A WORKER at a Covid-19 test centre used by most of Gwynedd’s residents has tested positive for coronavirus.

A member of staff at the drive-in Covid-19 testing centre in Llandudno has been confirmed as having coronavirus.

The staff member reported symptoms last week, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands.

The Builder Street testing site in the town is managed by private firm Deloittes on behalf of the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The DHSC confirmed today that the staff member’s coronavirus infection was confirmed and the centre was closed for "deep cleaning" on Tuesday.

Staff were alerted this week and a "reserve mobile testing unit team" were sent to Llandudno to cover for their self-isolating colleagues.

A DHSC spokesman said: "A member of staff reported having symptoms and has since tested positive.

"The site closed temporarily for deep cleaning.

"A separate and reserve mobile testing unit team were deployed to continue booked tests and the site is open as normal.

"The positive test has been reported in the appropriate way."

The DHSC has not revealed the number of staff who have been told to self-isolate but said the positive test had been "reported in the appropriate way".

A positive test should be reported to Public Health Wales, the local Test, Trace and Protect team at Conwy County Council - and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s public health department in the event of a complex spread of infection.

It has not been established whether members of the public who used the site while the member of staff was working will be contacted as part of Test, Trace and Protect.

The DHSC declined to answer whether members of the public would be contacted or if it informed the Welsh Government of the situation.

The Welsh Government said the UK Government is responsible for the centre and questions should be directed to it.

In a statement Public Health Wales said: “Public Health Wales does not run any drive-through or walk-in sampling centres.

"These services are delivered either by local health boards, or by the UK Department of Health and Social Services."

Betsi Cadwaladr health board was asked if its public health department had been contacted over the infection.

The board’s executive director of public health, Teresa Owen, said: "Our North Wales Test, Track, Protect service is available to provide advice and support if needed.

"National guidelines on correct use of PPE are in place to keep both staff and patients safe, whether at health board run sites or sites provided by other providers."

Conwy council has been approached about whether its Test, Trace and Protect staff are following up the infection and how many staff at the centre have been instructed to self-isolate.