Snakes force COVID vaccination centre in Wales to close

Sky News

Updated 22 May 2024 at 7:28 am·1-min read

A COVID vaccination centre in Ceredigion has been forced to temporarily shut its doors after two snakes were found on site.

The snakes have been named Cwm and Cou after the Welsh village where the centre is located.

Cou is the larger of the snakes and is believed to be an adder, while Cwm is believed to be a grass snake.

The adder is said to have left the building, while Hywel Dda Health Board is seeking advice from wildlife experts to remove the remaining reptile.

Staff joked that neither of the animals were "eligible for our spring booster".

The COVID vaccination centre will remain closed until further notice.

"We hope that we will be able to reopen as soon as possible," the health board said in a post on Facebook.

Grass snakes are widespread across England and Wales but are harmless, according to The Wildlife Trusts.

The adder is the UK's only venomous snake, but its venom is generally of little danger to humans: an adder bite can be painful and cause a inflammation, but is really only dangerous to the very young, ill or old.

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