COVID 19 - Coronavirus

COVID-19 Testing Centres

Mobile Testing Units (MTU)

From the 31 July - 5 August 2021, a mobile Covid-19 testing unit will be available at Victoria Street, Cwmbran.

Further details about the Mobile COVID-19 Testing Centres in Torfaen (31 July - 5 August) are available here.

Local Testing Site (LTS)

Torfaen’s first Local Testing Site (LTS) has opened in the Old Mill Car Park on Trosnant Street, Pontypool.

The LTS in the Old Mill car park replaces the use of a temporary mobile testing unit on the same site.

The local testing sites are a semi-permanent structure and will remain on site for long periods to improve access for Torfaen residents. The LTS will be open 7 days a week from 8am-8pm and will be operated by the Department of Health and Social Care using self-swab PCR tests.

To book a test phone 119 or visit www.gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-test

Lateral Flow Covid-19 Tests

People who can’t work from home and their households will now be offered free regular asymptomatic tests.

You can pick up self-test kits at Pontypool, Old Mill Car Park from 8am to 1pm daily.

Further information about Lateral Flow COVID-19 Tests is available here.

ABUHB Vaccination Weekly Updates

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board are producing weekly vaccination updates containing information on the rollout across Gwent. Copies are available on the ABUHB Covid-19 Vaccine website.

Self Isolation Payments

If you have been contacted by NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service (TTP) and have been told to self-isolate, you may be entitled to financial support.  Apply for a Self Isolation Payment here.

If your child has been asked to self isolate and you have been financially impacted as a result of having to look after them, you may also be entitled to financial support. Apply for a Self Isolation Payment (for Parents/Carers) here.

Torfaen Community Support

The Torfaen Community Support Hub is part of the council’s response to the Government’s Shielding Scheme and Test, Trace and Protect strategy in order to safeguard our most vulnerable residents.

Both volunteers and those that need support can sign up to the scheme by downloading our Community Support App and provide some basic information, which will be securely stored and managed.

Residents who sign up to the app for support will be able to make requests for:

• Collection of medication
• Someone to chat with to help counter isolation and loneliness

Staff will be able to provide help to access support and assistance where possible and put people in touch with agencies who can help.

Find out more about Torfaen Community Support here.

What happens when you get a test for Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Download a copy of the easy read explanation of when to get tested and what the NHS will ask if you test positive.

Gwent Contact Tracing Service

To keep track of Coronavirus in Wales, in response to the Welsh Government’s Test, Trace, Protect strategy, partners including Public Health Wales, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and the five Local Authorities in Gwent began working together to develop the Gwent Contact Tracing Service.

The service enables partners to track and trace any new Coronavirus cases that emerge. Being able to pinpoint those who have come into contact with someone showing symptoms of Coronavirus can help reduce the spread of the virus.

Find out more about the Gwent Contact Tracing Service here.

Building Closures

Civic Centre, Ty Blaen and all public facing buildings are closed to the public.

The following building closures are also in place until further notice.

Grants

A number of grants are available to help with the impact of COVID-19.  You can view a list of grants to help with the impact of COVID-19 here.

Coronavirus Symptom Tracker App

Help us fight Coronavirus by reporting your health daily, even if you feel well, on the Welsh Government Coronavirus symptom tracker app. The app is available to download from the Apple Store, Google Play Store and from the links at covid.joinzoe.com

Multi-agency arrangements

Torfaen Council is now working as part of the Gwent Local Resilience Forum (GLRF) as part of a wider Government, Welsh Government and NHS strategy in response to COVID-19. Find out more about the Multi-agency arrangements here.

Your support is vital

The Welsh Government has asked us all to Keep Wales Safe:

• follow social distancing rules with people you do not live with or who are not in your exclusive extended household
• wear a face covering (if you are able to) in all indoor public places
• only form an extended household with no more than 2 other households and they should stay the same
• not meet with anyone other than your extended household indoors
• not meet with more than 5 other people in indoor regulated settings, such as cafes, restaurants and pubs (unless you are meeting with only people you live with or as part of a regulated gathering, which is a maximum of 30 people)
• meet no more than 29 other people outdoors including in private gardens, public spaces and regulated premises such as cafes, restaurants and pubs
• work from home if you can
• wash your hands regularly
• minimise travel to areas of high prevalence