New video map shows Covid-19 second wave’s ‘rapid’ spread across Wales

The Welsh Government have published a new video showing how the second wave of Covid-19 spread “rapidly” across the country in September.

The map shows outbreaks in Caerphilly and the Rhondda valleys which continue to spread throughout the month in the south-east of Wales. An outbreak in Aberystwyth is meanwhile quickly suppressed.

The video also shows outbreaks that spread from the north of Powys and from the counties that border England in the north-east, before taking hold in Conwy.

The video also suggests that there are localised outbreaks on the Llyn peninsula, and the Anglesey and Pembrokeshire coast.

Coronavirus is still circulating in our communities.

This map shows just how quickly a few cases can escalate and spread right across Wales 👇

Please keep following guidance to protect yourself and others. Help us to #KeepWalesSafe.

📊: #SAILDatabank pic.twitter.com/7iiLNjc7iX

— Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) October 5, 2020

 

‘Rapid’

Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething revealed the map during a press conference today.

“Over the last month, we’ve seen a rapid increase in cases across Wales – the virus returned as people came home from holiday abroad and has been spread also as people socialised without social distancing crucially and most often in people’s home,” he said.

“The majority have had a mild illness so far. But an increase in cases is followed within two to three weeks by higher hospital admissions, higher critical care admissions and more deaths.”

Last week, an average of 73 people a day were admitted to hospital with coronavirus, he said, adding that the number of people in hospital with coronavirus has almost doubled in the last fortnight.

“And very sadly, the number of people who are dying is increasing week on week,” he said.