Wales will lend England a further four million lateral flow tests, it's been revealed.
An update by the Welsh Government after the latest review has said that the majority of rules are not changing.
However from December 31 rules around self-isolation are however changing and if someone with Covid tests negative on day six and seven they can end their isolation earlier than the current 10 days. You can read about that here.
In the statement announcing the change First Minister Mr Drakeford also said that Wales has enough tests for demand. There have been shortages reported in England.
Mr Drakeford also said in a statement on Thursday that Wales will lend tests to England. "Demand for PCR tests and for lateral flow devices continues to rise and has reached new record levels. Wales has a significant stock of lateral flow tests, sufficient to meet our needs over the weeks ahead. The health minister has agreed today to loan a further four million such tests to the English NHS, bringing that mutual aid to 10 million lateral flow tests.
"Distribution of lateral flow test kits through home delivery and pharmacies remains the responsibility of the UK Government and we are working with it as it increases the capacity of the system."
Mr Drakeford said the situation remains "very volatile". Concern remains about the impact large numbers of coronavirus cases are having in Wales, particularly on the health service. Figures on December 30 showed the latest seven-day infection rate across Wales, based on the seven days up to December 25, has risen to 1,092.5 cases per 100,000 population – the highest figure at any stage of the pandemic.
The local authority with the highest infection rate in Wales for the seven days from December 19 to 25 is Cardiff, where the figure is 1,364.1, while Newport, Torfaen, Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Ceredigion, and Swansea all have rates in excess of 1,000.
In his statement the First Minister has said: "Today a review has taken place of the public health situation over the Christmas period. It has deteriorated in the last week as the Omicron wave has arrived. We have seen a marked rise in cases of coronavirus – the majority are likely to be caused by the Omicron variant.
"This is similar to the position in the rest of the UK. Over the last few days record numbers of infections have been identified and the overall seven-day case rate has risen to more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 people across Wales.
"Cases are highest among 20- to 29-year-olds and 30- to 39-year-olds. We are also starting to see the cases rates increase in the older age groups. Hospitalisations remain lower than in previous waves but these too are starting to increase.
"The overall Covid-19 bed occupancy has grown by a third over the Christmas period. This is a combination of both Omicron and Delta cases.
"The number of confirmed Covid-19 patients in hospital has also increased to 446 on December 29. This is 49% higher than the same day last week. We have not seen a rise in the number of Covid-19 patients needing critical care."
See more detail on the latest hospital figures here.
The full list of rules in place for Wales
- A limit of up to 50 outdoor and 30 indoor spectators can attend community sports events
- Social distancing of 2m is required in offices and all public premises and people must work from home if possible
- A maximum of six people can meet in public premises
- Licensed premises have to take additional reasonable measures to protect customers and staff
- A maximum of 30 people can attend indoor events and a maximum of 50 people at outdoor events
- People attending weddings or civil partnership receptions or wakes should take a lateral flow test before attending
- Nightclubs must remain closed
The rules are different to the rules across the UK. The UK Government has already said its rules will stay in place until the new year while on Wednesday Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Omicron variant was now responsible for 80% of Covid-19 cases there as she warned the spread of the strain is "developing rapidly".
However the First Minister confirmed she will not introduce tougher restrictions at this stage saying the situation in Scotland's hospitals was "broadly stable".
Stormont ministers will hold a virtual meeting to review the latest Covid-19 data for Northern Ireland looking at the impact measures brought in there on Monday is having. That included table service only in bars and restaurants, 2m social distancing in offices, and guidance on household gatherings.
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