Wales' Deputy Chief Medical Office has urged everyone in the country to "protect yourself and your loved ones" from coronavirus, as case rates surge to their highest ever levels in the pandemic.
Describing the current situation as a "worrying time", Dr Chris Jones has encouraged people across Wales to get their booster vaccine and follow measures to curb the spread of the virus.
The latest figures show case rates have risen sharply to more than 910 cases per 100,000 people – the highest levels since the start of the pandemic, according to a statement issued by the Welsh Government.
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"Some 6,000 new infections are being confirmed daily, the majority of which will be caused by the new omicron variant," continued the statement.
On Tuesday the latest data from Public Health Wales, covering the period up to 9am on Boxing Day, showed 12,378 new cases in the country. This is a huge jump from the previous figures released gthe previous day, covering the 24 hours up to 9am on December 24, which showed 5,335 new positive cases.
Meanwhile, more than 54% of people in Wales have had their booster vaccine, the aim being for eligible adults to be offered the booster by the end of December to offer greater protection against the mutant strain.
Dr Jones said: "We are seeing a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases caused by Omicron all over Wales. The majority of these are in younger people and we believe they would have been contracted before Christmas.
"This new variant is very transmissible – it spreads very quickly wherever people come together.
"Please take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. This means wearing a face covering in indoor public places; keeping your distance from other people wherever possible and, if you can, reducing the number of people you meet regularly.
"If you have symptoms, self-isolate and arrange to get a PCR test.
"Please also get your booster vaccine – it’s the best way of protecting ourselves.
"Wales is at alert level two and new protections are in place. This is a worrying time but if we all work together and look out for each other, we can keep Wales safe."
The doctor's warning comes after First Minister Mark Drakeford introduced tighter restrictions in Wales from 6am on Boxing Day in response to the Omicron wave, which is predicted to peak in January.
The measures announced last week are described as "a revised version" of alert level two restrictions.
The hospitality sector has been hit hardest by the new measures and will see a return to table service and the "rule of six" in pubs and restaurants
Meanwhile the maximum number of people who can gather at an indoor event will be 30 and 50 outdoors. You can read the full list of Covid rules that have come into force here.
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