MORE parts of North Wales could see walk-in facilities to allow for easier access to testing in communities, the First Minister has confirmed.

An army-manned testing site recently opened in Wrexham for the foreseeable future based at the Memorial Hall at Bodhyfryd.

For the first two days, the unit has operated on a ‘walk in’ basis but from Saturday (October 17), testing will be by appointment only.

With rising levels of COVID-19 across the region in the last few days and weeks, the country’s First Minister has said more sites like this are in the works to provide a clearer picture of coronavirus in communities.

Having local access to sites will also lift any travel barriers in place stopping the true picture of coronavirus being known.

Speaking at the Welsh Government’s latest press conference, Mr Drakeford told the Leader: “I do not have Wrexham-specific figures to hand but I do know that tests that were carried out in the Betsi Cadwaladr area for the last reporting period are up significantly and I think that will partly be because of facilities like walk-in centres that are easier for people to use in some parts of Wales where it is a bit of a journey to get o the nearest testing site otherwise.

“I am pleased that we have been able to put in place a number of walk-in facilities now in Wales and we do indeed have plans for more.”

Mr Drakeford goes on to say there are plans to increase the easy access to testing facilities in the north-west of Wales.

He adds: “We know from earlier in the summer that when testing was necessary in the Wrexham area, people came forward for that testing in very large numbers - and we were very grateful for that - and are very grateful again for the things people will do to make sure that they are having themselves tested and if they need to take action as a result that they do that as quickly as those test results can be provided.”