Covid: Mark Drakeford issues stark warning as daily cases in Wales hits rate last seen in December
Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has issued a warning after he announced coronavirus cases are at their highest rate since December 2020.
In a press conference, the First Minister said there are around 520 cases per 100,000 people in Wales today.
The last time rates were this high was during the peak of the second wave last winter.
Mr Drakeford said cases have steadily risen since the beginning of June, when Wales was hit by the new delta variant.
"Until now, this rise has been manageable, because our fantastic vaccination programme has helped to weaken the link between infection and serious illness", he said on Friday.
"But with the rapid spread of coronavirus in our communities, pandemic pressure on the NHS is increasing once again.
"At the moment there are around 40 Covid-19 hospital admissions a day. There are just over 420 confirmed cases in hospitals across Wales – the highest number since March."
The First Minister's warning comes as all hospital visits to general wards across some hospitals in south Wales have been stopped, due to a rise in Covid patients.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, which is the local health board for Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Bridgend, said it had taken the "difficult decision" to restrict visiting to its hospital wards including maternity units.
Speaking during the press conference, Mark Drakeford encouraged all people in Wales to think before visiting relatives in hospital and consider whether they can keep in touch in another way.
When asked if lockdown restrictions will return in the autumn, Mr Drakeford said a lockdown in October was "not inevitable."
He said: "We are now all able to do many things that we were unable to do earlier this year. That doesn't mean for a moment that we should not think about the actions that we take ourselves and continue to conduct our own lives in ways that protect ourselves and other people.
"My experience of being around Wales this summer is that people do continue to think carefully about how they behave, they do respect other people. They do try and make sure that they don't crowd in on one another, given that coronavirus is still in Wales and numbers are still rising.
"In order to maintain the level of freedom we currently have - we all have to use that freedom responsibly."
The First Minister also said he and his Cabinet are still considering whether or not to introduce vaccine passports. Downing Street has already signalled an intention to press ahead with plans in England, and Scotland will introduce them from October 1.
Mr Drakeford said: "We will not introduce vaccine certification for anywhere in Wales for any services where people have no choice but to go."
He added that there "is a case for entirely voluntary settings", however, and that he hopes to update more on vaccine passports, plus the booster vaccination programme in his next press conference on Friday September 17.
Watch the full press conference here: