Coronavirus spike ‘among students’ risks targeted local lockdown:
BUT IT MAY NOT RESULT IN COMPLETE LOCKDOWN FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY SAYS HEALTH MINISTER
STUDENTS are believed to be linked to a spike in coronavirus cases in a North Wales county.
At a weekly briefing on the Covid-19 outbreak, Welsh Government health minister Vaughan Gething said the rising numbers in Gwynedd are understood to be connected to “a handful of positive cases within the student population.”
It comes after Gwynedd Council said a local lockdown will be “inevitable” if people do not follow the rules after health bosses expressed their concern over a rise in cases in Gwynedd.
The county recorded 21 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, which meant the seven day rolling average for the rate of the virus moved to 47.4 per 100,000 people.
First minister Mark Drakeford has previously said that when a county’s rate pushes over 50, the area is considered for stricter restrictions.
However, Mr Gething said instead of locking down the entire county if numbers continue to climb, more targeted lockdowns could be introduced in places where the infection is rising.
He said: “In Gwynedd, we’re seeing a rise in cases that we think is linked d to a handful of posiositive cases withhin the student population.
“We ’ l l separate that in exactly the same way we h a v e done with contained communities in the past.
“If we undernder stand that’s what’s happening, and that’s my understanding at present, what we need to do is isolate parts of the community where the infection is absolutely there and where there
are new cases, and not take a collective action across the whole community.
“That may mean some people in parts of communities may need to isolate, but not the whole student community.
“We’re treating our students exactly as we would do with any other part of the population.”
M r Gething said it is people’s “indoor contact” and “having close contact and not following social distancing” that has led to a significant spread of coronavirus in recent weeks. “That is causing real harm,” he added.
“The message is to all of us, and not just to students – younger adults may be less susceptible, but there is a risk to them.
“And there is an obvious risk of it spreading to other people who they will come in contact with who may not be so fortunate.”
Asked about the likelihood of Anglesey following other North Wales counties into lockdown, Mr Gething said it was not clear any action needed to be taken based on the current figures.
“Anglesey isn’t at the point where we think we need to take action based upon the figures,” he said.
He also told of his disappointment with some local leaders in North Wales lockdown areas over their “doubt” of the need for tighter local restrictions.
“We introduced those restrictions when we could see a rise was taking place,” Mr Gething added.
“I appreciate that some doubted the need for the action that we had taken, and that was disappointing.
“Some of these elective representatives, in particular, I would have expected to be a deal more supportive and responsible.”