Health
Wales draws up emergency Covid urgent plan to stop NHS being overwhelmed
Wales draws up emergency Covid urgent plan to stop NHS being overwhelmed
The Welsh government has drawn up a “Covid urgent” plan designed to deal with any new coronavirus crisis that threatens to overwhelm the NHS this autumn and winter.
If the plan has to be brought in, it could mean that the Covid alert level for Wales, currently at zero, might be increased and restrictions reimposed.
However, the Labour-led government stressed it believed it was more likely that the country would be able to operate under a planning scenario it is calling “Covid stable”, in which Wales remains at alert level 0 through the autumn and winter, with all businesses staying open.
On Friday, the first minister, Mark Drakeford, is publishing an updated coronavirus control plan for the next few months.
Drakeford said on Thursday evening that Wales would remain at alert level 0 for the next three weeks, meaning all businesses are open. But he added: “We are facing a challenging winter ahead – coronavirus hasn’t gone away and flu is forecast to return this winter.” He urged everyone to be vaccinated for Covid – and all those who were eligible to also get a flu jab.
The latest version of the coronavirus control plan sets out two planning scenarios for the pandemic. In the first, Covid stable, Wales remains at alert level 0 through the autumn and winter, with all businesses able to open.
A Welsh government spokesperson said: “This is thought to be the most likely scenario for the future, as we become used to living with coronavirus and we gradually move out of the pandemic to a position where the virus becomes a seasonal illness.
“Under this scenario, if case rates fall, measures could be relaxed further in response, and if they rise, some existing measures could be strengthened to protect people’s health.”
The second planning scenario, Covid urgent, is designed to deal with any sudden changes to the situation, caused by the emergence of a new, fast-spreading variant or if vaccine immunity levels fall, causing a rise in pandemic pressures, which risk overwhelming the NHS.
The spokesperson said in such a scenario, the alert level system and restrictions would be used “proportionately”, but as a last resort.
Drakeford has made it clear he is determined to act cautiously this autumn and winter. People must still wear face masks in busy public places and the Labour-led government wants people to work from home whenever possible. A Covid pass to get into nightclubs and sporting events comes into force on Monday.
The Welsh government also announced on Thursday evening it would change its restrictions on international travel to keep them in line with England’s.
But the health minister, Eluned Morgan, said her government has urged the UK to take a “more precautionary approach”, adding: “We are concerned about the cumulative impact of the risk being carried in relation to opening up travel particularly from higher risk countries.”
Meanwhile, Andrew RT Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, said he was taking a “complete break” on doctor’s orders to focus on his recovery, having caught flu and Covid-19, which he said had taken a toll on his mental health.
Health
Akwa Ibom records five monkeypox cases
The Akwa Ibom State Government has raised the alarm over the increasing cases of monkeypox in the state, with five confirmed cases recorded so far.
The government has urged residents to be vigilant as the disease spreads across local government areas.
During an update on Friday, September 6, the state government revealed that out of 30 samples collected for diagnosis, five tested positive. The initial four confirmed cases included three males and one female, aged 2, 4, 12, and 41.
Samuel Etuk, the official in charge of disease surveillance and notification at the state Ministry of Health, confirmed the fifth case and noted that contact tracing efforts are underway while the affected individuals are in isolation.
Etuk provided details at a Media Review Meeting organized by Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N) in collaboration with the State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (STBLCP).
He emphasized the importance of community involvement in monitoring the disease, with 10 informants engaged in each of the state’s 368 political wards to report cases to health authorities.
Etuk explained that Mpox can be transmitted from animals to humans (a zoonotic process), as well as through direct or indirect human contact. Transmission can occur through contact with urine, blood, faeces, skin lesions, and oral secretions.
Symptoms of Mpox typically appear after an incubation period of 5 to 21 days and include fever, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, back pain, rashes, and muscle pain. The rashes often start on the face and spread to other parts of the body.
To prevent further spread, residents are advised to avoid contact with sick animals or humans, maintain proper hygiene, and report any suspected cases to health authorities or the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Etuk reminded the public that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared Mpox a global public health emergency of international concern in August 2024, signaling the need for heightened awareness and preventive measures.
Health
FG to establish blood collection centres in 774 LGAs
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish Blood Collection Centres in all 774 local government areas, including the FCT, to ensure availability of blood during medical emergencies and transfusions.
Abdullahi Haruna, Head, Media and Publicity, National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
The statement quoted Prof. Saleh Yuguda, the Director-General, NBSA, as reiterating government’s commitment towards addressing blood shortages in the country as the initiative would save lives.
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“We are working tirelessly to ensure that blood needs are adequately addressed, and this initiative is a significant step towards achieving that goal.
“NBSA has partnered with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to establish a formidable blood bank at the Corp’s medical facility.
“This collaboration aims to mitigate blood shortages during medical emergencies and provide critical support to sister security agencies,” he said.
He explained that to kickstart the blood collection project, the FCT will host strategic blood collection facilities in easily accessible locations.
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“This move is expected to increase blood donation rates and ensure a steady supply of blood for medical purposes.
“The establishment of blood collection centers across Nigeria is a testament to the government’s commitment to improving the country’s healthcare system.
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“As the project rolls out, Nigerians should expect improved access to blood transfusions and better health outcomes,” he said.
The statement also disclosed that the Deputy Commandant Emeka Okeke of the NSCDC said: “this initiative will play a vital role in addressing blood shortages and saving lives.”
Health
WHO sets targets to end Mpox outbreaks in Africa
The World Health Organisation, WHO, has set a target of halting mpox outbreaks in Africa within the next six months.
This announcement came as the first vaccine shipments are expected to arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, in the coming days.
Africa, particularly the DRC, with over 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths, has received only a fraction of the vaccines to combat the virus.
At a press briefing on Monday, September 2, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed confidence in ending the outbreaks, citing strong government leadership and collaborative partnerships.
In August, WHO declared mpox outbreaks a global emergency to spur a more robust international response even though a new strain of mpox known as clade1b, has been identified in many countries, including Burundi, Cameroon, Rwanda, and Kenya.
The potentially more contagious variant of the virus was detected in Congo in May, prompting heightened concerns among health officials.
WHO estimates that approximately 230,000 vaccines could soon be sent to Congo and other affected countries. The WHO is also implementing educational campaigns to inform people in outbreak areas about preventing the spread of the disease.
Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said it aims to receive 380,000 vaccine doses from donors, including the US and the EU, which falls short of the quantity required to eradicate the outbreaks.
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