Updated: 30 December 2021
Note: Public Health Wales is now reporting Omicron variant case numbers in Wales as part of routine reporting on our surveillance dashboard (see ‘Variant Surveillance’ tab).
Updated: 29 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Wednesday 29 December) confirming 5,680 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 7,369 cases. As the Welsh Government has confirmed, Omicron has now replaced Delta as the dominant Coronavirus variant in Wales.
“The single best thing you can do to protect yourself, your community and the NHS against the Omicron variant is to take up the offer of a vaccine. You can also protect yourself by adhering to Welsh Government guidance, including limiting your contacts, wearing a face covering where appropriate, and doing a lateral flow test before seeing others. If you have symptoms, self-isolate and book a PCR test.”
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Total cases |
|
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
2,305 (+1,905) |
|
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board |
1,184 (+815) |
|
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board |
936 (+637) |
|
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board |
1,231 (+1,027) |
|
Swansea Bay University Health Board |
618 (+340) |
|
Hywel Dda University Health Board |
859 (+770) |
|
Powys Teaching Health Board |
233 (+184) |
| Unknown | 3 (+2) |
|
Total |
7,369 (+5,680) |
Updated: 26 December 2021
Dr Chris Williams, Consultant Epidemiologist for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Sunday 26 December) confirming 304 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 1,689 cases.
“As we have indicated previously, a rapid increase over the coming days and weeks is expected.”
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Total cases |
|
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
400 (+99) |
|
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board |
369 (+90) |
|
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board |
299 (+25) |
|
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board |
204 (+28) |
|
Swansea Bay University Health Board |
278 (+27) |
|
Hywel Dda University Health Board |
89 (+29) |
|
Powys Teaching Health Board |
49 (+6) |
| Unknown | 1 (+0) |
|
Total |
1,689 (+304) |
Updated: 24 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Friday 24 December) confirming 208 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 1,385 cases.
“As we have indicated previously, a rapid increase over the coming days and weeks is expected.”
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Total cases |
|
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
301 (+40) |
|
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board |
279 (+43) |
|
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board |
274 (+26) |
|
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board |
176 (+23) |
|
Swansea Bay University Health Board |
251 (+66) |
|
Hywel Dda University Health Board |
60 (+7) |
|
Powys Teaching Health Board |
43 (+3) |
| Unknown | 1 (+0) |
|
Total |
1,385 (+208) |
Updated: 23 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Thursday 23 December) confirming 236 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 1,177 cases.
“As we have indicated previously, a rapid increase over the coming days and weeks is expected.”
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Total cases |
|
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
261 (+36) |
|
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board |
236 (+61) |
|
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board |
248 (+66) |
|
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board |
153 (+42) |
|
Swansea Bay University Health Board |
185 (+22) |
|
Hywel Dda University Health Board |
53 (+6) |
|
Powys Teaching Health Board |
40 (+3) |
| Unknown | 1 (+0) |
|
Total |
1,177 (+236) |
Updated: 22 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Wednesday 22 December) confirming 301 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 941 cases.
“As we have indicated previously, a rapid increase over the coming days and weeks is expected.”
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Total cases |
|
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
225 (+77) |
|
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board |
175 (+89) |
|
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board |
182 (+53) |
|
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board |
111 (+28) |
|
Swansea Bay University Health Board |
163 (+24) |
|
Hywel Dda University Health Board |
47 (+16) |
|
Powys Teaching Health Board |
37 (+14) |
| Unknown | 1 |
|
Total |
941 (+301) |
Updated: 21 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Tuesday 21 December) confirming 204 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 640 cases.
“As we have indicated previously, a rapid increase over the coming days and weeks is expected.”
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Total cases |
|
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
148 (+46) |
|
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board |
86 (+19) |
|
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board |
129 (+43) |
|
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board |
83 (+25) |
|
Swansea Bay University Health Board |
139 (+55) |
|
Hywel Dda University Health Board |
31 (+9) |
|
Powys Teaching Health Board |
23 (+7) |
|
Total |
640 (+204) |
Updated: 20 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Monday 20 December) confirming 163 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 435 cases.
“As we have indicated previously, a rapid increase over the coming days and weeks is expected.”
Details of Omicron cases can now be found on the Variant Surveillance tab of the Public Health Wales dashboard.
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Total cases |
|
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
102 (+31) |
|
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board |
67 (+24) |
|
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board |
86 (+34) |
|
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board |
58 (+17) |
|
Swansea Bay University Health Board |
84 (+36) |
|
Hywel Dda University Health Board |
22 (+14) |
|
Powys Teaching Health Board |
16 (+7) |
|
Total |
435 (+163) |
Updated: 18 December 2021
Dr Christopher Williams, Consultant Epidemiologist at Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Saturday 18 December) confirming 22 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 181 cases.
“As we have indicated previously, a rapid increase over the coming days and weeks is expected.”
From 17.12.21 the allocation of cases to categories and health boards was automated. As a result, cases previously reported may have been re-allocated to other health boards based on new available data.
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Total cases |
|
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board |
54 (+3) |
|
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board |
30 (+6) |
|
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board |
27 (+2) |
|
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board |
25 (-1) |
|
Swansea Bay University Health Board |
32 (+9) |
|
Hywel Dda University Health Board |
8 (+2) |
|
Powys Teaching Health Board |
5 (+1) |
|
Total |
22 |
Updated: 17 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Friday 17 December) confirming 64 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 159 cases.
“As we have indicated previously, a rapid increase over the coming days and weeks is expected.”
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
| Health Board | Total cases |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | 51 (+18) |
| Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | 24 (+9) |
| Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board | 25 (+14) |
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | 26 (+11) |
| Swansea Bay University Health Board | 23 (+10) |
| Hywel Dda University Health Board | 6 (+1) |
| Powys Teaching Health Board | 4 (+1) |
| Total | 159 (+64) |
Updated: 16 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Thursday 16 December) confirming 33 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 95 cases.
“As we have indicated previously, a rapid increase over the coming days and weeks is expected.”
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
| Health Board | Total cases |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | 33 (+10) |
| Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | 15 (+5) |
| Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board | 11 (+5) |
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | 15 (+6) |
| Swansea Bay University Health Board | 13 (+4) |
| Hywel Dda University Health Board | 5 (+2) |
| Powys Teaching Health Board | 3 (+1) |
| Total | 95 (+33) |
Updated: 15 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Wednesday 15 December) confirming 30 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 62 cases.
“Part of the increase today is linked to a change in case definition agreed across the UK, as cases previously identified as highly probable are now classed as confirmed by genotyping. However, as we have indicated previously, a rapid increase over the coming days and weeks is expected.”
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
| Health Board | Total cases |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | 23 (+9) |
| Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | 10 (+5) |
| Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board | 6 (+1) |
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | 9 (+5) |
| Swansea Bay University Health Board | 9 (+7) |
| Hywel Dda University Health Board | 3 (+2) |
| Powys Teaching Health Board | 2 (+1) |
| Total | 62 (+30) |
Updated: 14 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Tuesday 14 December) confirming two new cases of Omicron variant in Wales, bringing us to a total of 32 cases. As we have said previously, an increase in cases of Omicron variant in Wales is to be expected.”
The breakdown of Omicron cases by health board area is as follows:
| Health Board | Total cases |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | 14 (+0) |
| Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | 5 (+0) |
| Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board | 5 (+1) |
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | 4 (+0) |
| Swansea Bay University Health Board | 2 (+1) |
| Hywel Dda University Health Board | 1 (+0) |
| Powys Teaching Health Board | 1 (+0) |
| Total | 32 |
Updated: 13 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Monday 13 December) confirming 15 new cases of Omicron variant in Wales. This brings us to a total of 30 cases, of which three are linked to international travel.
“There are now Omicron cases in every health board area in Wales.
“In total, there are now four cases are in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area, five are in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area, four in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area, and 14 in the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board area. There is one case each in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area, the Powys Teaching Health Board area, and the Swansea Bay University Health Board area.
“As we have said previously, an increase in cases of Omicron variant in Wales is to be expected.”
Updated: 12 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Sunday 12 December) confirming no new cases of Omicron variant in Wales. The total number of cases in Wales remains at fifteen, of which three are linked to international travel.
“As we have said previously, an increase in cases of Omicron variant in Wales is to be expected.”
Updated: 11 December 2021
Dr Eleri Davies interim Medical Director for Public Health Wales said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Saturday 11 December 2021) confirming two new cases of Omicron variant, one in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area, and one in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area. This brings us to a total of 15 cases in Wales, of which three are linked to international travel. One incorrect travel history was identified, hence the decline of one case linked to travel.
“As we have said previously, an increase in cases of Omicron variant in Wales is to be expected.”
Updated: 10 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Friday 10 December) confirming two new cases of Omicron variant in the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board area, one new case in the Swansea Bay University Health Board area and one new case in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area. This brings us to a total of thirteen cases in Wales, of which four are linked to international travel.
“As we have said previously, an increase in cases of Omicron variant in Wales is to be expected.”
Updated: 9 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Thursday 9 December) confirming no new cases of Omicron variant in Wales. The total number of cases in Wales remains at nine, of which three are linked to international travel.
“As we have said previously, an increase in cases of Omicron variant in Wales is to be expected.”
Updated: 8 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Wednesday 8 December) confirming a further four cases of the Omicron variant in Wales, bringing the total to nine cases.
“One new case is in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area, and three new cases are in the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board area. One of the new cases has a recent history of travel.
“As we have said previously, an increase in cases of Omicron variant in Wales is to be expected.”
Updated: 7 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Tuesday 7 December 2021) confirming a further case of the Omicron variant in Wales, bringing the total to five cases.
“The new case is in the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board area, and has recently travelled.
“As we have said previously, an increase in cases of Omicron variant in Wales is to be expected.”
Updated: 6 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales is today (Monday 6 December) confirming a further three cases of the Omicron variant in Wales, bringing the total to four cases.
“The cases are in the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board area. Two of the new cases are linked with travel or are close contacts, and a third is under investigation.
“As we have said previously, an increase in cases of Omicron variant in Wales is to be expected.”
Published: 3 December 2021
Dr Meng Khaw, National Director for Health Protection and Screening Services for Public Health Wales, said:
“The Welsh Government has today confirmed a case of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus in Wales.
“The case was identified in the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board area, and is linked with international travel. There is no evidence of wider community transmission.
“The number of mutations in the Omicron variant is concerning, but new variants are anticipated. We keep variants under constant review, and we work with UK partners to identify, detect and monitor new and known variants. The Delta variant continues to be the dominant strain in Wales.
“The single best thing you can do to protect yourself, your community and the NHS against new variants of Coronavirus is to take up the offer of a vaccine.
“You can also protect yourself and others by maintaining a social distance where possible, washing hands regularly, keeping homes well-ventilated, and working from home if you can. Use a Covid Pass and a face covering where required.
“If you develop a cough, fever or change in sense of taste or smell, you must self-isolate immediately and book a free Coronavirus test by calling 119 or by visiting the Welsh Government website.”