Almost a third of care homes in Wales have confirmed or suspected coronavirus
Around a third of care homes in Wales have a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus, the health minister has confirmed.
During Tuesday's daily Welsh Government press conference, Vaughan Gething said 75 homes have a confirmed Covid-19 case, and 217 have suspected cases.
He also said he expects that number "to increase."
It comes as new ONS stats revealed the number of people to have died in England and Wales after contracting coronavirus could be significantly higher than the figure reported by the government.
Care homes are an area of growing concern after 13 residents at one facility died following an outbreak.
Vaughan Gething also announced an extra £40m to support adult social care services during the pandemic.
The Welsh Government said the funding will help meet the "increased costs of basic PPE, food, staffing costs and ICT".
It said the £40m will be allocated to councils, who will work with providers to distribute the money.
In response, Care Forum Wales said the financial aid was “welcome” but it wasn’t enough and they are not confident it will all reach the front line with local government in charge.
During the press conference, Mr Gething voiced his frustration at the lack of referrals to the new drive-through testing centre at Cardiff City Stadium, which closed on Bank Holiday Monday, prompting criticism from opposition parties.
Public Health Wales said the centre close due to "operational reasons”as it was anticipated that low numbers of key workers would be working today.
Three moreare due to be built around Wales in the coming days.
Latest figures show from Public Health Wales reveal 384 people have now died from the virus.
It comes as reports claimed the UK missed three chances to be part of an EU scheme to bulk-buy personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers.
The availability of PPE has been a major issue in the coronavirus outbreak.Two healthcare workers in Wales died over the Easter weekend, after contracting Covid-19.
Donna Campbell worked at one of Velindre's cancer centres before passing away in the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Friday.
On Saturday it was confirmed that nurse Gareth Roberts had died in the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.