All residents and workers will be offered repeat COVID-19 testing from this Saturday (21st November) even if asymptomatic, to help find more positive cases and break the chains of transmission.

The move will be delivered through a partnership between the Welsh Government, UK Government, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and the Ministry of Defence, with logistical support from Armed Forces personnel.

The first site will open at Merthyr Tydfil leisure centre on Saturday 21st November with further sites due to open throughout the county borough later this month. Thousands of lateral flow tests will be available for residents and workers of Merthyr and citizens can find out how to access these tests by visiting www.merthyr.gov.uk/covidtesting.

The mass testing programme will also see the use of Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) in Wales for the first time. Everyone who attends any of the asymptomatic test sites in Merthyr Tydfil will be given a test using the devices, which can turnaround results within around 20-30 minutes.

If an individual tests positive via a LFD test, they will be asked to return home so they can self-isolate immediately.

Those with symptoms will continue to be tested using PCR self-swabs at existing testing facilities.

Building on the learnings from the first mass testing pilot in Liverpool, the whole town pilot in Merthyr will provide vital information to help inform further rollout of mass testing technology in future.

We will be closely monitoring the number of positive results to help us better understand the spread of the virus which will in turn inform actions to prevent further transmission.

Minister for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething, said:

“This is the first time we have rolled out mass testing of symptomatic and asymptomatic people in Wales. It will give us an even greater understanding of prevalence within the community and how many people have Covid.”

“We have chosen Merthyr as it has a high prevalence and this mass testing will also help to slow down the spread of the virus in the area.”

“The introduction of the rapid testing Lateral Flow Devices is a boost to our Test, Trace, Protect strategy and will speed up the process hugely. This is vital technology which I hope will play an important role in our fight against this deadly virus.”