Eluned Morgan Minister for Health and Social Services
Our surveillance data continues to show a decline in the prevalence of Covid-19 in communities and hospitals following the recent wave caused by the BA.4 and BA.5 subtypes of the omicron variant of coronavirus.
Vaccines continue to be our best defence and we have just started to roll out the autumn Covid-19 booster vaccine. Everyone who is eligible will be offered a booster vaccine by December and I would encourage everyone to take up the offer.
As we move into autumn and winter, and respiratory viruses become more common, we can keep each other safe by following simple steps, such as frequent handwashing, staying at home and avoiding contact with others if you have symptoms and wearing a face covering in healthcare settings and crowded indoor places.
Based on the latest available clinical advice about the benefits of asymptomatic testing when the prevalence of coronavirus is lower, from 8 September 2022 we will be making changes to our testing arrangements in health and social care.
We will pause regular asymptomatic testing of staff in the following settings:
- the NHS (including independent healthcare providers treating NHS patients)
- social care settings, including care homes and hospice services
- special schools
We will also pause asymptomatic testing for visitors to care homes, visitors to those eligible for Covid-19 treatments and prisoners on admission to prisons.
For further information visit Written Statement: Pause in Asymptomatic Testing for Covid-19 (2 September 2022) | GOV.WALES