Carmarthenshire wards demonstrate spread of coronavirus in county
STATISTICS have been released for the first time which break down which parts of Carmarthenshire have the highest coronavirus infection rates.
Public Health Wales has been posting daily updates about infection rates and case numbers since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out earlier this year.
However, until this week they only posted information concerning individual counties.
This meant that, while figures were available regarding cases in Carmarthenshire, it was not possible to tell which areas were affected more than others.
This is particularly pertinent in Carmarthenshire as the county is the scene of the first “subcounty lockdown” in
Wales - with Llanelli having local restrictions imposed on September 26.
Those restrictions have remained in place for a month, with the rest of the county - along with the whole of Wales - set to have new restrictions from 6pm today.
Public Health Wales has now posted subcounty data which reveals the coronavirus picture in all areas of Carmarthenshire, based on 25 areas or wards.
It is important, however, to consider that the data is volatile because it covers such small areas. Where an area has a very small population, even one positive case can push up the infection rate (based on cases per 100,000 population) significantly. You should therefore be cautious from drawing too many conclusions directly from the information.
Below is the coronavirus infection rate for Carmarthenshire - based on the seven days up to Sunday, October 18. ■ Llanelli West -189.8 ■ Llandovery, Cilycwm and Cynwyl Gaeo - 162.0
Swiss Valley and Llangennech - 130.7
Dafen and Felinfoel - 125.3
Abergwili, Llanegwad and Carmel - 120.1 ■ Llanddarog, Llangyndeyrn and Ferryside - 84.5 ■ Yr Hendy and Tycores - 82.5
Carmarthen North - 77.7 ■ Glyn and Pontyberem - 72.3 ■ Pembrey and Burry Port - 72.2
Llandeilo, Llangadog and Manordeilo - 69.5
Whitland, Laugharne and Llansteffan - 64.1
Brynaman, Garnant and Glanaman - 54.3 ■ Llanfihangel ar Arth and Llanybydder - 52.8 ■ Trelech, Cenarth and Llangeler - 52.4 ■ Llandybie and Saron - 46.8 ■ Llanelli South - 46.7 ■ Bynea and Llwynhendy - 44.3 ■ Ammanford and Betws - 37.9 ■ Carmarthen West and Cynwyl Elfed - 34.8 ■ Llanelli North - fewer than 37 ■ Kidwelly and Trimsaran - fewer than 33 ■ Carmarthen South and Llangunnor - fewer than 32 ■ Llanelli Bigyn - fewer than 30 ■ Llanon, Cross Hands and Penygroes - fewer than 24
The infection rate across the whole of Carmarthenshire is currently at 68.3.
The leader of the county council, Emlyn Dole, spoke last week about how cases in certain parts of the county were decreasing, but also warned that they were on the increase elsewhere.
The possibility that the county as a whole would enter a local lockdown like most other counties in south Wales has now been superseded by the national lockdown coming into force today.
Speaking last week, Mr Dole said: “We are pleased to see the numbers continue to fall in Llanelli - this shows that the extra restrictions put in place are working.”