AN INTENSIVE care doctor has urged the public to stick to the rules following the emergence of new strains of Covid-19.

Dr Saleyha Ahsan, an intensive care doctor for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), lost her father, Ahsan-ul-Haq Chaudry, aged 81, over the Christmas period after he contracted the virus.

She said: “My dad was very fit and healthy for his age, he was a very outgoing man and loved socialising with his friends and family.

“However, over the last year he had been shielding, this was very difficult for him, as he loved to be out and around people.

“Despite this he still got Covid, we believe it was one of the new variants which we know is extra potent and more transmissible.

“Sadly this killed him. If it can happen to someone like me and my family, who are all medical, it can happen to anyone. It is happening to anyone, it has happened to over 100,000 people.

“We understand everyone is tired of lockdown and want to see their family and friends but we must stick with it.

There is only one way to keep you and your loved ones safe and that is stick to the rules, don’t be complacent.”

Chief Constable of North Wales Police Carl Foulkes said his team has increased their level of enforcement for those who do not follow the rules.

He said: "The vast majority of our communities are doing the right thing by following the rules and helping us and the NHS by slowing the spread of the virus.

“We have increased our level of enforcement for those who do not follow the rules; we will continue to do that.

“We are here to support you and to protect the NHS during this very difficult time but my message is clear, do the right thing, follow the regulations.

“We need to continue to protect each other and help each other. There has been some fantastic community spirit in North Wales over the last year – this is a key part of who we are and we need to keep that ethos going.”

The Kent strain, which has quickly become the dominant form of Coronavirus in Wales, and now the South African and Brazilian variant – mean it’s more important than ever that everyone follows the government guidelines in place.