Covid: Christmas parties discouraged by NHS bosses

People have been advised against attending Christmas parties to ease "increasing pressures" on the NHS.

The message from Cardiff and Vale health board comes after four more cases of Omicron coronavirus variant were declared in Wales on Friday.

"In light of Omicron and increasing pressures we need to take urgent steps to protect ourselves, our colleagues, and our patients," it tweeted.

"We strongly discourage attending Christmas parties."

It comes as two more cases of the Omicron variant were announced in Wales - one in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board area, the other in Cwm Taf, taking the total to 15.

The chairman of the Cardiff Licensee Forum said he was "a bit surprised" to hear of the advice regarding Christmas parties.

"Only yesterday we had the decision from Welsh government - and ultimately obviously it's Welsh government that set down the rules and regulations," said Croeso Pubs owner Nick Newman.

"We've been through a period of great uncertainty for business and really this just adds to the mix of that uncertainty."

Mr Newman said his pubs in Cardiff have had cancellations right up until Christmas.

"We think that, certainly in terms of customers, it does create that confusion in their minds - can we, can't we, should we, shouldn't we?

"It's been really important that we do get clear messages out, so to our staff first and foremost and then to our customers and to businesses themselves, to clearly understand what is going on and who is actually calling the shots.

"So we need that sort of clarity, which I have to say we felt that we'd got from Welsh government so I have to say I find this less than helpful."

Wales' largest hospital has again urged people not to go to A&E if "it is not limb or life-threatening."

Following a press conference on Friday, no changes have been made to Covid restrictions in Wales, which remains under "alert level zero."

Mask guidance has been strengthened - urging people to wear face coverings in pubs while not drinking - and people have been urged to take a lateral flow test before going out.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said people should follow rules and get their booster jabs rather than change their Christmas plans, adding ministers did not want to "micro-manage" people's lives.

"The advice is this, that we should approach Christmas by doing all those thing that we know can help to protect us and other people from the virus," he said.

Last Saturday, the A&E unit at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff had waiting times exceeding nine hours.

Of Wales' 15 known cases of Omicron, 10 are in the Cardiff and Vale health board area.

The others are in the Swansea, Hywel Dda, Cwm Taf, Betsi Cadwaladr and Aneurin Bevan health boards.

Wales' coronavirus rules are now being reviewed weekly instead of every three weeks in response to the new variant.

On Friday, the UK reported 58,194 new Covid cases, including 448 of Omicron.

In Scotland, public health officials have also urged people to cancel Christmas parties due to the rising number of cases of the Omicron Covid variant linked to gatherings.