EIGHT new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ceredigion.

Daily figures released this afternoon by Public Health Wales revealed that eight new cases have been confirmed in Ceredigion over the past 24 hours, taking the county’s total to 94.

16 cases have also been confirmed in Powys in the past day, taking its total to 438.

Carmarthenshire has reported five new cases and Pembrokeshire has recorded one.

Gwynedd has reported three new cases, taking its total to 648.

Across Wales, 164 cases have been recorded today (Saturday) but no new deaths have been reported.

The sharp jump in numbers in Ceredigion comes a day after all visits to care homes in the county were suspended after Covid-19 cases were confirmed at two independent residential homes in the Aberystwyth area and some pupils from Ysgol Gynradd Penllwyn in Capel Bangor were told to self-isolate for 14 days after a case of coronavirus was confirmed at the school.

Ceredigion County Council has this afternoon dismissed rumours in the Lampeter area that students at the town’s university had tested positive for coronavirus.

The council said: “Despite rumours of positive Covid-19 cases on the University of Wales Trinity St David’s Lampeter campus, we can confirm that this is not correct as of midday today (Saturday).

“The university has put in place robust measures to safeguard its community against the spread of coronavirus.”

Speaking on changes to the law, due to be introduced on Monday, Dr Christopher Williams, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales welcomes the new action being taken from Monday 14 September by Welsh Government to prevent further rises in positive coronavirus cases.

"These include the mandatory wearing of face coverings by people over 11 in public places, like shops, and that only six people from an extended household can meet indoors.

“As children return to schools, I understand that parents will be concerned at reports of positive cases.  I would urge you to follow advice from the school or local authority and only withdraw children from school when asked to do so.

"Social distancing measures that are in place are designed to prevent the spread of the disease beyond the ‘bubbles’ established in schools.

“Again it is important that children maintain regular handwashing throughout the day, and on returning home, and parents’ help with this is vital.

“We are now seeing a steady increase in cases in a number of communities across Wales, and our investigations show that many of these have been transmitted due to a lack of social distancing.

“This has resulted in the spread of the virus to other groups of people.

“We continue to appeal to everyone to please remember that, even if you feel that you would not be badly affected by COVID-19 if you were to test positive, should you pass it on to older or more vulnerable family members, friends or colleagues it could be extremely serious and even fatal.

“Coronavirus has not gone away.  It remains the responsibility of everyone to help prevent the spread of this virus.”