HEALTH officials say they are seeing a significant increase in Covid-19 cases in the Aberystwyth area.

Ceredigion County Council have this afternoon warned that it Is becoming increasingly concerned by the increase of cases in the Aberystwyth area in recent days

Nearly two-thirds of all the cases reported on Sunday, 20 December and half of cases reported on Monday, 21 December by Ceredigion Council’s Contact Tracing Team are in the Aberystwyth area.

This is an additional 38 cases in two days alone and the council says it can see that the number is increasing daily in the area.

A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said: “The current rate in Ceredigion is 247.6 per 100,000 population (as of 9am, 21 December 2020). This is the highest the rate has been in Ceredigion during the pandemic.

"The number of positive cases across the county continues to increase at a rate that we haven’t seen before.

“The new variant of Covid-19 is in all parts of Wales. It spreads faster and we all need to be more vigilant and ensure that we follow the guidelines at all times."

24 deaths have been recorded today across Wales which takes the total number of fatalities linked to coronavirus in Wales to 3,149 since the pandemic began in March.

In Ceredigion today, 22 new cases have been recorded.

Elsewhere, Pembrokeshire has recorded 33 new cases while Carmarthenshire recorded 182.

Powys has recorded 38 new cases and Gwynedd, four.

Wales has now entered Alert Level 4.

This means that people must stay at home, except for very limited purposes and must not visit other households or meet other people they do not live with.

A Ceredigion spokesperson added: “We know it’s difficult to limit the number of people we see especially at this time of year, but limiting your contacts is essential for keeping the number of people with the virus down and it’s how we will ultimately protect our loved ones.”

Symptoms of coronavirus include a high temperature, a new continuous cough and a loss or change to sense of smell or taste.

But be aware of other symptoms early on, such as headaches, tiredness and general aches and pains usually associated with flu. We are urging people who feel unwell to be extra cautious, especially to practice hand hygiene and distancing, and if in doubt, please book a test.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Anyone with symptoms, no matter how small, must follow self-isolation guidance and arrange a test immediately, only leaving home to get tested.