Thread by @WillHayCardiff

Given the concern at the moment it is worth looking at what the Covid numbers currently are in Wales.

There are increase rates, particularly in South Wales, which is the place where the most omicron cases have been found.

[Thread]

--Cardiff--

Cardiff has the fastest rising cases anywhere in Wales at the moment.

The infection rate per 100,000 has reached 670, which is up 46% from 457.9 just eight days ago.

This week it saw the highest number of cases in a day ever.

The five fastest growing areas are all in the south of the country.
Merthyr Tydfil - 43.88%
Rhondda Cynon Taf - 38.06%
Monmouthshire -31.57%
Swansea - 23.67%

This is the current situation in Merthyr and RCT at the moment:

Now is this down to omicron? It seems likely.
Omicron cases are rising exponentially in Wales. The fastest growth is in Cardiff and Vale, Swansea Bay and Cwm Taf (which is where Wales fastest growing local authorities are).

Let's look at some caveats. The first is that some Welsh LAs are VERY small.

It only takes a few cases in places like Merthyr to send case rates soaring.

But Cardiff is not small and is seeing a similar rise.

It is also worth bearing in mind that there are currently two pandemics going on - delta and omicron.

The north of Wales, especially Gwynedd, has had huge rates of delta in the last month (the highest in the UK at one point).

As the numbers in delta fall it could mask the growth of omicron. The overall rate looks stable or falling but a far more infectious variant is taking root.

Whatever the current data, we know that omicron is going to cause a surge in the coming month. We also know that this will likely add significant pressure to hospitals.

The only thing up in the air is how our elected representatives are going to manage it.