National lockdown ‘can’t be ruled out’ as areas targeted
A NATIONAL lockdown in Wales cannot be ruled out.
That was the message from Wales’s Heath Minister Vaughan Gething as it was announced coronavirus rules are being tightened in four more Welsh authorities – Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport.
The four areas follow Rhondda Cynon Taff and Caerphilly into local lockdown following a sharp rise in cases, Mr Gething announced yesterday.
This will bring tens of thousands more people into lockdown and introduce considerable restrictions on people’s lives.
Across Wales, the closely-watched seven day infection rate has now risen to 29.2 for every 100,000 people. Caerphilly and RCT were already in local lockdown.
Mr Gething told BBC Radio Wales there was a “limited period of time” to improve the situation as infections were moving younger to older people.
“We know the tide is increasing. We know it is spreading in different parts of the country but the intensity is in particular in the south-east part of Wales.”
Talking about a national lockdown for Wales ahead of announcing the lockdown on the four areas, he said: “That decision is not imminent today.
“It is always possible. The reality is that we have limited period of weeks, and we have to make choices each and every day about whether local restrictions are required.
“If we get to the point that we have a significant group of restrictions, we look at whether a regional approach is needed, or whether we actually need to take a national approach.
“Going back to February, if we understood what we know now, we would have acted earlier.
“We wouldn’t have waited until March 23, if we had seen infection rates as they were. We would have avoided lots of harm.
“The challenge then is the economic harm of coronavirus, and that produces health harm too.
“A proper understanding of what the UK Government is prepared to do for people to support the economy with jobs. That is really, really important for all of us.”
He said that Wales was already starting to see infections spreading from young people into middle aged people and hospitalisation rates rising.
The new measures announced yesterday will come into force at 6pm today.
The restrictions for Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport are: ■ People will not be allowed to enter or leave these areas without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education. ■ People will only be able to meet people they don’t live with outdoors for the time being. They will not be able to form, or be in, extended households. ■ All licensed premises will have to close at 11pm. ■ Everyone aged over 11 will be required to wear face coverings in indoor public areas - as is the case across Wales.
The requirement for all licensed premises to close at 11pm will also be extended to Caerphilly borough to provide continuity across lockdown areas.
The restrictions are being introduced following a rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases in coronavirus, which have been linked to people meeting indoors, not following social distancing guidelines and returning from summer