New law to tackle coronavirus spread
ANEW law will allow the Welsh Government to shut schools and colleges if deemed necessary to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Emergency powers are being prepared by the UK Government to control the outbreak and are expected to be introduced this month.
The move was welcomed yesterday by Health Minister Vaughan Gething, and came as the Chief Medical Officer for Wales confirmed two new cases of Covid-19 in Wales, bringing the total number to four.
Among other developments related to the spread of the virus:
■ Tesco has implemented a buying limit for several products, in response to panic-buying;
■ More than a quarter of Italy’s population has been placed on lockdown to contain the spread; and
■ The number of people testing
positive for coronavirus in the UK has reached 273.
In England, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has set out plans contained in emergency legislation to deal with the impact of the virus.
The Welsh Government said the legislation will apply across the four UK nations and Wales “has been fully involved in the development of the powers to ensure Wales is bestplaced to respond to the spread of the virus”.
The Bill, which is likely to go through Parliament by the end of the month, is expected to include measures to allow some court proceedings to be conducted via telephone or video.
Volunteers will be given additional employment safeguards, allowing them to leave their main jobs and temporarily help health and social systems in the event of a widespread pandemic.
Mr Gething said: “These emergency powers will allow us to respond quickly and effectively to the COVID-19 outbreak by strengthening quarantine and mass gathering powers.
“They will also allow us to employ volunteers and staff who’ve recently left the NHS and will allow for the closure of schools and colleges if necessary to contain the spread of the virus.
“Public safety is my absolute top priority and we are working around the clock to deal with the impact of Covid-19. These powers are an important, proportionate, and coordinated response to help us do that.”
He added that this week “personal protection equipment” will be issued to all GP surgeries across Wales.
Details of plans for video consultations to help protect health staff will also be released this week.
The UK Government intends to rush the legislation through later this month which will give more flexibility to schools to help them stay open, give Border Force officers extra powers, and make it easier for retired medical staff to return to duty.
Medical experts believe that restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19 may need to be in place for around 12 weeks at the peak of the outbreak, with “social distancing” strategies including school closures, encouraging greater home working, and reducing the number of largescale gatherings.
The new measures could allow children and teachers to swap to different schools to help maintain pupils’ education and class sizes could be allowed to swell.
In medicine, recently-retired doctors could be allowed to return into service by giving them the legal cover to practice.
At the border officials could get greater powers to act if they spot people with the virus.
The two latest additional cases in Wales are from the Pembrokeshire area and live in the same household.
They have recently visited northern Italy and have been in self-isolation since their return to Wales, a Public Health Wales (PHW) spokesman said in a statement.
“Both individuals have been assessed by a specialist infectious disease consultant and they are being managed in a clinically appropriate setting,” it added.
Of the two patients previously confirmed to have tested positive one lives in the Swansea area and the other is from Cardiff.
More than 270 people have now tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, the Department of Health said yesterday.
As of 9am, 273 people had been diagnosed with Covid-19 – an increase of 67 from the 206 cases confirmed at 7am on Saturday.
It represents the largest day-onday increase in diagnoses.
More than 23,500 people have been tested for the virus in the UK, with two patients with Covid-19 having died.
Two more cases have been confirmed in Scotland, bringing the total there to 18.
On Saturday night, three more people were diagnosed in Northern Ireland, pushing its total to seven.
The figures were published as Mr Hancock said a “national effort” was required to tackle the outbreak.
He hailed the “good example” set by a group of people released from hospital quarantine yesterday, who had been repatriated to the UK last month from the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.
The group of 30 Britons and two Irish nationals have been allowed to leave Arrowe Park hospital in the Wirral, having been given the allclear from infection.
Mr Hancock said: “Tackling coronavirus is a national effort and they have set a good example for the rest of the public as more people may need to self-isolate themselves at home.”