A delay in recorded coronavirus cases has seen big increases reported today across Wales.

Around 11,000 new cases that had not previously been reported due to a backlog between 9 and 15 December have been added to the figures today.

These new cases, which have been added to today’s figures, mean that 1,124 new cases reported for Hywel Dda Health Board’s area of Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Powys.

84 of those cases have been recorded in Ceredigion, 198 in Pembrokeshire and 842 in Carmarthenshire.

182 cases have been recorded in Powys and 41 have been reported in Gwynedd.

A total of 11,468 cases have been added to the Wales figures today.

Explaining the backlog, a Public Health Wales spokesperson said: “As Public Health Wales has indicated previously, the data delay over the weekend was part of essential maintenance for the wider Welsh NHS led by the NHS Wales Informatics Service.

“Public Health Wales announced on Friday that the maintenance would have an impact on its reporting.

“It has not affected individuals receiving their results and the contract tracing process being commenced.

“Members of the public can be reassured that anyone who tests positive will be contacted by their local authority’s Test, Trace, Protect team in the usual way. There have been no errors in the Public Health Wales reporting.”

52 deaths have been recorded today, taking the total across Wales since the pandemic began in March to 2,973.

565 of those deaths have been recorded in the Betsi Cadwaladr area of North Wales.

157 deaths have been recorded in Hywel Dda and 31 in Powys.

Dr Robin Howe, incident director for the outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “The number of coronavirus cases continues to increase, with the seven-day rolling average passing 500 cases per 100,000 in Wales.

“Rates of infection have increased in 21 of the 22 local authorities over the last seven days, with the seven-day rolling average now exceeding 1,000 cases per 100,000 in one area.

“In light of this situation, the Welsh Government has confirmed that only two households should come together to form an exclusive Christmas bubble during that period.

“We would ask the public to very carefully consider if this is appropriate for them and their households. Particular caution should be applied if there are elderly or vulnerable members of their households who are at greatest risk.

“For those who do plan on forming a Christmas bubble, it is essential that this is planned and agreed with all the households involved. If doing so, we advise the public to now stop mixing with other households.

“This means staying out of other people’s homes, limiting the times and the numbers of people that you meet, maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene, working from home if you can, and self-isolating if you show symptoms of coronavirus or are asked to do so by contact tracers.”