Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you very much for the opportunity to update the Chamber on the COVID situation and our plans to keep Wales safe during a difficult autumn and winter ahead.

Now, before I give my update, I'd like to acknowledge World Mental Health Day and thank the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being for her update on progress of our 'Together for Mental Health' delivery plan earlier today. Mental health is such an important agenda, and more so now than ever in the last 18 months. In what have been unprecedented times, I know how deeply the impact of the pandemic has been felt by so many. And I'd also like to extend my regards to the leader of the Tory party, and my respect for him to come out in the way that he has in terms of his situation. I'm fully committed to improving health and well-being in Wales and it's absolutely right for Wales to have a dedicated Deputy Minister for health and well-being driving these initiatives forward.

On Friday, the First Minister announced the outcome of the 21-day review, and though we remain in alert level 0, there are important protections that have been maintained and strengthened to keep us safe. Coronavirus is still very much with us; since my last update, cases had surged. We still have very high rates of coronavirus in our communities, but I'm pleased to say that in the last week, numbers have fluctuated at around 500 cases per 100,000 people and we've seen similar fluctuating trends in hospital admissions, although noticeably lower numbers than last month. We therefore consider the public health situation to be stable, though we're acutely aware that this could quickly change.

The NHS is still under intense pressure. Our health and care services are still experiencing resource pressures and we still need everyone to play their part and follow the guidance in place to enable Wales to remain open under the lowest level of restrictions. There are very high numbers of infections in younger people and we're monitoring the links between schools and community transmission. Last week, we published strengthened advice and guidance to learners in secondary schools and colleges. When a household member tests positive for COVID-19, in addition to the current advice to take a PCR test on days two and eight, they should in future undertake daily lateral flow tests for seven days. By finding and isolating positive cases, we can help stop onward transmission.

We've also started the vaccination programme for 12 to 15-year-olds. Our incredible vaccination programme has helped weaken the link between infection and serious illness. Vaccination is the best defence we have against coronavirus. Our new vaccination strategy published today sets out how the vaccination programme will continue to deliver effectively and at pace in the autumn and winter months. The strategy focuses on providing boosters for the most vulnerable, vaccinating children and young people and our principle of leaving nobody behind, including those people who are pregnant. Over the summer, we worked with health boards to plan this next phase. This has allowed them to move quickly when confirmation of the booster and vaccination of children was recently announced. This new phase brings us hope.

This week sees the introduction of the COVID pass. With the increase in numbers we saw last month, we continue looking at measures to mitigate the spread of COVID through our communities. None of us wants to see businesses having to shut again. We will of course keep these measures under review to ensure that they remain proportionate.