A drive-through coronavirus testing facility is to open at the United Counties Showground in Carmarthen as part of the Government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other essential workers.
The site sits alongside a rapidly expanding network of testing sites being set up around the UK, and is operating on an appointment-only basis for NHS staff and other key workers. The facility will be piloted for its first few days of operation.
This follows the launch of the Government’s partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to begin rollout of the network of new labs and testing sites across the UK, with 42 regional testing sites opened to date.
This network will provide thousands more PCR swab tests – which are used to identify if you currently have the virus – for critical essential workers. This means those who test negative for coronavirus can return to work as soon as possible, and those who test positive are able to recover.
Health Minister Lord Bethell said:
“The Government is rapidly scaling up the national effort to boost testing capacity for coronavirus to protect the vulnerable, support our NHS, and ultimately save lives.
“This new service will help end the uncertainty of whether NHS and social care staff and other essential workers need to stay at home, meaning those who test negative will be able to return to work.
“This is a national effort and we are proud to be working with a number of partners to turn this ambition into a reality and roll out additional capacity to where it is needed.”
Professor John Newton, National Coordinator for the UK Coronavirus Testing Strategy, said:
“New testing sites such as this one are a key pillar of our 5-pillar plan to scale up testing, and are critical in supporting NHS staff and other frontline workers who are isolating at home to return safely to work if the test is negative.”
“This is a brilliant example of industries and businesses turning their resources to creating and rolling out mass testing at scale, which will help to deliver on our aim of carrying out 100,000 tests a day across the UK by the end of the month.”
The testing centre is being operated in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, following assistance to set up by the Welsh Government, Public Health Wales, Carmarthenshire County Council and other partners on the Dyfed Powys Local Resilience Forum. The centre will offer drive-through testing, and those tested will receive their results within a few days.
Executive Director of Therapies and Health Science for Hywel Dda University Health Board Alison Shakeshaft said:
“We are grateful for the partnership working between the government and agencies in our area to establish this testing centre which supports testing capacity across our large area. We serve a rural community and are doing everything we can to make testing as accessible as possible. We will continue to work with other health boards in regards to mutual aid and supporting people who live or work across our boundaries.”
Peter Roderick Assistant Chief Constable for Dyfed Powys Police said on behalf of the Local Resilience Forum
“We are pleased to support expansion of testing for our key workers in this area, which is a critical part of our response to this pandemic. We thank our key workers and also our communities for their continued co-operation and assistance.”
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