Health board ‘closely monitoring’ rapid increase in Covid-19 cases in North Wales

Health officials say they are “closely monitoring” a large increase in Covid-19 cases in North Wales.

The latest figures released yesterday by Public Health Wales confirmed 358 new cases of the virus across the region.

They included 96 in Wrexham, 85 in Flintshire, 71 in Denbighshire, 56 in Conwy, 33 in Gwynedd and 17 on Anglesey.

A report to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board members shows community transmission is occurring in the area.

Although it has yet to cause a major rise in the number of people being admitted to hospital, the board says it is watching the situation closely.

The report by Gill Harris, executive director of nursing and midwifery, states: “Over recent weeks there has been a rapid increase in Covid-19 incidence in the community, linked to the Delta variant.

“In particular, incidence in North Wales has surged, ahead of the rest of Wales, linked to clusters and incidents related to returning travellers and cross-border flow as well as local transmission.

“The situation has now moved to a control scenario as broader community transmission is occurring.

“Revised scenario modelling was issued in June 2021 to take account of the impact of Delta variant, predicting a peak in cases by end of July and a peak in hospitalisation by August (all Wales projections.)”

The report shows one hospital related outbreak was recently declared at the Heddfan mental health unit in Wrexham.

One ward was affected with a total of nine patients and four staff members either probably or definitely acquiring Covid-19 within a healthcare setting.

The report adds: “As at 02 July, notwithstanding the increased levels of community transmission, the levels of hospital admission have not increased significantly.

“This will however require close monitoring and rapid response if the position changes.

“The impact on communities however is not insignificant, and demand on the testing and tracing teams has escalated.”