A councillor says his colleagues should be advising people in areas affected by the “frightening” Delta variant to get a Covid test, even if they’ve been vaccinated.

That’s the advice of Conwy county councillor Ronnie Hughes who said he’d had two vaccinations but still had a Covid test, as advised by Public Health Wales, Welsh Government and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

It comes as 54 “confirmed or presumptive” cases of the Delta variant have been discovered in Conwy county, forcing more than 300 people to self-isolate as a precaution.

Latest figures on its spread will be released tomorrow but First Minister Mark Drakeford has said it is “inevitable” cases will rise.

Public health chiefs asked people in the affected areas to take a Covid test, so any community infection could be located quickly.

Although people who have had both vaccine jabs are unlikely to suffer the worst effects of the new strain, originally known as the Indian variant, they could still potentially pick up the infection and pass it on.

Cllr Hughes, who has praised the efforts of the NHS to get the population vaccinated, spoke up in Conwy county council’s finance scrutiny committee meeting on Monday, as councillors discussed new ways of working because of the pandemic.

He said: “The new variant, it’s absolutely frightening what’s happening at the moment. I went for the test on Thursday and had the result by Saturday morning.

“I think every councillor should be giving this message out (to go and get tested).

“I think every councillor should be getting the test and saying ‘I’ve done it, there’s nothing to be frightened about’.”

The authority’s chief executive Iwan Davies said although figures had gone up in Conwy it was “from a very low base” and the “good news” was people who had been vaccinated did not seem to be getting very poorly or needing hospital treatment.

However he said it was a case of having to “keep a close eye on the data”.

Mr Davies also revealed he was meeting with both the Incident Management Team and the Regional Coordination Group about the latest situation with Covid and the new variant on Monday afternoon.

He said the “picture will become clearer” after those discussions but warned the council and public health teams had get the balance right between keeping people safe and safeguarding a local economy.

“We are taking a thoughtful approach,” he added, while repeating his call for people to get vaccinated when offered.

Teresa Owen, executive director of public health, said: “Over the last week 586 people have come forward to be tested at our PCR testing unit in Llandudno Junction in a bid to help stop the spread of the Delta variant of Coronavirus.

“We have also seen people in the area collect more than 2,700 lateral flow self-testing packs.

“We would like to thank those who took the time during half-term to be tested, and we encourage others living in Llandudno Junction, Llandudno, Penrhyn Bay, Rhos on Sea, Colwyn Bay, Old Colwyn, Deganwy and Conwy to get a free PCR Covid-19 test at our mobile testing unit if you have symptoms, however mild, to prevent the Delta variant spreading further, or residents without symptoms can collect a free lateral flow test.

“The emergence of the new Delta variant is a reminder we must continue to remain vigilant and protect ourselves and others by mixing outdoors rather than indoors, stay two metres apart, washing our hands regularly and wearing face coverings.”