Written question WQ93462

The Welsh Government continues to closely monitor Covid-19 case rates. Epidemiological data indicates that the recent increase in cases can be attributed to so-called FLiRT variants, which are sub-lineages of JN.1. There is no clear evidence to suggest that these variants are causing more serious symptoms than previous variants or are more likely to evade immunity.

Furthermore, there is no direct evidence that infection with these variants increases hospitalisation risk. The shift in dominance of sub-lineages of known variants do not correlate well over time with hospitalisations. While the data shows there has been a recent increase in people admitted to hospital testing positive for Covid-19, it does not identify whether those individuals are actively being treated for Covid-19 or whether they tested positive as a coincidence and are being treated for another illness.

The Welsh Government regularly engages with health boards, both from a system oversight and NHS planning perspective. Officials jointly assess with health boards the incidence and outbreaks of communicable diseases, including Covid-19, and discuss appropriate response arrangements. As Covid-19 is not yet a seasonal illness, periodic increases in cases are to be expected and are managed in line with NHS Wales’s year-round planning process. Officials also work proactively with health boards to ensure infection, prevention and control procedures and other relevant guidance is being adhered to, so that onward transmission of Covid-19 and other infectious diseases can be reduced.