More than 500 people have now died in Wales with coronavirus, Public Health Wales has confirmed.
The latest figures announced today (Friday, April 17) show that eleven people have died with the virus in the past day, taking the total number of deaths in Wales to 506.
Eight new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Caerphilly County Borough, with 29 new confirmed cases across Gwent.
The total number of cases in Caerphilly now stands at 434 – more than a month after the first case was confirmed in the borough on March 11.
Caerphilly has the fifth highest number of cases of any local authority area in Wales, behind Cardiff (1,231), Rhondda Cynon Taf (686), Swansea (665) and Newport (576).
In the UK as a whole, 108,692 people have tested positive for the virus, with 14,576 deaths recorded in hospitals.
On Thursday (April 16), First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed the lockdown in Wales would be extended for a further three weeks, with the UK Government also announcing a lockdown extension.
He said the decision was “based on expert scientific analysis”.
Mr Drakeford said: “While we have seen some positive signs in the data, it is still too early to change course in dealing with this deadly virus.
“Many more lives are at stake, and too many families have already lost loved ones.”
He added: “Nevertheless, the decision to extend the lockdown is not one that has been taken lightly.
“But I am clear that we cannot risk throwing away all the sacrifices we have made here in Wales over the last few weeks by lifting the restrictions too soon.
“We will go on taking the decisions that are right for Wales, and at the right time so that together we go on protecting our NHS and so to save lives.”
Welsh Conservative leader Paul Davies described the extension as a “sensible precaution” and said: “No one wants a lockdown to continue longer than necessary, but in order to prevent the spread of this virus we must for now continue to pay attention to the advice of: ‘Stay home, protect the NHS, and save lives’.”
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: “The focus must now move to testing, tracing and isolating to help limit new outbreaks and the need for extended lockdowns.
“If we are going to come out of the lockdown without seeing a second wave of infection, then re-adopting testing and contact tracing is essential.”
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