Coronavirus update from the Welsh Government

Latest coronavirus update from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) is: 

• Health Minister Vaughan Gething has today made an oral statement to the Senedd about the progress of Wales’ Vaccination Strategy: https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/11173#A64129
• Covid-19 vaccination programme (stock and distribution): as at 21 January 2021: https://gov.wales/covid-19-vaccination-programme-stock-and-distribution-21-january-2021
• Covid-19 vaccination programme: weekly updates: https://gov.wales/covid-19-vaccination-programme-weekly-updates 

• An extra £25m investment will help the NHS to continue the move to more digital services: https://gov.wales/ps25m-boost-digital-services-across-welsh-nhs
• Economy Minister Ken Skates’ statement on the latest labour market statistics: https://gov.wales/minister-economy-ken-skates-latest-labour-market-statistics
• Updated: Funeral guidance: https://gov.wales/guidance-funerals-covid-19
• Updated: Guidance for unpaid carers: https://gov.wales/guidance-unpaid-carers-coronavirus-covid-19-html

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 570 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 189,152 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Sadly, there were eight deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 4,561.
• These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

• The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is being published every weekday by Public Health Wales.
• The latest figures show 289,566 people have received their first dose
• And 581 people have received two doses of the vaccine
• https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary 

• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today published statistics on provisional weekly deaths, including deaths involving Covid-19, for the week ending 15 January 2021.
• The cumulative number of deaths involving Covid-19 occurring in Welsh residents was 6,074.
• Of the deaths registered in the week ending 15 January, there were provisionally 467 deaths involving Covid-19. This was the highest number of deaths involving Covid registered in a week since the pandemic began.
• For the period 29 February 2020 to 15 January 2021, there were a total of 4,865 excess deaths (17%) above the five-year average.
• The excess death rate for Wales for the period 29 February 2020 to 15 January 2021 was lower than in England.
• The numbers reported by ONS are different from those reported by Public Health Wales because of different reporting methods and timing. The ONS figures are higher because they include some extra cases.
• https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest 

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

• The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.
• If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days from when your symptoms started.
• Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus once you are self-isolating. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test
• You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.
• Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus  

Where to find the latest information

• Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4

• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/ and https://gov.wales/vaccine-coronavirus
• Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.