Concerns about high level of traffic on the roads
ROADS in parts of West Wales are too busy and too many people are out and about despite the country being in lockdown, a Welsh council has warned.
Ceredigion Council has said it is concerned that traffic levels on its roads are “far higher” than what they would normally expect given the current coronavirus restrictions in place across the county and Wales as a whole.
Under the alert level 4 restrictions, which have been in place since Sunday, December 20, people must stay at home except for very limited purposes, such as to exercise, to obtain supplies or to access childcare or medical services.
However, as seen elsewhere in Wales, there are concerns that people are travelling away from their home for non-essential reasons.
“Residents of Ceredigion are being reminded that during alert level 4 lockdown, people must stay at home except for very limited purposes,” a spokeswoman for Ceredigion Council said.
“People must neither visit other households nor meet other people they do not live with.
“The council, along with partner organisations, is concerned that the level of traffic on our roads is far higher than would be expected during lockdown, which is in place across the whole of Wales.”
In Ceredigion, the out
break of Covid-19 largely skipped the county during the first wave, with only 42 confirmed cases between March and June.
However, by December, there were almost that many cases in 48 hours in just one of the county’s towns.
Just before Christmas, the county’s infection rate was at 247.6, higher that it
ever was during the spring, summer or autumn. It has since come down to 149.9 for the seven days up to December 25, but there were still 35 new cases confirmed in the 25 hours up to Tuesday morning, with almost 40% of tests coming back positive.
“The daily number of Covid-19 cases in Ceredigion remains high but stable,” a spokeswoman for the council added. “However, we have not yet seen what impact there has been from our ability to mix households on Christmas Day and the number of cases may yet increase.
“We’ve all had a difficult year and we are keen to see 2020 come to an end and look forward to 2021.
But now is not the time to celebrate.
“There is optimism as the vaccine is rolled out, but the number of cases in our communities remains high.
“Do not invite people to your house and do not mix with other households outdoors.
“No party risk.” is worth the