COVID cases appear to be falling across Wales, but official figures may not give a true picture of the situation the nation is facing.

Since the start of the pandemic, anyone who records a positive lateral flow test result has had to book a PCR test.

But the rules were changed on Tuesday this week to alleviate pressure on PCR test sites, meaning that anyone who records a positive lateral flow test will have to self-isolate, but won’t have to book a PCR test.

Explaining the decision, Wales’ health minister Eluned Morgan, said: "There is huge pressure on our testing at the moment and we have to take measures to make sure testing is available.

"The lateral flow tests are very accurate. If you do have symptoms do take a PCR test."

Lateral flow results are only added to the nation’s total Covid-19 cases on a weekly basis, with PCR results recorded daily.

This means that although numbers do appear to be falling across the country, daily figures produced by Public Health Wales aren’t showing the overall picture.

The latest PCR test results published this lunch time by Public Health Wales show that 2,886 positive cases were recorded across Wales over a 24 hour period up to 9am on Tuesday – a tenth of the number recorded just a week ago.

Ceredigion has recorded 39 new positive PCR results, with 113 in Gwynedd; 131 in Powys; 181 in Carmarthenshire and 72 in Pembrokeshire.

14 deaths have been recorded nationwide today, taking the total to 6,668 since March 2020.

One of the deaths recorded today has been in the Hywel Dda Health Board region of west Wales, which covers Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, taking the total number of deaths to 647.

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in north Wales has recorded two new deaths, with its total now standing at 1,152.

No deaths have been recorded in Powys with its total remaining at 86.