Wales is set to pause the regular asymptomatic testing for Covid-19 among people who work in the NHS, social care and special schools, it has been announced. Health Minister Eluned Morgan said the changes would come into force on September 8 following a dramatic fall in the number of people testing positive for the virus.
Latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey for the week ending August 23 shows that the estimated number of people testing positive for Covid in Wales was 47,300, equating to 1.56% of the population or around one in 65 people. That is the lowest it has been since the start of June. You can read the full story here.
The Welsh Government will also be pausing asymptomatic testing for visitors to care homes, visitors to those eligible for Covid-19 treatments and prisoners on admission to prisons. Instead, decisions about the need for asymptomatic testing will be based on local decisions and risk assessments. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Read more: Wales sees another huge drop in its Covid infection rate
Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: "Our surveillance data continues to show a decline in the prevalence of Covid-19 in communities and hospitals following the recent wave caused by the BA.4 and BA.5 subtypes of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. Vaccines continue to be our best defence and we have just started to roll out the autumn Covid-19 booster vaccine. Everyone who is eligible will be offered a booster vaccine by December and I would encourage everyone to take up the offer.
"As we move into autumn and winter, and respiratory viruses become more common, we can keep each other safe by following simple steps, such as frequent handwashing, staying at home and avoiding contact with others if you have symptoms and wearing a face covering in healthcare settings and crowded indoor places.
"Based on the latest available clinical advice about the benefits of asymptomatic testing when the prevalence of coronavirus is lower, from September 8 we will be making changes to our testing arrangements in health and social care. We will pause regular asymptomatic testing of staff in the following settings:
- the NHS (including independent healthcare providers treating NHS patients);
- social care settings, including care homes and hospice services;
- special schools.
"We will also pause asymptomatic testing for visitors to care homes, visitors to those eligible for Covid-19 treatments and prisoners on admission to prisons."
Ms Morgan said Wales would continue to provide symptomatic testing for patients, those eligible for Covid-19 treatments, health and social care staff, care home residents and prisoners. Wales will also continue to provide tests for those being discharged from hospital into care homes.
"For care home residents, prisoners and some patients we are providing multiplex tests that detect Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses," she added. "We will be setting out our approach to respiratory viruses during autumn/winter in October. This will include increasing our surveillance and use of multiplex testing due to the potential threat of a further wave of Covid-19 infections and a challenging respiratory season."
She concluded: "We will continue to review the most recent surveillance data and keep the position on testing under review. Guidance will be updated and shared with the NHS and social care providers before September 8."
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