Written question WQ93735
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 6 days
Question
What steps is the Cabinet Secretary taking to deal with the increasing number of COVID cases across Wales?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The Welsh Government continues to closely monitor COVID-19 data alongside other respiratory and infectious diseases. The latest Public Health Wales integrated surveillance report shows COVID-19 infections overall have decreased including the weekly number of confirmed case admissions to hospital, and the number of cases who are inpatients.
As COVID-19 is not yet considered a seasonal illness, periodic increases in cases are to be expected and are managed in line with NHS Wales’s year-round planning process.
Planning is already underway by NHS organisations to prepare for the autumn COVID-19 vaccination programme. This will boost immunity in those at higher risk from COVID-19 and improve protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death. A written statement was issued on 2 August setting out the groups eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this autumn.