LOCALISED figures from Public Health Wales (PHW) have shown which areas in and around Penarth have the highest and lowest rates of coronavirus cases in recent days.

The new figures focus on areas containing around 2,000-6,000 households (known as Middle Layer Super Output Areas) and are based on rolling case rates for the past week up to the last weekend, the past 21 days up to the last weekend, and since the pandemic began – again up to the last weekend.

The reason for this is a slight delay as the more specific figures are processed, so the new data reveals cases in the week up to Saturday, October 31.

The rolling weekly case rate per 100,000 population is a yardstick to provide an idea of how quickly the virus is spreading or receding in an area.

For the third week in succession, the figures show that Palmerstown has recorded the highest levels of cases in the Vale, with 43 in the last 21 days up to October 31 according to PHW.

In the first week of the firebreak lockdown, Palmerstown recorded 23 new cases at 261 cases per 100,000 population.

Lower Penarth and Sully recorded the second highest number of cases in the Vale in the 21 days up to October 31, with 36 cases. 22 of those cases came last week, with a rolling case rate of 209.6 per 100,000.

Last week Llandough and Cogan recorded 19 new cases at 213.9 per 100,000. In the last 21 days up to October 31 the area recorded 35 cases.

Upper Penarth recorded the lowest number of cases last week in Penarth and immediate surrounding areas in the Vale local authority area, with 15 at a rolling weekly case rate of 141 per 100,000.

In the last 21 days up to October 31 Upper Penarth has also recorded the fewest cases in the immediate area – with 28.

Also in the week up to October 31, Dinas Powys recorded 18 new cases, meaning in the last 21 days up to the same date, the village recorded 30 cases.

Thirty-five new cases in the Vale on Wednesday

There were 35 new coronavirus cases confirmed in the Vale on Wednesday.

Cases in the Vale have been particularly high this week, showing the impact of a rise in infection rates prior to the firebreak lockdown period.

Forty-two new cases were recorded in the region on Tuesday, and 31 were reported on Monday.

Across Wales, 44 new coronavirus-related deaths were confirmed on Wednesday – the biggest single day death toll in Wales since cases began to rise again at the end of August.

Two of the 44 deaths came in the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board area.

The rolling weekly case rate - to November 1 - across Wales is 266 cases per 100,000 population, though the current hotspot areas have far higher rates.

The Vale’s case rate is below that average, at 163.2.