Two cases of coronavirus in Carmarthenshire
The first two cases of coronavirus have been found in Carmarthenshire, the Welsh Government announced today.
The two patients in the Carmarthenshire local authority area had recently returned together from northern Italy.
It comes as the Hywel Dda Health Board which serves the area opened two centres to test for coronavirus, one in Cardigan and one in Carmarthen.
The health board announced it had opened the testing centres to “help protect the health of our communities”, while also saying that centres could be opened in other areas across the health board.
The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton, confirmed that a total of nine patients in Wales had tested positive for coronavirus (COVID -19) today, bringing the total to 15.
The other seven patients were tested following tracing in connection with the Neath Port Talbot Council resident who was tested positive at the weekend and which was announced yesterday.
One of the seven is a resident of Cardiff local authority area, one is from Swansea local authority area and the other five are all from Neath Port Talbot local authority area.
All nine patients are being managed in clinically appropriate settings, the Welsh Government said.
‘Contact tracing’
Dr Atherton said: “I can confirm that nine additional individuals in Wales have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of positive cases in Wales to 15.
“All of the individuals are being managed in clinically appropriate settings. All appropriate measures to provide care for the individuals and to reduce the risk of transmission to others are being taken.
“We have always been clear that we expected the number of positive cases to increase, which is in line with what has happened in other parts of the world.
“The identification of the seven individuals linked to the Neath Port Talbot resident case shows that the contact tracing and community testing being carried out by Public Health Wales is working as it should.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to assure the public that Wales and the whole of the UK is prepared for these types of incidents. Working with our partners in Wales and the UK, we have implemented our planned response, with robust infection control measures in place to protect the health of the public.”
To protect patient confidentiality, no further details regarding the individuals will be released, the Welsh Government said.
For the latest information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) please check the Public Health Wales website.
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Oh dear! I have asthma. Back in 2012 I was very ill just after catching a cold virus. I was off work for 3 weeks. I had to go to hospital every day for nebulisers until the steroids kicked in – which took 2 courses!
Hopefully I won’t get this virus.
If you want to know what’s it all about check out Dr John Campbell on YouTube – no nonsense facts and info!
Your concern is of course understandable and I wish you the best. But why do you recommend this guy on YouTube? What’s wrong, unclear or deficient with the information and advice being given by the Chief Medical Officers of the 4 home nations, Public Health Wales, the Welsh and UK Governments and the WHO?
Should anyone returning from areas that have confirmed cases of coronavirus be obliged to inform their local health agency? Even if they feel perfectly OK, they might be carriers that could potentially infect others with underlying health problems.
Roedd yn anochel y byddai achosion yn digwydd yng Nghaerfyrddin rywbryd. Gofynnwch i’ch hun, “A yw fy siwrnai yn wirioneddol angenrheidiol” a dilynwch gyngor Dr Frank Atherton.