Follow Covid rules or we’ll crack down – CMO warning
MORE “draconian” measures could be reintroduced in Wales if cases of Covid-19 continue to soar, the country’s chief medical officer has warned.
Dr Frank Atherton said he has been “disappointed” to see many people have stopped carrying out the most basic measures recommended to keep safe, such as wearing masks and social distancing.
Wales’ coronavirus infection rate is at its highest level since the pandemic began, with 3,152 new positive cases reported on Sunday, October 24 and a further 12 deaths, bringing the total number of people who have lost their lives in the country to 6,086.
The rate is among the world’s highest.
“I think most, or a significant proportion of the Welsh population are still behaving with extreme caution and realises we’re not out of the woods yet, but there is a sense with some places that this is all over,” Dr Atherton told BBC Radio Wales yesterday.
“When you see people not using face coverings when it’s a legal requirement to do so, that worries me.
“When you see people crowding into taxis, as I saw in Cardiff Bay last night, without face coverings and not being challenged, that worries me. I see leisure centres that are overcrowded and not social distancing, that worries me.
“This is how the virus is spreading,” he added. “Unless we as a society organise ourselves in a way that we follow the guidance that we know will stop transmission of the virus then unfortunately more draconian measures and legislative requirements may need to be brought back in.
“As a community, we need to continue to use those things that we know keep us safe – face coverings, hand sanitisation and social distancing.
“From a government’s point of view and the NHS point of view, getting booster doses into the people as quickly as possible is really important.”
Meanwhile, the Welsh Government has reiterated it will not make Covid vaccines mandatory for NHS staff despite soaring infection rates.
The seven-day average infection rate for Wales is now at the highest rate ever at 716.9 cases per 100,000, with almost a quarter of tests coming back positive.
With hospital-acquired infections at a rate not seen since February, there has been pressure on the Welsh Government to make vaccinations mandatory for healthcare workers to prevent staff shortages due to isolation and lower the risk of passing the virus on to the most at risk in society.
This Friday, Welsh Government will announce results of its three-weekly review.
When asked whether the would take this step, a Welsh Government spokesman said: “Take up of the
Covid-19 vaccine has been high among health and social care staff. Over 90% of staff in care homes for older adults have received both doses of the vaccine, with nearly half already receiving their booster jab, and we want to thank them for embracing vaccination – it helps protect them and the vulnerable people they care for.
“While Covid vaccination rates are at such high levels in these groups, we do not see the need for compulsory measures.”
England’s Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said he is “leaning towards” mandatory vaccination for NHS staff across the border. He told Sky News: “I’m leaning towards doing it.
“There’s around 100,000 that are not [vaccinated in the NHS] at this point but what we saw with the care sector is that when we announced the policy... then we saw many more people come forward and do the right thing and get vaccinated, that’s what I hope, if we can do the same thing with the NHS, we will see.
“If they haven’t got vaccinated by now then there is an issue about patient safety and that’s something the Government will take very seriously.”
First Minister Mark Drakeford has previously indicated that he does not like the idea of mandatory vaccines because it risks alienating people.
He has also said that it risks some people leaving the profession at a time when health and social care are already desperately short-staffed.