Health minister Vaughan Gething gave a briefing on the coronavirus outbreak in Wales today (Tuesday, May 19).
Here is a summary of what he had to say:
- Home testing kits are now available to anyone with symptoms in Wales via a booking website
- High demand for home testing in first few days means critical workers will be prioritised
- Contact tracing is to be piloted in four health board areas
- Shielding letters sent out in error were not a system-wide failure
- Government to consider allowing people from different households to meet outdoors
Home testing kits can now be requested by anyone in Wales with symptoms
Anyone in Wales with symptoms of coronavirus can now request a home testing kit using a UK-wide website booking system, Mr Gething said.
He said 119, a bilingual telephone line, is also available for people to request a kit.
"This is a real step forward in increasing coronavirus testing," he said.
It's anticipated that there will be a high demand for kits over the first few days, he said, but priority will be given to critical workers.
The health minister said the government will also pilot contact tracing in four health board areas: Cwm Taf Morgannwg, Powys, Betsi Cadwaladr and Hywel Dda.
The "small-scale" trials are to be conducted for two weeks, he said.
'Impossible' to say how many people may be shielding unnecessarily
Mr Gething said there have been “only a handful of instances” brought to his attention so far of people who have incorrectly received a shielding letter in the post.
The letters are intended to advise those with serious underlying health conditions to stay at home for the next 12 weeks.
“It is possible that some people will have been sent, incorrectly, a shielding letter. We don’t think that there is a system-wide failure and that there are large categories of people who have got the wrong letter,” he said.
He said it remains "impossible" to say exactly how many people have been affected by this.
Those who believe they have been sent a shielding letter in error should visit the Welsh Government website for advice, he said.
Government considering allowing people from different households to meet outdoors
The Welsh Government is considering allowing people from different households to meet outdoors, Mr Gething said.
He said there is "developing evidence" to suggest that meeting people in outside spaces would carry a reduced risk of transmission.
The latest scientific advice from the Technical Advisory Cell on May 12 states that Covid-19 is "very likely to decay very quickly [a few minutes] in air and on surfaces when exposed to sunlight".
"This adds to the evidence that outdoor environments are highly likely to be a lower risk for transmission," he said.
Mr Gething said ministers were having a "very real debate" about how Wales can continue to take a "deliberately cautious approach" to unlocking the lockdown measures.
"We will need to think about what that then means, not just about being outside, but who you're outside with and the level of contact you have.
"These are active considerations," he said.
The next review of the regulations is due to take place on May 28.
