Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The advice for returning travellers has been updated as a result of the increase in cases of novel coronavirus in a number of countries including Italy. Anyone potentially affected by this change in advice should not attend their GP practice or present at hospital Emergency Departments but should call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 or 111 Wales, if available in their area. Our services are prepared to take the expected increase in calls and our community testing teams are in place to respond if needed.
The risk to the UK remains moderate and to date there have been no imported cases of the novel coronavirus to Wales. We have already provided assessment and testing for over 200 individuals, all of whom were negative. Testing figures for Wales are now being published weekly by Public Health Wales.
We remain in the detection phase and cases in Wales are highly likely. We are working closely with the NHS and Social Care to ensure that should the situation change and we see some spread of novel coronavirus in the community our services are ready to provide a swift response.
People can help to lessen the chances of spreading any respiratory virus. The advice is to catch it, bin it, kill it and wash your hands.
I will continue to provide Assembly Members with a written update every Tuesday and more frequently if necessary.