Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
Wales Covid\-19 testing capacity has increased significantly in NHS Wales laboratories and as part of a UK testing programme which is the biggest in Europe with almost 400 million PCR tests carried out since the start of the pandemic.


As the omicron wave sweeps across the country demand for PCR testing has reached unprecedented levels across the UK. This has resulted in the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) constraining bookings at times to avoid exceeding the UK programme laboratory capacity and compromising turnaround times for results.


Since Christmas Day, daily bookings at tests sites across Wales have reached up to 28,000 – a record high.


I have agreed some immediate changes to the PCR testing system that will help reduce pressure and help increase access for those who have symptoms and need to book a test.      


The first change will mean that people who are un\-vaccinated contacts of positive cases and are self\-isolating for 10 days should now take a lateral flow test on day two and day eight instead of a PCR test. This will help to increase PCR testing capacity.  This change will come into effect immediately.


Secondly, together with the other UK nations, we have agreed that if a person showing no symptoms has a positive lateral flow test they will no longer be advised to have a follow\-up PCR test to confirm the result, unless they are in a clinically vulnerable group, which may need early access to treatment or have been advised to do so as part of a research or surveillance programme.


As the prevalence of coronavirus is above 1%, the risk of false positives from lateral flow devices decreases. This means there is less value in having a follow\-up PCR test to confirm the result. At higher prevalence levels, data suggests that lateral flow tests and PCRs have a similar positive predictive value.


This change will come into effect from 6 January and we estimate it will reduce the demand for PCR tests by between 5% and 15%.


Without a follow up PCR tests it is even more important for people to report the result of every lateral flow test they do and self\-isolate as soon as they test positive. Without reporting, contact tracing will not be possible, nor will advice and support be provided by the system.


We need everyone to continue to play their part in disrupting the transmission of Covid\-19 by reporting their lateral flow test results on the gov.uk website or by calling 119\.


Positive results from lateral flow tests already flow into the Wales contact tracing system to speed up the contact and support required to help all those who need to self\-isolate.


NHS and social care staff access testing from our NHS Wales laboratories. We may need to introduce further changes to protect PCR tests for key workers through the UK testing programme if demand continues to grow in the coming days and weeks.


We may also need to introduce other temporary emergency interventions for non\-vulnerable symptomatic individuals to manage demand and safeguard capacity to find the cases most likely to result in harm.


We recognise these changes will potentially increase demand for lateral flow tests. There are no current issues with supplies but we are aware of issues with distribution for people to access tests at some collection points including pharmacies.  UKHSA manage the logistics and deliveries across the UK and we are working closely with them to improve the situation. More than 4 million tests were distributed to workplaces, people’s homes and collection points in Wales last week.


This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.







Translation:


 
Mae capasiti Cymru o ran profion COVID\-19 wedi cynyddu’n sylweddol yn labordai GIG Cymru ac fel rhan o raglen brofi’r DU, sef y rhaglen fwyaf yn Ewrop gyda bron i 400 miliwn o brofion PCR wedi’u cynnal ers dechrau’r pandemig.


Wrth i’r don omicron ledu ar draws y wlad, mae’r galw am brofion PCR wedi cyrraedd lefelau uwch nag erioed ar draws y DU. O ganlyniad i hyn, mae Asiantaeth Diogelwch Iechyd y DU wedi cyfyngu ar yr archebion ar brydiau er mwyn osgoi gorlethu labordai rhaglen y DU, ac effeithio ar amseroedd prosesu’r canlyniadau.


Ers Dydd Nadolig, mae’r archebion dyddiol mewn safleoedd profi ar draws Cymru wedi cyrraedd 28,000 – yr uchaf erioed.


Rwyf wedi cytuno ar rai newidiadau i’w gwneud ar unwaith i’r system profion PCR a fydd yn helpu i leihau’r pwysau, a helpu i gynyddu mynediad ar gyfer y rheini sydd â symptomau ac sydd angen trefnu prawf.


Bydd y newid cyntaf yn golygu y dylai pobl sydd heb eu brechu ac sydd wedi’u nodi fel cyswllt i achosion positif ac sy’n hunanynysu am 10 diwrnod bellach wneud prawf llif unffordd ar ddiwrnod dau a diwrnod wyth yn hytrach na phrawf PCR. Bydd hyn yn helpu i gynyddu capasiti profion PCR. Daw’r newid hwn i rym ar unwaith.


Yn ail, ynghyd â gwledydd eraill y DU, rydym wedi cytuno os bydd person sydd yn dangos dim symptomau yn cael prawf llif unffordd positif, ni fyddant bellach yn cael cyngor i gael prawf PCR dilynol er mwyn cadarnhau’r canlyniad, oni bai eu bod mewn grŵp sy’n agored i niwed yn glinigol, a allai fod angen mynediad cynnar at driniaeth, neu wedi cael cyngor i gael prawf PCR fel rhan o raglen ymchwil a monitro.


Gan fod cyffredinrwydd y coronafeirws yn uwch nag 1%, mae’r risg o gael canlyniad positif anghywir o brofion dyfeisiau llif unffordd yn gostwng. Mae hyn yn golygu bod llai o werth cael prawf PCR dilynol er mwyn cadarnhau’r canlyniad. Pan fo lefelau cyffredinrwydd yn uchel, mae data’n awgrymu bod gan brofion llif unffordd a phrofion PCR werth rhagfynegol positif tebyg.


Daw’r newid hwn i rym o 6 Ionawr, ac rydym yn amcangyfrif y bydd yn lleihau’r galw am brofion PCR o rhwng 5% a 15%.


Heb brawf PCR dilynol, mae’n bwysicach fyth bod pobl yn cofnodi canlyniad pob prawf llif unffordd maen nhw’n ei wneud, ac yn hunanynysu ar unwaith pan fyddant yn cael canlyniad positif. Os na fyddwch yn cofnodi, ni fydd modd olrhain cysylltiadau, ac ni fydd y system yn gallu darparu cyngor a chymorth.


Mae angen i bawb barhau i chwarae ei ran i dorri trosglwyddiad COVID\-19 drwy gofnodi canlyniadau eu prawf llif unffordd ar wefan gov.uk neu drwy ffonio 119\.


Mae canlyniadau positif o brofion llif unffordd eisoes yn mynd i system olrhain cysylltiadau Cymru er mwyn cyflymu’r broses o gysylltu a rhoi cymorth i bawb sydd angen hunanynysu.


Mae staff y GIG a gofal cymdeithasol yn cael gafael ar brofion o’n labordai GIG Cymru. Mae’n bosibl y bydd angen i ni gyflwyno newidiadau pellach i gadw profion PCR ar gyfer gweithwyr allweddol drwy raglen brofi’r DU os bydd y galw’n parhau i godi yn y diwrnodau a’r wythnosau nesaf.


Mae’n bosibl y bydd angen i ni hefyd gyflwyno ymyriadau brys dros dro ar gyfer unigolion symptomatig nad ydynt yn agored i niwed er mwyn rheoli’r galw ac amddiffyn capasiti er mwyn dod o hyd i’r achosion sydd fwyaf tebygol o arwain at niwed.


Rydym yn cydnabod y bydd y newidiadau hyn, o bosibl, yn cynyddu’r galw am brofion llif unffordd. Nid oes unrhyw broblemau gyda chyflenwadau ar hyn o bryd, ond rydym yn ymwybodol o broblemau dosbarthu i rai mannau casglu gan gynnwys fferyllfeydd. Asiantaeth Diogelwch Iechyd y DU sy’n rheoli logisteg a dosbarthu ar draws y DU, ac rydym yn gweithio’n agos gyda nhw i wella’r sefyllfa. Cafodd mwy na 4 miliwn o brofion eu dosbarthu i weithleoedd, cartrefi pobl a mannau casglu yng Nghymru yr wythnos diwethaf.


Caiff y datganiad hwn ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y toriad er mwyn rhoi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau. Os bydd Aelodau am imi wneud datganiad pellach neu ateb cwestiynau ar y mater hwn pan fydd y Senedd yn dychwelyd, byddaf yn hapus i wneud hynny.