Wales lockdown ‘ will ruin economy’
Businesses to ‘ pay the price’ of harsh rules
WALES is being plunged into a “disproportionate” full lockdown that will have a severe impact on jobs and businesses, campaigners warned yesterday.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said everyone will be required to stay at home for a fortnight after the “sharp and deep” shutdown comes into force from 6pm on Friday.
The only exceptions during the so- called firebreak will be critical workers and employees in jobs where working from home is not possible.
Labour politician Mr Drakeford said the action is needed to stop the NHS becoming overwhelmed.
But critics demanded to see the evidence behind the draconian measure and warned that Wales is now facing rolling lockdowns that will devastate jobs and businesses.
Conservative Paul Davies, who is opposition leader in the Welsh Assembly, said: “Sadly, the First Minster has failed to get public support for this second Wales- wide lockdown, failing to be open and transparent about the evidence to justify this lockdown and what his actions will entail for the future.
“The Welsh government also has to be honest that this road they are taking us down is committing Wales to rolling Wales- wide lockdowns.
“This is not a two- week break to solve the pandemic – it is likely that we will see regular lockdowns across the rest of the year.”
The “firebreak” covers all of Wales despite some areas like Powys, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion having low rates of coronavirus.
Fay Jones, Tory MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, said it was a “disproportionate response” and warned that businesses are “having to pay
‘ The First Minister has failed to be open about the evidence to justify this’
the price” in areas where there are few infections.
On Monday a further 626 cases of Covid- 19 were reported in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 36,253.
The death toll has reached 1,712 after another fatality was recorded. Public Health Wales reported 4,127 new confirmed cases of coronavirus between October 9 and 15, though the real level of infections is believed to be higher.
The R value – the number of people each coronavirus patient infects – across Wales is between 1.1 and 1.4, while the seven- day rolling incidence rate for Wales is more than 130 cases per 100,000 people.
Modelling by Swansea University estimates that with an R value of 1.4, there would be 2,500 Covid- 19 deaths between October 12 and December 31.
Deaths
With a two- week lockdown, this estimate falls to 1,540 – almost 1,000 fewer. Meanwhile TAG, the Technical Advisory Group of experts who advise the Welsh government, warns that Wales is tracking to its reasonable worst- case scenario of around 18,000 hospitalisations and 6,000 deaths due to Covid- 19 over winter.
During the lockdown, all non
essential retail, leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses will close.
Community centres, libraries and recycling centres will also have to shut, while places of worship will also be closed other than for funerals and wedding ceremonies. Childcare facilities will stay open, with primary and specialist schools re- opening after the half- term break.
People will not be able to meet indoors or outdoors with anyone they do not live with, with exceptions for those living alone – who will be allowed to join with one other household.
All gatherings are banned, including Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations, but an exception will be made for Remembrance Sunday on November 8 to allow small organised events by local authorities and the British Legion to go ahead.
Holidaymakers from outside Wales have also been told they must cancel any bookings during the shutdown.
Mr Drakeford said: “It is with a heavy heart that I once again ask everyone to stay at home and businesses to shut.
“We are all tired of coronavirus and the many rules and regulations we all have to live with. We all want to see an end to this pandemic and our lives returned to us. Unfortunately, we do not yet have a vaccine, which will allow us to do that.
“This firebreak is our best chance of regaining control of the virus and avoiding a much- longer – and damaging – national lockdown. We have a small window of opportunity to act.”
He admitted he couldn’t “rule out the need for further action of this sort”. Businesses affected by the lockdown will be supported with a fund of almost £ 300million, which will open next week.
Grants
Every business covered by the small business rates relief will receive £ 1,000, while small and mediumsized retail, leisure and hospitality businesses that have to close will get a one- off £ 5,000 payment.
The Welsh government said “additional discretionary grants” and support for smaller businesses would also be available. An £ 80million fund announced last week to help businesses develop in the longer term will be increased to £ 100million, with £ 20million ring- fenced for tourism and hospitality.
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said the lockdown should be used to build a “resilient” test and trace system. “A firebreak is a last resort and should only be used in an emergency.
“We are now in an emergency. The time the firebreak buys us must be used to build up a resilient test, trace and isolate system in Wales, which means we can prevent being in the position we’re currently in where the case numbers have risen to the point where they can overwhelm an already exhausted NHS.”