ALMOST 70 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed across our region by Public Health Wales (PHW) on Monday.

There have now been almost 32,750 lab-confirmed cases of the virus from the combined counties that make up the North Wales region since the outbreak of the pandemic - after more incidents were confirmed in the latest figures released on February 27.

Public Health Wales confirmed that 69 of today’s 198 newly confirmed Welsh cases were from the northern region.

They can be broken down as such:

• Anglesey – Six (8.6 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Conwy – 12 (10.2 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Denbighshire – Eight (8.4 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Flintshire – 16 (10.2 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Gwynedd – 13 (10.4 per 100,000 population as of today)

• Wrexham – 14 (10.3 per 100,000 population as of today)

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – the largest health board in Wales – has reported 875 people have sadly died since the start of the pandemic, according to PHW data.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics, which are considered a stronger indicator of the overall impact of the virus, and which are based on all deaths where COVID is mentioned on the death certificate, stand at 1,230 for the health board area.

BCUHB stats:

• Total confirmed COVID-19 cases from North Wales as of February 27 – 32,749

• New cases from today (February 27) – 69

The national picture:

Across Wales, another 198 COVID cases were confirmed in Saturday’s figures, meaning that 203,378 people are now known to have contracted the coronavirus since the pandemic began.

There were 16 newly reported deaths, meaning the number of people to have died with confirmed cases of coronavirus sadly stands at 5,316 in Wales.

This is what Public Health Wales' has to say:

Dr Chris Williams, incident director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “As of today the weekly incidence of COVID-19 infections in all local authority areas throughout Wales has fallen below 100 cases per 100,000 population. This is encouraging, but we must continue following the rules and guidelines to maintain this trend.

“Furthermore, I am pleased to report that Wales has now delivered more than 1 million first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccinations.

“However, the public should be aware that the level 4 restrictions remain in place in order to keep infection rates falling and that you should stay at home, meet only the people you live with, work from home if you can, wear a face covering where required, wash your hands regularly and stay 2 metres from anyone you do not live with.

“We remind everyone that four people from two different households are now able to meet outdoors for socially distanced local exercise. However, please remember this is solely for the purpose of exercise and that individuals should remain at a social distance, and that this guidance doesn’t apply to private gardens.

Dr Williams also addressed the return to school for Wales’ youngest learners.

He said: “As primary school children aged three to seven years in foundation phase returned to face-to-face learning this week, we thank parents for their perseverance during the winter.

“We need your continued support to control the spread of Coronavirus, so please do not send your child to school if they are unwell, even if you are not sure if they have Coronavirus. Please continue to work from home if at all possible.

“When you take your child to school, always keep your distance from other parents, wear a face covering, and don’t stay around and chat. Please don’t invite other children or their parents to your home to play or stay, even outdoors, and even if they are in the same bubble at school.

“Make sure your child understands the importance of washing their hands regularly.”