No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in Wales for the seventh time this month, it has been announced.

Public Health Wales (PHW) confirmed on Tuesday, August 18, that the death toll since the outbreak began remains at 1,589.

There were no new deaths reported by PHW on 13 occasions in July (July 6, 10, 12, 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 27 and 28) and six times previously this month (on August 3, 9, 10, 13, 14 and 17).

However, this does not necessarily mean no-one has died with the virus on those specific dates as it can take several days for a death to be logged officially.

So-called "true" death figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which include deaths in all places and also when Covid-19 is suspected rather than confirmed, found that 2,544 had died with the virus in Wales registered up to August 15.

Meanwhile, PHW said on Tuesday the number of lab-confirmed positive cases of coronavirus in Wales had increased by 24 to bring the total to 17,599.

Wrexham once again recorded the most positive cases with four, followed by Rhondda Cynon Taf with three. Newport, Denbighshire, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan and Swansea all had two, while Caerphilly, Anglesey, Flintshire, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot recorded one case each. All other local authorities had no new cases.

Despite testing capacity standing at more than 15,000 each day in Wales, around a third 5,460 took place on Monday, August 17. However, the Welsh Government said this additional unused capacity would prove useful should Wales see any local spikes in cases.

The total number of tests carried out now stands at 491,245. The number of people who have been tested in total in Wales is 291,791, with 274,192 testing negative.

Where the new cases of Covid-19 were reported today

Cumulative number of deaths reported in Wales

The latest figures were released following a press conference with Health Minister Vaughan Gething who gave an update on the latest situation in Wales.

He confirmed that there were only three people in critical care and 70 people in hospital with coronavirus in Wales today.

"This is the lowest number of Covid-19 patients in critical care since we started reporting," he said.

"The number of people dying each week with coronavirus has fallen substantially since the peak in April and, in the past week, there were three days when no new deaths were recorded

"However, 2,544 people in Wales have died from coronavirus. Every single death is a tragedy. My thoughts are with the thousands of grieving families and friends who have lost loved ones to this awful virus."

Mr Gething also announced a further £32m to ensure test results are returned as quickly as possible.

He said the funding boost will deliver faster results for contact tracing and ensure Wales is prepared for any increases in cases during the autumn and winter.

The money will pay for extra staff and equipment for the Public Health Wales regional laboratories based at the University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, Morriston Hospital in Swansea and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Rhyl so they can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It will also go towards the creation of six "hot labs" at acute hospitals across Wales which will have rapid, under four hour testing equipment which will operate from 8am to 10pm every day.

The hot labs will be based at:

  • Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli;
  • Morriston Hospital, Swansea;
  • Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend;
  • Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil;
  • University Hospital Llandough;
  • Grange Hospital, Cwmbran.

"All this will be supported by 160 extra members of staff working across Wales," he said.

"This investment will help us deliver faster results, supporting our local contact tracing teams to break the chains of transmission."

However, the Welsh Government has confirmed that the regional laboratories will not be operating 24 hours until October, while the hot labs won't be introduced until November.

Mr Gething said it was vital to prepare for the autumn and winter months now.

"The science shows the virus spreads more quickly in the colder, darker months so we need to be prepared."

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Later on Tuesday, the Welsh Government is publishing details of its 'Coronavirus Control Plan' for this next phase of the pandemic

Mr Gething added: "The plan sets out how all partners - including Public Health Wales, local government, businesses and the people of Wales - must work together to manage the risks of coronavirus.

"The plan focuses on the approach we will take, from prevention through to introducing measures at a local, regional or national level.

"Prevention is better than cure and that is where our collective efforts are focussed. Everyone has a role to play in preventing the spread of coronavirus."