People who have tested positive for the coronavirus are to be contacted by a newly-trained tracing team to find out who they have been in contact with.

From next week a new Test Trace Track Protect strategy will be in place to find those who have been in close contact with a person who has shown coronavirus symptoms.

It's part of a partnership between Powys Teaching Health Board, Powys County Council and the Armed Forces to help relax lockdown restrictions by slowing the spread of the virus in the county.

Cllr Rosemarie Harris, Powys County Council leader, said: “The next phase of Test Trace Protect will see the launch of contact tracing in the county. We are putting integrated teams in place that bring together clinical expertise from the Health Board and Environmental Health officer from the council. Training is currently under way ready for the first contact tracing team to launched by next week.

“Our joint team will talk to people who have tested positive, find out about their community contacts, and follow this up so that even more people can be tested and we can prevent the spread of coronavirus in Powys. All of us share an important responsibility to protect others and to provide information so that contacts can be advised of the steps they need to take.”

The military has helped test hundreds of key workers, care home residents and staff at mobile units across Powys.

Professor Vivienne Harpwood, Chair of Powys Teaching Health Board, said: “As the restrictions are eased, each and every one of us will need to take steps to continue to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities to limit the spread of the disease.

“We have also been working with Welsh Government and Welsh Government, including on the launch of the new home testing kits for the general public announced on Monday.”