MOBILE Covid-19 testing units will move to Llanfyllin and Hay-on-Wye from next Monday.

The units will be relocated to Llanfyllin Town Council Car Park, High Street, and to Oxford Road Car Park, Hay, from February 15 in line with Powys Teaching Health Board’s programme to rotate mobile testing units around Powys.

Mobile testing is by appointment only and provides a drive-through service.

With a new variant that can pass more easily between people, the testing teams are urging people to continue to their nearest testing unit if they become unwell with any of the signs and symptoms which are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste.

Residents can also access two further national testing centres in Newtown and Bronllys where you can walk, drive or cycle for a test, and an additional local testing unit in Builth Wells for drive-through appointments.

The continued rotation of the units are part of a rolling programme of mobile testing to ensure residents have access to Covid-19 testing as close to home as possible. Residents who are feeling symptoms but are unable to attend a mobile testing unit can request a home testing kit, delivered to your home.

All testing units are available by appointment only for people with symptoms. These are: a new continuous cough, high temperature (fever), loss of or change to sense of smell or taste.

Please remember, all of Wales is in lockdown (alert level 4) where people must follow national guidelines and:

• stay at home

• meet only the people you live with

• work from home if you can

• wear a face covering where required

• wash your hands regularly

• stay 2 metres from anyone you do not live with

Everyone should follow this guidance whether or not they have received Covid-19 vaccination.

More information about what we will all need to do at alert level 4 is available from the Welsh Government website.

Appointments in Hay, Llanfyllin, Newtown and Bronllys can be booked through the UK Government national booking portal, either online at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test, by phone on 119, or 18001 119 for people with hearing or speech difficulties. This is also the way to request a home testing kit.

Residents in and around Builth can make an appointment at the local testing unit by calling 01874 612228 or by emailing powys.testing@wales.nhs.uk.

For more information about Covid-19 testing in Powys, visit the health board’s website at www.pthb.nhs.wales/coronavirus/coronavirus-testing.