Coronavirus: Emergency mortuary planned – but it won’t be at the Royal Welsh Showground

The emergency morgue is set to be installed at Llanelwedd, but The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society says it won’t be on the showground, best-known for hosting the Royal Welsh Show.

The County Times understands the temporary mortuary will instead be in an old factory on the Wyeside Enterprise Park.

It is understood that the bodies of those who die having tested positive for coronavirus will be kept in the temperature-controlled mortuary before they can be released to families for burial or cremation.

Steve Hughson, chief executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, said: “The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is committed to assisting the efforts being made to tackle COVID 19. 

“We have offered use of the showground to the local authority, Local Teaching Health Board and strategic co-ordinating group for use as a marshalling area, storage facility, or temporary accommodation.

“There are no plans to use the site for any temporary mortuary facilities.”

Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys County Council are overseeing the development of the mortuary in Llanelwedd.

Alison Bulman, corporate director (children and adults) for Powys County Council, said: “We encourage everyone to stay at home, protect the health and care system, and save lives. We all have a role to play in reducing the spread of infection, and helping to make sure that public services can support us.

“This is a moment of national emergency, and this also means that we need to take additional action to prepare for the challenges we may face in future.

“For this reason we have taken the decision to put in place additional temporary mortuary facilities in Llanelwedd. This means that we can be confident that we have capacity in place to provide dignity in death.

“Our shared ambition must be that we do not need to use them. This means that everyone must play their part by staying home and saving lives.”