Restrictions to return ‘if cases don’t drop’
COVID restrictions could be reintroduced in Wales in three weeks if cases don’t drop.
First Minister Mark Drakeford has issued a stark warning as the latest review of Wales’ Covid rules takes place.
His cabinet met yesterday to finalise rule changes. The changes coming into force are: Changes to the self-isolation rules; A Covid Pass needed in theatres and cinemas;
Headteachers helped to introduce measures if case rates are high locally;
Shops encouraged to get people to stick to the rules to wear masks;
Businesses encouraged to resume working from home.
If these measures do not see a significant drop in rates, then the Welsh Government will look to reimpose restrictions.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Over the past three weeks, coronavirus cases have risen sharply to the highest rates we have seen since the pandemic began and more people are falling so seriously ill that they need hospital treatment.
“All this means that the pandemic is far from over. We need to take more action now to strengthen the measures we have in place at alert level zero to prevent coronavirus spreading even further and more people falling seriously ill.
“We hope this action will help to turn the tide of this delta. None of us wants to see a return to restrictions but if rates continue to rise, the cabinet will have no choice but to consider raising the alert level at the next review.
“Let’s all work together as a team to reduce the spread of coronavirus and keep Wales open and keep Wales safe.”
Currently, Wales is in alert level zero or Covid Stable. This means no restrictions on businesses in Wales, but mask-wearing applies everywhere indoors except hospitality venues. Covid Passes are also being used at certain types of venue and event.
If there was a move to “Covid Urgent” it would mean a return to the alert level system and restrictions in Wales, but the First Minister says they would only be used “proportionately” and as a “last resort”. That could mean restrictions on meeting indoors or to types of businesses operating freely, for example.
We understand no decision has yet been made about what type of restrictions will be introduced if no progress is made in the next three weeks.
This is what we know:
Covid Passes
From November 15, people will need to use a Covid Pass to go to cinemas or theatres. From 7am on October 11 they have been needed to prove you are either fully vaccinated, or have had a negative Covid test in the past 48 hours before you can go to nightclubs, indoor non-seated events for more than 500 people, outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people and any event with more than 10,000 people.
The Welsh Government says cinemas and theatres are places where large numbers of people gather indoors, close to each other, for long periods at a time.
Let’s all work together as a team to reduce the spread of coronavirus and keep Wales open and keep Wales safe First Minister Mark Drakeford
Self-isolating
Fully vaccinated adults and children and young people aged five to 17 will be asked to self-isolate until they have received a negative PCR test if someone in their household has symptoms or tests positive for Covid-19.
People who are not vaccinated will still have to self-isolate for 10 days following contact with someone who has tested positive, including close contacts outside of their household. We asked whether if someone in your household is awaiting the result of a test all household members will need to isolate pending the result. The answer was that yes, if a result is pending for someone in a household then the whole household will need to isolate. If it returns positive, then the remaining household members will also need to be tested and can only stop isolation if they test negative. The rules have recently changed so children under five are not recommended to get tests unless they are showing symptoms.
Schools
Staff and secondary school pupils will be encouraged to take twiceweekly lateral flow tests to help keep coronavirus out of schools. Headteachers will be given extra support to quickly put measures in place in their schools if case rates are high locally.
Vaccinations
The Welsh Government says that vaccines remain the best defence against the virus – and 400,000 people have had their autumn booster since the programme was launched and more than 40% of 12 to 15-year-olds have had their vaccine.
The four UK chief medical officers have asked the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation for urgent advice about reducing the interval between the second dose of the vaccine and the booster.
Anything else?
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has met with retailers to ask them to ensure people wear masks indoors. Businesses are also being asked to make sure people work from home where possible.