THERE has been just one confirmed case of coronavirus recorded in Powys in the last 24 hours – the lowest among all of Wales’ 22 local authorities.

Today’s Public Health Wales (PHW) statistics put the total number of people who’ve tested positive for Covid-19 in Powys at 4,059.

The number of Powys residents suspected to have died with Covid-19 now stands at 62, according to PHW. That number stands at 242 according to more accurate Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

Deaths of Powys residents are typically 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, because they are based on all deaths where Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.

Localised data during the seven days leading up to March 10 shows that Crickhowell, Llangynidr and Llangorse had six confirmed cases, Newtown South (4), Llanfair Caereinion and Caersws (4), Llanidloes area (3), Welshpool (3), Llandrindod Wells (3), Hay-on-Wye and Talgarth (3), and Builth and Llanwrtyd (3). All other areas had fewer than two confirmed cases.

Police in Powys say they will use discretion in enforcing Covid-19 travel regulations after a change in the guidance easing the lockdown.

Welsh Government regulations changed from 'stay at home' to 'stay local' on Saturday, March 13, allowing people to travel but within a general five-mile radius.

Dyfed Powys Police Chief Inspector Jacqui Lovatt has told the County Times there will be flexibility in this change for residents in the county given its rural make-up, and that it can be more than five miles from the nearest supermarket or essential services for many people. But officers will still be visiting popular locations, engaging with the public and turning people away if they abuse the regulations – only being fined if necessary.

Chief Insp Lovatt said: "If you look at the legislation it makes reference to a five-mile radius, but within that there is a caveat which accepts that in rural communities, five miles may not be deemed as local – because we accept with such a rural community, people are often travelling more than five miles to go to the supermarket.

"We're still patrolling those (Powys) beauty spots (like the Elan Valley and Brecon Beacons) and we are still encouraging people to exercise locally, ideally from their home address but we accept these are local beauty spots and if you're local a lot of those beauty spots now like the Brecon Beacons have opened their car parks now.

"But we are still encouraging people that if they're not living locally they really need to be identifying areas to exercise closer to their home."

Powys stats:

Confirmed cases – 4,059

New cases in March 16 data – 1

Rate of new cases per 100,000 in week to March 11 – 36.2

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

Newly-confirmed cases day-by-day:

Tuesday, March 16 – 1

Monday, March 15 – 7

Saturday/Sunday, March 13/14 – 21

Friday, March 12 – 5

Thursday, March 11 – 8

Wednesday, March 10 – 6

Tuesday, March 9 – 4

The national picture:

One more person has died with coronavirus in Wales, say PHW figures.

There have been 5,455 deaths with Covid reported to PHW since the start of the pandemic.

Another 142 cases have also been reported, taking the total number of positive tests to 206,795.

The seven-day coronavirus case rate in Wales stands at 40 cases for every 100,000 people.

The one death recorded was in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area, which covers local authorities in and around Newport, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.

The number of people who have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine increased by 16,935 to 1,139,866, while second doses were up by 8,728 to 272,983.

The number of deaths in Wales is back to normal levels for the first time in nearly five months, according to figures from the ONS.

So-called "excess deaths" are below what we would expect to see on average in the latest week.

Deaths involving Covid-19 fell for the seventh week in a row in Wales, to the lowest weekly total since October 23.

There were 103 deaths involving Covid, accounting for 14.9 per cent of all deaths. This was 35 fewer deaths than registered in the previous week.

A public inquiry into the Welsh government's handling of Covid-19, meanwhile, needs to be held when the "pandemic is behind us", the first minister has said.

Mark Drakeford said the outbreak did not have to be "all over" before an investigation was held but said ministers needed to be "confident that we are emerging from it unambiguously".

The Conservatives said they would hold an inquiry as soon as possible if in power after May's Senedd election. Plaid Cymru said a Wales-specific inquiry "must begin while memories are fresh".

Public Health Wales' statement:

Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “While the level of infection across Wales has declined in recent weeks, there are still several areas which have substantially higher rates.

“It is vitally important that we don’t squander the substantial gains that have been made, and therefore I would like to send a clear message to everyone that coronavirus hasn’t gone away and there are still a large number of people who have not been vaccinated. In order to protect everyone, including the most vulnerable, everyone must stick to the rules.

“Welsh Government restrictions state that you should not go into any other household or mix with other people who you don’t live with.

“If you are contacted by your local Test, Trace, Protect (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 need your continued support to control the spread of coronavirus, so please do not send your child to school if they are unwell, even if you are not sure if they have coronavirus. Please continue to work from home if at all possible.”