Ceredigion is experiencing a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Aberystwyth area over 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’s Contact Tracing Team are in the Aberystwyth area. This is an additional 38 cases in 2 days alone and the number is increasing daily in the area.

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 people need to be more vigilant and ensure that they follow the guidelines at all times.

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.

Limiting your contacts is essential for keeping the number of people with the virus down and it’s how you can 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.

Anyone with symptoms, no matter how small, must follow self-isolation guidance and arrange a test immediately, only leaving home to get tested. No one should go to work or leave the house if they have any symptoms – consider and protect as much as you possibly can everyone in your household bubble.

But, you must play your part. Remain vigilant and remember to follow the guidelines:

Follow social distancing rules with people you don’t live with or who are not in your support bubble.
Wear a face covering (if you are able to) in all indoor public places.
Stay at home.
Do not create an extended household (single adults or single parents may join with one other household to form an exclusive support bubble).
Meet only the people you live with or your support bubble indoors.
Meet only your household or support bubble in private gardens.
Meet only your household or support bubble outdoors.
Work from home if you can.
Do not travel without reasonable excuse.
Do not travel internationally without reasonable excuse
Self-isolate immediately at the first sign of any COVID-19 symptoms and arrange a test immediately, only leaving home to get tested. A test need to be booked online: www.gov.wales/getting-tested-coronavirus-covid-19or by calling 119.

Stay apart to play your part. By doing this, we will be protecting the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable, including care services for the elderly and those whose medical conditions make them particularly at risk from COVID-19.