LOCALISED figures from Public Health Wales (PHW) have shown which areas in Barry have the highest and lowest rates of coronavirus cases in recent days.
The figures focus on areas containing around 2,000-6,000 households (known as Middle Layer Super Output Areas, or MSOAs) and are based on rolling case rates for the past week, the past 21 days, and since the pandemic began.
Barry Island had the highest rolling weekly case rate in the week leading to December 31, with 625.9 cases per 100,000 of the population. The number of cases confirmed in the last week there was 61.
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The rolling weekly case rate per 100,000 population is a yardstick to provide an idea of how quickly the virus is spreading.
Other figures for the Barry area are:
Barry West: 53 new cases with a 573.9 rolling case rate
Barry East: 48 new cases with a 426.7 rolling case rate
Palmerstown: 45 new cases with a 512.2 rolling case rate
Gibbonsdown: 57 new cases with a 568.2 rolling case rate
Barry Dyfan and Illfyd: 28 new cases with a 510.2 rolling case rate
Dr Frank Atherton, chief medical officer for Wales, said: “The situation in Wales is very serious at the moment. We are seeing cases of coronavirus in all parts of Wales at high rates.”
The current incidence rate across Wales is around 480 cases per 100,000 people.
He also revealed that one in four tests carried out in Wales over recent days was coming back positive, which showed “there is very widespread transmission in our communities”.
He added: “In the week before Christmas we learned about the new variant. It has subsequently appeared in North and South Wales.
“It is more infections than the previous strain.
“One good thing about the new variant is that we do not believe, on current evidence, that it is a more serious illness. But we are really worried about it though because it is so infectious.”
There are now almost 2,800 coronavirus patients in Welsh hospitals, the highest number on record.
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