Hywel Dda University Health Board has suspended visitors to all of its hospitals due to increased cases of Covid-19.

The health board said that visiting would only be permitted at its hospitals across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, with prior arrangement in extenuating circumstances, such as end of life and critical visits.

The restrictions do not affect the current visiting arrangements within maternity services.

The three counties have Covid case rates above 600 per 100,000 people.

Pembrokeshire had the highest case rate and the seventh highest in Wales at 849.6; Ceredigion's case rate was 638.3 and Carmarthenshire's was 623.

A statement from Hywel Dda said: "We appreciate that it is a difficult time for everyone, and we will continue to support the wellbeing of our patients/service users and their families and loved ones in the best way we can, while keeping everyone as safe as possible.

"Our patient support team and family liaison officers can help to deliver essential items to patients from their family and facilitate communication through digital options/telephone; if you need their assistance please call them on and 0300 0200 159 and they will do their best to help you.

"The situation is being reviewed at regular intervals and a further update will be made to visitor restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so.

"Thank you to everyone for supporting our visitor restrictions to protect our patients and our NHS."