May - Jun 2020 Issue 94

Newsround NewsroundWales’ Report Roundup - Compiled by Kath Rhodes Welsh NHS 'As Prepared As It Can Be'

The Welsh NHS is "as well prepared" as it can be to deal with the expected surge in coronavirus cases, the health minister has said. Vaughan Gething said while he could not be "100% confident" the NHS would cope, all that could be done was being done whilst the majority of people were following restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. Mr Gething revealed that the Welsh NHS was effectively doubling in capacity to deal with the predicted increase in patients and added that military planners would help to add 7,000 new hospital beds and more than double the number of ventilators. He also announced 2,500 new staff would bolster the service, including retired professionals, GP locums and trainees. Critical care capacity has more than doubled across since the Covid-19 crisis took was prepared to introduce tougher measures if people hold last month. The government has said 48% of Wales' 350 did not stay at home. Although the feeling was the Welsh critical care ventilated beds are occupied, half of those with Government would "rather not" ban exercise outside the coronavirus patients. Hospitals could redeploy some of the home, it would be "a possibility" if more measures were 415 ventilators in other departments but the Welsh NHS is needed. He said the "handful of people" not following now buying a further 1,035 to care for the sickest patients. restrictions were "not just risking themselves but their Mr Gething did however explain that Welsh Government families and their community".

Captain Jones Completes NHS Charity Garden Marathon

marathon in his Swansea garden. Jones is supporting a campaign to raise extra resources for the Swansea Bay University LHB charitable fund during the Covid-19 pandemic. Jones had estimated the run would require around 700 lengths of his garden and he completed his challenge in just under four hours and 44 minutes. Ex- forward Jones has already substantially surpassed the £500 target on his Just Giving page and has currently raised more than £5,000. Jones explained his reason behind the run saying, "Like many I am confined to my home and as this situation plays out before me, I am just amazed at the strength of the human spirit and the generosity of so many. Those giving of their time, not because it's a job, but because they care, those Thirty-nine year old Ryan Jones, currently the Welsh putting the risk to their own health to one side because they 's performance director and - care. You truly are an inspiration and I just wanted to try and winning former Wales rugby captain has completed a support you." NEWSROUND

Cardiff Airport Needs More Cash From UK The UK government said it remained open to discussions. It comes as the Welsh Government announced it was "repurposing" loans already arranged for the airport. It appears that part of a £21m loan agreed in September 2019 will now be used by the airport to financially manage the coronavirus pandemic period. No commercial flights are operating from the airport but it remains open to provide freight, emergency or critical logistical services. Cardiff Airport said it had reduced its on-site staffing presence to "only the essential cover Economy Minister Ken Skates said the airport, owned needed" and added that "as it stands" it did not plan to make by the Welsh Government since 2013, now needs further redundancies. financial assistance from the UK Government during the The airport said approximately 150 of its staff were being coronavirus outbreak. He explained it should "change its furloughed and they would continue to receive their full policy towards providing further financial help for regional salary as the airport will top up the 80% being paid through airports". the UK government's job retention scheme.

Visitors Stay Home New Shadow Home Secretary Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds has been appointed to a key position in Sir Keir Starmer's new shadow cabinet. He was named as shadow home secretary by new leader Sir Keir on Sunday. Mr Thomas-Symonds said he would be focusing on the coronavirus pandemic as an "immediate task". The former barrister, who has been an MP since 2015, said he was "honoured" to be appointed to the role. He had previously served on the Labour front bench as shadow solicitor general under the previous Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. First Minister Mark Drakeford said he is "concerned Mr Thomas-Symonds is the first MP representing a Welsh to hear that visitors are travelling to parts of North and constituency to hold either the shadow home secretary or West Wales. "You will be fined by the police," he tweeted. home secretary positions since James Callaghan in the 1960s People making non-essential journeys and ignoring the and 1970s. Government's "stay at home" instruction are "putting lives at Home Secretary Priti Patel congratulated Mr Thomas- risk". Symonds on his appointment. Highways officials have said traffic on Wales' busiest roads In a post on Twitter she wrote: "I hope we can work has almost halved. together at this time of critical national importance." UK ministers said their "stay at home" message was an "instruction, not a request" as the latest figures showed 4,313 people with Covid-19 have died in the UK, 154 of them in Wales. Some politicians fear some people are "flouting" government advice and have either travelled to Wales on holiday at the start of the Easter break, or simply gone out to enjoy the warm weather. Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price stated, "This is a national emergency not a national holiday." He called on the Welsh Government to introduce emergency legislation and "impose a full travel ban into Wales without an official permit or valid reason - including arrangements to prevent unnecessary travel within Wales too. I'm concerned to hear widespread reports of people dangerously flouting the guidelines and making non-essential journeys to their second homes ahead of the Easter break. This is adding further pressure on an already exhausted public services doing their best to save lives." THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK