TWELVE people have tested positive for coronavirus in Powys in the last 24 hours.

After a brief surge in positive cases in the county in the last few days, Public Health Wales (PHW) statistics show a drop today, with the total number of cases in the county since the pandemic began now at 3,723.

According to PHW figures for Powys there have been no more deaths, they remain at 54, although that number is significantly higher according to more reliable Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures. Since Friday ONS stats reveal Powys deaths have lurched from 189 to 201 – meaning there have been 12 deaths in the last day, although these stats are usually down to a lag in reporting figures.

Deaths of Powys residents can also be skewed because many of the county’s patients deemed acute are transferred to hospitals in England. ONS figures are therefore usually considered a stronger indicator of the overall impact of the virus, and which are based on all deaths where Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.

On Friday we published our weekly ONS figures of middle layer super output areas (MSOAs) which present the rolling number of cases in either a seven-day or 21-day window.

The MSOA stats show Ystradgynlais, in the south of Powys, as the worst affected area in the county with 616 total Covid-19 cases, with Brecon (327) second and Rhayader/Elan Valley (240), Crickhowell/Llangynidr (239) and Welshpool (235) rounding out the top five. Builth and Llanwrtyd (209) is the other area to have had more than 200 cases.

There has been a downward trend in almost all areas of Powys in recent weeks though, with Welshpool the exception to the rule. It has seen an increase in the last seven days up to February 7, although case numbers for the area are still far below what they have been previously.

The Montgomery, Trewern and Berriew area has seen the biggest decrease in the same time period.

Powys stats:

Confirmed cases – 3,723

New cases in February 13 data – 12

Rate of new cases per 100,000 in week to February 4 – 107.2

Powys position among Welsh local authorities for rate of new cases – Joint 13th out of 22

Newly-confirmed cases day-by-day:

Saturday, February 13 – 12

Friday, February 12 – 41

Thursday, February 11 – 37

Wednesday, February 10 – 8

Tuesday, February 9 – 21

Monday, February 8 – 22

Sunday, February 7 – 27

Saturday, February 6 – 17

The national picture:

A further 22 people have died from coronavirus in Wales, according to the latest PHW figures.

It takes the total number of Covid-related deaths in Wales to 5,106

There have been a further 400 cases reported, with Wales' overall case rate falling to 99 cases for every 100,000 people.

Of the new deaths, six were recorded in the Cardiff and Vale health board area with five in Swansea Bay health board area, and four in the Hywel Dda health board area in west Wales.

There were three deaths in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board area in north Wales, three more deaths reported in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area in south-east Wales, and one death in Aneurin Bevan health board area which covers the old Gwent region and Caerphilly county.

Another 33,000 people have received their first Covid vaccine dose, taking the total to 749,445. Second Covid jab doses have been given to 4,224 people.

It comes at the end of a significant week for Wales in terms of fighting the virus, as it will become the first UK nation to have offered the top four priority groups a Covid jab. The Welsh Government said on Friday that, within hours, all over-70s including care home residents, will have been offered a first dose.

Wales and the other UK nations had aimed to hit the target by mid-February. First Minister Mark Drakeford thanked "everyone who had been working around the clock to reach this point".

It follows a warning that vaccine supplies will fall in the coming weeks.

The UK Government's Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said Wales' milestone was "fantastic news" and testament to the continued effort made by NHS and military staff.

The country currently leads the UK in the percentage of the population that has received a first jab – with at least 715,944 doses given out.

Figures up to Thursday night show 22.7 per cent of the population have been vaccinated, compared to 21 per cent in England, 20.4 per cent in Scotland and 19.7 per cent in Northern Ireland.

Public Health Wales' statement:

Dr Chris Williams, incident director for the coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “We welcome the news that the vaccination programme in Wales, carried out by Welsh Government and the local health boards, has reached the significant milestone of 20 per cent of the population having had their first dose of the vaccination.

“This is a great achievement and is a big step towards ensuring the reduction of serious illness, and deaths, from coronavirus.

“Vaccinating the adult population of Wales, to protect people from severe disease, is a significant task and the vaccine will take time to reach everyone. The effects of the vaccines may not be seen nationally for some time and everyone – including those who have been vaccinated – must continue to follow the advice on keeping Wales safe.

“Although the data currently shows that on an all-Wales level the numbers of cases are reducing and that the incidence is now below 100 cases per 100,000 population, the rates in some areas – particularly in North Wales – are still at nearly double that, and there have been small increases in others.

“It is encouraging to see that the numbers of people being treated for coronavirus in our hospitals is reducing, but there are still a large number of people who are extremely ill, which means that the pressure on services is still very high.

“All of Wales remains in lockdown. We recognise that complying with the restrictions can be challenging, but coronavirus is still active in our communities and can cause severe illness and death. The reduction in the number of cases does not mean that people can meet people from other households (apart from one person for socially distanced exercise), as this can cause the virus to spread.

“As a nation, we have made so many sacrifices throughout the course of the pandemic that we really don’t want to squander the gains that have been made in recent weeks.”