Wales records another 21 deaths from Covid-19 and more than 4,000 cases

There have been a further 21 deaths from coronavirus and more than 4,000 new confirmed cases, latest figures show.

Public Health Wales data published on Monday showed there were 4,308 cases recorded.

Wales' coronavirus death toll now stands at 5,755.

It comes as the UK's four chief medical officers advised children aged 12 to 15 should be offered a first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

Merthyr Tydfil currently has the highest coronavirus infection rate, with 760.9 cases per 100,000 people and a test positivity rate of 21.9% over seven days (2nd - 8th September).

On Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford warned that cases were at their highest level since December.

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."

On Sunday, the Welsh Government announced that international travellers returning to Wales will soon be able to buy PCR tests from private providers.

Previously, travellers returning to Wales could only obtain their PCR tests from the NHS whereas in England people could shop around between the health service and a range of private firms.

However, Eluned Morgan, the health minister, said on Sunday that the Welsh Government would be changing its position to coincide with changes to the testing market in England.

The Welsh Conservatives criticised the Government over the "U-turn", saying that the timing of the announcement after the summer holidays meant many families across Wales had already spent large sums of money on tests..