Covid-19 mass testing: Military to assess Merthyr options

Military planners will this week join a team looking at options to test the whole of Merthyr Tydfil for Covid-19.

Three people would join a group led by Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board and Merthyr council, the Senedd was told.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the military personnel would have "direct experience" of the mass testing being carried out in Liverpool.

They will also help plan the subsequent tracing and advising of those who test positive along with their contacts.

Merthyr Tydfil has been an area of particular concern for coronavirus cases.

It hit a peak of 741 cases per 100,000 people last week, by far the highest rate in Wales, and was the hardest-hit area in the UK.

But there has been an improvement in recent days and the rate has dropped to 499.

There have been 301 actual cases over the past seven days and a rise in the positivity rate (255) has also eased.

Cefn Coed-y-Cymmer and Gellideg have the highest local case rates but they are falling.

Military personnel are currently helping out in Liverpool.

It was the first city to be put under England's highest level of restrictions - tier three - until a national lockdown was announced.

The city-wide testing pilot has seen 2,000 specially-trained armed forces personnel conducting tests, providing logistics, planning and training.

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said there was "a compelling case for the urgent roll-out" of a mass-testing programme in parts of Wales.

Mr Drakeford told the Welsh Parliament the planning "needs to be in place in order to make sure that people in Merthyr - if that is where we have a first whole town testing in Wales - get the service that they need".

The military planners are due to join the existing team on Thursday.