A TOTAL of 24 new positive coronavirus cases have been reported in Powys in the last 24 hours, according to Public Health Wales (PHW) stats.

There has been another death according to these figures, which put deaths due to the virus since the pandemic began at 42, although that number remains at 160, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

The number of total cases now reported in the county since the pandemic began stands at 3,368.

Deaths of Powys residents can 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.

The overall rate of cases in Powys and Wales continues to fall, although the rate of new cases per 100,000 people in Powys did climb slightly from 155.5 yesterday to 161.6.

Cases again continue to fall across the country, and even though the number of new cases today places Powys at joint ninth – along with Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot – in the list of Wales’ 22 local authorities for highest number, it is an indication of the drop in case rates.

Cardiff posted the highest number of new cases today with 67, with 54 in Wrexham and 52 in Flintshire, but 19 other areas posted figures of less than 50 and in the case of six local authority areas, cases were in single digits.

The decline in rates of Covid-19 come amid an encouraging roll-out of the vaccine in the county of the last week – with three Mass Vaccination Centres (MVC) now operating locally, in Newtown, Builth Wells and Bronllys, while the vaccine has started to be administered in all 16 of Powys’ GP practices this week.

It comes as the chief executive of Powys Teaching Health Board praised “a new milestone” made by the organisation after 5,000 doses of the vaccine were administered in the county last week.

Carol Shillabeer spoke of the “excellent progress” made by the health board – which has handed out 41 per cent of the county’s doses in the last week. It means 12,000 Powys residents have now received the coronavirus vaccine.

Powys stats:

Confirmed cases – 3,368

New cases in January 26 data – 24

Rate of new cases per 100,000 in week to January 21 – 161.6

Powys position among Welsh local authorities for rate of new cases – joint 9th out of 22

Newly-confirmed cases day-by-day:

Tuesday, January 26 – 24

Monday, January 25 – 30

Saturday/Sunday, January 23/24 – 57

Friday, January 22 – 17

Thursday, January 21 – 48

Wednesday, January 20 – 33

Tuesday, January 19 – 23

The national picture:

Eight more people have died due to coronavirus in Wales, says PHW’s latest figures.

It takes the total number of deaths with Covid reported since the start of the pandemic in Wales to 4,561.

There were also 570 new Covid infections reported, taking the total number of cases to 189,152.

Nearly 19,000 people have received their first coronavirus vaccine dose, bringing a return to vaccination levels of last week following Sunday's drop.

It takes the total number vaccinated to 289,566 people, while 581 have had their second jab.

The total number of deaths involving Covid-19 in Wales has reached its highest weekly total of the pandemic.

There were 467 deaths in the week ending January 15, 13 more than the previous week.

This was nearly 40 per cent of all registered deaths, said the ONS.

Both Betsi Cadwaladr and Cwm Taf Morgannwg health boards saw their highest weekly numbers – Betsi Cadwaladr had 74 deaths while Cwm Taf Morgannwg had 116.

In this second wave, Wales is now seeing higher numbers of deaths in north Wales and west Wales.

In north-east Wales, there were 30 deaths among Flintshire residents. In Wrexham, there were 27 deaths.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board saw 49 hospital deaths in Bridgend – the highest weekly number in Wales. There were also 33 patients who died in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) and six in Merthyr Tydfil.

All counties recorded at least three deaths involving Covid-19 and the total number of deaths in Wales was 5,866.

RCT, with 752 deaths, has the largest number in Wales, followed by Cardiff with 637.

Public Health Wales' statement:

Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales is working closely with the Welsh Government as they deploy coronavirus vaccinations through local health boards. The Welsh Government is leading on the deployment of the vaccine in Wales.

“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 we must continue to follow the advice on keeping Wales safe.

“Members of the public should not phone your GP, pharmacy or hospital asking when they will get a vaccine. When someone is in one of the groups eligible for the vaccine, they will be invited to attend a dedicated clinic which will have been set up to ensure patient safety and that of the healthcare professionals.”