Ysbyty Gwynedd Covid outbreak shows just how quickly virus can spread from community, says NHS Wales chief exec

An outbreak of Covid-19 at a hospital in North Wales shows just how quickly the virus can spread from the community, the chief executive of NHS Wales has said.

On Monday, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board announced there were 49 cases linked to the outbreak across five wards at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

It has led to the postponement of most planned operations at the hospital.

As with other parts of the region, case rates in Gwynedd are currently higher than most other areas of Wales.

Dr Andrew Goodall, NHS Wales chief executive, said it showed how quickly the situation can change during the pandemic.

Speaking at today’s Welsh Government media briefing, he said: “I think it does show that this virus can take hold very quickly.

“When we look at the position across Wales, and we’ve described the overall position for Wales at 75 cases per 100,000 population, we are aware that there are some individual local authority areas in North Wales that are currently higher.

“Where there is high community prevalence, inevitably it finds a way into healthcare settings and I just think it just demonstrates how quickly that can translate.

“I do think that the health board has taken the appropriate steps from a safety and protection approach.

“There is a need for them to adjust some of their activities and to make sure that they are ensuring that the environment is as safe as possible, and that they can contain these outbreaks.

“They have also managed to demonstrate success in other areas across North Wales and I think one of the opportunities that they have is to be able to balance how they can switch some of the services across some of the other main hospital sites in North Wales.

“We will continue to keep an eye on those outbreaks over the course of the next seven to ten days in particular.”

You can watch today’s Q&A in full by clicking below:

Cynhadledd i'r Wasg byw | Live Press Conference 26.02.21 https://t.co/a8OQdIR6qi

— Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) February 26, 2021