TWO new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ceredigion, taking the county’s total to 51.

In the daily report from Public Health Wales, published this afternoon, Ceredigion now has 51 confirmed cases of Covid-19, from 1,646 tests conducted.

Gwynedd also reports two new positive tests, taking the county’s total to 487 from 4,848 tests.

Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire both report no new cases in he past 24 hours.

Powys also reports no new cases today, leaving the county’s total on 296 from 3,617 tests conducted.

Five more deaths attributed to Covid-19 have been reported today in Wales, taking the nation’s total to 1,471.

65 deaths in the Hywel Dda area of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire have been attributed to Covid-19, with 338 deaths in the Betsi Cadwaladr area of North Wales.

Powys Teaching Health Board has reported 14 deaths from the virus.

Wales’ First Minister, Mark Drakeford, MS, is expected to make an announcement on the lockdown rules in the county on Friday afternoon.

In the daily briefing, Dr Robin Howe, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “In Wales, the Welsh Government’s revised lockdown arrangements remain in effect. People from two different households in the same local area can meet up outdoors, provided they continue to maintain social distancing and strict hand hygiene.

“As a general rule, people should not travel more than five miles from home. This will help to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading as people begin to travel more.

“Revised lockdown arrangements also apply to people in Wales who have been told to ‘shield’ from the virus. They are able to go outside and meet people from another household, provided they keep a two-metre distance.

“Future relaxation of lockdown measures will also be dependent on everyone following advice set out in the ‘Test, Trace, Protect’ strategy, including self-isolating when required.

“England has begun to further ease some of its lockdown restrictions. Non-essential shops in England are reopening (in Wales they will remain closed). People who live alone in England are now also able to form a support bubble with another household, while individuals accessing public transport are now required to wear face coverings. Please note that these arrangements do not apply in Wales.

“Public Health Wales welcomes Welsh Government’s announcement that they are following updated advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommending people in Wales wear three-layer face coverings in situations where social distancing of two metres is not possible or challenging, such as on public transport.

“The evidence remains clear that maintaining a two-metre distance, good hand hygiene and hygiene when coughing and sneezing is the most effective way to protect yourself and others from contracting Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), but the updated guidance from the WHO says three-layer face coverings, if worn correctly, could help provide some control of the virus in specific circumstances.”