Students are being asked to stay at their university accommodation during the firebreak lockdown, and not travel to their home addresses or stay with others.

The firebreak lockdown begins today and will last until Monday, 9 November, in an attempt to regain control of the coronavirus in Wales.

This means that people will be required to stay at home and non-essential businesses will close.

However, the Welsh Government has said that face-to-face learning should continue in universities.

Ceredigion residents who are currently away at colleges or universities across Wales or the UK must stay at those locations and not return home to the county to visit family or friends.

A spokesperson for Ceredigion County Council said: “We understand that this is a challenging time for families, but travelling back and forth poses a risk of spreading the virus to new and different areas in our communities.

"We ask people to abide and follow these rules strictly to protect the wider community and the high percentage of elderly population that live in Ceredigion.

“Similarly, Ceredigion County Council is continuing to work closely with the two universities in the county, which include Aberystwyth University and the Lampeter campus at University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

“We ask all students who are studying at these establishments to remain in their university accommodation and not travel to their home addresses during this period. Both universities will continue to provide a combination of face-to-face education and online provision during this period.”

In an open letter to students, vice-chancellor Elizabeth Treasure, Ceredigion council chief executive Eifion Evans, Hywel Dda chief executive Steve Moore, director of public health at Hywel Dda, Ros Jervis and Aberystwyth Students’ Union president Nate Pidock said: “During the coming short firebreak, please do not leave Aberystwyth unless it is absolutely essential.

“Your studies here will continue as planned.

“Our main concern is that anyone who travels away could return with Covid-19 and undo all the hard work which has been done so far.

“Like the five of us, you may not be from Aberystwyth originally. Your roots may lie outside Ceredigion, Wales or even Europe, but that makes no difference.

"We are all valued members of this community, and we can only stay safe collectively if we work together.

“We hope we can rely on your continued support, to stay in Aberystwyth, and to keep supporting our efforts to keep infection rates low.”