FIVE new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Powys today (Tuesday, December 1).

The figure puts Powys as the second lowest area within Wales for confirmed cases for today, one more than Monmouthshire which reported four new cases.

The latest figures take the overall total number of confirmed cases in the county since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,472.

There have been no more deaths from the virus in Powys, meaning the number of people who have died in the county remains at 29, according to Public Health Wales data.

Acute patients from Powys are usually treated across the border at hospitals in England, so deaths of Powys residents usually only appear in registrations reported later by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Those ONS figures – which are higher – also count both confirmed and suspected cases of Covid, as well as deaths in all settings, including care homes, hospices and people's own homes. The most recent weekly figures are the highest since May.

ONS figures, 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, stand at 105 in Powys.

Powys stats:

Confirmed cases – 1,472

New cases in December 1 data – 5

Rate of new cases per 100,000 in week to November 28 – 86.1

Powys position among Welsh local authorities for rate of new cases – 21st out of 22

Newly-confirmed cases day-by-day:

Tuesday, December 1 – 5

Monday, November 30 – 19

Sunday, November 29 – 19

Saturday, November 28 – 25

Friday, November 27 – 11

Thursday, November 26 – 24

Wednesday, November 25 – 11

Tuesday, November 24 – 9

The national picture:

A further 23 people in Wales have died with coronavirus, taking the total to 2,563, according to the latest figures.

Public Health Wales reported an additional 667 cases, taking the total to 81,009 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Of the 23 newly reported deaths, 20 were in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area. Blaenau Gwent currently has the highest rate of cases with 431.5 per 100,000 people.

It overtakes Torfaen as the county with the highest case rate over the past seven days, after the rate there fell from 442.7 to 410.8.

Seven of Wales' 22 counties – Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Neath Port Talbot, Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea, Newport and Rhondda Cynon Taf – currently have a case rate of more than 300.

Five counties have a case rate below 100, with Conwy (29.9) and Gwynedd (31.3) the lowest.

Neath Port Talbot has the highest positivity rate, with 20.1% per cent of tests returning a positive result.

There were 223 deaths involving Covid-19 in Wales registered in the latest week.

This is 33 more than the previous week and accounts for 26.3 per cent of all deaths, according to the ONS.

There were 58 deaths in care homes involving Covid-19 – the highest weekly number since mid-May.

The total weekly deaths is also the highest since the start of May.

Meanwhile, the boss of Wales' biggest brewery has called new alcohol rules "closure by stealth" and announced more than 100 managed pubs will be closed from Friday. Welsh pubs and restaurants will be banned from selling alcohol from Friday and must close after 6pm.

Businesses can offer a takeaway service after 6pm, and if they have an off-licence can sell takeaway alcohol up until 10pm.

Indoor entertainment and visitor attractions, including cinemas, museums and galleries, will also have to shut. Mr Drakeford said without changes there could be between 1,000 and 1,700 preventable deaths over the winter.

Brains said the majority of its 1,500 staff will be put on furlough on 80 per cent of their wages.

Chief executive Alistair Darby said the earlier firebreak cost it £1.6m.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the new rules would tackle a rise in coronavirus cases.

Business groups said the move would devastate Wales' hospitality industry, with closures "guaranteed".

The Conservative leader in the Senedd, Paul Davies, said the national approach from the Welsh Government was unfair on areas with low Covid rates.

Plaid Cymru said hospitality was "paying the price" for a lack of stricter measures after the firebreak lockdown ended on November 9.

The decision will be reviewed on December 17.

Public Health Wales' statement:

Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:

“It is now clear from the data that coronavirus cases are rising in most parts of Wales, reversing the downward trend we had observed as a result of the fire break.

“The Welsh Government have today introduced restrictions for the hospitality sector from Friday, December 6, ahead of the Christmas period, in order to reduce the opportunities for the virus to spread in our communities and to keep people safe.

“Pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes will need to close at 6pm apart from takeaway services, and will not be able to serve alcohol.

“Indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas, bingo halls, soft play centres and bowling alleys must close from the same date, as must indoor visitor attractions such as museums, galleries and heritage sites.

“Public Health Wales strongly urges everyone to follow these rules, to avoid transmission of coronavirus and to protect everyone in our communities, including the most vulnerable.”