PLANS are in place to address any need in Ceredigion to increase mortuary facilities in the face of covid-19 including a “temporary resting centre” in Horeb.

In line with the responsibility of local authorities in Wales to “prepare for every eventuality in light of the coronavirus” plans have been prepared by Ceredigion County Council.

A spokesman for the council told the local democracy reporting service: “One of those plans is to prepare a temporary resting centre for the deceased to ensure additional capacity, should it be required.

"This will be a back-up facility, in case there is a need to assist hospital and funeral directors’ mortuaries.”

The temporary mortuary will be based at existing council facilities in Horeb, Llandysul, where the internal and external layout of the site is considered suitable for safe operation, but the council stresses it may not be needed.

“Following the completion of a thorough risk assessment, and based on advice from Public Health experts and guidance from the UK Government, it has been concluded that the facility will pose no risk to local residents.

“However, Ceredigion County Council will ensure that every effort is made to safeguard the public’s health and well-being, and respect people’s dignity in these challenging times.

“Although Ceredigion has not yet experienced the full impact of the virus, it remains a serious threat, and as the rate of infection increases, it could lead to a number of additional deaths.

"However, there is no certainty that this will happen, and it may well be that current systems will be able to cope, and this facility might not be needed,” added a spokesman.

As of yesterday (April 20), there had been 33 cases of coronavirus recorded in Ceredigion, 150 Pembrokeshire and 350 in Carmarthenshire, with more than 500 deaths across the whole of Wales.