Response to message posted by president
FIRST Minister Mark Drakeford has responded after US President Donald Trump retweeted criticism of plans for rolling lockdowns in the country this winter.
Fox News presenter Laura Ingraham tweeted “Your future under Biden: ‘Rolling lockdowns will become norm in Wales” along with a link to a BBC News article on October 7.
In the article, Wales’ chief medical officer Dr Frank Atherton was quoted as saying that rolling lockdowns could take place in the country over the winter to control the spread of Covid-19.
Mr Drakeford was asked to comment on Mr Trump’s retweet during the Welsh Government’s coronavirus press conference yesterday.
“I think the tweet that the president retweeted said that if Joe Biden were to be elected, then the United States could look like Wales,” Mr Drakeford replied.
“There are very, very many people in the United States who would be absolutely delighted if they had the levels of coronavirus that we have over there, if they had the sort of health service that we have available here over there, and if they had the sort of government that conducts business on behalf of its population in the orderly and careful way that we do on behalf of the Welsh population.
“So I think many people will have read that tweet and be thinking to themselves, ‘If only that could be true’.”
Dr Atherton previously said that the country could be “going in and out” of lockdown over the next few months.
Currently, more than 2.3 million people in Wales are subjected to local lockdown rules.
Under the regulations, people must not enter, leave or remain away from an affected local lockdown area without a reasonable excuse such as work or education.
Indoor meetings with people from different households are banned, with extended households suspended.
People must also work from home where possible.
These are in addition to regulations in force across Wales, including the requirement to wear face coverings in indoor public areas such as shops.
A curfew is also in place stopping the sale of alcohol after 10pm, the same time at which the nation’s restaurants and cafes must shut.