CORONAVIRUS rates in North Wales, continues to decline, latest figures show.

Data released by Public Health Wales on April 25 show that there have been 62 new cases across Wales, of which just 12 were the North Wales area.

They can be broken down as such:

• Anglesey – 0

• Conwy – 4 (3.4 per 100,000 population)

• Denbighshire – 0

• Flintshire – 3 (1.9 per 100,000 population)

• Gwynedd – 1 (0.8 per 100,000 population)

• Wrexham – 4 (2.9 per 100,000 population)

Important to note that Public Health Wales no longer publishes figures on a Saturday so figures for Sunday includes data from the previous day.

BCUHB stats:

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases from North Wales as of April 25 – 34,944

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – the largest health board in Wales – has reported 943 people have sadly died since the start of the pandemic, according to PHW data - with an increase of one.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics, which are considered a stronger indicator of the overall impact of the virus, and which are based on all deaths where COVID is mentioned on the death certificate, stand at 1,389 for the health board area.

The national picture:

Across Wales, another 62 COVID cases were confirmed in the latest figures, meaning that 211,224 people are now known to have contracted the coronavirus since the pandemic began.

There were sadly three newly reported deaths, meaning the number of people to have died with confirmed cases of coronavirus remains at 5,546 in Wales.

Headline figures show that, across Wales, around 1,786,585 have had their first Covid-19 jab, of which 687,049 have had their second dose.

What Public Health Wales had to say:

Dr Chris Williams, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “On Friday 23 April, India was added to the ‘red list’ of countries with the highest levels of restrictions for travellers entering the UK. For more information on what this means, and the other restrictions on UK and international travel that remain in place, please visit the Welsh Government website.

“As of yesterday, Saturday 24 April, six people from up to six households (not including children under 11 years old or carers) will be able to meet outdoors.

“People should observe social distancing when meeting with others from outside their household or support bubble.

“The rules on meeting other people indoors remain unchanged.

“Welsh Government has announced that further relaxations of the regulations are to be brought forward. From Monday 3 May, supervised indoor activities for children can resume, along with indoor organised activities for up to 15 adults (such as exercise classes and swimming lessons), and community centres can reopen.

“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that pregnant women should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the rest of the population, based on their age and clinical risk group. JCVI advice is followed in Wales.

“As there is more experience of the use of the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in pregnancy those vaccines are therefore the preferred vaccines to offer to pregnant women.

“We are no longer publishing Coronavirus data or a daily statement on Saturdays. Daily case numbers are currently low, and it’s more important to focus on the underlying trends rather than day to day fluctuations.

“Our surveillance team retains the ability to ramp back up to seven day reporting if necessary.

“We would like to remind the public that Coronavirus is still circulating in our communities and a large number of people have not been fully vaccinated. It is therefore vital that people observe social distancing, where face coverings when in indoor spaces, and wash hands regularly. These actions will help to prevent transmission of the virus.

“Further to the Welsh Government’s announcement last week, people who cannot work from home are now able to access free lateral flow self-test kits.

“The rapid coronavirus tests will be available from local test sites across Wales.

“Welsh Government also announced that, following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), that people over 16 who live with individuals with severely weakened immune systems should be offered COVID-19 vaccinations as a priority.

“As schools return please do not send your child to school if they are unwell, even if you are not sure if they have Coronavirus.

“When you take your child to school, always keep your distance from other parents, wear a face covering, and don’t stay around and chat. Please don’t invite other children or their parents to your home to play or stay indoors, even if they are in the same bubble at school. We need to continue to limit the numbers of people we meet socially to minimise spread of the virus.

“Please continue to work from home if at all possible.

“Current information on the Welsh Government restrictions for Coronavirus are available at https://gov.wales/coronavirus

“Recently the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and JCVI provided an update on the Oxford AstraZenca vaccine following reports of an extremely rare and specific type of blood clot following vaccination.

“The AstraZeneca vaccine remains safe and effective and has already saved thousands of lives. Those who have received a first dose of the vaccine, should continue to receive a second dose.

“The risk benefit remains strongly in favour of vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine for those aged 30 and over, and those aged under 30 who have underlying health conditions which puts them at higher risk of severe outcomes from Coronavirus infection. However, adults aged 18-29 years old who do not have underlying health conditions will now be offered an alternative vaccine.

“If you are contacted by your local TTP team then it is important that you are truthful with them about where you have been and who you have met. They are not there to judge, they are there to help prevent ongoing transmission of the virus and to protect the community.

“If you are asked to self-isolate by your local TTP team then please ensure that you do so for the full ten days – this will help break any chains of transmission.

“We urge anyone over 50 who has not yet received an invite for their vaccination to contact their local health board. Details of which can be found here: https://gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination-if-you-think-you-have-been-missed

“We encourage everyone, whatever their background, social demographic and ethnicity, to have the vaccine when they are offered it.

“Coronavirus cases by variant in Wales are reported on the UK Government website. The dominant strain in Wales is the Kent variant, and there is currently no evidence of widespread community transmission of other Variants of Concern in Wales.

“If you or a member of your household develop a cough, fever or change in sense of taste or smell, you must self-isolate immediately and book a free Coronavirus test, either by calling 119 or by visiting www.gov.wales/getting-tested-coronavirus-covid-19. Please check your local health board’s website to see if there are additional symptoms that require a test.”