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Coronavirus rates in Caerphilly County Borough have fallen below the Welsh average.

Latest figures, released by Public Health Wales, show 68 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in the borough between March 18 and March 24.

This equates to 37.6 cases per 100,000 people, which is marginally below the Wales-wide figure of 38.1 cases per 100,000 people.

Of the 2,682 tests carried out in the borough in that time, 2.5% came back positive. Across Wales, that figure is 2.8%.

In recent months, coronavirus cases across Wales and the borough have been declining, but Caerphilly has consistently had one of the highest rates in the country since becoming the first council area to be placed under a local lockdown in September.

Transmission rates in the borough have consistently been higher than the Welsh average.

In December, Wales was placed under Alert Level 4 restrictions due to a surge in cases. These restrictions have been eased in recent weeks, with the Welsh Government lifting the stay local rules and easing restrictions around meeting people from other households outdoors.

A further easing of measures is expected to come into force from April 12, with all non-essential shops and close contact services allowed to reopen, while pupils will return to the classrooms.

Dr Giri Shankar, of Public Health Wales, said: “This slight easing of Covid lockdown rules is encouraging, however while the number of cases is declining overall, there are still several areas which have significantly higher rates.

“This is a stark reminder of the need for everyone to maintain constant vigilance, by practising hand hygiene, keeping two metres apart from people that you don’t live with, and wearing a mask in indoor environments.

“It is clear that coronavirus has not gone away, and there are still a large number of people who have not been vaccinated.  In order to protect everyone, including the most vulnerable, we must all stick to the rules.”

Who has been vaccinated so far?

More than 1.4 million people in Wales have received their first coronavirus vaccine dose, while more than 416,000 have had received both doses.

The percentage of people in Wales who have received their first and second vaccine is broken down below:

Care home residents: 96.2% first dose; 64.3% second dose

Care home workers: 88.3% first dose; 70% second dose

Healthcare workers: 91.4% first dose; 78.4% second dose

Social care workers: 43,410 first dose; 35,452 second dose

Aged 80 and above: 94.9% first dose; 23.8% second dose

Aged 75-79: 95.5% first dose; 41.5% second dose

Aged 70-74: 94.9% first dose; 45.4% second dose

Clinically extremely vulnerable people aged 16-69 : 91.5% first dose; 21.4% second dose

Aged 65-69: 92.8% first dose; 19.2% second dose

Clinical risk groups aged 16 to 64: 78.1% first dose; 3% second dose

Aged 60-64: 88.3% first dose; 11.7% second dose

Aged 55-59: 74.8% first dose; 12.6% second dose

Aged 50-54: 47.8% first dose; 12.5% second dose

Welsh Government has said everyone in the first nine priority groups will have been offered a coronavirus vaccine by the middle of April. Everyone else who is eligible for a vaccine will have been offered one by July 31.