Sites confirmed for community testing centres

The locations of new community testing centres which will help reduce the spread of coronavirus in Bridgend County Borough have been confirmed.

With community testing set to take place across the county borough over the next four weeks on different dates, the initiative aims to identify people living within specific local communities who may have the virus without knowing it.

Statistics from Public Health Wales confirm that one in three people may not display any symptoms when infected with Covid-19, and may unknowingly be passing the virus on to others.

The areas targeted for testing, which have been identified using data from Public Health Wales and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, are Caerau, Nantyffyllon, Pyle, Kenfig Hill, Cornelly, Cefn Cribwr, Sarn, Aberkenfig, Coytrahen, Ynysawdre, Bryncethin, Bryncoch, Pencoed, Hendre, Felindre and Heol-Y-Cyw.

To support these areas, a number of local testing centres are being set up, and residents who are aged 11 and over are being encouraged to come in for a swab test. The tests are fast, efficient and no booking is required. They are targeting people who are not already exhibiting symptoms of the virus, and who feel otherwise fit and well.

As it is possible for people who have been vaccinated to still carry the virus, the testing includes residents who may have already undergone a test or who have received a dose of the vaccine.

The walk-in centres where the community testing will be carried out will be available between 9.30am-6.30pm Monday to Friday, and 10am-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The locations are as follows:

• Kenfig Hill: Testing will take place at the Kenfig Hill Rugby and Football Club from Wednesday 3 March to Tuesday 9 March.
  
  
• Pencoed: Testing will take place at the Pencoed Social Club from Wednesday 10 March to Tuesday 16 March.
  
  
• Tondu: Testing will take place at the Tondu Cricket Club from Wednesday 17 March until Tuesday 23 March.
  
  
• Caerau: Testing will take place between Wednesday 24 March and Wednesday 31 March. The venue is still being confirmed and will be announced soon.

Anyone attending the centre should not eat for at least 30 minutes before taking the test. At the centres, staff will show people to booths where they can carry out a swab test. As the swab will be processed upon the premises, participants will be contacted within 30 minutes with the results.

If a positive result is recorded, the participant will be asked to self-isolate while arrangements are made for them to receive a confirmatory test along with further advice and support.

We are encouraging as many people as possible from each of the targeted areas to come forward and take part in the community testing.

This is intended to locate people who may have coronavirus without even knowing it, and who may be unwittingly spreading it to their friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues and more.

Community testing forms a vital part of Welsh Government’s attempts to identify and isolate asymptomatic cases, and to help keep our local communities safe. The testing is also being carried out in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil, and we need to do all that we can to support this locally here within Bridgend County Borough.

Council Leader Huw David

For more information about the community testing programme, please visit www.bridgend.gov.uk/community-testing