Lateral flow tests are to soon be made available to test frontline health and social care workers in Wales for Coronavirus twice weekly.
Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething has announced that routine testing of asymptomatic frontline staff working in the health and social care sector will start this month in Wales to assist with the country’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Tests will be carried out using lateral flow testing devices, which can produce results in 30 minutes, with the potential to be self-administered.
The testing programme is to start for the following groups;
- Clinical NHS staff such as doctors and nurses and those working with high-risk groups
- Non-clinical staff including porters, catering staff, cleaning staff and volunteers
- Social care workers including domiciliary care workers, social workers and inspectors visiting care settings
Announcing the new testing programme, Mr Gething said;
“I am pleased to announce that we will now be introducing a programme of regular asymptomatic testing of frontline health and social care staff and others in contact with patients and those receiving social care. This builds on the asymptomatic testing of health workers in Wales to assist with outbreak control and those working in care homes.
Staff working in services with the higher risks of Coronavirs transmission will be among the first to be part of the programme from 14 December, with staff working in lower-risk settings expected to be tested regularly from January.
