Coronavirus ‘VIRUS HAS CHANGED ALL OF OUR LIVES AND OUR PLANS’
TODAY we celebrate Easter Sunday like other. Easter would normally be an opportunity to spend time with family and friends. If you are religious, you may be getting ready to go to church to mark the most important event in the calendar.
But this year we will celebrate Easter in the midst of the most unprecedented and difficult time. Coronavirus has changed all of our lives and all of our plans.
The pandemic and the strict restrictions to slow the spread of the virus means no meal will be shared with anyone outside the home. Our beautiful countryside will be enjoyed by wildlife, but not by us. There will be no meetings in the pub with friends. There will be no congregations and shared celebrations at church.
Coronavirus has touched every aspect of our daily lives.
This has been an immensely difficult period for us all, but it hasn’t been without hope or inspiration.
Over the last three weeks, we have all become lifesavers.
By staying at home, we have collectively come together to help protect the most vulnerable in society.
Our community spirit is known the world over and, once more, we’re seeing it in action.
Wales has seen its fair share of emergencies this year – the February floods, which affected communities up and down the nation, and now coronavirus.
I am very proud to see the way Wales has responded – the resilience with which we have taken the changes in our stride; the personal sacrifices we have all made. We are all in this together.
This is a particularly difficult time for those people who are over 70, people with underlying health conditions and expectant mums – I want you to know that we are doing our best to ensure your safety during this anxious time. I also ask you to take extra care and follow the advice to protect yourself.
Very sadly, the number of people who have died continues to an no increase every day in Wales. Each number represents a person and a family which is grieving for a loved one.
My thoughts are with everyone who has lost someone or has a loved one in hospital at the moment receiving treatment.
There are some positive signs that the stay-at-home rules are having an impact. But it is too early to lift the restrictions. This is why they will be continuing in Wales next week.
I will be meeting with the First Ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland and with the UK Government next week to review the scientific evidence in detail and the stay-at-home regulations in more detail.
I want to be clear with people that these restrictions will continue to be in place until the expert advice tells us it is safe for them to be relaxed.
I want to thank everyone working on Wales’ response to coronavirus, including all the tens of thousands of people whose jobs and contribution go under the radar – our cleaners, care workers, food shop workers, government workers, delivery drivers, our police, firefighters, and of course, everyone in the NHS.
We value you, we recognise your hard work, and we thank you.
These last few weeks have shown there is more that unites us than divides us.
Putting the safety of loved ones and strangers first has become a priority for us all.
It is in this good faith that I thank you all for your sacrifices, for the rainbow pictures in your windows and for your patience.
I wish every one of you an enjoyable Easter Sunday, and to continue what you’re doing so well – staying at home, protecting the NHS and one another, and saving lives.
BORIS Johnson’s fiancée sent him letters and baby scans to lift his spirits during his time in intensive care.
Carrie Symonds sent the Prime Minister daily updates, including images of their unborn child, as he struggled with coronavirus at St Thomas’ hospital in central London, a Downing Street source confirmed to the PA news agency.
The couple have not seen each other since he was admitted to hospital almost a week ago, according to a report in the Sun newspaper.
Environmental campaigner Ms Symonds, who is due to give birth in two months, has also been ill with coronavirus-like symptoms in recent weeks, but has not been tested.
Mr Johnson, 55, was transferred to intensive care on Monday after his condition worsened, but he was discharged back to a ward on Thursday.
Number 10 has since confirmed he is able to take short walks as he begins his recovery.
A spokeswoman said on Saturday that he “continues to make very good progress” in his recovery.
During his time in intensive care, the Conservative Party leader watched films to keep himself entertained.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is currently in charge of running the Government, with aides reportedly expecting Mr Johnson to be out for as long as a month.