The number of people with Covid in Wales has continued to grow in the last week but at a slower rate than the rest of the UK, the latest data suggests.
The most recent figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), published on Friday, June 24, suggest that around 68,500 people would have been positive for Covid in the week ending June 18, 2022 - equivalent to around one in 45 residents. This is up from 64,800 positive cases in last week's reported figures, equivalent to one in 75 residents. The ONS data is based on a randomised survey and is not affected by levels of testing.
Wales now has the lowest level of Covid in the UK with cases in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland increasing more rapidly. In Scotland, one in 20 people have Covid compared to one in 30 in Northern Ireland and one in 40 in England. The area of England with the most cases is London.
Kara Steel of the ONS said: "“Rates have continued to rise across the UK, with the largest increase seen in Scotland. In England, infections increased across all age groups, with the lowest level of infection seen in school aged children. These increases are largely driven by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants. We will continue to closely monitor the data.”
Read more: The latest official list of Covid symptoms from the NHS and Zoe Covid Study app
Figures from Welsh hospitals also show increasing numbers of hospitalisations although the figures remain very low compared to at other points in the pandemic. As of June 23, 2022 there were 269 confirmed Covid-19 patients in acute hospitals in Wales - up from 171 confirmed Covid-19 patients in Welsh hospitals on June 16, 2022. However the majority are in hospitals for other reasons. Only 34 patients were in hospital because of Covid.
The number of patients in intensive care beds with Covid in Wales has remained fairly flat over the last week. As of June 23, there were 11 patients in ICU beds with Covid in Wales.
Further data shared by the Welsh Government shows how many patients were admitted to hospitals across Wales for suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19. There were 1,176 patients admitted to hospitals in Wales on June 23 - 24 of which were admissions for suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19. Of these, eight patients were admitted to hospitals managed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board, one person was admitted to a hospital managed by Hywel Dda University Local Health Board, six patients admitted to hospitals managed by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board, three patients admitted to hospitals managed by the Aneurin Bevan University Local Health Board and six patients admitted to hospitals managed by the Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board.
What Wales' chief doctor says about whether restrictions will need to be re-introduced as coronavirus cases surge
The latest ONS data comes just a few days after Wales' top medical expert spoke about the need for people to social-distance and wear face-coverings in crowded places in Wales, to help prevent the transmission of Covid-19 as the number of cases rise.
There is no indication that pandemic restrictions will be re-introduced in Wales, but Dr Frank Atherton urged people with any respiratory infections to self isolate.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Dr Atherton said: "Whenever we have these surges, and I do anticipate there'll be further ones in the future, we should go back to some of those things that we know prevent transmission, so social distancing, face coverings in crowded places, making sure that if we have symptoms of any respiratory infection that we self isolate, all of those things will help us break the chains of transmission." You can read more on what Dr Atherton had to say in a previous article here.
Dr Atherton's comments come as it was announced that Wales is extending its access to free lateral flow device (LFD) tests until the end of July due to the rising cases. Health minister Eluned Morgan has confirmed that free tests will remain available in Wales until July 31. Read more on this here.
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