A third patient has died after contracting coronavirus in Wales, it has been announced.
Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton, confirmed the patient was 71 years old and was being treated at Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
It follows the deaths of a 68-year-old patient who was being treated at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, and a 96-year-old patient who was under the care of Morriston Hosptial staff in Swansea.
Dr Atherton said: “I’m very sorry to report that a third patient in Wales who tested positive for Covid-19 has sadly died. I offer my sincere condolences to their family and friends and ask that their request for privacy is respected.
“The patient, aged 71, had underlying health conditions and was being treated at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.”
The number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 has also risen today (Thursday, March 19) by 21 to 191.
Across Wales measures are being put in place by the Welsh Government, health boards and others to ensure critical care can cope with the rise in cases of Covid-19.
Dr Atherton said the number of beds in intensive care is doubling to cope with demand, and extra ventilators are being brought in so theatres, recovering rooms and wards in the private sector can act as make-shift ICUs.
All non-urgent appointments and procedures have been postponed indefinitely in order to retrain and redeploy staff to help those battling the effects of coronavirus.
GPs across Wales have had to suspend routine appointment booking and are, in some cases, speaking to patients via video-link in a bid to reduce face-to-face interactions.
UK Government Health Secretary confirmed on Friday that letters are being sent to more than 65,000 retired doctors and nurses in England and Wales asking them to return to the NHS to help cope with demand.
Efforts are also being made to increase the number of people being tested for Covid-19, with priority being given to patients currently in hospital, as well as health and social care staff on the frontline.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that trials for a vaccine will start within the next month.
The death toll globally has now surpassed 10,000, with more than 250,000 people tested positive for the virus.
