NEARLY 2,000 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded across Wales today as fears grow over the Omicron variant.

Anyone who enters Wales from abroad will have to self-isolate and take a PCR test it was announced on Saturday after two cases of the new variant were detected in England.

The Welsh government has said that this was a serious development and ministers would meet over the weekend to discuss whether any further action was needed.

In a press conference on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said that face coverings would become mandatory again in shops and on public transport in England. They are already mandatory in Wales.

He said that the new variant appeared to be spreading ‘very rapidly’ and can spread between people who are double vaccinated.

Earlier today, Dutch officials confirmed that they had identified 13 cases of the new variant.

Today’s coronavirus figures show that 1,963 new cases have been recorded in Wales with Gwynedd having the second highest daily rise in Wales behind Cardiff with 135 new cases.

Elsewhere, 84 new cases have been recorded in Carmarthenshire and 81 in Pembrokeshire, with Powys recording 84.

Ceredigion has again recorded the lowest number of daily cases with 14 in the county.

Nine new deaths have been recorded across Wales today, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 1,963.

No new deaths have been recorded in the Hywel Dda Health Board area of Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, leaving its total at 609 since the start of the pandemic.

No new deaths have been recorded in the Betsi Cadwaladr and Powys health board regions, with their totals remaining at 1,096 and 82 respectively.