CORONAVIRUS cases across Wales continue to rise as official records released this afternoon show that over 450 new cases have been identified.

Figures released this afternoon by Public Health Wales show that Gwynedd has recorded nine new cases in the past day; Ceredigion, three; Carmarthenshire, 16, Powys, 7, and Pembrokeshire, two.

Across Wales, 462 cases were reported today (Friday) and three new deaths.

72 of those cases identified were of people resident outside of Wales but tested here.

Every county in Wales has recorded new Covid-19 cases, with 68 today alone in Rhondda Cynon Taf, which went into local lockdown last week.

There has also been an increase in parts of North Wales, which went into lockdown on Thursday.

Conwy has recorded 18 cases today and Flintshire, 30.

9,524 tests were carried out across Wales yesterday.

Dr Robin Howe, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, today welcomed an announcement by the First Minister, to allow people living on their own to form a bubble with people from another household in lockdown areas.

Dr Howe said: “Public Health Wales supports the amendment to the local lockdown restrictions where households that include only one adult can now form a bubble with people from one other household in their lockdown area.

“The new coronavirus restrictions in four local authority areas in North Wales – Denbighshire, Flintshire, Conwy and Wrexham – began yesterday.

“These arrangements are necessary in order to bring transmission of the virus under control in these areas. It is very important that we abide by the regulations in the areas in which we live and that we do not travel between local authority areas without a reasonable excuse.

“Following the introduction of restrictions in the borough of Caerphilly, our data is beginning to show a downward trend, and although we cannot categorically say this trend is a result of lockdown, we are cautiously optimistic and we are looking at a number of alternative sources to validate these results.

“We remind people living in areas of Wales where there are currently no restrictions in place to remember, at all times, the importance of adhering to the regulations to prevent further local restrictions.”