Penarth Town has reported the 10th highest number of COVID-19 cases in Wales, according to the latest seven day statistics.

There are 410 MSOAs (middle layer super output areas) in Wales, only nine of which reported more cases between 28 January and 3 February.

In this period, Penarth recorded 38 cases of COVID-19, or 361 per 100,000. This figure does not include those reported in the peripheral areas of Llandough & Cogan, Dinas Powys and Lower Penarth & Sully, which are all considered separate MSOAs.

Reported today:

Llandough & Cogan: 2

Dinas Powys: 1

Penarth: 38

Lower Penarth & Sully: 16

Judged by cases reported in the last seven days and in the last 21 days, Penarth is the most infected place in the Vale of Glamorgan.

As the attached "Worst Hit Areas" table shows, the other most infected areas are in Anglesey, Wrexham, Carmarthenshire, Flintshire and Caerphilly.

The most affected MSOA is Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll & Menai Bridge in Anglesey, with a reported incidence rate of 497.69 per 100,000 in the same time frame.

Michael Fox, the Penarth resident who collates COVID-19 data and supplies it for Nub News, explains the graph and table provided:

"The New Cases are a total of the positive results which have been returned and entered on the systems in the previous 24 hours to 9am.

"The seven and 21 day totals are based on the day the test was taken. They start these totals five days behind today's date. Unfortunately, the only local data provided is total cases seven and 21 days (based as described already)."

A spokesperson from Cardiff and Vale Test Track Protect has provided an explanation for Penarth entering the top ten worst affected areas in Wales for COVID-19 infection rates, implying that care home or "closed setting" outbreaks are responsible.

They also suggested that the spike is only relative to low case rates in the population at large.

If you found this story useful and informative, please subscribe below to our all-new newsletter which will launch on Friday.