35 more deaths have been recorded in Wales today.

Latest figures released this afternoon show that four more deaths have been recorded in the Hywel Dda Health Board region, which covers Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, taking the total number of Covid-19 related deaths to 376.

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in North Wales has recorded seven new deaths, taking its total to 763, while Powys Health Board has recorded no new deaths today, leaving its total on 50.

A total of 4,867 people have now died from coronavirus since the pandemic first hit in March last year.

Across Wales, 544 new cases of the virus have been recorded today, giving the nation an overall infection rate of 127 cases per 100,000 population.

Five cases have been recorded in Ceredigion with 32 in Carmarthenshire; nine in Pembrokeshire; 24 in Powys and 12 new cases in Gwynedd.

Rolling seven-day figures, which cover the period 24-30 January, show that Ceredigion recorded the lowest number of cases in Wales with 32 over that period, leaving the county with an infection rate of 44.0 per 100,000 population.

Carmarthenshire over that same period had an infection rate of 147.3 cases per 100,000 with 278 recorded cases.

Pembrokeshire recorded 114 cases leaving it with an infection rate of 90.6, while Powys recorded 123 cases and had an infection rate of 100.5.

Gwynedd recorded 94 cases over that period, meaning the infection rate was 75.5.

Giving the daily statement today (Thursday) Dr Robin Howe, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, raised concerns over a new South African strain of the virus being found in Wales.

Dr Howe said: “We have identified 13 cases of the South African variant of Coronavirus in Wales. Ten of these have a travel link to Southern Africa or international travel.

“Although the data currently shows that on an all-Wales level the numbers of cases are reducing and that the incidence is now below 150 cases per 100,000 population, the rates in some areas, particularly in North Wales, are still at more than double that.

“The pressure on our hospitals is still severe and shows no signs of easing yet, so it is extremely important that everyone sticks to the rules and stays at home as much as possible.

“The announcement by Welsh Government last week that Foundation Phase pupils will be able to return to face to face learning in schools after half term is dependent on the numbers of cases continuing to reduce.”