The number of covid-related patients in hospital this week in Wales passed the peak point of the first wave in April.
The grim milestone was announced by Health Secretary Vaughan Gething when he addressed the daily Welsh Government briefing on Friday (November 6).
He said: "This week, the NHS passed the April peak point. On Wednesday, there were more covid-related patients in hospital than there were at the peak in April.
"This includes people with suspected and confirmed coronavirus and people recovering from the virus.
"The numbers have fallen slightly as a result of discharges and sadly some deaths."
He added that there are currently 1,365 people with covid-related symptoms in Welsh hospitals, which is 169 higher than at this time last week.
There are large variation in cases of coronavirus across Wales, with very high rates in the South Wales Valleys – particularly in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Blaenau Gwent – and lower rates in more rural areas of West and North Wales.
The seven-day incidence rate for Wales is 252.8 cases per 100,000 people.
Follow live updates from the press conference on our dedicated live blog.
The latest Public Health Wales figures for Wales that were issued on Thursday said that a further 30 people had died with coronavirus in Wales and more than 1,200 new positive cases have been identified.
They announced that 1,272 more people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 following a lab test.
Despite the high number of cases, Mr Gething said he wanted to be "clear this does not mean our NHS has become overwhelmed".
He said that the NHS has capacity to respond to winter and pandemic pressures, including using field hospitals.
But added: "This is a significant milestone to reach and will have an impact on both services and the workforce.
"Coronavirus puts such a strain on the NHS because people admitted to hospital need to stay for much longer than they would if there were being treated for other conditions."
Cases in your area:
On Thursday, an intensive care doctor at a hospital which has been badly hit by coronavirus since September has said that she fears the second wave is worse than the first.
Dr Ceri Lynch, consultant anaesthetist Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, says that staff are "broken and exhausted"
