CONCERNS about the accuracy of figures on Covid-19 related deaths of Powys residents, continue to be raised.

And residents are being warned that incidents of coronavirus in the county are higher than the figures being confirmed by Public Health Wales.

Due to Powys not having a district general hospital, many patients have been treated outside the county at hospitals including Aberystwyth’s Bronglais, Nevill Hall in Abergavenny, The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and Hereford County Hospital.

Powys County Council’s anti-poverty champion, councillor Joy Jones has been contacted by many residents about the figures.

She said: “With no true figures many people think there’s no real threat in this area.

“People tell me they think there is no problem here because of the low numbers reported.”

“It needs to be explained that there is a big difference in the data so that people understand that it’s still a huge problem here.”

Powys Teaching Health Board want to see the ONS figure used for Powys.

Adrian Osborne of the health board said: “We recognise that some people have been confused about the different ways that COVID-19 is published by different national bodies in England and Wales.

“We would therefore encourage people in Powys and the media to refer to the ONS as the most comprehensive source of COVID-19-related death statistics.

“They report on all registered deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

“This includes everyone who has died with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, and it includes information about Powys residents who have sadly died in England.”

Public Health Wales said in its most recent report on 26 May that 84 people from Powys had died with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

This includes 34 people in hospitals, 45 people in care homes, and five in private homes.