Allowing students to return to Aberystwyth on Monday is a “risky strategy”, Ceredigion’s MS has said, amid a new coronavirus strain and rising cases.

Elin Jones said that while she hoped students “will choose not to return to Ceredigion early next week”, they – and Aberystwyth University - have been put in a “difficult position” by the Welsh Government.

Aberystwyth University is following Welsh Government guidance on allowing students to return after Christmas, and has put in place a testing regimen for when they arrive back in the town.

Guidance from the Welsh Government before Christmas – that will see students begin to return from Monday, 11 December – remains in place despite growing fears over a new strain and increased lockdown measures which will see schools closed until February.

In a letter to students on Wednesday, vice-chancellor Prof Elizabeth Treasure said that in-person teaching will begin on 25 January and that students should not return to their term-time address until 11 January at the earliest ‘unless absolutely necessary’.

Latest figures from the university show that since the start of term on 4 September, a total of 82 students and eight staff have tested positive for the virus.

Miss Jones told the Cambrian News: “I hope that students will choose not to return to Ceredigion early next week.

“However, they have been put in a difficult position by the Welsh Government education minister.

“I have spoken to the university vice-chancellor and Aberystwyth University will be following the education minister’s guidance as it has done from day one of the pandemic.

“I have been surprised that Kirsty Williams and the Welsh Government have confirmed to students and universities in Wales this week that they are content to allow students to return to university towns and campuses, given the Alert Level 4 restrictions in place.

“This is a risky strategy by the education minister and I know that some staff and students are nervous about this too.

“Despite students not having been a major source of viral spread in Ceredigion, the new strain of course offers different challenges and remains more of an unknown.”