‘follow the rules’ plea as 21 more people die
A FURTHER 21 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Wales, latest figures have revealed.
Public Health Wales (PHW), in its daily update yesterday, confirmed the Covid-19 death toll now stands at 1,848.
The NHS body also announced 1,375 new cases of the virus in the last 24, down from 1,414 on Wednesday.
A total of 47,834 people have now tested positive in Wales since the pandemic began in March.
Merthyr Tydfil remains the local authority with the most cases per 100,000 over a seven-day average at 523.8, a significant increase on 487.4 on Wednesday.
Rhondda Cynon Taf had the second-highest incidence rate with 463.4 cases, up from 458.8 on Wednesday, while Blaenau Gwent was third with 420.8, a rise on 389.3 from the previous day.
Wales as a whole now averages 233 cases per 100,000 people, an increase on 224.6 on Wednesday. The numbers look at a rolling seven-day average between October 20 and 26.
These are the key details released yesterday:
Deaths reported: 21;
Cases reported: 1,375 (down from 1,414 on Wednesday);
Number of tests carried out: 10,670 (up from 8,854 reported on Wednesday);
Total deaths with lab-confirmed coronavirus in Wales: 1,848.
Cardiff reported the most positive cases in the last 24 hours with 195, followed by Swansea with 160, Rhondda Cynon Taf with 151, Wrexham with 80, and Neath Port Talbot with 77.
Other local authorities reporting high numbers of cases included Merthyr Tydfil with 67, Caerphilly with 63, Flintshire with 62, Bridgend with 53, Torfaen with 52, and Blaenau Gwent with 51.
Meanwhile Newport had 41, Vale of Glamorgan had 39, Monmouthshire had 37, Conwy had 32, Carmarthenshire had 29, Powys had 21, Anglesey had 19, Denbighshire had 16, Gwynedd had 15, Pembrokeshire had 11, and Ceredigion had four.
Wales is now almost a week into a 17-day “fire-break” lockdown which will last until Monday, November 9.
Everyone is expected to stay at home wherever possible, non-essential retail is shut, and secondary schools will close for those in year nine and above.
It was announced on Wednesday that there would be consistent Waleswide measures coming after the firebreak.
Outlining how life will look after the short lockdown ends on November 9, Jeremy Miles, the Welsh Government’s counsel general and minister for European transition, said: “When we come out of this our shops will reopen, people will go back to work, churches and places of worship will resume services.
“Bars and restaurants will serve customers, people will be able to exercise and train in gyms.”
Dr Robin Howe, incident director for the novel coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Today Public Health Wales is reporting that 21 people have lost their lives from coronavirus.
“As the number of cases rise so too does the number of people who are hospitalised and sadly this will inevitably result in further deaths.
“These numbers demonstrate once again how serious this disease is and why it is so important to follow the regulations of the fire-break as well as practising social distancing.
“As Halloween approaches Public Health Wales is publishing guidance on joining in the Halloween spirit safely while we all stay at home to protect those we care about.
“This will include guidance for planning activities at home and ways to connect with others remotely.
“Keep an eye out on our social media channels for more information over the coming days.”