Pandemic update from Welsh Government

 

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

• The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) Regulations 2020 have been amended to place requirements on businesses and premises to undertake a specific coronavirus risk assessment.
• They strengthen requirements on retail to specify certain reasonable measures they must take to keep shoppers and staff safe in store.
• https://gov.wales/written-statement-amendments-health-protection-coronavirus-restrictions-no-5-wales-regulations-2020

 

• Health Minister Vaughan Gething has provided an update about progress a week after the Vaccination Strategy was published: https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-vaccine-strategy-one-week

 

• The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt, today thanked all the brilliant, kind people from all backgrounds throughout Wales who are volunteering to help communities face lockdown together https://gov.wales/thank-you-all-our-wonderful-volunteers-wales-please-stay-safe-alert-level-4

 

• The facts about coronavirus: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-facts

 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,106 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 182,599 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 4,302.
• 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 161,932 people have received their first dose
• And 265 people have receive 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 about provisional weekly deaths, including deaths involving Covid-19, for the week ending 8 January.
• The cumulative number of deaths involving Covid-19 in Welsh residents up to 8 January was 5,599.
• Of the deaths registered in the week ending 8 January, there were provisionally 454 deaths involving Covid-19. This was the highest number of deaths involving Covid registered in a week since the pandemic began – higher than the first peak in April, but this may be affected by registration delays following bank holidays over the Christmas and New Year period.
• For the period 29 February 2020 to 8 January 2021, there were 4,551 excess deaths (16%) above the five-year average.
• The excess death rate for Wales for the period 29 February 2020 to 8 January 2021 was lower than in England.
• 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/
• 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.