Trace and protect teams ready to work in Bay area
CONTACT tracing teams are preparing to start work in Swansea Bay to help minimise the spread of the coronavirus.
Three “trace and protect” teams in Swansea and two in Neath Port Talbot will speak to confirmed and suspected Covid-19 cases and then get in touch with people they have been in contact with.
The idea is to isolate cases and their contacts as soon as possible to reduce community transmission.
The teams are due to go live on June 1 and are part of a wider Welsh strategy, including more testing, to help essential services function more normally.
Wales remains essentially in lockdown, pending a Welsh Government review later this week.
A test, trace and protect report being discussed by Swansea Bay University Health Board on May 28 said: “Work has been under way within Swansea Bay since May 4 to mobilise efforts to ensure this will be achieved.”
The trace and protect teams, it said, were going through working processes this week.
“From June 1 these teams will be operational with a second phase of teams planned for following weeks, roll-out of which will be linked to take-up of services,” added the report. The teams will consist of council and health board staff working from home, but may include newly-hired workers in the future.
On testing, the report said key workers were being tested at new drivethrough facilities at Margam and Swansea’s Liberty Stadium.
Some of the drivethrough lanes are for anyone with coronavirus symptoms over the age of five.
The public will also be able to book a drivethrough test locally or request a home testing kit through a Uk-based website, with further details to be announced.
Community testing teams in Swansea Bay are also at work, including at care homes.
The health board report said further changes will have been implemented by the time of the May 28 meeting.
On the costs of delivering the test, trace and protect service - initially for 12 - months - the report said: “These are being quantified and discussions planned with Welsh Government to ensure these are met, not only initially, but also when external sources of staffing are required.”
Speaking yesterday, Health and Social Services Minister Vaughan Gething confirmed the launching of the contact tracing on June 1, and urged the public to continue playing their part.
“I am very aware of the sacrifices that people have made during lockdown,” he said.
“I recognise that we will continue to ask people to play a significant role in controlling the spread of the disease, by self-isolating with their households when they have symptoms and getting themselves tested.
“This system will only work if people willingly play their part and continue to protect others,” he said.
“Testing is a key part to this national effort, as it will allow people who are symptomatic, but not positive, to come out of selfisolation as soon as possible.”