Covid: Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board bans visitors due to case rise

A health board has restricted visiting because of rising numbers of Covid-positive patients.

People have been asked not to visit Cwm Taf Morgannwg's hospitals in Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf from Friday.

The health board said in a statement it was for "the safety of our patients and staff".

There are some exceptions to the restrictions, including end-of-life patients and women in labour.

Wales' fourth biggest health board covers a population of about 450,000 people and is the hardest hit area of Wales during the pandemic with 1545 Covid deaths.

The health board's director of public health Kelechi Nnoaham previously warned of a "very difficult autumn and winter" for the Welsh NHS.

He said although hospital admissions were lower due to vaccinations, the current trend in cases was worrying.

At the time, there were 67 Covid patients in its hospitals, which include major facilities in Merthyr, Bridgend and Llantisant - the highest since mid-February.

Latest figures showed a spike in cases of confirmed cases in the health board's hospitals in recent days.

There were 112 patients with Covid in beds on Wednesday; at the end of June, there were no confirmed Covid patients at all in its beds.

The number has risen by 65% week although still only half the numbers we saw at the same point in the second wave.

But the numbers in critical care with Covid are the highest of any Welsh health board and close to matching the numbers critically ill with other conditions.

Another complication has been a rise in hospital-acquired infections in the health board, with 26 probable and definite Covid infections reported by Public Health Wales in the latest week.

Patients catching Covid once inside hospitals became a major issue for the health board last autumn.

Out in the community, there has been a spike in Covid cases, especially in Merthyr Tydfil.

It has shown the highest proportional growth in the UK and is now the 15th highest of all local authorities.

Its case rate - 812.25 cases per 100,000 population - follows 490 positive tests in the past week. It was last this high on Christmas Eve, although back then the situation was different - it was early on in the vaccine roll-out and full restrictions had started.

The health boards' director of nursing and midwifery, Greg Dix, said: "Despite easing of some restrictions in society, we are still very much living in a pandemic, and the numbers of patients ill with Covid and needing hospital care is rising each day.

"Taking this difficult decision to restrict visiting allows us to control the levels of Covid in our hospitals, keeping our patients and staff as safe as possible."

Under the new rules, visitors will only be allowed for those receiving end-of-life care, while one partner or support person will be able to accompany a woman in labour.

A partner will also be able to attend ultrasound appointments, while all outpatients must attend alone.

The health board encouraged patients to use the free WiFi available to keep in contact with loved ones.