PEOPLE in Powys who may have travelled back from areas badly hit by the Coronavirus are being reminded they should contact NHS Direct Wales following the first confirmed case in Wales.

The case was announced this morning though the Welsh Government and public health officials aren’t releasing any details of where the patient lives or is being treated. It has been reported patient is from the Swansea area.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frank Atherton, confirmed that a patient in Wales has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) and had recently returned to Wales from Northern Italy, where they were infected.

Dr Atherton said: “I can confirm that one patient in Wales has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).

“All appropriate measures to provide care for the individual and to reduce the risk of transmission to others are being taken.

“I can also confirm that the patient had travelled back to Wales from Northern Italy, where the virus was contracted.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to assure the public that Wales and the whole of the UK is well prepared for these types of incidents. Working with our partners in Wales and the UK, we have implemented our planned response, with robust infection control measures in place to protect the health of the public.”

Dr Giri Shankar, who is leading Public Health Wales’ response to the outbreak, said officials will now seek to trace all the patient’s close contacts.

He said: "Public Health Wales is working hard to identify close contacts, and we are taking all appropriate actions to reduce any risk to the public’s health."

Coronavirus presents with flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing. The current evidence is that most cases appear to be mild.

Travellers who have been to Iran, the lockdown areas in Northern Italy identified by the Italian Government and special care zones in South Korea as designated by the South Korean government since February 19 should should immediately stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as they would with the flu and phone NHS Direct Wales on 111 in Powys, as well as the Hywel Dda, Aneurin Bevan and Swansea Bay areas or 0845 46 47 in other areas of Wales.