Care home staff need better protection from new Covid variant - campaigner
A social care campaigner is calling on the Welsh Government to urgently invest in higher grade PPE to defend against the new coronavirus variant sweeping care homes.
Glyn Williams, a member of the Care Forum Wales Council, has grave concerns about the ability of the current visors and masks worn by care workers in Powys and across Wales to provide protection against the more transmissible mutant strain of the disease.
He said a huge number of care homes were now battling infections – despite keeping the virus out for the past nine months.
Mr Williams said the change in the ‘spike protein’ in the new Covid-19 variant appears to be outsmarting the bodies natural defences and says better protection could be achieved by higher performance face coverings and masks, especially in settings more vulnerable to the disease.
He said: “Our current PPE level is based on the evidence in March, indicating that Covid transmitted in large droplets. The recommended protection for droplet protection is a surgical mask and splash eye protection such as a visor.
“The Government advice changed a couple of months ago, telling us that Covid builds up in airborne plumes and for us to ensure that enclosed spaces have plenty of ventilation.
“If you walk into a smoky room with a visor and surgical mask, the smoke will get into your eyes mouth and nose,” explained Mr Williams.
“Surely, if you walk into a plume of Covid then it will similarly get into your eyes, mouth and nose.
He said what was needed was the FFP3 type of mask.
“The change in the new variant, as far as we know or understand, is that it makes Covid easier to attach to the cells. Surely, it makes sense to actually protect ourselves more thoroughly by preventing even the smallest amount entering our eyes, nose or mouth.
“If staff are infected and pre-symptomatic, FFP3 masks will help prevent us accidentally breathing plumes of Covid onto our residents and infecting them."
Mario Kreft, chair of Care Forum Wales, which represents nearly 500 independent providers said: “Managers and staff are terrified of the capabilities of this new variant of the disease and deserve the highest possible protection while working in a vulnerable environment.
“Our magnificent frontline care home staff , who have battled heroically to keep their residents safe across Wales, all live in the community and therein lies the problem, especially as threequarters of those who catch it do not have any symptoms.
“The rate at which Covid is spreading, and aggressively attacking our cells, is deeply worrying. It is vital the Government acts fast before many more lives are lost."
