STILL POCKETS IN WALES WITH HIGH RATES OF VIRUS

TWELVE areas of Wales now have Covid infection rates of more than 400 cases per 100,000 people.

Cases have been growing fast since Wales moved into the third wave of the virus last month, however they have fallen across almost the whole country in the last seven days.

The latest Covid data published by Public Health Wales (PHW) shows there are pockets of very high Covid rates in Flintshire, Conwy, and Denbighshire.

This data was first released on Friday, July 30. It provides the numbers for areas with an average of 7,000 people, called middle super output areas (MSOA).

In practice this means there are statistics for areas like Canton in Cardiff, Morriston in Swansea, and Porth in Rhondda.

The data shows there are seven places in Wales with more than 700 cases per 100,000 of population and two where the figure exceeds 1,000. It comes as Wales is preparing itself for some major changes in coronavirus rules. You can read more about those here.

The areas with the most cases include ■ Denbigh West, Denbighshire – 936.9 ■ Rhyl North, Denbighshire – 660.9

■ Rhyl East, Denbighshire – 577.8 ■ Llandudno South, Conwy – 528.2

■ Rhyl South West, Denbighshire – 526.8 ■ Flint North East, Flintshire – 489.7

■ Old Colwyn & Llanddulas, Conwy – 485.3

■ Kinmel Bay & Towyn, Conwy – 479

■ Prestatyn Central & East,

Denbighshire – 458.9

■ Gronant, Ffynnongroyw & Trelawnyd, Flintshire – 441

■ Upper Colwyn Bay, Conwy – 435

■ Dyserth & Tremeirchion, Denbighshire – 431.2

It is really important to bear in mind that this data is very volatile because it covers smaller areas. Where an area has a very small population even one positive case can push up the cases per 100,000 significantly. You should therefore be cautious about drawing too many conclusions directly from the information.

The three areas with the highest infection rates in each local authority

This is based on the weekly infection rates for the previous seven days per 100,000 people. The data is based on the rolling seven-day average between July 19 and July 25.

If there are fewer than three MSOA listed in a local authority area it is because not enough places have more than two cases.

ANGLESEY

■ Newborough 201.3

■ Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll & Menai Bridge 144.5

■ Holyhead 121.3

BLAENAU GWENT

■ Bryn-mawr 162.2

■ Ebbw Vale South & Cwm 153.2

■ Sirhowy 141.3

BRIDGEND

■ Nant-y-moel, Ogmore Vale & Blackmill 331.9

■ Pen-prysg, Hendre & Felindre 289.8

■ Sarn, Bryn-coch & Bryncethin 282.8

CAERPHILLY

■ Hengoed & Maesycwmer 222.2

■ St Cattwg 197.2

■ Crosskeys South & Ynysddu 171.6

CARDIFF

■ Victoria Park 282.1

■ Tongwynlais & Coryton 241.5

■ Tremorfa & Pengam 240.3

CARMARTHENSHIRE

■ Llanelli West 230.4

■ Carmarthen North 213.7

■ Llandybie & Saron 187

CEREDIGON

■ Aberystwyth North 215.1

■ Borth & Bont-goch 147.8

■ Rheidol, Ystwyth & Caron 147.2

CONWY

■ Llandudno South 528.2

■ Old Colwyn & Llanddulas 485.3

■ Kinmel Bay & Towyn 479

DENBIGHSHIRE

■ Denbigh West 936.9

■ Rhyl North 660.9

■ Rhyl East 577.8

FLINTSHIRE

■ Flint North East 489.7

■ Gronant, Ffynnongroyw & Trelawnyd 441

■ Shotton & Garden City 365.4

GWYNEDD

■ Tywyn & Llangelynnin 214.9

■ Cricieth & Llanaelhaearn 173.1

■ Bethel & Llanrug 131.3

MERTHYR TYDFIL

■ Gelli-deg & Town 241.7

■ Dowlais 156

■ Gurnos, Trefechan & Pontsticill 154.5

MONMOUTHSHIRE

■ Chepstow North & Trellech 185.7

■ Magor & Rogiet 153

■ Abergavenny North 143.5

NEATH PORT TALBOT

■ Dulais Valley 363.3

■ Cimla 254.5

■ Glynneath 228

NEWPORT

■ St Julians & Barnardtown 253.8 ■ Langstone & Llan-wern 248.6

■ Stow Hill 228.7

PEMBROKESHIRE

■ Pembroke West & Castlemartin 148.8 Narberth 145.5 Cilgerran & Crymych 129.5

POWYS

■ Newtown North 370.8

■ Newtown South 298.8

■ Montgomery, Trewern & Berriew 293.5

RHONDDA CYNON TAF

■ Tylorstown 354.6

■ Pentre 321.2

■ Tonyrefail West 253

SWANSEA

■ Cockett 248.4

■ Llangyfelach & Tircoed 202.2

■ Gorseinon 188

VALE OF GLAMORGAN

■ Penarth 178.6

■ Barry West 162.4

■ Llandough & Cogan 146.3

TORFAEN

■ Fairwater & Greenmeadow 247.3

■ Trefethin & Pen-y-garn 170.4

■ Abersychan 162.1

WREXHAM

■ New Broughton & Bryn Cefn 373.8

■ Rhosllannerchrugog & Johnstown South 355.7

■ Wrexham West 336