That's all from our live blog of the latest Welsh Government update on the pandemic.

The main points today:

• Supermarket bosses will be required by law to ensure Covid rules are followed following abuse of staff and breaches by customers
• First Minister Mark Drakeford said he had "no doubt" about the transmission of coronavirus in shops and that tighter action had been prompted by public concern
• There have been 54 more deaths of people with coronavirus in Wales, taking the official total to 4,171
• A total of 126,375 people have now been given the vaccine in Wales, with 129 having had their second dose
• Public Health Wales said the pressure the number of positive cases is putting on the NHS is cause for "serious concern"

You can keep up to date via the BBC News website and social media channels.

Stay safe, and have a good weekend.

BBC Wales political editor Felicity Evans and political correspondent James Williams chew over the week in Welsh politics in a new series of podcasts.

In the week that Health Minister Vaughan Gething announced his vaccine strategy for Wales, Felicity and Williams take a closer look at what's in it, who’s eligible, and the potential challenges the Welsh Government face in reaching its milestones.

They also hear from BBC Wales health correspondent Owain Clarke about how the Welsh NHS is coping during the pandemic, and ponder whether the Senedd elections in May could be postponed.

• Click here to listen to WalesCast

A Wales Covid-19 Evidence Centre is being established to "shape" the Welsh Government's response to the pandemic.

The centre will have an initial budget of £3m over two years from this month.

Wellbeing minister Eluned Morgan decided to establish the centre to "provide a Welsh-specific programme of research, evidence synthesis and knowledge mobilisation".

But an opposition Senedd member says resources should be concentrated at a UK level rather than "duplicating".

Mark Reckless, who represents the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party, suggested Wales "would surely benefit more by being part of a UK coronavirus evidence centre with a budget of, say, £60m".

Image source, Getty Images

Supermarkets in Wales have been told they will now be required by law to conform to Covid safety measures, including risk assessments.

This comes after criticism that some stores were not following the rules.

Earlier this week, BBC Wales journalists were able to purchase "non-essential" items, including men's clothing and children's toys.

Image source, Getty Images

As Wales remains in lockdown and the school gates are shut, here's are reminder of what you need to know.

The seven-day Covid case rate for Wales as a whole is now the lowest it has been since 6 December, but some parts are still hit hard by the virus, including Wrexham and the south Wales Valleys,

Figures published on Friday show there were also 1,808 new Covid infections reported in Wales, taking the total number of cases since he pandemic began to 177,864.

At least 4,171 people are now known to have died in Wales with the virus.

But case rates in areas hit hard by the virus, including Wrexham and the south Wales Valleys, are starting to show signs of improving, Public Health Wales said.

Supermarkets are "very unhappy" when enforcement action is taken against them for breaches of coronavirus rules because of the potential damage to their reputation, says the first minister.

Mark Drakeford told at Friday's press conference: "Reputation does really matter to supermarket chains.

"They definitely don't like it, or wouldn't want it, when one of their supermarkets becomes known locally as somewhere that was regarded as falling below the standards that an environmental health officer would require."

He said there was "peer pressure between supermarkets to make sure yours isn't the one that is highlighted in that way".

There was also the "wish of the sector to do the right thing by their staff and their customers", Mr Drakeford said.

"I think is more effective than financial penalties, which are there and have been applied to supermarkets," he added.

Earlier this week the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that a Tesco Extra store in Talbot Green, near Llantrisant, was ordered to do more to stop the sale of non-essential items.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council officers found adult clothing for sale while shoppers "pushing past" stands to get to restricted aisles were not stopped.

Image source, Google

Betsi Cadwaladr health board in north Wales has record numbers of patients in critical care with Covid-19.

There were 29 in critical care or on invasive ventilation in its hospitals on Thursday, and 30 on Wednesday. These are the highest numbers the board has seen in the pandemic so far.

Across Wales, there were 135 Covid patients in critical care, slightly down on the week before.

The total number of patients in Welsh hospitals with the virus is 2,727 - on a daily average this is 73 more than the week before. Numbers hit record levels on Tuesday.

More than a third of all hospital patients have Covid and it’s nearly half of patients in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg and Aneurin Bevan health board areas.

Hospital admissions remain at about the same levels as last week, according to NHS Wales figures.

It is “clear we’re lagging behind” the rest of the UK in Covid vaccinations, according to the leader of the Conservatives in the Senedd.

Paul Davies said: "It’s certainly not happening quickly enough - we need to see the Welsh Government stepping up to the plate.

“We’ve heard from the first minister that 126,000 people have now received their first dose of the vaccine in Wales.

"But we know from the Welsh Government’s action plan that 327,000 doses of the vaccine have been received here in Wales, and that’s why it’s important now to get those vaccines out now to people.”

The coronavirus situation in Wales is improving but far too slowly, in the view of Plaid Cymru.

Health spokesman Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “If we can focus on the role community pharmacies can play, I don’t think we can refer to what’s happening in Nefyn as the start of a roll-out - that’s one pharmacy out of 600 community pharmacies in Wales.

“As important as it is that we have one pharmacy doing it, what’s happening in all the others? We understand only one health board has even asked pharmacies for expressions of interest in getting involved in the vaccination process.

"How on earth are we in this position in mid-January?”

Public Heath Wales has reported 54 more deaths of people with coronavirus in Wales, taking the official total to 4,171.

Of those deaths:

• 18 were in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area
• nine in Swansea Bay
• eight in Aneurin Bevan
• eight in Cardiff and Vale
• six in Hywel Dda
• three in Betsi Cadwaladr
• two in Powys

Some "marginal easements" may be possible within level four restrictions, Wales' first minister has said.

Mark Drakeford said while it may not be possible to go from the current level four restrictions straight to level three, "it is possible to make some adjustments".

But he stressed that hospital admissions will not improve immediately.

"We certainly won't see reductions in hospital occupation moving as fast as the community falls because we know there's always a delay."

He added: "I think it's important to remember is that even within levels, it is possible to make some adjustments.

"So even if you're not able to go from level four to level three, within level four it may be possible, and it's a 'may' - I really want to stress that it is a 'may - it may be possible to have some marginal easements that would demonstrate to people that the efforts that they are making are making a difference".

Image source, Getty Images

Covid laws for supermarkets were being strengthened because of concerns of people, Wales' first minister says.

Mark Drakeford said at Friday's press conference there were concerns in "many communities" that safety measures were not as visible as they were in the earlier stages of the pandemic last year.

"That has an undermining effect on their confidence - I'm not sure that those places are doing everything that they could be," he said.

"Some of this is just about making all that visible again to people so that people can see everything that is being done to keep them safe, and to give them the necessary confidence then to be able to use places which are, after all, pretty vital to most of us to keep our lives going in a lockdown."

Wales' first minister has confirmed he chaired a meeting with people across the education sector yesterday, discussing the future of schools.

Lessons have been online since the alert level four lockdown was announced in Wales.

Mark Drakeford confirmed the Welsh Government is "committed to working together to put measures in place that will allow return of greater numbers of our young people to face to face learning".

"We all want children to be back in the classroom, but we all want that to be done in a way that is safe for them and for the staff that work with them and support them".

Schools in Wales are not due to fully reopen before the beginning of February, and not before half-term unless there is a "significant" fall in Covid rates, the Welsh Government has said.

Image source, Getty Images

A "reliable" and "sustainable" improvement in Wales' situation will be needed before lockdown restrictions can be eased, the first minister has said.

Mark Drakeford confirmed that the next review would be carried out as promised on January 29.

"If things over the next two weeks continue to head in the right direction, then the cabinet will decide whether there is any headroom for us to begin the process of lessening the current level of restrictions that we all face", he said.

But Mr Drakeford also reminded the public of the situation in the Republic of Ireland which went from "the best to the worst position in the world" in three weeks.

"We would have to be certain that that improvement is reliable, sustainable in order for us to begin that journey of lifting the restrictions," he said.

"We want to do that as soon as it is safe to do so, but it will have to be safe."

There is “significant evidence” of coronavirus transmission in supermarkets, Wales' first minister has said.

Mark Drakeford’s comments came as he announced stricter rules for shops.

He said Wales’ Test, Trace and Protect scheme showed there was “no doubt at all” that transmission was taking place in supermarkets.

The first minister added that whilst “the majority of supermarkets have worked very hard” to make their shops “as safe as possible”, the visible signs of protection “have been reduced” compared to last spring.

“I think it is very important in giving confidence to staff and to people who go shopping that that a more visible sense that everything is being done to protect them is put back in its place,” Mr Drakeford said.

Better protections for shop workers need to be considered by the Welsh Government, says the head of the Welsh Retail Consortium.

It follows the announcement that store managers will be required by law to ensure that Covid safety guidelines are observed.

Sara Jones said shops were already delivering the new measures, which include risk assessments, screens at tills and social distancing.

“Sage data has always highlighted that retail is a safe environment, and shops have spent hundreds of millions on safety measures," she said.

"Customers should be reassured that grocers and supermarkets are Covid-secure and safe to visit during lockdown and beyond."

“Retail workers have played a vital role in keeping Wales fed and supplied during the pandemic.

"That has increased the pressure on those workers to enforce legislation on customers, creating further conflict and flashpoints which have led to workers being abused."

Chris Dearden
BBC Wales News

Patients have been arriving in a steady flow at a community pharmacy in Llanbedrog, Gwynedd, the first in Wales to offer coronavirus vaccines by appointment.

Rosie Bennett, who lives in the village Pwllheli, said: “I’m 82 and don’t have a car, so it was a huge relief to know that I wouldn’t have to travel a long distance to have the vaccine.

“Here in the village, we know the staff at the chemists. They’ve been doing a great job during the pandemic and it’s reassuring to have the vaccine from someone you know.

“And it’s a huge relief to be vaccinated. The last few months haven’t been easy for any of us and hopefully today is another small step towards a better future.”

Steffan John, pharmacist on duty, gave Rosie the vaccine and said: “as pharmacists, we give out flu vaccines regularly, so we’re used to organising clinics like this.

“We’re really pleased to do our bit for our community.

“We have had extra training for today, and we also have to make sure there are enough appointments on the list.

"The vaccine comes in vials of ten doses, so it’s important to vaccinate that many people at a time and not to waste any.”

Supermarket owners and managers in Wales will be responsible for ensuring the new tighter Covid regulations are observed, the first minister says.

Speaking at Friday's press conference Mark Drakeford said it was "entirely unacceptable that retail staff who have done so much to help us or during this pandemic" should face abuse from customers unhappy with the restrictions.

Staff had been "going into work every day to make sure that there's food that we can put on the table", he said.

Answering questions from journalists, Mr Drakeford said: "We've worked closely with trade unions in reaching the conclusions that I've outlined this morning.

"None of this is designed to put those people at any greater risk."

Brendon Williams
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

The health board with the worst child obesity rates in Wales is setting up a unit to tackle the issue.

Data from the Child Measurement Programme showed 30.3% of four and five-year-olds in north Wales measured as overweight or obese.

The Welsh average is 26.4%, but doctors fear this could worsen in the pandemic.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is recruiting a dietetic lead for a new children's healthy weight management service.

The service is not being launched directly because of the pandemic, but there are fears lockdowns and school closures could compound the problem.

Dr Naomi Simmons, consultant paediatrician at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, said: "It's that lack of routine, it's being out of school, and not being able to access their usual forms of physical activity."