Mario Kreft MBE says this is a 'cruel reminder' of how dangerous Covid-19 is

Those deaths, as well as 56 positive cases connected to Covid-19 have been discovered among residents at Llangollen Fechan Care Hom (below). In addition, 33 staff members have tested positive for the virus over the same period.

This is according to the Incident Management Team (IMT), comprising of Denbighshire County Council, Public Health Wales and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board who have been investigating cases there.

Responding to the news, Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “We would like to extend our condolences to the families of those who have passed away.

“It is a deeply worrying time for everybody concerned and our thoughts are with the residents and staff who have also been affected by the virus.

“This tragic case is a stark and cruel reminder how virulent and dangerous the Covid-19 is.

“Care Forum Wales has recently launched a renewed campaign to shield social care and save lives this winter.

“The key message is how vulnerable the residents of care homes are and how everyone has to work to ensure that these people are protected.

“There are more than 20,000 care home beds Wales compared to 12,000 beds in our hospitals so social care plays an absolutely vital role in supporting the NHS, now more so than ever.

“Right at the outset of the pandemic, Care Forum Wales was ahead of the curve in calling for an efficient and effective testing regime and, while things have improved, we are not there yet.

“If we don’t protect the vulnerable people for whom we provide care and our staff many more people will die as a result. We cannot and must not let that happen.”