Deaths of two nurses from Covid-19 ruled as industrial disease

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Senior coroner Graeme Hughes concluded on Friday that although they were given appropriate personal protective equipment Mr Roberts and Ms David were “exposed to Covid-19 infection at work, became infected and that infection caused” their deaths. Mr Hughes said: “Gareth Roberts was a bank nurse who, in March 2020, worked predominantly on a winter pressures ward at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. “It is more likely than not he was exposed to the Covid-19 virus whilst at work, became infected and died as a consequence.” Concluding Ms David’s case, the coroner said: “Domingo David was a nurse at Llandough Hospital in Penarth and on the evening of the 31st of March 2020 she became unwell while at work with symptoms suggesting a Covid-19 infection. “Based upon my findings, my conclusion will be one of industrial disease.” Mr Hughes offered “deepest condolences” to Mr Roberts’ wife Linda, who was in court, and Ms David’s son, who was watching on videolink.