A decision will be made over the next seven days on changes to Covid rules, the first minister said.

"For six weeks now, Wales has been at alert level zero," he added.

"This means all businesses are able to open and there are fewer legal restrictions in place to control coronavirus than at any time since the start of the pandemic 18 months ago.

"The key message I have to emphasise today is that this does not mean the virus has gone away. The pandemic is not yet over.

"Over the summer, as we’ve all enjoyed meeting each other again and spending time with friends and families, cases of the virus have risen – not just in Wales, but around the UK and in many parts of the world."

He says today, there are about 520 cases per 100,000 people in Wales - the last time rates were this high was in December, the month Wales went back into lockdown.

The average number of deaths at this point in the second wave was eight times higher, this graph shows.

It averaged at 32 a day, whereas it is currently four.

There’s now a noticeable difference in the proportion of young people – those 19 and under – testing positive.

They’re now the largest age group, making up 31% of positive tests.

At a similar point in the second wave, also the day that the vaccine programme began, it was only 16%.

Welcome to our coverage of the latest coronavirus briefing led by First Minister Mark Drakeford.

It comes after the first week back at school for most pupils, while cases are rising across Wales.

This has led the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board to ban visitors in a move it hopes will protect patients and staff.

Most restrictions have now been lifted, while 67.3% of 16 and 17 year-olds have also had at least one jab.

Image source, Getty Images