Written Statement: By Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services Covid-19 Testing
Today, 18 May 2020 the 4 Governments across the UK will be opening a new website for people with symptoms of coronavirus eligible to book a home test. This is an important part of our Test, Trace and Protect strategy and people across Wales can book a test through www.gov.wales/coronavirus or www.llyw.cymru/coronafeirws. We are also launching a national 119 service across Wales and England which will ensure that people can also book a test.
We are announcing an expansion in testing eligibility. This means from today, individuals will need to self-isolate immediately if they feel a loss or changed sense of normal smell or taste, and as of today they will be eligible for a test. All members of their household must also self-isolate according to current guidelines, unless the symptomatic individual receives a negative test result.
In parallel we will be operating a critical worker website for home tests to ensure that we can manage capacity and continue to prioritise resources. To support businesses and individuals to identify we have provided guidance on the list of critical workers, which can be accessed here: www.gov.wales/critical-workers-testing-policy-coronavirus-covid-19-html.
We are continuing to work across Wales this week to ensure that all Mass Drive-through Testing Centres, Mobile Testing Units and Community Testing Units can be booked through the new website. Until we have put in place the relevant governance arrangements then access to sites will be maintained through Local Health Board arrangements. This information can be found on the Welsh Government website.
https://gov.wales/everyone-wales-symptoms-can-book-coronavirus-test
