Coronavirus could put Welsh NHS under enormous strain, says first minister

Mark Drakeford was quizzed on the Welsh Government's response on Tuesday

The coronavirus outbreak could put "enormous strain" on public services in Wales including the NHS, the first minister has warned.

Mark Drakeford said that under a "realistic worst case scenario" 80% of the population could contract the virus and that would include medical staff.

He also said plans were being drawn up to deal with the potential impact on early years education.

It also emerged a worker in Cardiff had been diagnosed with Covid-19.

He was working in a Sky call centre.

Earlier, Mr Drakeford's Finance Minister, Rebecca Evans, said any emergency aid from the UK government to tackle the virus should reflect the needs of Wales' older population and manufacturing sector.

The UK budget, on Wednesday, is expected to be dominated by dealing with the immense challenges of the outbreak.

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Mr Drakeford was questioned by opposition leaders on the response to the virus in the Senedd on Tuesday.

He said: "If a realistic worst case scenario were to emerge in which 80% of the population contracts coronavirus and 25% of the population contracted it in a way that required significant medical intervention, that is going to place an enormous strain on all our public services, including the health service."

The first minister continued: "Because people who work in the health service will be equally affected by the virus, so we will face a position in which there will be significantly increased demand and real strain on the people who are left to supply [heathcare services]."

Mr Drakeford said his government was working with the health service to "identify the plans that can be put in place, the resources that can be mobilised".

But those resources will not simply be beds, he said. "They will be people to provide the services that are needed," he said.

Mr Drakeford said that the impact would be felt "over many weeks".

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said the NHS in Wales had the lowest number of critical care beds for the size of population than the rest of the UK and this "needs to increase drastically".

On early years education, the first minister suggested the ratio of adults to children could be adjusted to help cope with staff absences.

Welsh Conservative assembly leader Paul Davies said he welcomed Mr Drakeford's responses.

"However, we Welsh Conservatives will be monitoring how effective these policies and approaches are in Wales, particularly on public transport. I have heard first-hand of people using Transport for Wales services, who found no soap and not even any hot water in the train's WCs," he said.

Transport for Wales said it is "stocking and issuing additional sanitizer" and reviewing cleaning regimes.

"Proactive measures have been put into place whereby supplies of soap are well stocked."

'Strike a balance'

Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething said government officials are considering recommending greater home working and not using public transport.

He said the Welsh Government wanted "to strike a balance between keeping people safe and minimising the social and economic impact".

"Our decisions will reflect the scientific evidence, and take into account the trade-offs involved," he said.

"The actions we will consider include encouraging greater home working, not using public transport and other behavioural measures that people can voluntarily take to slow the spread of the disease.

"We will consider if those with more minor symptoms should self-isolate, but this will be informed by expert advice on the epidemiology of the outbreak, and we are not at that point today."