1. Statement by the First Minister: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 26 August 2020.

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Photo of Caroline Jones Caroline Jones UKIP 2:35, 26 August 2020

Thank you for your statement, First Minister. I've been contacted by a constituent who's extremely concerned that her son's carers are not being routinely tested. Her son is extremely vulnerable and she's taken every precaution to ensure that he is shielded from the virus, but they need the support of his carers. She's worried that one of them could unwittingly pass on COVID. First Minister, will you ensure that everyone working in the care sector is routinely tested, given the high levels of asymptomatic transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus we have seen in the past? First Minister, will you guarantee that expanding testing will be your Government's top priority?

We know that the majority of the population have not been exposed to this virus, and we also know that the virus can be spread by those without any symptoms. So, without regular random testing, this disease has the potential to spread like wildfire. First Minister, can you guarantee you are doing all that you can regarding testing to fight COVID-19? Thank you.