Today, Llywydd, as we start this sixth Senedd, the public health position in Wales has moved significantly forward, and we are now at alert level 2. The hard work of everyone across Wales, combined with our successful vaccination programme, means we continue to have the lowest coronavirus rates in the United Kingdom, at around 10 cases per 100,000 of the population, and a positivity rate that today stands at 1 per cent.

At the same time, the number of people in hospital with COVID is at its lowest level since the start of the pandemic more than 15 months ago, and there are three people only with COVID in a critical care bed in Wales. Our NHS is returning to more normal levels of activity for this time of year, treating more people with a wider range of illnesses, injuries and health conditions. Thankfully, far fewer deaths are being reported, although I know that everyone in this Chamber, and participating virtually, will continue to think of all of those who have lost a loved one here in Wales to this awful virus.

This weekend, we passed the 2 million first dose vaccine milestone in Wales—that's 2 million people in Wales who have now said 'yes' to vaccination. More than 80 per cent of all adults in Wales have now had a first dose of the vaccine, as a minimum. In figures published earlier today, 80 per cent of people in their 40s, 62 per cent of people in their 30s, and 43 per cent of people aged between 18 and 29 have now had a first vaccine here in Wales. In the coming weeks, we hope to pass the milestone of a million people completing the two-dose course of vaccination—and all of this has happened in just six months.

I know that every Member of the Senedd will want to thank those involved with the vaccination programme, from all those who work behind the scenes to plan and co-ordinate what is a complex roll-out, to the thousands of people—the NHS staff, the military personnel, and the many volunteers—for this incredible achievement. It is their efforts that are making a real difference to the course of this pandemic.

Over the coming weeks, we will be focusing our energies on providing first doses, to make sure we vaccinate as many people as possible. Younger age groups will be offered the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, in line with the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. And, Llywydd, it is because we have such low levels of coronavirus and high levels of vaccination that we have been able to move to alert level 2 in one step—one step further towards normality.