Wales to go into ‘sharp’ lockdown
A TWO-WEEK “firebreak” lockdown will be introduced across Wales from 6pm on Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.
Mr Drakeford told a Welsh Government press conference in Cardiff that the measure was necessary to reduce the spread of coronavirus and prevent the NHS from becoming overwhelmed.
The “sharp and deep” lockdown will begin at 6pm on October 23 and last until November 9, with everyone in Wales “required to stay at home”.
“The only exceptions will be critical workers and jobs where working from home is not possible,” Mr Drakeford said.
Mr Drakeford said the lockdown would be a “short, sharp, shock to turn back the clock, slow down the virus and give us more time”.
There were 4,127 new confirmed cases of coronavirus recorded by Public Health Wales between October 9 and 15, though the real level of infections is believed to be much higher.
The R value – the number of people each coronavirus case infects – across Wales is currently between 1.1 and 1.4, while the
seven-day rolling incidence rate for Wales is more than 130 cases per 100,000 people.
“There are no easy choices in front of us, as the virus spreads rapidly in every part of Wales,” Mr Drakeford said.
“We know that if we do not act now, it will continue to accelerate and there is a very real risk that our NHS would be overwhelmed. The number of people being taken to hospital with coronavirus symptoms is growing every day, our critical care units are already full.
“We are asking our healthcare and social care staff, who have already done so much, to work even harder. Unless we act, the NHS will not be able to look after the increasing number of people who are falling seriously ill.”
Mr Drakeford said that “even more extreme measures”, such as an open-ended lockdown, would have to be implemented if action was not taken now.
Under the “firebreak” lockdown, all nonessential retail, leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses will close “just as they had to during the March lockdown”.
Community centres, libraries and recycling centres will also close, while places of worship will also be shut, other than for funerals or wedding ceremonies.
Childcare facilities will stay open, with primary and specialist schools reopening after the half-term break. Secondary schools will also reopen after half-term for children in years seven and eight.
Pupils will be able to go in to take exams but others will learn from home for an additional week, Mr Drakeford said.
People will not be able to meet indoors or outdoors with anyone they do not live with, with exceptions for those living alone.
Gatherings are banned, including Halloween and fireworks or Bonfire Night celebrations.