NEW ‘FIREBREAK’ LOCKDOWN DECISION DUE TODAY:
THE Welsh Government is today poised to announce new action to tackle the spread of coronavirus across Wales.
Officials last night said there is a “growing consensus” of a need to “introduce a different set of measures” as the virus continues to spread more quickly during the autum and winter.
Ministers are set to make a final decision at a cabinet meeting this morning, with the First Minister due to update the nation today on any decision taken.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Ministers have held a number of meetings over the weekend with senior Welsh Government officials, scientists and public health experts to consider their advice on a potential need for a ‘fire break’ set of measures to control the virus.
“The Welsh Cabinet met [on Sunday] evening to consider that advice. The Cabinet will meet again [on Monday] morning to make a final decision. The First Minister will update the people of Wales on any decisions taken [on Monday].”
The update comes after a leaked letter suggested a two-week “circuit-breaker” lockdown is to be introduced in Wales from Friday.
According to the letter, the lockdown would begin at 6pm on Friday and last until November 9, and would see all but essential retail outlets close.
The details of the plan were contained in a letter from a regional director of the Confederation of Passenger Transport to its members in Wales, which was posted on Twitter on Saturday.
But the letter has not been corroborated by the Welsh Government, which insists a final decision on such a move was not being taken until this morning.
In the letter, dated October 16, John Pockett writes: “The Welsh Government will announce on Monday a ‘circuit break’ lockdown to begin at 1800 on Friday 23 October and continue in force until 0001 on Monday 9 November.
“We have met with officials this morning, but as this is a very fast moving situation with decisions still to be made by ministers, much of the detail has not yet been agreed by the Government.
“Nevertheless I wanted to let you know what we know so far.”
Mr Pockett said the lockdown would “take us back to the situation in March” when pubs, cafes, restaurants and hairdressers were closed.
“It covers the half-term break (Friday 23 October - Monday 2 November) but some schools will reopen on 2 November,” he wrote.
“Ministers have not yet determined the details on this; it seems that primary schools will reopen, but a decision on secondary schools (or at least some or part of individual schools) will be made over the weekend.”
He said public transport would be for “essential journeys only” and the Welsh Government was yet to decide what level of services would run during the lockdown.
The letter added: “I appreciate that this information is very limited and I am sure that you will have questions, but that, at the moment, this is very much as we know.
“I assure you that we will keep members fully informed as we receive more details from the Government.”
Mr Pockett later told the Press Association the letter was genuine, but said he was “surmising” what would happen.
“The letter is genuine and it contains what I assume or surmised would be the position. It was me advising my bus operator members to be prepared for something and this is what it may well be,” he said.
“It could be more; it could be anything. I think other associations have communicated with their members in the same way.”
Asked about the specific details of the lockdown, Mr Pockett said: “I’ve not seen the detail either – that’s me surmising – but that’s what my common sense tells me.
“I understand what the Government wants to do is cause as little disruption to schools as possible, so you start it as soon as the schools finish for half-term.”
The leaked letter emerged after days of rumours, with First Minister Mark Drakeford already having revealed details of what a “firebreak” lockdown would look like in Wales.
Speaking at the Welsh Government’s Friday press briefing in Cathays Park, Mr Drakeford explained why the Welsh Government was considering the move, what it involved and what he hoped it would achieve.
It is one of two options he said ministers were considering – alongside toughening up the current restrictions in local lockdowns.
Ministers hope a so-called “firebreak lockdown” – also known as a “circuit-breaker”
– now would be enough, along with new national restrictions, to allow Wales to get through to Christ
mas. But they have not ruled out further action again later in the winter.
Ministers met with key stakeholders, including council leaders, over the weekend to help make a final decision on whether to go ahead with the circuit breaker lockdown.
Andrew Morgan, the Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council leader, has said he was pushing the Welsh Government for more financial support for the businesses and individuals who will be affected by the lockdown.
Speaking at the briefing on Friday, Mr Drakeford said a national Waleswide lockdown wasn’t the only option ministers were considering.
In England, the UK Government has chosen to bring in tougher restrictions, which they are calling Tier 3, in areas like Liverpool and Lancashire where the highest rates of infections are being seen.
And Mr Drakeford indicated that Wales also had that option, which has involved fully closing hospitality.
Meanwhile, discussions have been ongoing about whether schools would remain open in the event of a “firebreak” lockdown.
Mr Drakeford’s comments at the press conference indicated he would like to keep schools open but may not be able to “do that entirely”.
If some schools do remain open, it’s likely that it would be primary schools, as younger children are statistically less likely to become infected with or pass on the virus.
“We will do everything we can to keep schools open, whether we are able to do that entirely is still a matter for the detail of the conversation that goes on – but as a priority, I reaffirm that for everybody today,” he said.
Mr Drakeford did not give a huge amount of detail about which businesses would have to close.
But his comments indicated clearly that it’s likely the hospitality sector and non-essential retail would be among those likely to close. Gyms and leisure centres may also find that they are told to shut.
He said the Welsh Government’s plan would see people confined to their homes and businesses shut for two or three weeks to give the virus a “short, sharp shock”.
Mr Drakeford said: “We will all have to act together to bring levels of coronavirus down and to keep them down over the winter.
“We are looking very carefully at introducing a time- limited ‘firebreak’, also known as a c ircu i t breaker of the type recommended
by SAGE, the UK’s expert scientific advisory group, and our own advisers here in Wales.
“This would be a short, sharp shock to the virus, which could turn back the clock, slowing down its spread and buy us more time – and vital capacity in the NHS.
“A ‘firebreak’ would also mean a short, sharp shock to all our lives.”
Mr Drakeford gave some hope later on in his press conference that people would still be allowed to go to parks – suggesting there were lots of things that parents could do with their children in their local area during half-term.
But he gave a very clear warning that the overriding expectation was that people would stay at home, as they did in the first UK-wide lockdown, during the firebreak lockdown.
He said: “We would all have to stay at home to once again save lives. But this time it would be for weeks not months.”
If the firebreak lockdown is introduced, the question remains of what support will there be for businesses hit by the measure.
Health Minister Vaughan Gething yesterday said the Welsh Government is demanding more support from Westminster to protect jobs and businesses ahead of a possible two-week circuit-break lockdown.
He said the furlough scheme ends on October 31 and will be replaced by the UK Government with a “less generous” Job Support Scheme.
He told the BBC’s Politics Wales show the Welsh Government is “arguing” with ministers in London that a “more certain and more generous package” is needed.
From November 1 the UK Government will pay 67% of wages – up to a maximum of £2,100 a month – for each employee.
Staff must be off work for a minimum of seven days to be eligible, and their employer does not have to pay towards their salary.
Under the current furlough scheme workers get up to 80% of their pay – 20% from their employer and 60% from the Government.
Paul Davies, Conservative Senedd leader of the opposition, said he wanted ministers to address the Senedd today.
“I think it is appalling what we’ve heard over the last few days,” he told the BBC.
“We heard the First Minister say on Friday making it absolutely clear they hadn’t made a decision and we see this letter being leaked saying they had made a decision and even giving timescales.
“That is unacceptable. They should come now to the Senedd on Monday to make a statement and explain that, and also explain what their plans are.
“It is unacceptable they are briefing organisations before they come to the Senedd and make a statement.”
Plaid’s Sian Gwenllian said a national firebreak is “regrettably necessary”, but she criticised the “drip-feeding” of information into the public domain.
“We are concerned about the delay in making the decision and communicating it to the people and businesses of Wales,” she said.
“The Welsh Government must urgently set out its plans for a national firebreaker through a ministerial statement on Monday morning at the latest.””