Latest update on how Bridgend County Borough is fighting coronavirus

Ongoing arrangements for mobile testing in Bridgend County Borough have been confirmed by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

Testing is available at the former Revlon site in Maesteg (CF34 9TS) from 9am to 5pm all week, including Saturday and Sunday. This site incorporates both a drive-through testing facility, which must be booked in advance, and a walk-in option where no booking is required.

Drive-through testing is also available at Coity and Litchard Community Centre (CF31 1PA) from 9am-5pm, and at the walk-through facility based at the Bowls Hall car park in Angel Street, Bridgend (CF31 4AH) which is available between 8am-8pm – booking for both of these sites is essential.

You can arrange appointments by visiting the Welsh Government website or by calling 119 (18001119 for people with hearing or speech difficulties).

The vaccination programme is continuing with the number of local residents who have received both shots of the coronavirus vaccine fast approaching 104,000.

Anyone aged 16 and over who has not yet received their first dose of the vaccine can now walk in to any community vaccination centre without an appointment, as can adults who had their first shot more than eight weeks ago but who are overdue for their second vaccine.

In Bridgend County Borough, the vaccination centre is available at Ravens Court in Bridgend town centre (CF31 4AP) and the walk-in appointments are available between 9.15am and 4.30pm. You will need to bring along a form of ID such as a passport, drivers licence or a utility bill for proof of address.

Details of other vaccination centres in the region are available on the health board website.

Lateral flow testing kits remain available to order online for home delivery or can be picked up from a participating pharmacy. Further information, including details of how you can arrange to receive a free testing kit, are available at the Welsh Government website.

Due to a rise in patients with Covid-19, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is continuing to restrict visits to hospitals in order to protect patients and staff. This means that people are currently only able to visit hospitals such as the Princess of Wales if a patient is receiving end-of-life care and the visit has been agreed in advance.

For pregnant women, one partner or support person is able to accompany them once they are confirmed as being in labour. This includes the immediate post-natal period prior to them transferring either home or to a postnatal area.

One person is able to accompany patients within paediatric and neonatal areas as agreed with the clinical team, but no visiting is allowed on either the antenatal or postnatal wards - for more details visit the health board website.

With Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board preparing to announce details of its new autumn booster vaccination programme, the message remains very clear – making sure you are fully vaccinated is absolutely essential if you want to protect yourself, your family, your friends, work colleagues and the wider community.

The pandemic is far from over, our social care services are under massive pressure, and we must make every effort to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus.

With walk-in vaccinations, mobile testing and free lateral flow kits that enable you to test yourself at home, a wide range of help and support remains available, and you can find out more by visiting the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board website.

Council Leader Huw David