Government to increase coronavirus testing capacity to 20,000 a day in Wales
The Welsh Government has pledged to increase its testing capacity for coronavirus to 20,000 a day, as part of a new strategy to trace the spread of Covid-19.
The announcement, made by the health minister, says mass testing and technology will be "at the heart" of the next phase in response to the pandemic in Wales, which has been called "Test, Trace, Protect".
Mr Gething said: “We all want to be able to return to normal life as quickly as possible and to ease restrictions further – the science will guide us about when that happens.
The Welsh Government had previously faced criticism for "abandoning" its previous target of 5,000 tests a day by the middle of April after the First Minister labelled them a "distraction".
Last week, the chief executive of Public Health Wales said she was "not familiar" with the Welsh Government's target of being able to carry out 9,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of April.
The new plan includes increasing testing of critical workers to enable them to return to work.
A new system of home testing for the public will also be introduced if they have coronavirus symptoms, and a new app to track symptoms in the general population and contact others who have symptoms or have tested positive.
The government said it will increase its testing capacity to 20,000 a day by using its mobile testing units and community testing centres in Wales.
"The exact number of tests... every day will depend on the level of coronavirus circulating in the community and the emerging evidence about how testing should be deployed to prevent infection. This will be kept under review", the government said.
The Minister added: “We have to learn to live with the virus. This approach will help people understand whether they have been exposed to the virus so they can limit their exposure to others. This will help us to prevent infection and track the virus as restrictions are eased.
“The public will be our most important partners. It is only through their willingness to report their symptoms, identify their contacts and follow the advice to self-isolate if they have symptoms that we will be able to control the spread of coronavirus.”