A SYSTEM to find people who come into close contact with those infected with coronavirus has “started in earnest” in Wales today, says First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Speaking at the daily coronavirus briefing, he said the move is a “significant step” in helping to lift lockdown measures, despite the full computer system not yet being up and running.

Anyone who has had a positive test result for Covid-19 should now be contacted by one of the Welsh Government’s team of tracers, who will ask for the details of all those the infected person has been in close contact with in the previous days when they had the symptoms. Close contact means someone who has:

  • Had skin to skin contact with you;
  • Coughed on you;
  • Been within one metre of you while having a conversation;
  • Spent more than 15 minutes within two metres of you;
  • Sat next to you on public transport.

"All the contacts will be followed up and they will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution to prevent the virus spreading further", Mr Drakeford said.

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He said there will be 600 contact tracers in Wales dealing with “somewhere over” 100 positive tests at the weekend. 

More tracers are being recruited, generally from public service backgrounds, every day.

So far on average, every person who had a positive test had five other close contacts - with an average of a 30-minute phone call needed with each person.

“We're expecting those numbers to rise because anytime you allow people additional freedoms, the risk is there will be more coronavirus," Mr Drakeford said.

He confirmed that testing is in place for critical workers as well as the public, and that everyone can book a home test kit or visit a drive-through test centre by booking an appointment via the Welsh Government website.

Mr Drakeford added that new advice that came into effect today regarding the easing of lockdown applies to shielding people too, but that the chief medical officer will this week be writing to the 130,000 vulnerable people with advice.

That means those considered vulnerable can still go outside and visit another household in the garden, for example, at a two-metre distance.

“Some will welcome it, others will naturally be apprehensive,” Mr Drakeford said. “The science and knowledge we have is that this is a safe option for shielding people, but I must stress that this is only an option.

“If people are not comfortable with doing it, we will support them to stay at home.”