Covid: No weekly deaths reported for first time in Wales

A hillside tribute to those who died of Covid in Rhondda Cynon Taf, which has the highest mortality rate during the pandemic in Wales

There have been no deaths registered involving Covid-19 in Wales for the first week since the pandemic began.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures also show deaths from all causes are below average again - for the 14th week out of the last 16.

Meanwhile, only one Covid patient was admitted to hospital in Wales on Monday - again, for the first time during the pandemic.

Numbers of Covid patients in hospital beds have also hit a record low.

The latest ONS mortality figures cover the week ending 18 June. The last registered Covid death occurred on 5 June.

It comes as the number of weekly deaths involving Covid-19 in England increased to 102.

So-called excess deaths, which compare all registered deaths with previous years, saw 15 deaths below the five-year average for the latest week.

Comparing deaths from all causes with normal years has been regarded as one of the key measures during the pandemic.

How have the number of deaths fallen?

During the peak of the pandemic in January, there were 83 deaths involving Covid on a single day.

It was 28 March before there was a day without a Covid death occurring in Wales - towards the end of the second wave. There has now been one death occurring over the last 16 days.

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The total number of deaths involving Covid now stands at 7,899 in Wales.

The ONS measure of deaths, which includes deaths in all settings, including people's homes and in hospices, is seen as giving the fullest picture. It includes cases when doctors suspect Covid is a contributory factor as well as those when Covid is the confirmed underlying cause of death.

We know already that deaths due to Covid have dropped significantly, with ONS analysis for May showing it had become the 31st leading cause of death in Wales.

Ministers expect Covid case numbers in Wales to peak in July in the third Covid wave, as health officials watch closely for any rise in hospital numbers.

But the latest figures have brought good news.

There was only one Covid hospital admission in Wales on Monday, for the first time during the pandemic.

Daily admissions with confirmed and suspected Covid have been running in mostly single figures since the start of June but this is the lowest point yet, according to figures from Digital Health and Care Wales.

The one Covid admission was in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board area. Covid admissions across Wales are running at a daily seven-day average of five, also a record low.

Covid admissions now make up 0.4% of all hospital admissions.

Meanwhile, looking at hospitalisations, for confirmed, suspected and recovering Covid patients, these too have hit a record low.

On Monday, there were 102 Covid patients in hospital beds, while the daily average was 112 - also record lows.

Numbers in critical care or on ventilation with Covid also remain low - three patients overall, in Cardiff and north Wales.

Two-thirds of positive Covid tests involve the under 30s - the target for this latest phase of the vaccination programme.

Some deaths are still occurring, but far fewer in number, with six occurring in the last month.

Public Health Wales, which gives a daily snapshot, involving lab-confirmed cases of Covid, has reported three deaths over the last 14 days - up until Monday.

As deaths can take a few weeks to register, these will show up in later ONS figures.