Over 800 new cases as 34 die
THIRTY-FOUR more people have died with coronavirus in Wales and more than 850 new cases have been confirmed.
Public Health Wales (PHW) yesterday announced 867 more people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 following a lab test, in the latest 24 hours of figures. This was a decrease on the 928 recorded the previous day.
The NHS body also confirmed 34 more people had lost their lives with the virus to take the death toll to 2,142 since the pandemic began.
Merthyr Tydfil is still the local authority with the most cases per 100,000 over a seven-day average with 421 cases, compared to 497.3 on Wednesday.
Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) has the second highest incidence rate with 341.1 cases per 100,000, down from 400.8 the day before.
Blaenau Gwent is third with 292, a drop from 333.5 the previous day.
Wales as a whole now averages 175.6 cases per 100,000 people, a drop from 193.8 on Wednesday.
Neath Port Talbot reported the most positive cases in the last 24 hours with 98, followed by Cardiff with 79, RCT with 69, Swansea with 66, Wrexham with 50 and the Vale of Glamorgan with 48.
Other local authorities in double figures included Caerphilly with 45, Flintshire with 43, Powys with 39, Carmarthenshire with 37, Newport with 35, Bridgend with 28, Torfaen with 24, Monmouthshire with 23, Merthyr Tydfil with 21, Blaenau Gwent and Denbighshire with 17, Gwynedd with 14 and Conwy with 11.
Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire had nine new cases, Ceredigion had five and Anglesey two.
Dr Eleri Davies, PHW’s incident director for the novel coronavirus outbreak response, said: “Public Health Wales strongly advises the public to take personal responsibility for their actions and to ensure that we are all doing as much as possible to limit the transmission of coronavirus.
“As we approach the first weekend since the firebreak restrictions have been lifted, we would remind everyone that coronavirus is still active in our communities, and therefore this does not mean a return to normality.
“We ask the public to observe the new regulations and to limit their contact with other people as much as possible so that we all work together to bring the numbers of positive cases down.
“This means staying out of other people’s homes, limiting the times and the numbers of people that you meet, maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene, working from home if you can, and self-isolating if you show symptoms of coronavirus or are asked to do so by contact tracers.
“It is extremely important that we only make essential journeys, maintain strict social distancing with those we don’t live with, and reduce the number of people that we meet.
“All of these actions will help to break the chains of transmission, reduce the spread of the virus, and keep people safe.
“We understand that people will want to carry on with their Christmas shopping now the firebreak has ended and so we would suggest to try to visit shops during off-peak times, to always maintain social distancing and to wear a face covering if you can.
“Options such as ‘click and collect’ or online purchasing may also be something to consider.
“This Saturday is Diwali, a festival which is celebrated by large numbers of people from India and of Indian heritage.
“We would ask those who are celebrating to do so safely, within your own household, and remember the regulations if you go out.
“If you choose to use fireworks, please take care and follow the fireworks code to avoid injury. We wish everyone celebrating a happy Diwali.”
Cases per 100,000 for rolling seven days (Nov 3-9)
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
■Blaenau Gwent: 292 (down) ■Caerphilly: 226.4 (down) ■Torfaen: 159.6 (down) ■Newport: 133.8 (down) ■Monmouthshire: 101.5 (down)
Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board
■Wrexham: 153.7 (down) ■Flintshire: 130.7 (down) ■Conwy: 70 (down) ■Denbighshire: 70 (up) ■Gwynedd: 52.2 (down) ■Anglesey: 47.1 (down)
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
■Cardiff: 180.7 (down)
■Vale of Glamorgan: 127.3 (up)
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
■Merthyr Tydfil: 421 (down) ■Rhondda Cynon Taf: 341.1 (down) ■Bridgend: 251.6 (down)
Hywel Dda University Health Board
■Carmarthenshire: 142 (down) ■Ceredigion: 108.7 (down) ■Pembrokeshire: 49.3 (up)
Powys Teaching Health Board ■Powys: 124.6 (down)
Swansea Bay University Health Board
■Swansea: 226.7 (down) ■Neath Port Talbot: 239.3 (down)
WALES TOTAL – 175.6 (down)