Two weeks on from lifting of Wales lockdown - how many Covid cases are in your area?

Nightclub image from PA
Nightclubs reopened in Wales on 7 August

It has been more than two weeks since almost all of Wales' Covid restrictions were lifted, with the exception of face covering requirements in most indoor settings.

On 7 August, limits on meeting with others indoors were scrapped as the country moved into alert level zero.

All remaining businesses could also reopen, including nightclubs for the first time in more than 15 months.

Alert Level Zero: The Covid rules explained in Wales

Meeting indoors

From 6am on 7 August, will be no legal limits on the number of people who can meet, including in private homes, public places or at events.

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What businesses can reopen?

Any businesses currently still closed will be able to re-open. This includes nightclubs and other entertainment venues.

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What about self-isolating?

From midnight on 7 August, adults who are fully vaccinated and children and young people under the age of 18, will no longer need to isolate if they are identified as close conatcts of someone who has coronavirus.

This was announced by the First Minister last week.

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Social distancing

It's not yet clear whether or not the 'two-metre rule' under which businesses are obliged by law to ensure social distancing in the workplace will be dropped.

Welsh Government sources say that it is one of the final details being discussed.

In its announcement, the government says premises and workplaces will have "more flexibility" about which "reasonable measures they take" to minimise the risk of the virus.

"These should be tailored to their risk assessment and their specific circumstances".

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Face masks are only optional inside hospitality venues, although some businesses are implementing their own rules.

It is still mandatory to wear a face mask in shops in Wales Credit: PA

But recently, some areas of Wales have reported their highest number of Covid cases in several months.

So how are coronavirus rates faring since Wales' moved into alert level zero?

  • How much have Covid rates risen since 7 August?

Latest data shows rates across Wales have almost doubled in the last two weeks since the country entered Alert Level Zero with 8,749 cases of Covid-19.

Between 18 and 22 August, Wales had an overall positivity rate (those tested and confirmed as having the virus) of 17.5%.

This means that 264 people per 100,000 of the population had coronavirus.

On Monday, latest figures showed 3,247 cases were confirmed over the weekend with two deaths reports across Wales.

A week prior to the lifting of Covid restrictions, there were 133 cases per 100,000 people in Wales.

Public Health Wales figures show there were 4,489 cases reported between 26 July and 1 August - a positivity rate of 9.7%.

  • Where are cases particularly high?

Swansea has seen a surge in cases, with the local health board reporting dozens linked to a 50,000-strong music festival in Cornwall.

A high number of cases in Swansea has been linked to those who attended the Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall

Swansea Bay University Health Board said at least 56 positive cases have been confirmed involving people who attended Boardmasters, which took place between 11 and 15 August.

A spokesperson also expressed concern over music fans heading to the upcoming Reading and Leeds Festivals spreading the virus further.

Ceredigion Council has reported its highest number of cases since January, with concerns they will continue to rise in the coming days and weeks.

  • How do those rates fare compared to the rest of the UK?

In Wales, about one in 130 people are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week to 14 August, up from one in 220 in the previous week and the highest level since the week to 12 February.

Around one in 80 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to 14 August - down slightly from one in 75 in the previous week.

In Northern Ireland the ONS described the trend as "uncertain", with a latest estimate of one in 50, up slightly from one in 55 in the previous week and the highest level since the week to 23 January.

For Scotland, the ONS estimates that around one in 200 people had Covid-19 in the week to 14 August, down slightly from one in 190 in the previous week.

  • Are more cases translating into hospital admissions?

The number of people admitted to hospital with the virus has been rising since June

On 12 January 2021, 4,583 people with Covid were admitted to hospital in the UK.

Wales saw its biggest spike on 3 January with 983 admitted to hospital with the virus.

The number of Covid patients then fell steadily between January and June corresponding with the rollout of the vaccination programme, but figures have been creeping up since then.

There were 58 patients admitted on 11 July, and this has been increasing every week to 123 on 15 August.

We are still all being urged to wash our hands regularly and get the vaccine. Credit: PA

Wales is the only nation to have managed to give a first dose to more than three-quarters of young adults, with an estimated 75.8% having received one jab.

Scotland is next on 73.2%, followed by England on 70.8% and Northern Ireland on 66.3%.

A total of 2,148,822 people are fully vaccinated in Wales, with 2,312,063 having received their first dose.

  • Could Wales go back into lockdown?

The Welsh Government has taken a cautious approach throughout the pandemic and has warned that it would not hesitate to reintroduce restrictions should the coronavirus situation deteriorate again.

Prior to lifting almost all remaining restrictions, the First Minister said the public can have "some confidence" that we are now beyond the worst of the virus.

However, he warned that the pandemic is "not all over".

Mark Drakeford said: "Hundreds of people every day are still falling ill from coronavirus in this third wave.

"While vaccination has fundamentally altered the relationship between falling ill and hospitalisation, it hasn't eliminated it."