Health chiefs have issued a Covid warning this afternoon as Ceredigion faces the highest rise in cases since January.

Ceredigion County Council says there is a concern this number will continue to rise in the coming days and weeks.

The current rate of infection county wide is 188.5 cases per 100,000 population, the standard rate of measurement for Covid-19.

That number more than doubles in certain parts of the county however with New Quay and Penbryn currently having a rate of 471.6.

Cardigan and Aberporth has a rate of 247.8 with the rates in other areas of the county standing at; South Aberystwyth, 209.2; Borth and Bontgoch, 174.7; North Aberystwyth, 169.8; Aberaeron and Llanrhystud, 169.1; Beulah, Troedyraur and Llandysul, 148.8; Lampeter and Llanfihangel Ystrad, 109.2; and Rheidol, Ystwyth and Caron, 86.6.

Residents and visitors to Ceredigion are reminded of the following, even if they’ve been double-vaccinated:

• Wash your hands and wear a face mask, especially in crowded places, on public transport, in shops or in health and social care settings, where doing so is a legal requirement.

• Keep your distance. Although the two metres rule has ended, be mindful that businesses have the right to maintain similar restrictions to help keep their staff and customers safe.

• Meeting outside is safer than inside.

• Let fresh air into indoor spaces.

• Get tested and self-isolate, even for mild symptoms.

• Work from home whenever you can.

A spokesperson for Ceredigion County Council said: “As the summer ends and autumn approaches, the flu season will soon be upon us, which often brings additional pressures onto our public services. “We need to be mindful of how our actions can affect our friends, our family, our community and our public services now and later on.”

Over 1,700 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Wales on Friday along with four new deaths.

Figures released by Public Health Wales this lunchtime show that 1,728 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded with the nationwide rate of infection currently standing at 226.1 cases per 100,000 population.

Ceredigion has recorded 36 new cases today with 86 being recorded in Pembrokeshire and 60 in Carmarthenshire.

Powys has recorded 74 cases today with Gwynedd reporting 50 new cases.

Four new deaths have been recorded in Wales today taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 5,641.