TWO more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Powys in the last 24 hours – taking the total number of Powys cases since the pandemic began to 4,162.

The rate of new cases per 100,000 in the week to April 15 in Powys remains at an incredibly low 15.1 per 100,000 people.

The number of deaths in Powys remains at 66, according to Public Health Wales (PHW) figures, with that number at 266 according to more accurate Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

Powys Teaching Health Board have now delivered over 122,000 vaccine doses through the Covid-19 vaccination programme. This includes over 87,700 first doses and over 34,600 second doses.

A total of 94 per cent of people in Priority Groups 1-9 in Powys have received their first dose, and over a third (42 per cent) have already received double-dose protection.

Over two-thirds (75 per cent) of the adult population in the county have received their first dose.

Last week (week ending April 18) saw over 7,500 vaccination doses delivered in the county.

Powys stats:

Confirmed cases – 4,162

New cases in April 21 data – 2

Rate of new cases per 100,000 in week to April 16 – 15.1

Powys position among Welsh local authorities for rate of new cases – joint 15th out of 22

Newly-confirmed cases day-by-day:

Wednesday, April 21 – 2

Tuesday, April 20 – 2

Monday, April 19 – 8

Saturday/Sunday, April 17/18 – 3

Friday, April 16 – 1

Thursday, April 15 – 7

Wednesday, April 14 - 0

The national picture:

There have been no new Covid-related deaths reported in the last 24 hours in Wales.

The number of people who have died with coronavirus since the start of the pandemic remains at 5,524, PHW said.

The rolling deaths average is down to 1.1 a day – there have been eight days in the past month when no deaths have occurred.

Another 64 positive tests have been reported, bringing the total number of cases to 211,042. Ten of the new cases were in Cardiff and seven in both Newport and Bridgend.

Inequalities, meanwhile, remain between the number of black, Asian, and minority ethnic people having the Covid vaccine and white people.

Uptake for BAME people is at least 10 per cent lower in almost every age group, latest data from PHW shows. The largest difference was in adults aged 55-59, where 77 per cent of BAME people have received one dose, compared to 89 per cent of white people.

Elsewhere, bringing forward the easing of some Covid restrictions has nothing to do with the upcoming election in Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

The Welsh Labour leader had been accused of playing politics after changing a number of lockdown measures during the election campaign. However, Mr Drakeford said it was "nothing to do with electioneering" and was based on scientific advice. The Senedd election is on May 6.

On Monday, Mr Drakeford announced new changes to lockdown measures, allowing up to six people from any households to be able to meet outside – including in private gardens – from Saturday.

Previously, dates to reopen gyms and allow people to form extended households were moved forward to May 3 instead of the proposed May 10.

Outdoor wedding receptions for up to 30 people will be allowed from April 26, again a week earlier than originally planned.

Public Health Wales' statement:

Dr Christopher Williams, incident director for the coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “We would like to remind the public that coronavirus is still circulating in our communities and a large number of people have not been fully vaccinated.

“It is therefore vital that people observe social distancing, where face coverings when in indoor spaces, and wash hands regularly. These actions will help to prevent transmission of the virus.

“Recently 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 coronavirus infection. However, adults aged 18-29 who do not have underlying health conditions will now be offered an alternative vaccine.”