A HANDFUL of new coronavirus cases have been identified across North Wales, the latest public health figures show.

According to the latest Public Health Wales data released on Sunday, June 28, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area has reported a total of 11 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours.

In total, 25 have been confirmed across Wales – meaning that just under half of all cases have come from the BCUHB area.

Broken down this figure includes four from Gwynedd, three from Conwy, two from Wrexham, one from Flintshire and one from Anglesey. There were no new infections confirmed in the Denbighshire area.

In total, this brings the confirmed number of cases in the North Wales region to 3,616.

BCUHB have also sadly reported that 352 deaths have been recorded by the health board to date – meaning that no new deaths have been reported in the latest figures.

Across Wales, the infection figure stands at 15,602 – a rise of 25 compared to yesterday (June 27).

Sadly, the Welsh death toll has risen by two people – bringing the number of deaths linked to the virus in Wales up to 1,504.

One death occurred in the Cardiff and Vale health board area whilst the other was reported by Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area.

In the daily statement Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Testing of the workforce associated with an outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Wrexham area is continuing.

“Public Health Wales is in the process of combining test information to identify the total number of positive cases associated with the workforce at Rowan Foods Ltd. So far this process has identified a total of 166 confirmed cases.

“The number of cases reported on Saturday, June 27, suggested no change had occurred in the preceding 24 hours. However, we expect this number to go up once all the workers associated with the site have been tested and their results analysed.”

He confirms that Public Health Wales are working with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to urgently contact just over 300 workers that have not yet presented for testing.

He adds: “As we would expect with any focused track and trace process, we will identify additional asymptomatic cases. Finding these cases does not mean that the rate of infection in the Wrexham area is increasing as a whole.

“There is no evidence that Rowan Foods is the source of the outbreak. The multi-agency team managing the outbreak with Public Health Wales will continue to review the situation and work with the employer, their workforce and wider community to bring this outbreak to a swift conclusion.”

North Wales Chronicle:

Rowan Foods in Wrexham

With regards to the second localised outbreak of coronavirus happening on Anglesey, Dr Shankar said a small number of positive tests have returned in the last 24 hours.

He said: ““Following the multi-agency Outbreak Control Team meeting which took place on Friday 26 June, a total of 210 cases of Novel Coronavirus have been identified in the workforce associated with the 2 Sisters plant in Llangefni, Anglesey. This represents a small increase of six positive cases reported in the past 24-hour period.

“The increase in reported cases is low, which is reassuring and is evidence that the control measures put in place combined with the rapid testing process, have worked.

“There is no evidence to suggest that the outbreak among the workforce at the 2 Sisters plant has led to significant community transmission.

“It should be noted that any increase in the number of cases found in the workforce does not mean that the infection is increasing in the local population as a whole.”

Dr Shankar goes on to say that these outbreaks are “timely to remind everyone that we all have a vital role in preventing the spread of Coronavirus” adding that this will be achieved by “always sticking to social distancing guidelines and washing hands regularly”.

North Wales Chronicle:

2 Sisters plant in Llangefni, Anglesey