FIVE new 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 4,167.

The rate of new cases per 100,000 in the week to April 17 in Powys remains at an incredibly low 15.9 per 100,000 people.

The number of deaths in Powys remains at 66, according to Public Health Wales (PHW) figures, with that number at 267 according to more accurate Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

Powys Teaching Health Board have now delivered over 124,000 vaccine doses through its Covid-19 vaccination programme.

This includes over 88,200 first doses and over 36,100 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 (44 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.

In other news, online council meetings in Powys appear to be here to stay.

A change to Powys County Council's constitution is set to be put forward for ratification that will allow meetings to be held virtually for good, having only been introduced to allow the authority to continue to operate during the coronavirus pandemic.

The changes are needed to reflect the Local Government and Elections Act (Wales) 2021 which was passed in March – just before the Senedd broke up for the election campaign.

The changes were discussed by the Democratic Services committee this week.

Powys stats:

Confirmed cases – 4,167

New cases in April 22 data – 5

Rate of new cases per 100,000 in week to April 17 – 15.9

Powys position among Welsh local authorities for rate of new cases – joint 5th out of 22

Newly-confirmed cases day-by-day:

Thursday, April 22 – 5

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

The national picture:

One more Covid-related death has been reported in the past 24 hours in Wales.

The death was reported by Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board, which covers Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

It brings the number of people who have died with coronavirus since the start of the pandemic to 5,543.

Confirmation of another 63 positive tests brings the total to 211,104. The figures show 1,727,455 people have now received their first vaccine, an increase of 15,083 on Wednesday's figures.

Revellers who partied illegally in Swansea, meanwhile, misled contact-tracers after their actions led to positive Covid-19 cases.

At least six people who went to the gathering at Derwen Fawr this month tested positive for Covid.

“That [this case] needed a concerted investigation by officials to get to the bottom of it is shocking,” said public health director Dr Keith Reid.

Officials have renewed pleas for people to behave responsibly. Organisers of large gatherings both indoors or outdoors and those who plan to attend them have been told not to do so.

Efforts to track everyone connected to the Swansea party were thwarted by partygoers claiming they had not been in the city and that the party took place elsewhere. Residents at the house at first also denied it had happened, prompting further investigations that involved police.

It comes after 42 cases of Covid were linked to a Bala bakery, Gwynedd Council confirmed on Wednesday.

PHW officials are managing the outbreak at the town's Cake Crew production facility.

The bakery, which employs 330 people, is now working with a number of agencies, including Gwynedd Council, PHW and the Betsi Cadwaladr health board in attempts to contain the outbreak.

One case has seen a pupil from the town's Ysgol Godre'r Berwyn School also test positive for Covid-19.

Elsewhere, the Welsh Conservatives have said scenes of disorder and littering due to crowds drinking outdoors during the pandemic can be avoided if pubs were allowed to reopen sooner.

Party leader Andrew RT Davies said the Welsh Government had been "too slow" in reopening hospitality after lockdown. He told a BBC Radio Wales election phone-in that coastal communities had felt "blighted" by the nuisance.

Pubs, restaurants and cafes in Wales will be able to reopen outdoor areas from Monday, while First Minister Mark Drakeford has said he will announce on Friday whether they can reopen indoors from May 17.

The move could depend on which party is in power following the Senedd election on May 6.

Public Health Wales' statement:

Dr Eleri Davies, incident director for the coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “The Welsh Government has announced that six people (not including children under 11-years-old or carers) will be able to meet outdoors from Saturday 24 April, without a restriction on the number of households.

“The current rule states that six people from two households can meet outdoors.

“People should observe social distancing when meeting with others from outside their household or support bubble.

“The rules on meeting other people indoors remain unchanged.

“In addition, the Welsh Government confirmed that outdoor hospitality can resume on Monday 26 April.

“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.”