‘I JUST WANTED TO CRY’
Family’s emotional reunion as Welsh lockdown eased
WALES could place lockdowns on certain parts of the country if hotspots of coronavirus are found, the First Minister has said.
Mark Drakeford said he would not rule out “precise, localised” restrictions on the public if a new contacttracing system showed spikes of transmissions, despite Wales’ finance minister saying doing so would cause “confusion”.
Yesterday Public Health Wales said a further five people had died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths to 1,347, though the true number is known to be above 2,000.
Another 59 people also tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 14,054.
A contact-tracing system was also launched across Wales as lockdown measures were eased, which means anyone who has a positive test result will be contacted by a team of tracers and asked for details of everyone they had close contact with while they had symptoms.
Mr Drakeford was asked about localised lockdowns at the Welsh Government’s daily press briefing, to which he said ministers “definitely haven’t ruled out” the measure.
He said: “I’ve referred to identifying hotspots, and if there are hotspots and the best answer is to take particular measures in that area, then that is what we will do.
“And that would be a very ordinary response to a public health problem, that you take the action in the place where the problem comes to the surface.”
On Wednesday Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said local lockdowns were not being considered by the Welsh Government after being questioned about a recent spike in cases in north Wales.
Ms Evans said: “At the moment we’re not considering differential lockdowns across different parts of Wales, and part of that is because I think that one of the strengths of the message is it’s a very clear message that applies to everybody equally across Wales.
“And I think that if you do look for differential lockdowns or lockdowns in small areas, then there is the potential for a great deal of confusion.”
Mr Drakeford also ruled out any other sports currently restricted in Wales being allowed until the next review of measures in three weeks’ time, but said there were people who could make “a good case” for why non-team sports like tennis should be made an exception.
He added: “What I have to explain to them is their exception would be met by somebody else’s exception.
“And by the time you’ve added all these exceptions up, the risk is considerably bigger than it would be otherwise.”
Meanwhile, the First Minister said the nation’s more cautious approach to easing lockdown will benefit the Welsh economy and help safeguard Welsh jobs in the long term.
As well as reporting its latest figure for deaths with coronavirus, Public Health Wales (PHW) also reported 59 more people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 following lab tests to take the total since the outbreak began to 14,054.
Seven local authorities reported no new cases of the virus yesterday, namely Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Newport, Anglesey, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys, while Rhondda Cynon Taf had the most cases in Wales with 14.
The number of tests carried out on Sunday was 2,945, still well below Wales’ capacity of more than 9,000.
The figures came as a contacttracing system was rolled out across Wales, and also as lockdown measures were eased, allowing people from two households to meet outdoors, albeit under a strict set of conditions.
From now, anyone who has a positive coronavirus test result will be contacted by a team of tracers and asked for details of everyone they had close contact with while they had symptoms.
Mr Drakeford stressed that while the contact-tracing system is tried and tested, it will only be successful if the public supports it.
“All the contacts [of positive patients] will be followed up and they will be asked to selfisolate for 14 days as a precaution to prevent the virus spreading further,” he said.
“Our contact-tracing system in Wales will be supported by our own digital systems, which will come online from June 8 and will allow people to provide details of their close contacts electronically. We will also be using the NHS X Covid-19 app when it becomes available.”
The First Minister said a contact is defined as someone who has:
■ Been within one metre of the infected person, has been coughed on, has had a face-toface conversation, had skin-toskin physical contact, or been in other forms of contact within one metre for one minute or longer;
■ been within two metres of the infected person for more than 15 minutes; or
■ travelled in a vehicle with – or in a plane near – the infected person.
While Mr Drakeford said as this was a “voluntary process” he needed everyone to play their part and co-operate.
Meanwhile, the First Minister warned people to be wary of scam artists who may seek to take advantage of vulnerable people by posing as contact tracers.
“Sadly, even in these really difficult times there are people who will try to take advantage of others,” he added.
“Please be sure that if you’re contacted by anyone who claims to be a contact tracer and asks for bank account details or personal information not coronavirus-related, they will not be by someone from Welsh Government service.”
When it came to schools, the First Minister reiterated there will be no additional openings in this next three-week period beyond the 450 currently available for the children of key workers.
He added that discussions were ongoing with local education authorities and teaching unions.
He said the Welsh Government was following scientific advice from the World Health Organisation and other expert bodies in only making “one change at a time”, choosing to give people the chance to see family members first.
THE Welsh economy is likely to be harder hit by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic than other parts of the UK, according to the Bevan Foundation think tank.
The expected impact is on top of pre-existing challenges including Brexit, climate change and automation, the body says in a submission to an inquiry being carried out by the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee.
The submission says that the pandemic has underlined the critical importance that governments can play in intervening in and managing the economy, and in providing a minimum income for people unable to work.
It has also shown that some groups of people in the economy have been at much greater risk from Covid-19 than others.
The submission says: “In our evidence we advocate a period of major economic restructuring and largescale economic stimulus to support adjustment, encourage new investment and help to maintain strategically important but vulnerable industries.
“This requires a much bigger and more comprehensive response than simply restart and recovery and should include investment in green, social and digital infrastructure; support for new ways of working, including more flexible and agile working; and action to support businesses themselves complemented by action to encourage consumer spending.
The Bevan Foundation outlines key actions to make the Welsh economy more resilient, in which both the UK and Welsh Governments should take a firm lead.
It says there is a need to diversify and strengthen the economy, with a wider range and better geographic spread of economic activity.
The UK Government should adopt a regional policy which balances and “levels up” all parts of the UK, and the Welsh Government must focus on developing the weakest local economies.
The submission also advocates a substantial investment in up-skilling the workforce, and in particular, the up-skilling workers with lower-level qualifications and skills.
It also wants greater protections for people in employment, as well as strict enforcement of health and safety at work measures.
Unfair working practices should be eradicated especially for “essential workers” who do not have the option of working remotely.
Adequate support should also be provided for people who are unable to work and those who are out of work.
The submission states: “We also outline how vital it is that the social security system provides an adequate ‘safety net’ for all. The recent increases in the Local Housing Allowance and the base rate for Universal Credit are welcome, but these gains must not be reversed if key sections of the population are to be supported in the medium to long term.
“Further steps could include maintaining the increase in Universal Credit beyond March 2021 and eradicating the five week wait. Raising or removing the benefit cap would ensure that the newly-unemployed do not face arrears or eviction while they search for new work, and increasing the child element of Universal Credit and Child Tax Credits by at least £20 a week would be an investment in the future of thousands of families across Wales at a difficult time.
“The combination of a more balanced UK economy, better terms and conditions in work, and better provision for people who are out of work will provide both flexibility and security during a period of major economic adjustment and restructuring.”
Summing up what had been learnt from the pandemic, the submission said: “The lessons from the pandemic are, first, that the health and safety of the population including workers is paramount. It is in our view an essential duty of governments to keep their citizens safe, and that extreme measures to help and save lives will be accepted and respected by the vast majority of people, even if that restricts their freedom and reduced their income.
“Second, the pandemic has underlined the critical importance that governments can play in intervening and managing the economy, and in providing a minimum income for people unable to work.
“The government can and should play a role in managing the economy during the recovery through major investment for environmental and social ‘good’. The decisions taken by governments now will determine future decisions and what kind of economy we have for at least the next decade.
“Third, the pandemic has shown that some groups of people in the economy have been at much greater risk from Covid-19 than others.”