A leading intensive care doctor says the majority of Covid patients he is treating a "steady stream" of coronavirus patients, with the majority being unvaccinated.
Dr David Hepburn, a consultant in intensive care at The Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, described them a "good people" who have "unfortunately believed the negative stories" and not been vaccinated.
Outspoken during the pandemic, the doctor also said that the majority of patients in the past couple of months had been aged between 40 and 50.
And he added that they were "still getting deaths".
"Difference to previous waves is delta plus no vaccine seems to lead to really rapid and catastrophic deterioration," he added in a strongly-worded Twitter feed. "This is the new normal for us. It’s nearly Covid’s second birthday and it’s the first birthday of our new unit. I suspect nothing I say will change anyone’s mind about getting the vaccine but as your friendly neighbourhood ITU team we really, really think you should."
Latest hospital figures for the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, which covers the Grange hospital, show that there are 176 in hospitals with coronavirus and six in intensive care.
Across Wales there are 733 patients in hospitals with coronavirus and 67 being treated in intensive care.
Dr Hepburn urged people to get the vaccine and the booster, which is being rolled out to people aged 40 and over, saying: "If you have had your vaccine, get your booster. Seems to have a big effect - we are seeing vaccine escape in double vaccinated patients, thankfully not many.
"The one thing I hate is putting people off to sleep knowing they may never wake up. The vaccine is really helping, when I think back to this time last year. Anyhow - hope you’re all ok. Stay safe out there and don’t @ me with your vaccine conspiracies ta."
Latest figures from Public Health Wales show that a further 13 people have died with coronavirus in Wales.
The new figures published on Monday, November 15, which cover the 48-hour period up to 9am on November 14, show the total number of Covid-related deaths in Wales now stands at 6,295. The places in Wales with the lowest Covid rates
There were also 4,520 new positive cases recorded in the latest update bringing the total number since the pandemic began to 475,375.
The latest seven-day infection rate across Wales, based on the cases for every 100,000 people (for the seven days up to November 10) now stands at 482.1 – a rise from the 469.3 reported on Sunday. Last Thursday, the seven-day infection rate went down below 500 for the first time since early October. For more health-related content please go here
The local authority with the highest infection rate in Wales is Torfaen with 594.9 cases per 100,000 population over seven days, closely followed by Gwynedd with 557.2 and Cardiff with 552.2. Cases for your area here.
Booster jabs for people aged 40-49 and second jabs for children aged 16 and 17 will be rolled out in Wales, the Welsh Government has said. Statement on boosters here.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which is the export body offering recommendations to the UK Government, has announced that it is advising that all adults over the age of 40 should be offered a booster, six months after their second dose.
It has also said that 16 and 17-year-olds should come forward for a second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab – which should be given at least 12 weeks after the first.
Welsh Government health minister Baroness Eluned Morgan has confirmed that Wales will be following this advice.
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