‘This is a national emergency, not a national holiday’ – act responsibly call after crowds flock to hot spots
CLEAR instructions have been issued to the people of Wales after a day in which thousands descended on coastal towns, beaches and mountains despite repeated warnings to keep apart.
In a swift and no-nonsense reaction to Saturday – when people went in droves to places like Porthcawl, Snowdon, Pen y Fan, Cardiff parks and Barry Island – DyfedPowys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llewelyn said: “This isn’t a national holiday, it is a national emergency. If people don’t start acting responsibly hundreds, possibly thousands, of people will die unnecessarily.”
A series of clear statements were made by the Prime Minister and Wales’ First Minister, by councils and top surgeons.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Don’t travel and don’t meet people. This includes on beaches and parks.”
He said social distancing includes avoiding all but essential travel. And he added that these instructions will be enforced if people don’t follow the advice.
A group of councils in West Wales told people: “Do not come on holiday here.”
Mr Drakeford said the Welsh Government will act if need be to stop people travelling to second homes.
In a message to the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The numbers are very stark, and they are accelerating. The Italians have a superb health care system. And yet their doctors and nurses have been completely overwhelmed by the demand.”
Despite advice having been issued for all people to practise social distancing, and for vulnerable people to isolate, large numbers of people travelled to tourist spots in Wales for days out, though city centres were deserted.
And despite an angry reaction to pictures showing crowds, people were at Barry Island again on Sunday.
Mr Drakeford said people can still leave the house, and that exercise is encouraged for anyone not self-isolating. But the rules on keeping your distance must be followed.
“The advice is not to just stay in the house and, particularly for your mental wellbeing, to get a break,” he said
“But do not travel to do it, do it locally and do it sensibly by keeping your distance.”
In another strong message, the leaders of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion councils, as well as the chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board, told people to stay away.
They said: “One major concern that we are starting to witness is an influx of tourists into West Wales and the consequences this may have in the coming weeks and especially the serious risk that there will be an overwhelming, unnecessary pressure on our services and supply chains.
“In line with the official Government advice therefore and also in recognition of the interests of the resident population here in West Wales, it is with great regret that we are taking an unprecedented step and asking people not to come on holiday to Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion or Carmarthenshire at this time.”
Mr Drakeford said he will meet with health board officials and lawyers to see if concerns about people travelling to rural parts of Wales is negatively impacting local services and added: “Then we will carefully look at the legal powers we have to act.
“If what we are hearing, that this is putting a strain on local services is true, and we have the powers to take action, then we will.”
The Gwent area is the centre of the outbreak in Wales but in Newport on Friday night many people were still in pubs, though there were significantly fewer than normal.
At Snowdon, hundreds of cars were parked in car parks and along roads, as numerous walkers hiked up Wales’ biggest mountain. It was a similar scene
at Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons.
Many people, especially in rural Wales, are concerned that people travelling to the areas will put too much pressure on the area’s NHS and other public services.
Anglesey MP Virginia Crosbie said people coming to visit the island would put “unnecessary pressure” on local services.
She added that “by anyone’s assessment, a holiday at this time is not essential”.
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price echoed these sentiments.
Writing to Mr Drakeford he called on him to close caravan parks and hotels as well as helping prevent non-essential travel to Wales and to ban the use of holiday homes during the crisis.
Mr Price said “local political leaders, GPs, health boards and members of the public” had all raised concerns about “a large scale population shift” into generally rural areas.
Farmer and presenter Gareth Wyn Jones said: “You guys are coming to Wales to get fresh air but in the circumstances this is not fair on local communities and not fair on the local NHS.”
Posting on Facebook, Suzanne Padden from Porthcawl said she was “horrified by the many thousands of people who turned up” on Saturday, saying that included “two bus loads of elderly people”.
Some holiday parks are remaining open.
Parkdean Resorts have said: “We would love to welcome you on park however should you wish to amend your stay and have a holiday booked with us up to April 27 you can log in into My Booking and claim your holiday voucher.”
Plaid Cymru Police & Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has led the party’s calls for a more stringent “lockdown” to be introduced to stop the huge increase in tourists to mainly rural areas.
The Dyfed-Powys Police Commissioner has called for travel and residency restrictions to be introduced, saying people travelling to a non-primary residence should be stopped from doing so and those currently in non-primary residences should return home.
Dyfed-Powys PCC Dafydd Llewelyn said: “The guidance is clear – no one should be undertaking non-essential travel. That includes taking a trip to rural wales.
“We must now introduce a series of ‘lockdowns’ to ensure people travelling to a non-primary residence should be stopped and those currently in non-primary residences should return home.
“No community is going to be immune from this pandemic. People cannot out-run it and people certainly can’t hide from it in holiday spots. All you will be doing by heading to these areas is putting your life and the lives of others at risk by overstretching local services.”
Bridgend council has closed all parks and playgrounds in the county borough and both Rest Bay Car Park and Salt Lake Car Park in Porthcawl after the scenes at the weekend.
Council leader Huw David said: “We have taken the decision to close all parks and playgrounds in the county and the Rest Bay Car Park in Porthcawl with immediate effect.
“The closures will be in place until further notice.
“It is vital we heed government advice to stay at home where possible and adopt social distancing measures. We must all play our part in keeping our communities safe and well as far as possible and help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“Many local authorities across the country have taken the same action.
“Residents should stay at home where possible and when going outside for fresh air and exercise, please avoid areas where there could be crowds and stand two metres away from each other.
“We will not hesitate to take action that can help save lives.”
■ Virus closes maternity unit – page 6
■ Critical message to us all – page 7