Most new coronavirus cases in Ceredigion are among young people, data has revealed, as the county council warns of a “major concern” over an increasing infection rate and poor vaccine take-up among younger residents.

Ceredigion council said there are “continued concerns about the levels of coronavirus cases in Ceredigion”, with officers being “especially concerned” about the level of increase in the north of the county.

Borth and Bontgoch area is 188.2 per 100,000 population, Aberystwyth North area is now at 192.4 per 100,000 and the Aberystwyth South area is at 179.3 per 100,000.

Six of the nine areas in Ceredigion are now over 50 cases per 100,000 - the point where the World Health Organisation becomes concerned with the rate of transmission.

“Most cases are now in people under 30 years old,” the council said.

“These young adults are vulnerable to infection, serious illness and life-changing long-Covid, as well as loss of earnings if they have to self-isolate as cases of the Delta variant are increasing in this age group.

“We encourage young people to follow the rules, limit their social contact and most importantly to get the vaccine to keep themselves and their family safe.”

The council said the increase in cases is aligning with the take-up of the vaccine, with Aberystwyth North having the lowest percentage of vaccinated people in the whole of the Hywel Dda region.

Just 51.4 per cent in the area have received the first dose and 29.8 per cent the second dose.

Overall in Ceredigion, 61.4 per cent of 20 to 24-year-olds have received the first dose and just 7.2 per cent have received the second dose, according to Hywel Dda figures.

“This is a major concern,” the council said.

“Getting the vaccine is the most effective way of protecting yourself and others and we still need as many people as possible to get both doses of the vaccine.

“Take the opportunity for a vaccination by going to your appointment or going along to a walk-in centre.

“Hywel Dda University Health Board have walk-in vaccine clinics to enable Ceredigion residents to have their first or second vaccine without an appointment.

“The more people who are vaccinated, the better protected everyone in Wales will be against the worst effects of the rapidly increasing delta variant.

“Vaccines have weakened the link between infections, serious illness and hospitalisations and deaths.

“But they haven’t broken the link completely and there is still a risk that this third wave of the pandemic could cause real harm.

“The pandemic is not over and the virus continues to spread across our county and our country. Together, we can keep Ceredigion safe.”

Ceredigion residents are being encouraged “to be cautious”, even with the relaxation of the restrictions to move fully into alert level one announced by the Welsh Government this week, with plans to remove most Covid rules on 7 August.