As few as 12 coronavirus tests a day in some North Wales counties

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The complete picture about testing for Covid-19 in North Wales shows Denbighshire with the highest rate of infection per 100,000 people.

The statistics, taken from Public Health Wales, also reveal Cardiff residents are 40% more likely to be tested than people in our region.

The analysis of the figures, shown below, reveal how testing has been ramped up in North Wales since May 1 after complaints the North was being left behind.

When coronavirus was killing up to 900 people a day in the UK back in mid April, there were as few as 25 tests being done in some North Wales counties.

That rise in testing has also seen the total number of confirmed cases rise by more than 63% in just 17 days, between May 1-17, from 1390 to 2,133.

After a series of false starts drive-in testing centres started to be re-established in the region from April 28, after previously developed sites were closed in Wrexham, Tremadog and Llanfairfechan on Friday March 13 - just a week after they were opened.

At the time Betsi Cadwaladr said the closures were part of "a national decision" to end routine community testing - with insiders saying they were "baffled" by Welsh Government's insistence on shutting the sites, the first to start in Wales.

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru's North Wales MS, said: "Two months ago my colleagues Siân Gwenllian and I raised concerns about the testing regime here in the North. Tests were being sent down to Cardiff and taking three days in some cases to come back with results.

"The revelation that testing across the six counties of north Wales has been below the average in Cardiff - a city with half the population - is a matter of further concern. Why has it been so difficult to get tested in the North when it's clear that we have yet to see the peak of this terrible virus?

"People across North Wales deserve better than this from the Welsh Government."

Testing by county

Up to May 17, the latest week of completed figures, Denbighshire saw the most tests completed (1,675), an average of 27 tests a day since March 17, although two people were tested before that date. The first test in Denbighshire took place on January 30 this year.

However the first Covid-19 test conducted in North Wales was in Wrexham on January 8 this year, according to PHW's own statistics.

The fewest number of tests concluded have been on Anglesey (820), which has seen an average of just 12 a day between March 17 and May 17.

County	Tests	Avg daily no of tests (Mar 17-May 17)	Number of positive tests (Mar 17-May17)	Avg daily no of positive tests (Mar 17-May17)	Rate of infection per 100,000 people (to May 17)	Lowest no tests (date)	Highest no tests (date)
Anglesey	820	12	170	2.74	243	0 (10/04/20)	57 (06/05/20)
Gwynedd	1528	25	341	5.5	274.6	1 (05/04/20)	119 (06/05/20)
Conwy	1674	27	408	6.58	348.2	0 (17/05/20)	105 (13/05/20)
Denbighshire	1675	27	414	6.68	434.3	0 (17/05/20)	107 (06/05/20)
Flintshire	1456	23	384	6.19	246.8	0 (17/05/20)	166 (09/05/20)
Wrexham	1668	27	408	6.58	293.3	0 (17/05/20)	127 (10/05/20)

Denbighshire also recorded the greatest number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 (414). The lowest number of confirmed cases were found on Anglesey (170).

Critics argue that more testing has yielded more positive results, as the figures appear to bear out.

There has also been a rise in testing in North Wales since May 1, with Anglesey's total doubling between May 1-17.

Another way of looking at infections is to calculate the rate of infection per 100,000 of the population.

Some believe this gives a better indication of infection rates as it makes allowances for differing population sizes.

On this measure Denbighshire is far and away the county worst affected by Covid-19 with 434.3 people per 100,000 contracting the virus.

The lowest rate was on Anglesey where the figure was 243 per 100,000.

That figure will rise as more people test positive for the virus although, when past the peak, the average number of infections and positive tests per day will reduce.

The figures reveal you were 40% more likely to be tested for the virus if you lived in Cardiff than if you lived in North Wales.

Up to May 17 for every 100,000 people in the capital, 1,811 were tested. In North Wales the figure was 1,278.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "There are a number of factors which mean certain areas experience Covid-19 differently and therefore testing numbers differ. There is no policy saying any area should be given precedence for testing over another.

"Evidence suggests the virus has moved across the country from east to west and south to north, with population density playing a part. These factors, as well as testing beginning earlier in certain areas, can lead to disparities."

During the peak of virus deaths in Wales (April 8-14) more tests were carried out in Cardiff (813) than North Wales (729) despite the population being almost 90% larger in our region.

Increased testing in North Wales

There has been a ramping up of testing within North Wales since May 1. Anglesey's testing regime has more than doubled in 17 days, compared to the previous two-and-a-half months.

Statistics from across Wales show testing in the Betsi Cadwaladr area has increased again since May 10, suggesting other areas were seeing a greater rate of testing prior to this.

The increased testing has also seen an increase in the number of positive results since May 1.

Across the whole of North Wales incidences of Covid-19 rose by more than 63% in 17 days.

There were 743 incidences of Covid-19 recorded in the region between May 1-17, almost 35% of all cases tested positive in North Wales since the pandemic began.

County	No of tests up to Apr 30	No of tests May 1-17	No of positive results to Apr 30	No of positive results May 1-17
Anglesey	397	423	92	78
Gwynedd	806	722	245	96
Conwy	862	812	247	161
Denbighshire	891	784	282	132
Flintshire	782	674	245	139
Wrexham	989	679	279	137
Total	4727	4094	1390	743

Deaths

According to the Office for National Statistics, the greatest number of fatalities recorded by coroners where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate (up to May 8) have been in Flintshire (75).

The fewest number of fatalities from the novel coronavirus in North Wales have been on Anglesey, where 12 people have lost their lives where the infection was mentioned on the death certificate.

Up to May 8, ONS figures reveal 252 deaths have been registered in North Wales where Covid-19 was listed on the death certificate.