Latest Covid-19 updates from Welsh Government

Latest Covid-19 update from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) is:

• First Minister Mark Drakeford has asked people to keep taking steps to protect each other and keep Wales safe from the wave of omicron cases.
• He has confirmed alert level 2 measures will stay in place in Wales following the outcome of the latest regulations review.
• https://gov.wales/people-asked-keep-wales-safe-alert-level-2-measures-stay-place
• Written statement – weekly review of alert level two measures: https://gov.wales/written-statement-review-health-protection-coronavirus-restrictions-no5-wales-regulations-2020-1
• Watch the First Minister’s press conference: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1479426357062893568
• Slides used in the First Minister’s press conference: https://gov.wales/slides-and-datasets-first-ministers-coronavirus-briefing-7-january-2022 

• Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has published a written statement about emergency Covid financial support for businesses, including for newly-established businesses: https://gov.wales/written-statement-emergency-covid-financial-support-including-newly-established-businesses 

• Updated guidance for schools: https://gov.wales/schools-coronavirus-guidance
• Get tested for coronavirus: https://gov.wales/get-tested-coronavirus-covid-19
• Alert level two – reasonable measures action cards for gyms, leisure centres, sports clubs and indoor sports facilities: https://gov.wales/gyms-leisure-centres-sports-clubs-dance-studios-and-other-indoor-sports-facilities-potential-reasonable-measures-action-card-alert-level-2
• Coronavirus Infection Survey (positivity estimates) – latest results: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-covid-19-infection-survey-positivity-estimates
• NHS beds, admissions and hospitalisations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: https://gov.wales/nhs-beds-admissions-and-hospitalisations-during-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic
• Travelling to Wales if you are fully vaccinated: https://gov.wales/travelling-wales-if-you-are-fully-vaccinated-coronavirus
• Rules for children travelling to Wales: https://gov.wales/rules-children-travelling-wales-coronavirus
• Find out whether your Covid-19 vaccination from another country is recognised in Wales: https://gov.wales/countries-whose-covid-19-vaccine-programmes-are-recognised-wales 

• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has re-published its statistics on provisional weekly deaths, including deaths involving Covid-19, for the week ending 24 December 2021. 
• There have been 9,169 deaths involving Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
• Of these, 49 deaths involving Covid-19 were registered in the latest week. This was 6% of all deaths and two fewer than the previous week.
• The numbers reported by ONS are different from those from 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 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales show there were 7,915 newly-reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 706,873 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.

• There were 21 deaths reported by Public Health Wales. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 6,626.
• These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection/viz/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary   

• The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is published every weekday by Public Health Wales.
• The latest figures show 2,494,287 people have received their first dose.

• 2,314,745 people have had two doses of the vaccine.
• To date, 1,695,590 people have had their booster dose of the vaccine.
• https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection/viz/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary
• For more information about getting your Covid-19 vaccine: https://gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination
• Can you support the vaccination programme? More information for NHS staff and volunteers at: https://heiw.nhs.wales/jobs/nhs-wales-covid-19-vaccination-team-returning-healthcare-professionals/

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 up to 10 days from when your symptoms started.
• Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation
• 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. 

Where to find the latest information

• Wales is at alert level two. More information is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-2
• Alert level two: frequently asked questions: https://gov.wales/alert-level-2-frequently-asked-questions
• Our latest Coronavirus Control Plan, setting out the longer-term plan for Wales is at: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-control-plan-autumn-and-winter-2021-update  
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• For more information about getting your Covid-19 vaccine: https://gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination
• Can you support the vaccination programme? More information for NHS staff and volunteers at: https://heiw.nhs.wales/jobs/nhs-wales-covid-19-vaccination-team-returning-healthcare-professionals/