Adam Price MS (Plaid, Carms. E & Dinefwr) cited studies relating to the Slovakian national mass testing programme, which was said to have brought Covid-19 infection rates down by 60% – a faster decrease than that arising from the Welsh firebreak lockdown.
Additionally, there were findings relating to the type of test used, with 90% of infections being picked up compared to 50% in Liverpool’s mass testing – which relied on lateral flow tests. Would the Welsh Government consider looking at a Slovak-style mass testing programme? Were there also moves to switch to a period of pre-Christmas social distancing/isolation for schoolchildren?
The First Minister was happy to ask the technical advisory group to look again at Slovak-style mass testing and a lot has already been learned from mass testing in Merthyr Tydfil and the lower Cynon Valley.
Lateral flow tests have a part to play in picking up infectious persons when properly calibrated, while the more detailed PCR tests pick up both the infection and the infected.
The First Minister confirmed that there are no plans to close schools early except in individual circumstances (such as a localised outbreak). There was evidence from mass testing in Merthyr that the positivity rate was lower in schoolchildren than the rest of the population, suggesting controlled school environments may be safer than mixing with households or elsewhere.
Leader of the Opposition, Paul Davies MS (Con, Preseli Pembs.), reminded the chamber that when the firebreak was announced it was said to be the best chance of keeping Covid-19 under control. However, Wales was now the only part of the UK with rising case numbers, with over 1,800 coronavirus-related patients in hospital – the highest number since the pandemic began.
The Health Minister has dropped hints that a new firebreak or tighter restrictions may be needed but provided no further details; would the First Minister do so? On a more positive note, with the first vaccines being administered, was there a further update on the strategy for roll-out?
The First Minister pointed out that the Conservatives didn’t support the firebreak despite it having successfully suppressed the virus temporarily. Since then, Covid-19 has circulated faster and further than previously modelled; nobody could now deny that the controversial restrictions on the hospitality sector are needed.
There were seemingly no plans for further restrictions this side of Christmas, though further work will be undertaken on possible measures post-Christmas.
Vaccination planning started in June 2020 and the NHS was said to be as well-prepared as they could be. When the volume of doses increases, more staff will need to be drafted to help administer vaccines, possibly including community pharmacists and others.
