.”