Wales has recorded a substantial rise in the number of people catching Covid-19, new figures have revealed. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Covid infection survey found that 173,200 people - around 5.70% of the population or one in 18 - had the virus for the week ending December 28.
That is a big rise on the 57,600 people - 1.89% of the population or one in 55 - with coronavirus in Wales for the week ending December 8 when the last weekly update was published. Across the UK infections have jumped to their highest level since the summer, with nearly three million people likely to have had the virus at Christmas.
Dr Frank Atherton, chief medical officer for Wales, urged anyone with cold, flu or Covid symptoms to stay at home and, in particular, avoid visiting health and care settings. "It's important to remember that Covid-19 has not gone away and there are very high levels of flu and other respiratory viruses circulating in our communities, which is placing a significant burden on our health and care system," he said.
