There has been a rise in recent days in the average number of positive COVID-19 cases within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, with a marked increase within Cardiff itself.
The current infection rate for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan stands at 10.9 per 100,000, the highest it’s been since early June.
Although daily fluctuations in the figures are to be expected, the number of new cases in Cardiff has, over the past 7 days, risen to 14.0 per 100,000 of the population.
This increase has seen local case numbers shift from being significantly below the average in England to above it (the average in England 11.9 per 100,000 on 18 August).
Within this, the rate of tests coming back as positive has also increased from 0.3% at the start of August to 2.5% on 22 August.
The latest figures, shared by the Cardiff and Vale Test, Trace, Protect partnership, also show an increase in cases amongst adults in their 20s and 30s.
Fiona Kinghorn, Executive Director of Public Health for Cardiff and the Vale, said:“Most of the cases have been associated with a small number of clusters we have been actively investigating and managing.
“However, these increases show how quickly the position can change and should serve as a stark reminder that the virus is still present in our communities, and that there can be no room for complacency.
“As national lockdown measures continue to be eased it is vital we all recognise that the virus is spread by people, and that we all take our responsibility to each other seriously.
“There is a notable increase in cases among young adults in their 20s and 30s. While some younger adults may feel that COVID doesn’t affect them and be keen to return to socialising as they did before the pandemic, they should know that it is failing to maintain social distancing and not sticking to chosen extended household groups that appears to be causing this increase.
“It is easy to slip back into how we used to live our lives but we must remember to keep our distance, continue regular handwashing, and in situations where this isn’t possible to stay two metres apart and wear a face covering. All of these measures have been proven to be effective in recent months.”
The Cardiff and ValeTest, Trace, Protect partnership, which sees the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council work with Public Health Wales to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the region currently conducts around 450 tests each day.
Once a new positive COVID-19 case has been detected the partnership’s tracing team will make contact with the individual to inform them that their household should also be self-isolating and ask them to share information about their recent contacts.
The team will then use that information to alert those individuals that they have been in contact with someone with a confirmed case to tell them what they need to do and how they can access support if they need it.
The Cardiff and Vale Test, Trace, Protect partnership has followed up 98% of positive cases, and over the last 6 weeks 90% of these were carried out within 24 hours.
Anyone whodevelops a new continuous cough, a fever, or difficulty being able to smell or taste should self-isolate and book a coronavirus test online immediately.
