Wales has recorded no new deaths from coronavirus for a second day in a row.

Figures released by Public Health Wales this lunchtime show that for a second day in a row, Wales has recorded zero Covid-19-related deaths, leaving the total since the pandemic began at 5,488.

127 new cases of the virus have been recorded across Wales today with the nationwide rate of infection currently standing at 42 cases per 100,000 population.

Ceredigion and Gwynedd both recorded one new coronavirus case today while Pembrokeshire recorded two; Carmarthenshire, four and Powys, six.

Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the Covid outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Today marks the one year anniversary of the first lockdown in Wales.

“Thank you to everyone who has worked to keep Wales safe over the past year, and we send our condolences to those who have lost loved ones.

“We are continually testing, researching, informing and developing our response to Coronavirus for a better, more resilient future for all.

“Supermarkets can now sell non-essential items and garden centres can open in Wales.

"This slight easing of Covid lockdown rules is encouraging and while the level of infection across Wales has declined in recent weeks, there are still several areas which have significantly higher rates.”

On the anniversary of the UK’s first lockdown, Maria Battle, chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board, reflected on a tumultuous 12 months.

She said: “I have been awed by how our communities have rolled up their sleeves.

“We are on target to offer vaccination to all adults in West Wales by the end of July, subject to supplies being received as planned.

“This extraordinary achievement opens up hope for the future as we continue to work towards our vision for a healthier mid and west Wales.

“But we have a lot of work to do to rebuild and a lot of learning to take stock of.

“We are all acutely aware of the detrimental impact on people waiting for planned operations far longer than we would like.

"We have written to all patients who have waited more than 52 weeks to say how sorry we are, to explain why and to ensure our waiting lists are correct to help clinical decisions as we restart non-urgent care.”