A pilot programme monitoring coronavirus in Wales’ sewage systems is finding that virus spikes in the community can be detected in local waste water. The Welsh Government says the programme, launched in June, is now monitoring twenty sites across Wales and covers 80% of the Welsh population. Researchers from Welsh universities were the first to … Continue reading Waste water signals local Covid-19 spikes

Welsh Government Innovation is supporting the University of South Wales to demonstrate the viability of coronavirus mass temperature screening technology. The role of mass temperature screening to control Covid-19 is under review by administrations globally. In Wales its use in schools to manage infection risk has been considered by the Minister for Education Kirsty Williams … Continue reading Research to look at the viability of Covid-19 mass temperature screening

Two innovative projects from UWTSD’s Assistive Technologies Innovation Centre (ATiC) have been shortlisted for the UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards 2020. Both projects aim to improve patients’ lives with the use of technology. Established in 2004, the Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges. ATiC’s two shortlisted … Continue reading Innovative UWTSD projects shortlisted for the Green Gown Awards

A Cardiff University academic has welcomed the Welsh Government’s response to a report on the impact of Covid-19 on Wales’ black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. Cardiff University reports Professor Emmanuel Ogbonna is chair of the BAME Covid-19 Advisory Socio-economic Sub-group, which was set up by First Minister Mark Drakeford in response to the pandemic. … Continue reading Report on the impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities leading to change in Wales

New real time analysis demonstrating the spread of Covid-19 in Wales has directly informed the One Wales response to coronavirus. MediWales reports the modelling demonstrates the value of a real time spatio-temporal inferential mapping platform for public health efforts during the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. The project has prototyped and delivered data infrastructures … Continue reading Geospatial modelling to predict coronavirus prevalence at community level

Family carers for children and adults with intellectual disabilities have reported rates of mental health problems under lockdown that are up to ten times higher than parents without those responsibilities, according to a new study. Swansea University reports the carers were five times more likely to report severe anxiety, and between four and ten times … Continue reading Mental health problems among family carers up to 10 times higher during lockdown

Non-routine testing of patients with suspected Covid-19 to help predict their prognosis on admission to emergency departments offers limited benefit and could have significant cost implications, according to a collaborative evaluation by Cardiff University and the University Hospital of Wales. Cardiff University says the researchers drew together laboratory and clinical findings at Wales’ largest hospital … Continue reading Non-routine testing of patients with suspected Covid-19 “of little benefit” to assess risk

The Welsh Government have announced funding for the Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI) at Swansea University to develop a unique approach to next generation PPE in the fight against viruses. Swansea University reports the new equipment is designed to achieve protection from viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, which is predominantly transmitted via inhalable respiratory droplets. The … Continue reading Welsh Government funding for next generation PPE

A mathematician from Cardiff University has developed a new method for processing large volumes of Covid-19 tests which he believes could lead to significantly more tests being performed at once and results being returned much quicker. Cardiff University reports Dr Usama Kadri, from its School of Mathematics, believes the new technique could allow many more … Continue reading Faster coronavirus testing with simple algebraic equations

E-cigarette use among young people has fallen for the first time in Wales but declines in youth smoking have stalled, according to analysis from Cardiff University. The report is based on responses from 119,388 eleven to sixteen year olds who took part in the School Health Research Network’s (SHRN) 2019 Student Health and Wellbeing survey, … Continue reading Fewer young people in Wales vaping but no drop in smoking