Gwynedd has recorded 14 new cases of coronavirus today, according to official figures.

A total of 275 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded across Wales, according to Public Health Wales’ official figures released this lunchtime.

Three cases have been recorded in Ceredigion today after it recorded no new cases on Monday, while Powys has recorded 10.

Carmarthenshire has recorded 17 new cases today while Pembrokeshire has recorded five.

Eight new Covid-19 deaths have been recorded by Public Health Wales today, taking the total to 5,145 since the pandemic began almost a year ago.

The latest figures have led health chiefs in Powys to issue a warning and suggest that a new strain of the virus is prevalent in the county.

Positive cases of Covid-19 have been “rising sharply” in Powys in the last seven days, the county’s director of public health has warned, as the vaccination programme continues.

Stuart Bourne said the rise in the county, which now ranks it as having the third highest rate in Wales and the highest percentage of tests returning a positive result, has been despite case number falling elsewhere in Wales.

The rise in cases comes following the news that over 200 people from Powys have now died following a positive test for coronavirus.

Mr Bourne said: “The recent rise in the rate of cases is partly due to outbreaks of Covid-19 in specific settings across the county.

“Workplaces provide an opportunity for infection to spread, especially in settings where people work closely, where there is a high throughput of staff and where the environment may allow the virus to persist.

“There is evidence that a new, more infectious strain of Covid-19 is circulating in Powys.

“This is concerning because it is more easily spread and it is more likely that exposure to the virus will lead to infection.”

Hywel Dda Health Board, which covers Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, reported on Monday that everyone in the top four priority groups had now been offered the Covid vaccine.

Locally recorded figures showed that on Monday, 101,938 vaccines have been administered across the three counties – that’s 92 per cent of local people in the first four priority groups.

Steve Moore, chief executive of Hywel Dda, said: “This vaccination programme offers a real solution in the fight against Covid-19 and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has played their part in this achievement.”

For more information on the coronavirus in your area, go to www.tinyurl.com/wgthkgs