Nearly 4,500 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Wales over the weekend along with eight deaths.

Gwynedd has recorded 276 new cases over a 48-hour period up to 9am on Sunday.

These latest cases take the seven-day total for Gwynedd to 1,077 cases with the county having a rate of infection of 868.7 cases per 100,000 population.

Ceredigion has recorded 198 cases over the last seven days, with 55 recorded over the weekend.

The rate of infection in Ceredigion currently standing at 253.1, which is less than half the national figure, which currently stands at 521.0.

Carmarthenshire has recorded 282 cases today, taking its seven-day total to 918 cases, with a rate of infection of 505.9.

Powys has recorded 169 cases today, taking the seven-day total to 622 and the county having a rate of infection of 527.1.

Pembrokeshire has recorded 219 cases today, with its seven-day total standing at 707 cases and leaving the county with a rate of infection of 543.6.

Of the eight deaths recorded over the weekend, two have been in the Hywel Dda Health Board region of Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

These latest deaths take the total number of suspected Covid-19 fatalities in the region to 603.

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in north Wales has recorded one new death, with the total number of fatalities now standing at 1,094 since the start of the pandemic.

No deaths have been recorded in Powys over the weekend, with the total remaining at 82.

Across Wales, 6,357 suspected Covid-19 deaths have been recorded.

Health chiefs in Powys have today urged residents to remain Covid-safe in the run-up to Christmas with case numbers in the county remaining high.

Powys County Council leader Cllr Rosemarie Harries said: “The county has seen consistently high case numbers since the autumn with infection rates frequently above the Welsh average. With thoughts turning to Christmas and the party season it is important that we do all that we can to limit the spread of the virus.

“Case rates are high among most age groups, and it is worrying to see older groups, where the impact of the virus could be more severe, seeing escalating figures in recent weeks. We must do all we can to slow the spread, wear masks where we can and always follow national advice.

“Covid-19 shows little sign of releasing its grip on the country and we must do all that we can to protect the vulnerable and slow the spread of the disease.”