Social distancing rules allow ‘support bubbles’

First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford, pictured right, is “optimistic” about making an announcement on support bubbles from the start of next week, which could bring an end to meeting family members in parks and gardens and allow them to meet indoors

Wrexham. More than 1,000 people have been tested to date. The plant is operational.”

He said that there had been 33 cases at the Kepak plant in Merthyr Tydfil, but these are “spread over several months”.

He added: “We now know the first case was at the end of March and there have been five confirmed cases since the start of June. Investigations are continuing but this incident appears to be different to those in

North Wales.”

He stressed that these cases did not reflect the wider situation in Wales.

“Any increase in the number of cases in the workforce does not mean the infection is increasing in the wider population as a whole,” he said.

There have been concerns that workers at the factories who have to self-isolate, many of whom are on low incomes, will only be able to receive statutory sick pay.

This may result in some attending work when they should not.

Mr Drakeford said that he would be writing to the UK Government about the issue and that options included extending the furlough scheme to support these people over that time or legislating to compel employers to pay the full wages of staff who are self-isolating.

Meanwhile, the First Minister also said it was “hard to believe” that just three months had passed since Wales launched its Economic Resilience

Fund.

He said a comprehensive package of support had been provided for businesses throughout Wales, and particularly for small businesses which are the “backbone of the economy”.

“The package goes above and beyond that available elsewhere in the UK and helps ensure viable businesses will continue operating after coronavirus,” said Mr Drakeford, who confirmed that over the first quarter there was an “unprecedented” 10% drop in UK GDP.

The first phase of the fund has provided financial help to more than 6,800 micro-businesses and small and medium enterprises across Wales. It has released almost £122m into the economy, he said.

Meanwhile, the Development Bank of Wales has provided nearly £100m of funding to over 1,300 businesses.

Mr Drakeford said the second phase of the Economic Resilience Fund opens for applications on Monday. Another £100m of financial support will be available in this phase.

The First Minister added that a new grant scheme worth £5m is being launched to specifically help start-up companies.

Grants of up to £2,500 will be available for companies that have begun trading in the last year.

Mr Drakeford described the scheme as “a real engine for our economy”. An eligibility checker for this grant is available now on the Business Wales website.