Coronavirus deaths in Wales rise by 41 bringing total to 286
A further 41 people in Wales have died after testing positive for coronavirus bringing the total number of deaths to 286.
Due to a change in the way figures are released, Public Health Wales said case numbers will be lower on Thursday and will return to normal on Friday.
The total number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Wales now stands at 4,089.
Dr Robin Howe, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Due to a change in our reporting process, today we are reporting a lower than usual number of new cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales.
“Today’s figures reflect a much shorter period of six hours of testing. Case numbers will return to normal on Friday, as we return to 24 hour reporting.
“16 new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,089, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher."
Public Health Wales has urged people to stay at home ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Welsh Government and the emergency services have signed a joint letter urging the same.
The letter, signed by the First Minister, Health Minister and the Chief Medical Officer, says lives will be saved by following the rules.
NHS Wales Chief Executive Dr Andrew Goodall said 816 people are in hospital in Wales with coronavirus. But he said critical care capacity is only at around fifty per cent.
In Thursday's daily Welsh Government press conference, he also said an extra 7,000 hospital beds are nearly ready for use.
The first patients are expected to arrive at the Principality Stadium on Sunday.
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