Students taking tests for Covid-19

STUDENTS are taking coronavirus tests at a university hall of residence in Cardiff.

It comes after a number of students, living at the Talybont South halls, have tested positive for Covid-19 in recent days.

Many are voluntarily self-isolating so the regional Cardiff and Vale test, trace and protect service has begun testing on the college site as a precautionary measure.

A team of community nurses will visit the site and students will be asked to take a voluntary coronavirus test. They will then be required to self-isolate until the test result is known.

Cardiff University also said it was not a lockdown and only applied to specific blocks or houses identified in Talybont South only.

No additional restrictions have been placed on those living at Talybont, or any other student accommodation in the city.

Fiona Kinghorn, executive director for public health for the region, said: “Effective testing and tracing are essential to stop the spread of Covid-19 in our communities.

“This precautionary measure has been taken in part to make it as easy as possible for this group of people who may be new to the city to get tested.

“The testing team will also be on hand to discuss any concerns or questions students may have about the virus.

“Everyone, regardless of where they live, should continue to follow the national public health advice to regularly wash their hands, wear a mask indoors in public spaces, and keep their distance from others wherever possible.

“Together we can stop the spread of Covid-19.”

Local lockdown restrictions are already in place in Cardiff and much of Wales.

It means that around

2.35 million people are in local lockdowns across Denbighshire, Flintshire, Conwy, Wrexham, Cardiff, Swansea, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly borough, Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Newport, Neath Port Talbot, the Vale of Glamorgan, Bangor, and Torfaen.