POWYS has recorded two new positive coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours – with the total number of positive cases in the county now up to 4,121.

The number of deaths in Powys remains at 65, according to Public Health Wales (PHW) figures, with that number remaining at 262 according to more accurate Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

Well over 100,000 people in Powys have now received vaccinations against Covid-19 – including 78,800 who have had their first jab. In total, 25,900 people have been fully vaccinated in the county.

It comes as a third vaccine – the Moderna vaccine – to be approved for use in the UK was first given to patients in Wales on Wednesday.

The UK has bought 17 million doses of the Moderna jab – enough for 8.5 million people.

Powys stats:

Confirmed cases – 4,121

New cases in April 8 data – 2

Rate of new cases per 100,000 in week to April 3 – 9.8

Powys position among Welsh local authorities for rate of new cases – joint 16th out of 22

Newly-confirmed cases day-by-day:

Thursday, April 8 – 2

Wednesday, April 7 – 0

Monday/Tuesday, April 5/6 – 1

Easter weekend (April 3/4) – 4

Thursday, April 1 – 2

Tuesday, March 30 – 3

The national picture:

There have been six further deaths due to Covid-19 in Wales in the last 24 hours.

The number of deaths reported by PHW since the start of the pandemic now stands at 5,527.

Four of the six deaths were reported in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board area in north Wales, with one death reported in each of the Cardiff and Vale and Swansea Bay health board areas.

There were a further 82 positive cases reported, taking the total to 210,105. Wales' case rate is now 21.1 per 100,000 people.

A total of 1,519,760 people nationwide have received a first dose of the vaccine, and 484,739 have had both doses.

The number of deaths involving Covid-19 has fallen for the 10th week in a row in Wales, and is at its lowest weekly total since the start of October.

There were 32 deaths involving the virus, accounting for 4.9 per cent of all deaths, according to the ONS. This is 17 fewer deaths than registered in the previous week.

Public Health Wales' statement:

Dr Eleri Davies, incident director for the coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Yesterday the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided an update on the Oxford AstraZenca vaccine following reports of an extremely rare and specific type of blood clot following vaccination.

“The AstraZeneca vaccine remains safe and effective and has already saved thousands of lives. Those who have received a first dose of the vaccine should continue to receive a second dose.

“The risk benefit remains strongly in favour of vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine for those aged 30 and over, and those aged under 30 who have underlying health conditions which puts them at higher risk of severe outcomes from Covid-19 infection. However, adults aged 18-29 who do not have underlying health conditions, will now be offered an alternative vaccine.

“The Moderna vaccine is now being rolled out across Wales. It is the third coronavirus vaccine approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and patients in Carmarthenshire were the first in the UK to receive it yesterday.

“We urge anyone over 50 who has not yet received an invite for their vaccination to contact their local health board. Details of which can be found here at https://gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination-if-you-think-you-have-been-missed.”