THREE new positive coronavirus cases have been reported in Powys within the last 24 hours – taking the total number of Powys cases since the pandemic began to 4,135.

The rate of new cases per 100,000 in the week to April 6 in Powys is down to just 6.8 – only Monmouthshire (2.1) and Ceredigion (2.8) have lower rates among Wales’ 22 local authority areas.

The number of deaths in Powys remains at 65, according to Public Health Wales (PHW) figures, with that number still at 265 according to more accurate Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

The vaccination process in Powys continues to move ahead at an unerring pace – with more than two thirds of the county’s adult population having now had their first jab.

A staggering 93 per cent of people in the highest priority groups have been given an initial dose, contributing to 110,000 total doses so far.

Powys Teaching Health Board says it is seeking to appoint Covid-19 immunisers to assist in the delivery of the vaccination programme, one of the most important campaigns in recent years.

The position is available at the Newtown Mass Vaccination Centre, located at Maldwyn Leisure Centre, with the role fixed at 36 hours per week. The deadline is 11.59pm this coming Thursday, April 15.

Powys stats:

Confirmed cases – 4,135

New cases in April 11 data – 3

Rate of new cases per 100,000 in week to April 6 – 6.8

Powys position among Welsh local authorities for rate of new cases – joint 12th out of 22

Newly-confirmed cases day-by-day:

Sunday, April 11 – 3

Saturday, April 10 – 8

Friday, April 9 – 3

Thursday, April 8 – 2

Wednesday, April 7 – 0

Monday/Tuesday, April 5/6 – 1

Easter weekend (April 3/4) – 4

The national picture:

There have been three more deaths of people with Covid-19 reported by health chiefs in the past 24 hours.

It takes the total number of deaths reported to 5,531. Two of the deaths were reported in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board area in north Wales and the other was in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area, which covers Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bridgend.

A further 53 positive tests were reported, taking the total number of cases to 210,397. Wales' case rate now stands at 17.6 per 100,000 people.

A total of 1,572,752 people have had a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 525,177 have had both doses.

One of the hardest-hit regions in the UK during the second wave of the pandemic, meanwhile, now has among the lowest case rates in Wales.

PHW data shows 7.5 people per 100,000 people in Bridgend have tested positive for the virus in the past seven days. At its peak over the Christmas period that figure was 1,118.7.

In December Bridgend had the second-highest case rate of Covid in Wales, behind only Merthyr Tydfil.

In the week leading up to December 20 – when Wales imposed strict lockdown measures – both areas had case rates almost double the Wales average.

Case rates have been falling substantially in Wales since January.

Robert Morgan, a Bridgend-based GP, said despite a "challenging" year, his experience was that people had been following the rules as best they can.

Public Health Wales' statement:

Dr Christopher Williams, incident director for the coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “From this Monday, April 12, a number of restrictions will be eased:

· All children will return to face to face education as well as all post-16 learners returning to further education. Training centres and university campuses will be able to open for blended face to face learning for all students.

· All remaining shops can reopen, and all close contact services including mobile services can resume

· Viewings at wedding venues can resume by appointment, and outdoor canvassing for elections can begin

· In addition, travel restrictions on travelling into and out of Wales will be lifted. However, restrictions on travel to countries outside the Common Travel Area without a reasonable excuse, remain in place.

“As numbers continue to fall, we welcome the Welsh Government’s announcement that gyms and leisure centres will be able to open from May 3 – instead of May 10 – while two households can bubble up to meet indoors from the same date. Wedding receptions outdoors for up to 30 people will be allowed from April 26, also moving forward a week.”

Current information on the Welsh Government restrictions for coronavirus are available at https://gov.wales/coronavirus.