MORE than a fifth of all patients in hospitals across the Hywel Dda region have Covid-19, according to official statistics.

Figures released by Public Health Wales show that in the week ending 27 December, 240 patients, 21 per cent of the 1,133 admitted patients tested positive for coronavirus.

Hywel Dda Health Board is responsible for four major hospitals in West Wales, including Bronglais in Aberystwyth, Withybush in Haverfordwest, Glangwili in Carmarthen and Prince Philip in Llanelli.

Five per cent of all inpatients in Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board’s hospitals in North Wles tested positive for Covid-19 with 103 cases from 1,929 patients.

Public Health Wales’ daily figures yesterday (Wednesday) showed that 35 new cases were recorded in Ceredigion, while Carmarthenshire recorded 187 new cases; Pembrokeshire, 38; Powys, 44 and Gwynedd, 16.

Thirteen new suspected Covid-19 deaths were recorded in Wales, taking the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities in Wales since the pandemic began to 3,429.

The increase in cases and hospital admissions has led Ceredigion County Council to issue a warning to people to stay at home, noting that it has spotted an increased volume of traffic on the county’s roads whilst in Alert Level 4 lockdown