OVER 20 deaths from coronavirus have been recorded in today’s official statistics as the number of cases across Wales continue to rise.

Gwynedd has recorded 12 new cases of Covid-19 today, taking its seven-day total to 118, leaving the county with an infection rate of 94.7 cases per 100,000 people.

Ceredigion today recorded three new cases of coronavirus, taking the seven-day total to 32 and giving the county an infection rate of 44.0 cases per 100,000.

Carmarthenshire has recorded 22 new cases today, taking the weekly total to 107; Pembrokeshire has five new cases today and Powys, nine.

21 deaths have been recorded today but Public Health Wales said Saturday’s total was higher due to a delay in including 17 deaths from the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board from earlier in October.

As Bangor in Gwynedd enters lockdown at 6pm this evening, officials are meeting today to discuss the fate of the rest of the county.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “In the wider Gwynedd local authority area, there is evidence of transmission of coronavirus throughout the county but the incidence rate varies from 152 cases per 100,000 in Arfon, which includes Bangor, to 55 cases per 100,000 people in Dwyfor and 18 cases per 100,000 people in Meirionydd.

“Further discussions will be held with the local authority and the incident management team about the wider situation in Gwynedd on Saturday.”

From 6pm tonight, residents living in the rest of Gwynedd or further afield will not be able to enter Bangor without a valid reason such as travelling for work for those who cannot work from home or attending a health appointment.

School pupils and students will be able to travel in and out of the Bangor Health Protection Zone to attend their school, college or university.

 

Bangor shops – including the retail parks and Tesco supermarket along Caernarfon Road - will remain open for the city’s residents.

People living outside the city should make every effort to avoid visiting Bangor shops including the retail areas on the outskirts of the city for the time being, and only do so if they are buying essential items where there is no reasonable alternative to using shops within the Bangor Health Zone.

Giving the daily statement, Dr Christopher Williams, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales is today confirming 21 additional deaths on our data dashboard.

"Although this appears to be a large daily upturn in the number of fatalities, this increase is the result of a delay in incorporating 17 deaths that occurred in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board between Saturday 3 and Wednesday 7 October.

“The First Minister has confirmed that restrictions are being introduced in Bangor following a sharp rise in cases.

"The new measures will come into force at 6pm on Saturday 10 October to protect people’s health and control the spread of the virus.

“Local restrictions are now in place in Bangor, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan, and Wrexham local authority areas, and in Llanelli.

“People who live in these areas must abide by these restrictions to protect themselves, their families, friends, older and vulnerable people, and keep Wales safe.

“It is vital that people in every part of Wales stick to social distancing guidelines – that’s staying two metres away from others, and washing hands regularly. They must also self-isolate immediately when asked to do so.”