Covid: Cardigan coronavirus outbreak linked to two pubs

People who recently visited two Cardigan pubs, including the Red Lion, have been told to be "extra vigilant"

Two pubs have been linked to a coronavirus outbreak which forced the closure of a number of schools and a college campus in a west Wales town.

Ceredigion council said 55 new cases in the Cardigan area suggested there was "significant community transmission".

The council called on people who attended the Red Lion and Bell pubs on or after 9 November to be vigilant.

The closure of 13 schools in the area was blamed on "super-spreader events" such as "parties" and "pub crawls".

There have been 43 new coronavirus cases in the area in the past week, according to Public Health Wales.

Ceredigion has followed a different trajectory of case rate increases to Wales - until recently

In a statement, the council said its contact tracing team had identified in excess of 300 cases and contacts to date, adding the "alarming rate of spread" had affected a number of services in the area.

"We are asking all residents who attended The Red Lion and The Bell Inn public houses on or after 9 November to be extra vigilant and to self-isolate and book a test immediately if you have any symptoms.

"Businesses who have been found not complying with coronavirus regulations have been served with closure or improvement notices and further inspections will continue over the coming days."

Cardigan has the highest rate of infection in Ceredigion and is the 14th highest in Wales

Earlier in the pandemic, Ceredigion council was widely praised for its response, which helped put its death rate second-lowest only to the Isles of Scilly across England and Wales.

But in recent months, the case rate has been creeping up with outbreaks linked to Aberystwyth University and a care home in the town.

Additional testing had been made available at the Fairfield Car Park, Cardigan, which could be booked through the government website or by calling 119.

Both the Red Lion and Bell pubs have been asked to comment.