Health chiefs have opened a coronavirus testing centre in Cardigan, with more possible across the Hywel Dda region in the coming weeks.

Hywel Dda Health Board has opened two centres to test for coronavirus, one in Cardigan and one in Carmarthen.

The health board announced it had opened the testing centres to "help protect the health of our communities", while admitting that centres could be opened in other areas across the health board.

While there have so far only been two confirmed cases in the Hywel Dda region - both in Pembrokeshire - the first two testing centres have been sited at Cardigan and Carmarthen.

Any patients would need to have appointments after consulting the 111 service and get to the units in their own cars.

The board said the units would enable far more tests to be carried out compared to just home testing, although home tests could still take place by special arrangement in certain circumstances.

Any testing unit would have "stringent infection prevention measures".

Ros Jervis, the health board’s director of public health, said: "We are extremely proud of our staff in Hywel Dda Health Board who are working hard to protect the health of our communities in response to COVID-19.

"We are working with local, regional and national partners to implement our planned response and stringent infection control measures.

"Like other health boards, we have been undertaking tests for COVID-19 in people’s own homes.

"The demand for this is likely to get greater and we have planned additional capacity to deal with this by opening our CTUs.

"This will allow us to undertake far more tests for appropriate patients, who have used the 111 pathway.

"We are grateful for the cooperation of our communities."

Anyone who is concerned they may have coronavirus is being asked not to attend GP surgeries, hospital units or minor injury units, and to instead use an online symptom checker on the NHS Direct Wales website.

Patients should only call 111 if they have been to specified areas which require calling 111.