Localised Covid measures on Anglesey still not ruled out – but Health Minister hopeful increased testing will help curb rise

Localised Covid measures remain a possibility on Anglesey following the recent rise in cases of the virus in the area, Wales’ Health Minister has said.

However Vaughan Gething has stressed his hopes that increasing access to testing and encouraging people to follow the rules will be enough to curb infection rates on the island.

Anglesey Council has described the situation in the Holyhead and Holy Island areas as “very serious” after urging residents to avoid non-essential travel over the weekend.

Free Covid-19 tests are also being offered as authorities respond to the growing number of cases locally.

Mr Gething was quizzed at today’s Welsh Government coronavirus media briefing on whether or not he had ruled out the possibility of introducing tighter restrictions on the island.

He said: “I’ve had a conversation together with other ministers and the leader of Ynys Mon Council last week.

“We’re looking at the position on a regular basis and I’ve had more advice over the weekend.

“There are more conversations going on with the council, with the health board, the police and other actors.

“We’re in a position where the rate of increase appears to have slowed a little but it’s still uncomfortable and it is centred on one part of Anglesey.

“It’s not widespread across the whole local authority area, but it does mean that we’re looking to introduce some new measures around increasing access to testing, to help us understand where the infection is.

“Also to try to persuade people to do the right thing to look after themselves, their family, their friends, but also the businesses they’ll be going into as well, either as workers or indeed as customers to try to make sure that if we can that we can avoid introducing further measures.

“But local measures are always a possibility, not just in Holyhead, as we’ve also had some localised challenges in  part of Merthyr Tydfil as well.

“We haven’t ruled out the need to take those local measures, but we’re looking to try to see if we can persuade people to go along with what we’re looking to do to find more cases and to identify where there’s a problem.

“And to persuade people to do the right thing, to avoid those much bigger more difficult measures that would affect people and businesses in a way that I think most people would find uncomfortable.”

From today, Covid-19 testing kits are being delivered to homes in the main areas impacted on Holy Island.

Residents are urged to take the test when they get the kit, even if not displaying symptoms.

In a further update posted on Twitter, Anglesey Council said: “Our staff and local volunteers will distribute tests kits to homes in the Kingsland area this afternoon.

“Please be patient and do not approach to ask for a test.

“Updates about areas to be visited will be provided on our social media channels.”