Over two million people in Wales now vaccinated
There has been one more death with Covid-19 reported, according to the latest Public Health Wales figures.
It means the total number of deaths reported by PHW now stands at 5,559 since the start of the pandemic.
A further 54 people have tested positive for the virus, with Wales’ infection rate rising slightly to 9.5 cases per 100,000 people.
Of the new cases, 15 were reported in Cardiff and five in Newport, the two council areas with the highest case rates in Wales.
Newport’s case rate stands at 27.8 infections per 100,000 people over the most recent seven-day period, ahead of Cardiff (17.2), Ceredigion (12.4) and Gwynedd (11.2).
However, Gwynedd and Ceredigion were the only counties to report no new cases in today’s figures.
Anglesey and Blaenau Gwent (both 2.9) have the lowest infection rates in Wales.
Meanwhile, over two million people in Wales have had a Covid-19 vaccine, latest figures show.
The official figures also show that almost three million total doses of the vaccine have been administered in Wales in just six months.
Covid-19 vaccine update:
2,019,160 people in Wales have now had their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
915,674 people are now fully vaccinated.
You can find the latest @PublicHealthW figures here 👇https://t.co/ZrXD2dtGgR pic.twitter.com/o1onXEKgRY
— Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) May 16, 2021
This means 80% of all adults in Wales have received their first vaccine and one in three adults have received their second dose to complete the course.
Wales’ new Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: “This is a fantastic achievement in such a short space of time. I’m incredibly proud and grateful to the thousands of people – NHS staff, military personnel and volunteers – who have worked so hard across the country to reach this milestone.
“Vaccination is making a real difference to the course of this pandemic. Every dose delivered is a small victory against this awful virus.”
Dr Gill Richardson, Wales’ Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Vaccines, added: “Today’s figures show Wales has achieved yet another major milestone through the fantastic efforts of our vaccination programme, healthcare staff and the public.
“We’re continuing to lead the UK’s efforts to vaccinate as much of the population as quickly and as safely as possible to help bring this pandemic to a close.
“I am proud of all our vaccination teams across Wales, whose hard work and dedication has meant that 95% of those in the most vulnerable groups have had at least their first dose, and we are now making great progress through the younger age groups.
“Uptake has been much higher than predicted but it’s really important that when you’re called for your appointment – whether it’s your first or second dose – that you go. Every vaccination counts.”
The Welsh Government added that vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic and provide strong protection against Covid-19.
Wales continues to be on target to achieve the aim of offering vaccination to all eligible adults by the end of July, they said.
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