Jump in Carmarthenshire Covid-19 raises possibility of local lockdown

Parts of Carmarthenshire may be the next to face a local lockdown after Public Health Wales announced 25 new cases in the county.

Carmarthenshire’s Covid rate of infection is now 47.1 per 100,000 of the population, which is higher than some other parts of Wales when put into lockdown.

There were more new cases in Carmarthenshire than in already locked down Caerphilly and Bridgend.

Rhondda Cynon Taf had the highest number of new cases with 76.

Within the Hywel Dda Health Board, only one new case was confirmed in nearby Ceredigion and three in Pembrokeshire.

One new death was reported across Wales.

‘Attention’

Yesterday Public Health Wales said that the town of Llanelli in the county could be placed under a local lockdown. Previously only entire counties have been locked down.

Much of the rest of the county is rural, apart from the town of Carmarthenshire.

Dr Quentin Sandifer, medical director at Public Health Wales, made the comments Senedd’s Health, Social Care and Sports Committee on Wednesday morning.

“Looking at the position in Carmarthenshire, we do see quite a significant variation within that county area, with the highest figures of concern in the Llanelli area,” he said.

“That is where we are paying particular attention within Carmarthenshire. So we are able to go down to a sub-county, local level in terms of our considerations, and that is what we are actively doing.”