GWYNEDD has recorded over 200 new cases of coronavirus today.

Over 500,000 cases of the virus have now been recorded in Wales since the start of the pandemic with 2,927 cases being recorded today.

This takes the nation’s total since March 2020 to 501,028.

Gwynedd has today recorded 244 new cases with 146 being recorded in Carmarthenshire; 111 in Pembrokeshire and 113 in Powys.

Ceredigion has recorded 36 new cases today.

Five deaths have been recorded across Wales today with one in the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board region of north Wales, taking its total to 1,096.

No new deaths have been recorded in the Hywel Dda Health Board area of Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, leaving its total at 609 since the start of the pandemic.

No new deaths have been recorded in Powys either, with its total remaining at 82.

Fresh fears have been raised over a new variant of Covid-19 that has been found in Africa, with six countries on the continent being added to the travel red list from midday today.

The B.1.1.529 variant is raising concerns among scientists over the number of mutations is has.

No cases of the variant have been recorded in the UK but from today, travel to and from, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia has been suspended.