Capital now has highest Covid rates in all Wales
CARDIFF has the highest Covid rates anywhere in Wales.
The Welsh capital currently has more coronavirus than any other local authority in Wales as well as the highest proportion of tests coming back positive.
Wales-wide cases have fallen in recent weeks, prompting the Welsh Government to move forward plans to reopen gyms. However, Cardiff is the local authority with the highest figures of 35.7 per 100,000 over seven days whereas the overall Wales figure is 18.7.
Areas of Cardiff with the highest Covid levels based on population per 100,000 people:
■Trowbridge – 144.9
■South Riverside – 121.1
■Canton – 108.6
■Pwll-mawr & St Mellons East – 107.7
■Adamsdown – 99.4
■Llanrumney South – 91.1
■Splott – 81.1
■Grangetown North – 78.1
■Cathays North – 74.2
■Grangetown South – 72.4
Any amount of Covid is a cause for concern, but these figures need to be seen in context.
Each area is very small, with an average of 7,000 people. This means that one or two new cases can send the rate per 100,000 up very quickly.
The positivity rate in Cardiff (percentage of postive tests) is also the highest in Wales at 4.9%.
Many parts of Wales are now below 2%, with Bridgend just 0.9%.
Just because these particular areas are high now compared to other areas doesn’t mean they have always been so. From the start of the pandemic Gabalfa in Cardiff has been the area with the most cases.
However, currently it has the second-lowest in the whole city.
SCHOOLS in Wales are set to fully reopen today, along with remaining non-essential retail, and some travel restrictions will also be lifted.
Close-contact services will reopen and university campuses will welcome back students for blended face-to-face and online learning.
Wedding venue “show-arounds” by appointment will also be allowed, as part of the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions.
While restrictions on travel in and out of Wales are being lifted today, people will not be able to journey to countries outside the Common Travel Area – the UK, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Ireland – without a reasonable excuse.
Last week the Welsh Government announced it would be accelerating parts of its lockdown exit programme, with First Minister Mark Drakeford saying the “improvements” in the public health situation and the ongoing vaccination programme meant changes could be made to previously announced plans.
Under the new plan, organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people will be able to take place from April 26 instead of May 3.
Wedding receptions for up to 30 people will also be permitted outdoors from April 26 – again a week earlier than previously announced.
The reopening of gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities will be allowed from May 3, brought forward a week from May 10.
This will include for individual or oneto-one training, but not exercise classes.
An extended household rule will again allow two households to meet and have contact indoors from May 3, rather than May 10.
All dates are “subject to the public health situation remaining favourable” and will be confirmed at a review of coronavirus regulations on April 22, the Welsh Government said.
Mr Drakeford said the speeding-up of the timetable was “only possible because of the efforts everyone is making to protect themselves and their loved ones”.
He said: “The public health situation in Wales continues to improve thanks to everything you are doing to help us control this awful virus.
“Cases of the virus are falling and our incredible vaccination programme continues to go from strength to strength.
“Last week we set out our programme to further reopen the economy and relax the restrictions we have lived with for so long, as part of our careful, step-by-step approach to keeping everyone safe.
“This week, because of the improvements we continue to see, we can bring forward some of our plans. This is only possible because of the efforts everyone is making to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
From April 26 outdoor attractions, such as funfairs and theme parks, could be allowed to reopen – the date for which has not been changed.
Outdoor hospitality, including at cafes, pubs and restaurants, is also set to resume from the same unchanged date.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson yesterday urged people to “behave responsibly” when pub gardens reopen and restaurants resume outdoor dining in a major easing of England’s coronavirus lockdown.
Shops deemed non-essential are also reopening today, as are hairdressers, indoor gyms, swimming pools, nail salons and zoos, in another stride back towards normality.
However, social mixing indoors will remain heavily restricted, with around two in five adults yet to receive their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and the vast majority yet to get both.
The Prime Minister urged caution during the “major step forward” as a scientist advising the Government warned the rules must be followed to minimise a possible rebound in case numbers.
“I’m sure it will be a huge relief for those business-owners who have been closed for so long, and for everyone else it’s a chance to get back to doing some of the things we love and have missed,” Mr Johnson said.
“I urge everyone to continue to behave responsibly and remember ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’ to suppress Covid as we push on with our vaccination programme.”
The fanfare for the easing of restrictions has been muted by the national mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh.
Mr Johnson postponed his celebratory pint and Government communications have been pared back to essential messages after Philip’s death on Friday at the age of 99.
The “stay at home” order in Northern Ireland is also ending as the number of people permitted to meet outdoors rises from six to 10.
Professor Peter Horby, chairman of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), told Times Radio: “The watchword has got to be caution, really.
“It’s not clear exactly when or how big it will be, but there is, I think, inevitably going to be a bit of a rebound in the number of cases when things are relaxed.”
The Oxford University academic said the vaccination programme will minimise hospital admissions and deaths but warned it will not be completely effective.
“Now the extent of it really depends on how well we comply with the ongoing restrictions, so we really have to take this step by step,” he added.
“I think we can be joyful and enjoy the freedoms, but we’ve still got to realise there’s still a large number of people who’ve not been infected or vaccinated and so they will be at risk.”
In England, pubs and restaurants have been making changes during lockdown to maximise their ability to serve customers outside.
But the British Beer and Pub Association estimates that just 40% of licensed premises have the space to reopen for outdoor service.
The previous 10pm curfew rule and the requirement to order a substantial meal with a drink have been scrapped, but social distancing must be observed.
Domestic holidays can resume to an extent, with overnight stays permitted in self-contained accommodation, such as holiday lets and campsites where indoor facilities are not shared.
But these can only be used by members of the same household or support bubble.
International holidays remain banned until an unknown date amid a row over the cost of testing.