Covid: Health chiefs worry as Wales' Delta cases continue to rise

Health chiefs say they are concerned about the Delta variant's spread across Wales as Covid rules are relaxed.

The number of cases of the strain in Wales now stands at 178, an increase of 81 cases since Thursday.

Evidence suggests the Delta variant - first discovered in India - is more transmissible than the previously dominant Alpha - or Kent - variant.

However, there were no deaths with Covid reported for a 13th day by Public Health Wales (PHW).

The authority said the rise in cases of the Delta variant - which is believed to be more transmissible - may have also been driven by increased social mixing.

It is not reporting where those cases are, but said most health boards in Wales have had them.

Wales' Health Minister Eluned Morgan said the Welsh government was aware provision of second vaccine doses needed to be speeded up in affected areas.

PHW said Wales could be starting to see localised community transmission of the variant, with increasing evidence of cases with no travel history.

The majority of Welsh Delta cases have been focused around a cluster in north Wales, and one in the south.

PHW said it was starting to see unlinked cases in these and other areas.

Dr Giri Shankar, PHW coronavirus response incident director, said: "We have previously said that we expect the number of Delta variant cases in Wales to go up, but it is nevertheless concerning to see this increase.

"The increase is likely to be driven in part by the transmissibility of the variant, which we know is easier to catch than the previously dominant Alpha variant.

"However, increased mixing also contributes to transmission, and this may be playing a part too."

Dr Shankar said where cases were initially seen in returning travellers, they were now emerging in people with no travel history.

In such cases they were "struggling to find a credible source" and "intense investigations" were ongoing.

He said: "I think we are on the cusp of moving from limited household close contact transmission to contained community transmission, but the concern is that could progress to become sustained community transmission."

The rise in the numbers of cases of the Delta variant here is a concern to health officials.

Public Health Wales says there is now evidence of community transmission - with cases recorded in individuals with no connection to foreign travel.

There are distinct clusters in south and north Wales - with the biggest concern so far about the spread in Conwy county.

Studies suggest two doses of Covid vaccine gives much stronger protection against this variant, so it's perhaps no surprise the health minister is talking to the boss of the north Wales health board about how to speed up the delivery of second doses.

The Delta variant is now clearly dislodging the Alpha (Kent) variant as the dominant strain in the UK, although thankfully, it appears relatively few so far have developed serious illness.

And despite the natural worry about the growth in the variant in Wales, it is worth remembering that, overall, Covid case rates here continue to be low and have remained stable for several weeks.

Even so, experts will be keeping a close eye on how the situation develops.

First Minister Mark Drakeford told the Senedd on Tuesday the latest Delta variant figures "give us all real pause for thought".

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said she had asked Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board if it would be possible to "speed up" provision of second vaccine doses.

She said the government was "very aware" the process needed to be speeded up "especially in areas where the (Delta) variant is coming to the fore".

"We expect the first dose to be offered to everyone in the north by the end of this week and then of course we can concentrate on the second dose," Ms Morgan said.

"But it also depends on the provision from England. But we are hoping to vaccinate everyone with the second dose by the end of September."

Ms Morgan said travellers to Wales were asked to take a test, but it was "a job" to ensure people were doing so.

It was "impractical" to close the border, she said.

She confirmed one person was currently in hospital because of the Delta variant.

"I think there is only one case of the Delta variant in hospital in Wales," she said. "Two were previously in hospital and have been released."

Despite the concerns, there have been no deaths with Covid reported for a 13th day by Public Health Wales.

Twenty-two new cases were reported, taking the total to 213,188 positive tests during the pandemic.

Cases across Wales are currently running at an average of 47 a day.

The case rate in Wales for the most recent seven days is 10.4 cases per 100,000. It has been within this range of seven to 10 cases for more than a month.

Conwy has the highest case rate in Wales - 27.3 cases per 100,000. It was 140th highest local authority in the UK on Monday.

Swansea is next on 19.4 cases per 100,000 people over seven days.

Wales has had the lowest Covid case rate of any UK nation for four months.

The Delta variant figures cover up to Monday. An update is due again on Thursday.

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The postcode search has been updated to replace data for health boards in Scotland with data for local councils. In England, data for county councils has been replaced with data for district councils. Figures for boroughs and unitary authorities remain unchanged.