Coronavirus: Wales reports first Covid-19 death as cases rise to 124

68-year-old patient suffered from underlying health conditions

The first coronavirus death in Wales has been confirmed, with the total number of confirmed infections now up to 124.

Health authorities reported that a person in their 60s has become the first to die in Wales.

Dr Frank Atherton, the chief medical officer for Wales, said that the patient, who was being treated at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, had been suffering from underlying health conditions.

“It is with regret that today I am confirming a patient in Wales has sadly died after contracting COVID-19,” Dr Atherton said in a statement.

“I offer my sincere condolences to their family and friends and ask that their request for privacy is respected.”

The patient, aged 68, had no travel history and had been living at home before admission to hospital.

First minister Mark Drakeford said: “I am deeply saddened that a person in Wales who had coronavirus has died. My heartfelt condolences are with their family and friends.

“We continue to work hard to respond to this fast changing situation, as the impact of the virus continues to increase in the days and weeks ahead.”

This comes as Public Health Wales (PHW) announced that a further 30 people had tested positive for coronavirus on Monday.

Of Wales’ 124 confirmed cases, the highest concentration has been recorded in the Swansea area, with 19 per cent of the total.

Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the coronavirus outbreak response at PHW, said: “We are working with our partners in the Welsh Government, the wider NHS in Wales and others, now that we have entered the ‘delay’ phase.

“This is now not just an attempt to contain the disease, as far as possible, but to delay its spread.”

PHW said the residential areas of 12 of Monday’s confirmed cases were not yet available, but the Swansea local authority area had 23 confirmed cases, Caerphilly and Newport had 14, and the capital Cardiff had 11.​

Additional reporting by PA