Health Minister Vaughan Gething said that at the start of the pandemic he wouldn't have expected Wales to have a lower excess death rate than England.

"We know that Wales, compared to England, has an older population; levels of underlying illness are higher and we have higher levels of deprivation, so this is not what we would have expected to see at the start of the pandemic," he said.

"We have seen more than 2,100 excess deaths in Wales over this three-month period as a result of the pandemic."

Mr Gething said the Welsh Government was looking at the underlying factors to properly understand this, including age, deprivation, population density and ethnicity.

He said he would publish an interim report before the summer recess of the Welsh Parliament and a final report over the summer to ensure the Welsh Government has "considered these issues in preparation for any future peak later in the year".

Health minister Vaughan Gething says the coronavirus pandemic excess death rate in Wales is lower than in England and Scotland.

Speaking at the Welsh Government's daily coronavirus briefing, Mr Gething said: "The Office for National Statistics figures show the rate of excess deaths over the pandemic period in Wales is lower than in England and Scotland".

"If we look at this in numbers, if Wales had the same excess death rate as England between March and early June, we would have seen an extra 1,600 deaths in Wales," he said.

"To put it another way, if England had the same excess death rate as Wales, there would have be almost 24,000 fewer deaths in England".

The excess death rate is said to be the best guide to the impact of the virus.

It takes into account deaths linked to infections and indirect deaths that may be related to the lockdown from factors such as lack of access to care for other conditions and mental health problems.

Public Health Wales says it has identified 51 confirmed cases of Covid-19 linked to the 2 Sisters poultry processing plant in Llangefni, Anglesey.

Earlier, the company said it was closing the site for two weeks to "clearly demonstrate how seriously we take this issue".

2 Sisters Food Group is one of the largest food producers in the UK, with brands including Fox's Biscuits and Holland's Pies.

Public Health Wales said: "We are working in close collaboration with the employer and Anglesey Council, and our priority is to bring this outbreak to a swift conclusion."

Image source, Google

The former chair of the Welsh Development Agency – and founder of one of Wales’ biggest pharmaceutical companies – says that Wales' economy will take years to recover following the coronavirus crisis.

“It will take years to come back,” Sir Roger Jones told BBC Wales’ Newyddion programme on S4C.

“But the worst thing possible would be a second peak...that would destroy Wales’ economy.”

Although Sir Roger, founder of Penn Pharmaceuticals in Tredegar in the 1980s, says that losing tourists will “cost us dearly,” he says that they should not be urged to return if it risks a second peak.

“We must keep things tight,” he said.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething will give the Welsh Government's daily briefing on coronavirus today at 12:30 BST.

We'll update you with the main points here - you can also watch proceedings on BBC One Wales, via the BBC iPlayer, and via the Coronavirus Daily Update video link above.

Rhondda MP Chris Bryant has given an emotional speech in the House of Commons about the floods in his constituency.

"We are a resilient community in the Rhondda, but I honestly don't think that we can take any more, without significant help from outside," he said.

"We had some of the worst flooding in the country earlier on this year, hundreds of homes lost everything.

"Many of them without any insurance at all, and last night we had another bout of flooding, which has affected about 200 homes."

Maerdy resident Adele Wilk has been distributing cleaning materials to people in the local area.

“The council brought stuff like bleach last night and I’ve been handing it out," said Ms Wilk.

“There’s a lot of older people here so I’ve been knocking their doors checking they’re all OK.

“It’s horrible."

Homes in Maerdy were also affected by last night's flooding in the south Wales valleys.

Ann Inkpen has lived on North Terrace for 42 years.

“I shut the door because of the thunder and all of a sudden the water came rushing in the back," she said.

“It was through the whole house in seconds. The kitchen, the parlour, and then out the front.

“The pavement outside was like a river.

“My elderly neighbours on both sides, who were shielding, have had to move out. It’s terrible."

Neighbour Cynthia Mainwaring said: “Lockdown is going to be remembered for some time here!”

Pentre resident Mair Hughes has had her house flooded for the second time this year following Storm Dennis in February.

"It was heartbreaking - I was crying," she told BBC Wales.

"That's the second time in four months.

"We had it through front and back last time ... we had to get rid of a lot of things."

A Rhondda resident has pleaded for help for local families during these "desperately challenging times" with flooding on top of the coronavirus lockdown.

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price has taken to social media to say an "urgent inquiry is needed into why homes flooded so quickly".

Rhondda MP Chris Bryant has promised to take action to help those affected by the recent flooding.

Heavy rainfall on Wednesday night caused houses in Rhondda Cynon Taf to flood, and more rain is forecast today.

The Labour MP shared his thoughts as he made his way to Parliament this morning.

Drivers are being reminded to take extra care in the wet weather.

As more rain is forecast for parts of south and mid Wales, Road Safety Wales has issued a warning to motorists.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service says it received more than 50 flood-related calls from the Rhondda Cynon Taf area on Wednesday.

Firefighters attended the floods and helped rescue people from their homes and pumped water out of buildings.

"We understand there has been significant disruption to the community and there will be many people who are left dealing with the aftermath of the weather," fire chiefs saiid in a statement.

"While the situation shows signs of improvement, public warnings and alerts remain in place and must be adhered to and respected.

"We appreciate all of the support we have had from partner agencies, volunteers organisations and our communities during this challenging time."

A Met Office yellow warning for thunderstorms is in place over the Rhondda Cynon Taf area between midday and 21:00 BST today.

Image source, PA Wire

More homes could be flooded with further thunderstorms forecast for parts of south and mid Wales.

On Wednesday, a number of householders in Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taff were forced to flee their homes after being flooded for the third time this year.

A Met Office yellow warning for thunderstorms is now in place for between midday and 21:00 BST.

There is a small chance fast-flowing floodwater could endanger life, the warning said.

Traffic Wales is urging drivers to be vigilant on the roads after heavy rainfall on Wednesday night and more expected on Thursday.

Advice has been issued on what to do before, during and after a flood, external, as homes across Rhondda Cynon Taf begin the clean-up.

Natural Resources Wales has published the guidance on their website.

The information includes safety procedures, how to report a flood, making an insurance claim, and how to clean and disinfect a property after flooding.

Image source, Natural Resources Wales

BBC Wales weatherman Derek Brockway has warned of more rain to come on Thursday.

Rhondda's Member of the Senedd Leanne Wood has called for urgent action to help people flooded in her constituency yet again.

The former Plaid Cymru leader says people in communities such as Pentre want to know why drains were not cleared of silt following the floods in February.

“People are angry and frustrated that this has happened twice already this year," she said.

"For some households, they have been flooded more than that. I share that anger and frustration – it is not acceptable."

Ms Wood also urged people to help clear up the worst-affected buildings such as Maerdy Primary School.

Residents of a village in the south Wales valleys have been forced to leave their homes for the third time this year due to flooding.

Pentre was hit by floods on Wednesday evening, just four months after Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis.

Firefighters spent five hours pumping water out of houses with about 200 properties affected.

Two further weather warnings, for rain and thunderstorms, have been issued on Thursday.