ONLY two new cases of coronavirus have been recorded today (Tuesday) in Ceredigion.

On Monday, Ceredigion recorded its highest ever daily numbers of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began with 46 in a single day.

On Tuesday however, the county has only recorded two new cases, taking the rolling seven-day total to 86 and leaving the county with an infection rate of 118.3 cases per 100,000 population, the standard measurement of cases across the UK.

Of those 86 cases recorded over the past seven days, 49 have been from the Ystwyth, Rheidol and Caron region, with covers from Ponterwyd, down into Llanbadarn and Penparcau and south inland towards Tregaron.

This region has an infection rate of 424.4 cases per 100,000 population.

Beulah, Troedyraur and Llandysul in the south of the county has recorded eight new cases in the last seven days giving the region an infection rate of 108.3 cases per 100,000.

Lampeter and Llanfihangel Ystrad has recorded seven cases in the last seven days, while Aberystwyth South has recorded six.

Aberystwyth North and Llanrhystud and Aberaeron have recorded five each while Borth and Bontgoch has recorded four.

Aberporth and Cardigan and New Quay and Penbryn have both recorded between 0 and two cases.

Elsewhere, Powys has recored 18 new cases today, taking its weekly total to 161 cases and giving the county an infection rate of 121.6.

Gwynedd has recorded four new cases today taking its seven day total to 59 and leaving the county with an infection rate of 47.4.

Carmarthenshire has seen a drop in cases with seven recorded today, taking the weekly total to 261 and leaving the county with an infection rate of 138.3.

Pembrokeshire has recorded eight new cases today, taking the weekly total to 52 and leaving the county with an infection rate of 41.3.

Nationwide, 444 positive cases have been recorded today and 22 new deaths, taking the total number of deaths in Wales since the pandemic began to 2,063.

Although today’s numbers are lower than they have been in a number of weeks, Public Health Wales say this is down to a reporting delay.

Dr Giri Shankar, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Today’s dashboard displays a lower level of positive cases than in recent days; this is due to a reporting delay in Public Health Wales receiving data from non-NHS Wales laboratories.”

Dr Shankar added: “Public Health Wales strongly advises the public to take personal responsibility for their actions and to ensure that we are all doing as much as possible to limit the transmission of Coronavirus.

"We understand that people will want to carry on with their Christmas shopping now the fire-break has ended and so we would suggest to try to visit shops during off-peak times, to always maintain social distancing and to wear a face covering if you can.

"Options such as ‘click and collect’ or online purchasing may also be something to consider.

“Although the fire-break period in Wales has ended,  we would urge everyone to be aware that this does not mean a return to normality.

"Coronavirus has not gone away, it  is still active in communities across Wales, and so we all need to take steps to keep everyone safe and to prevent the transmission of the disease.”