596 positive cases of COVID-19 but no new deaths have been recorded in Wales during the past 24 hours say Public Health Wales. 

Outbreaks in North Wales remains the highest in the East with 22 new cases in Wrexham and 18 in Flintshire. Denbighshire reported 15 and Conwy 4. Overall the region had 78 new cases down on yesterday.

There are now concerns that cases are growing in the West of the region with Gwynedd experiencing another 14 new cases. Anglesey has 5 newly reported cases.

Public Health Wales are monitoring the situation closely throughout Gwynedd.

Dr Giri Shankar Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:

“Local restrictions are now in place in Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan, and Wrexham local authority areas, and in Llanelli.

“These arrangements are necessary in order to bring transmission of the virus under control in these areas. It is very important that we abide by the regulations in the areas in which we live, and that we do not travel between local authority areas without a reasonable excuse. 

“We are now also seeing an increase in cases in Gwynedd, and for that reason we to urge people to continue to follow the public health guidance: self-isolate when asked to do so, stay two metres away from others, and wash your hands regularly. These actions are essential in reducing spread of the virus, protecting older and vulnerable people, and keeping Wales safe. 

“Following the introduction of restrictions in the borough of Caerphilly, our data is beginning to show a downward trend, and although we cannot categorically say this trend is a result of lockdown, we are cautiously optimistic and we are looking at a number of alternative sources to validate these results.

“Local restrictions mean that people living in the affected areas cannot enter or leave their local authority area without a reasonable excuse.

“They cannot meet indoors with anyone they do not live with for the time being, and extended households (sometimes called a ‘bubble’) are suspended.

“Pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises must stop selling alcohol at 10pm, and offer table service only. Off licenses, including supermarkets and other retail outlets, must also stop selling alcohol at 10pm.

“People who can work from home must do so. Those who cannot reasonably work from home can continue to travel to a place of work, whether that is within our outside the areas affected by local restrictions.

“Under local lockdown restrictions, households that include only one adult can now form a bubble with people from one other household in their lockdown area.

“Details of these rules for each local authority area can be found on the Welsh Government website.  We remind people living in areas of Wales where there are currently no restrictions in place to remember, at all times, the importance of adhering to social distancing regulations to prevent further local restrictions."