Covid: At least 11,000 positive tests missing from Welsh data due to IT ‘maintenance’

Wales has recorded over 100,000 cases of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic

File image: A close-up of a Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine before it is given to a patient in Cardiff, Wales (Getty Images)

At least 11,000 positive Covid-19 tests were missing from the published total coronavirus cases for Wales last week.

Once these are included in the positive coronavirus cases for 9-15 December, it will double the current total.

The additional cases will be added on Thbursday to official data, according to Public Health Wales (PHW) which claimed that the “significant under-reporting” of positive tests happened due to "planned maintenance" of some IT systems.

Rhun sp Iorwerth, opposition Plaid Cymru’s health spokesman, told the BBC that it is “crucial that the reporting of data is both timely and robust.”

He said the public needs a “complete and current picture to realise the gravity” of what the country is facing and that urgent reassurance is needed “that the failings have been addressed.”

According to the World Health Organisation, over 103,000 positive cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Wales so far during the pandemic, including 2,921 deaths. On Wednesday, a lockdown was announced in Wales from 28 December.  

The UK has recorded 1.88 million cases of Covid-19, including 64,908 deaths.

Wales is moving to the alert level four – the highest – to control the spread of coronavirus. The restrictions kick in even before the lockdown on 28 December as non-essential shops will be forced to stay closed.

Once the lockdown is imposed, there will be stricter measures on staying-at-home, holiday accommodation and travel. During this time, those in Wales must work from home and not travel without a reasonable excuse.  

Entertainment venues, leisure and fitness facilities, outdoor visitor attractions, theatres and concert halls will also close, but places of worship and playgrounds, schools, colleges and childcare providers will remain open.