Community Testing Programme to commence in Cwm Taf Morgannwg

The Welsh Government’s Health Minister has today confirmed that a Community Testing programme will commence across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board area from Wednesday, March 3.

Focusing on key areas that have been identified as “hot spots” for continued high levels of COVID-19 infections, the programme will operate across six Community Testing Outreach Centres in Rhondda Cynon Taf.  These Centres will be located at:

• Maes-Yr-Haf Community Centre, Trealaw (Tonypandy area)
• Porth Plaza
• Llanharry Community Centre
• Gilfach Goch Community Recreation Centre
• Rhondda Fach Sports Centre
• Abercynon Community Centre

Residents over the age of 11 in each of those local areas who do NOT have symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to take a free test at their local centre during the testing periods.  No booking is necessary.  The Council is also encouraging all businesses whose staff cannot work from home – particularly those working in transport (such as bus or taxi drivers), food retail workers or those in the construction or manufacturing industry – to also encourage their employees to take a test to protect their colleagues and families.

Each of the identified areas have demonstrated continuingly high infection rates of COVID-19 and the Community Testing programme is aimed at identifying those residents who may have COVID-19 but are displaying no symptoms, and this approach is key to helping to stop the spread of the virus locally.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, said: “Following several weeks of planning work, the Welsh Government has today confirmed that Community Mass Testing will be made available at six areas across the County Borough, alongside locations in our neighbouring Counties of Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil.

“There has been a marked decrease in daily case rates and both the 7 day positivity rate and 7 day case rate figures over recent weeks and this programme now forms a vital part of our attempts to identify and isolate asymptomatic cases within the communities demonstrating higher levels of infections in order to break those chains of transmission.

“Before Christmas, the lower Cynon Valley area held a successful mass testing pilot which provided some crucial information in understanding how the virus was spreading throughout those local communities, and I hope that this Community Testing programme will also yield similar results.

“I would encourage all of those over the age of 11 who are living, working, or studying in each of the targeted local areas to go and get a free test in order to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.  It is important to remember that this programme is only for individuals who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and are not currently self-isolating.”

The programme will operate across the following venues and dates between the hours of 9am and 7pm:

Tonypandy area

Maes-Yr-Haf Community Centre, Trealaw

• Wednesday 3^rd March – Friday 5^th March
• Friday, 12^th March – Sunday, 14^th March

Porth area

Porth Plaza

• Wednesday 3^rd March – Friday 5^th March
• Friday, 12^th March – Sunday, 14^th March

Llanharry area

Llanharry Community Centre

• Saturday, 6^th March – Monday, 8^th March
• Monday, 15^th March – Wednesday, 17^th March

Gilfach Goch & Evanstown

Gilfach Goch Community Recreation Centre

• Saturday, 6^th March – Monday, 8^th March
• Monday, 15^th March – Wednesday, 17^th March

Tylorstown Area

Rhondda Fach Sports Centre

• Tuesday, 9^th March – Thursday, 11^th March
• Thursday, 18^th March – Saturday, 20^th March

Abercynon area

Abercynon Community Centre

• Tuesday, 9^th March – Thursday, 11^th March
• Thursday, 18^th March – Saturday, 20^th March