PEOPLE in a town on the Herefordshire border are being urged to be "extra vigilant" as coronavirus cases appear to be on the rise.

Welsh Liberal Democrats councillor Gareth Ratcliffe, who represents Hay-on-Wye on Powys County Council, said people in the town needed to take as many precautions as possible.

He said he had been contacted about a rise in Covid positive tests in Hay since the weekend. 

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"Can I request that everyone is extra vigilant and takes as much precaution as possible to protect each other," Coun Ratcliffe said.

"Whilst if you have had your jabs, you could still pass on to vulnerable people in the community.

"Please let's do our bit to help each other."

Public Health Wales figures, which cover the week to Friday, July 9, showed six positive tests in Hay-on-Wye, with an infection rate of 70.6 cases per 100,000 people.

These figures do not cover the weekend, which is when Coun Ratcliffe said the rise in Covid cases started.

Elsewhere in Powys, people in Newtown have been urged to get tested as the town has "become a Covid hotspot".

"Newtown has seen a sharp rise in Covid infection rates rise to over 1,000 per 100,000 over the past seven days, mostly in the under 40s age group," Powys Health Teaching Board said.

"Many people are able to carry Covid without displaying any symptoms and this means that they can infect others without even realising.

"Powys County Council and Powys Teaching Health Board are asking everyone to get tested, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not."

First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed on Wednesday that almost all coronavirus restrictions in Wales will be lifted on August 7, but said the wearing of face masks would remain compulsory on public transport and in most indoor settings.

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From July 17 some rules will be eased as the country moves into alert Level 1 – after a four-week delay due to the spread of the Delta variant.

Up to six people will be able to meet indoors in private homes and holiday accommodation as of Saturday, while organised indoor events will be able to take place with up to 1,000 people seated and up to 200 standing, and ice rinks can reopen.

If the alert level gets downgraded next month, all premises will be able to open and most restrictions will be removed and replaced with the ongoing requirement for all organisations and businesses to carry out Covid risk assessments.