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Public Health Wales (PHW) reported 69 deaths on Sunday, the highest number of deaths reported in a single 24-hour period since the onset of the pandemic in March.
It’s double the number reported the day before, meaning 3,115 people have died in Wales since March with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus.
Almost half of the recorded deaths (34) occurred at the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Board of Health, 19 at Aneurin Bevan, six at Swansea Bay, and five at Cardiff and Vale.
2,334 new positive cases were also reported on Sunday, the first day of the new level four restrictions that will be applied over Christmas.
It brings the overall total of confirmed cases since the pandemic began to 122,766.
Following the latest figures, the infection rate now stands at 613.3 cases per 100,000 people based on the seven days to December 15, significantly higher than the 400 marker that determined that Wales should move to the high alert level of level four.
These figures are based on the date the tests were performed, not the date the test results were entered into the system, which means it is an accurate reflection of the extent to which the virus is spreading rapidly. in Wales.
The percentage of tests that are tested positive is also 22.5% in Wales, which means that more than a fifth of people who are tested have the virus.
Key details
- Deaths reported today: 69
- Cases reported today: 2,334
- Number of tests performed: 17,201 (vs 19,645)
- Total laboratory confirmed coronavirus deaths in Wales: 3,115
Merththe Tydfil remains the local authority with the highest infection rate in Wales with a seven-day rate of 1,225.0 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Bridgend has the second highest rate with 1,118.0 per 100,000 inhabitants. Blaenau gwent is third with 981.9 houses per 100,000.
The three areas with the highest percentage of positive tests are Neath Port Talbot with 30.1%, Bridgend with 29.9% and Merthyr Tydfil with 27.2% for the week to December 15.
Neath Port Talbot has the highest number of new cases on Sunday with 255, followed by Bridgend with 254, Cardiff with 253, Swansea with 248, Rhondda Cynon Taf with 224.
Other local authorities reporting a very high number of positive cases include Carmarthenshire with 173, Newport and Caerphilly with 132 each, Vale of Glamorgan with 90, Merthyr Tydfil with 79, Blaenau Gwent with 73, Monmouthshire with 68, Torfaen with 64 , Wrexham with 49 and Flintshire with 41.
Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire had 34 new cases, Powys had 32, Denbighshire had 21, Ceredigion had 18, and Gwynedd had 14.
Only two authorities reported new cases in single figures, with Conwy with eight cases and Anglesey with three.
Cases per 100,000 for seven consecutive days (December 9-15)
Aneurin Bevan University Board of Health
Newport: 878.0 (up from 858.6)
Caerphilly: 856.0 (instead of 835.6)
Blaenau Gwent: 981.9 (from 929.0)
Torfaen: 830.1 (from 788.6)
Monmouthshire: 471.5 (instead of 438.7)
Betsi Cadwaladr University Board of Health
Wrexham: 421.5 (from 392.0)
Flintshire: 241.5 (up from 246.6)
Denbighshire: 158.8 (up from 157.8)
Conwy: 85.3 (from 81.9)
Gwynedd: 82.7 (unchanged)
Anglesey: 40.0 (unchanged)
Cardiff and Vale University Board of Health
Cardiff: 652.5 (from 637.2)
Vale of Glamorgan: 569.7 (up from 530.0)
Cwm Taf Glamorgan University Board of Health
Merthyr Tydfil: 1,225.0 (instead of 1,233.3)
Bridgend: 1,1,118.0 (compared to 1,028.2)
Rhondda Cynon Taff: 858.8 (instead of 842.2)
Hywel Dda University Board of Health
Carmarthenshire: 721.5 (from 690.3)
Ceredigion: 218.7 (instead of 207.7)
Pembrokeshire: 259.9 (up from 264.7)
Powys Teaching Health Council
Powys: 219.7 (from 218.2)
Swansea Bay University Board of Health
Neath Port Talbot: 953.8 (instead of 877.1)
Swansea: 776.9 (up from 770.9)
Wales Total – 613.3 (from592.3)
On Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Drakeford announced that level four lockdown restrictions would begin at midnight in Wales, Saturday 19 December. You can read his full statement here.
The decision to introduce restrictions ahead of schedule came after a new strain of the virus emerged in the southeast.
It means that all of Wales is now completely locked in and the Christmas bubble rules allowing two households to join together will apply only on Christmas Day. Alert level 4 in Wales means that:
- people must stay home except for very limited purposes
- people should not visit other homes or meet other people they do not live with
- many types of businesses are required to close
There are special rules for Christmas Day that you can read here.
Level four restrictions apply to all of Wales and will be reviewed after three weeks, but there is no end date.
The Welsh Government has reconfirmed that the size of the Christmas bubbles will become law, meaning it will be illegal for more than two families to get together.
Dr Giri Shankar, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Response at Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales is working with the Government of Wales, local health boards, local authorities and other partners following the Announcement of national restrictions in Wales as of midnight December 20, 2020.
“Under the new restrictions, people must stay home, except for very limited purposes. People should not visit other homes or meet other people they do not live with. Non-essential retail, close contact services, gyms and leisure centers, and hospitality will also close.
“The rules that allow two households to come together to form a Christmas bubble will now apply only on Christmas Day.
“As the Government of Wales indicated, the immediate introduction of new restrictions is related to the identification of a new, more transmissible variant of the coronavirus. Public Health Wales has been working with UK partners to investigate and respond to this variant. “
Dr Shankar added: “It is normal for viruses to undergo mutations and we expect this to happen. Although the variant is easier to transmit, there is currently no evidence that it is more severe.
“We remind people that all current guidance related to coronavirus continues to apply to the new variant, including advice on symptoms, social distancing, self-isolation and vaccination.
“The new variant shows up positive in Public Health Wales’ existing coronavirus tests, and people should continue to seek a test in the usual way if they develop coronavirus symptoms.
“If you or a member of your household develops a cough, fever, or changes in your sense of taste or smell, you should immediately isolate yourself and book a free coronavirus test, either by calling 119 or clicking here.”
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