Public Health Wales has declared a coronavirus outbreak at the DVLA contact centre in Swansea.
There have been 352 cases of Covid-19 at the Swansea Vale centre since September, and 62 confirmed cases since the beginning of December.
Testing facilities have now been set up at the site, and all staff are being encouraged to get themselves tested.
“We are all working in close collaboration with our partner agencies and our priority is to reduce the number of cases in this workforce,” said Public Health Wales consultant Sion Lingard.
The DVLA contact centre manages telephone enquiries. A spokesperson told Motoring Research motorists will experience delays if they want to speak to an advisor.
“Covid infection rates are high in the local community where most of our staff live. Staff safety remains our top priority and we have extensive safety measures in place.”
Early in the coronavirus pandemic, DVLA officials warned motorists may face ‘significant delays’, with reduced staff numbers on site due to social distancing requirements.
DVLA Christmas hours
The DVLA’s Christmas shutdown begins at 8pm on 23 December.
The organisation will remain closed throughout the Christmas period, reopening at 8am on Monday 4 January 2021.
However, officials have insisted that online applications will be unaffected by the Covid outbreak.
They are encouraging motorists to use DVLA online services throughout the Christmas and New Year period.
PA Media has calculated there were 747 new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to 17 December in Swansea.
The rate per 100,000 people averages 641 across Wales, compared to 284 in England and 116 in Scotland.
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