CORONAVIRUS
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Coronavirus: No dates provided in Welsh Government’s lockdown exit plan
By Tyler Edwards
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First Minister Mark Drakeford has unveiled Wales’ careful strategy out of lockdown measures, but has included no dates to prevent the spread in Covid-19.
Wales will see an ease in lockdown restrictions found in a “traffic light” system published by the Welsh Government which puts “health first” and adheres to scientific advice.
The traffic light system sets out a series of changes that could be made including seeing family and friends, going back to work and the reopening of public buildings.
The system is not a straightforward red, amber and green pathway however, because different parts of life may be lifted in different traffic light zones.
Mr Drakeford said that coronavirus “is with us for a long time”.
This is reflected in the document published by the Welsh Government; when we eventually reach the green zone, it shows that social distancing measures will still be in place.
Mr Drakeford thanked the public for their efforts that have helped slow down the virus and refused to add calendar dates to the plan so they do not “focus on the wrong thing”.
He stressed that despite the new plan, the message has not changed since March.
The first minister reminded everyone that the guidance provided by Wales, differs from the rest of the UK.
He “always wanted the United Kingdom to move in a uniformed pattern”, but more measures have been lifted in England than in Wales over the past week.
At the Welsh Government’s daily news briefing, Mr Drakeford said he was “disappointed” over the lack of discussions with the UK government.
He said: “A whole week has gone past without any meeting of that sort.”
He added that he didn't want to see a “sudden splurge” of contact before the next three-week review of coronavirus restrictions.
England’s ease of lockdown restrictions include allowing people to relax in public spaces, to exercise more than once a day with one person who is not from the same household and to travel to beauty spots in England.
But Mr Drakeford made it clear that “people who come here will find themselves on the wrong side of the law” and advised people to “visit Wales, but do it later”.
When the Welsh Government review the lockdown restrictions in two weeks’ time, the R number will factor into the changes that are made.
According to the government, the reproduction number (R) is the average number of secondary infections produced by one infected person.
The first minister said: “This will be a powerful sign that we need to take additional measures to stop the circulation of the virus.
“We are taking our steps in Wales in a careful and considered way in order to stop potential reversal in the changes."
The track and trace system is also a necessary part of keeping an eye on the spread of the disease which will dictate the timetable.
If the virus is maintained, then parts of Wales could move into the amber zone, which would be a step closer to normality.
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When will schools reopen for all children?
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The first minister said the desire was to get children “back into school before the summer break”, but the “guaranteed safety of pupils and staff” comes first.
The Education Minister Kirsty Williams published a document setting out how the Welsh Government is planning the next phase for schools' response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Nothing would make me happier than seeing our classrooms full again,” Ms Williams said.
But, like Mr Drakeford’s roadmap, she said there is no “arbitrary date” for schools to reopen in Wales.
Unlike primary schools in England who hope to return by 1 June, schools in Wales will not be adopting the same approach.
The framework states that government officials are “working with scientists, public health experts, teachers, unions and local authorities.”
The government does not expect that schools or other education settings across Wales will be open for all learners, from all years, all week, anytime soon.
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First Minister announces plan for easing lockdown in Wales
by Eva Lantos
The Welsh Government has unveiled a plan for easing lockdown but has chosen not to include any dates.
The roadmap will follow a traffic light system to allow phased reductions in lockdown.
At the moment, Wales is partly in the red zone.
The document released today is described by the first minister as being “part of a continuing conversation, not the last word.”
Mark Drakeford urged the public to focus on the process and not dates.
“All our decisions will be based on the latest scientific advice,” said the first minister.
Mr Drakeford said in the briefing that Wales cannot yet afford to make any drastic changes.
“Until there’s a vaccine or an effective treatment, we are going to have to live with it,” he said.
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“The overall message has not changed because the virus has not changed- it remains a threat to us all.”
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In England, a similar plan has recently been unveiled including dates but Drakeford said: "We would want to move together across the UK, but will make the decisions as to what is best for Wales.
“We will act carefully and cautiously, in partnership with people,” he added.
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The First Minister said he recognised how important giving hope to the public is at this time,.
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He said: “This isn't just a plan to get people back to work.”
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The first minister also said it was the Welsh Government's “ambition” to have some children back in schools before the summer holidays.
First minister announces Wales’ lockdown exit plan
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by Miriam Barker
A careful route of lockdown measures in Wales is putting people’s health first, the first minister has said.
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Mark Drakeford announced the Welsh Government’s roadmap, a plan for easing restrictions on daily life that have been in place for nearly eight weeks.
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The traffic light system doesn’t give dates for when the changes can be made but allows people to understand how the country moves out of the current lockdown. The plan is comparable to the sequence plan seen in New Zealand and Ireland.
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In England, a similar plan has suggested dates.
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“All our decisions are based on the latest scientific advice,” said Mr Drakeford.
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“We will act carefully and cautiously, in partnership with people, in a way that is right for Wales, and we will put people’s health first.”
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“We would want to move together across the UK, but will make the decisions as to what is best for Wales,” he went on to add.
The document sets out three phases of recovery and Mr Drakeford stated it was about a conversation with the people of Wales and partners of the Welsh Government rather than a set of instructions.
He pointed out that Wales was only now moving out of lockdown and into the first red zone of the traffic light system.
“The journey has begun and we have moved out of the lockdown into the red zone and we have been able to do that safely, but this journey is one that needs to be taken carefully and cautiously in order to suppress the circulation of Covid-19.”
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Providing the virus remained under control, we would move into the amber zone, if monitoring showed we are still on top of the virus it would be time to move into the green zone, where life would look more like it was before coronavirus.
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He said “until a vaccine or effective treatment was found, coronavirus would be with us for a long time to come.”
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“We have avoided putting dates as there is a danger that people can focus on dates rather than the process to get to the right moment in order to make the changes, that is the important thing, not an arbitrary date which gets people focused on the wrong thing,” he said.
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The traffic light system would mean some aspects of life would come back sooner than others, there could be aspects of life at amber with others still at red.
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Mr Drakeford responded to the criticism about the confusion of this simply by saying the complexity of the document reflects the complicated nature and the reality of life and it is important to be honest with the people of Wales.
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“The initial moves we make will need to be monitored, the modest moves could have a reverse effect .”
It is important to customise the advice to each and every one, and reflect what is happening in Wales, the virus has had different impacts across the country and it is important that we ensure we get it right in each area.
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We want people to feel safe as we go through the phased reductions in the lockdown, he said.
The message in Wales is still the same when the lockdown started at the end of March, to stay at home and to continue to save lives.
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“That message has not changed as the virus has not changed and remains a threat to us all,” he said.
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Mr Drakeford said success rested on the combined determination of the people to do the right thing and that it would be self-policing that would get us through this Coronavirus crisis.
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He commended the efforts of the Welsh people in helping the NHS to prepare and respond to the virus and said it had been ‘outstanding’.
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He said “the people of Wales need to continue to stick to the rules and the road to recovery can continue.”
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In Wales, travel should continue to only be local and essential.
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Welsh First Minister says that the coronavirus is 'with us for a long time to come.'
by Holly Lewis
The Welsh Government has announced a ‘traffic light system’ plan to reduce lockdown restrictions while making sure it's “putting people’s health first”
No dates have been given on when these changes will come into effect as the first minister said
“If we provide dates, people focus exclusively on the date. Not the process we need to go through,” he added.
Wales is currently partially in the red zone as only essential travel is allowed and working from home is encouraged wherever possible.
Mr Drakeford said that Wales can’t afford to make any drastic changes yet.
“The overall message has not changed because the virus has not changed- it remains a threat to us all.”
The ‘stay at home’ message still stands in Wales and has not changed to the English ‘stay alert’ message that is now in place.
Both nations have differing advice regarding travel and exercise and the first minister has made his message clear to those across the border, “visit Wales, but do it later.”
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Providing the virus remained under control, we would move into the amber zone, if monitoring showed we are still on top of the virus it would be time to move into the green zone, where life would look more like it was before coronavirus.
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He said: “Until a vaccine or effective treatment is found, coronavirus will be with us for a long time to come.
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“We have avoided putting dates as there is a danger that people can focus on dates rather than the process to get to the right moment in order to make the changes, that is the important thing, not an arbitrary date which gets people focused on the wrong thing.”
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The traffic light system would mean some aspects of life would come back sooner than others, there could be aspects of life at amber with others still at red.
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Mr Drakeford responded to the criticism about the confusion of this simply by saying the complexity of the document reflects the complicated nature and the reality of life and it is important to be honest with the people of Wales.
​
“The initial moves we make will need to be monitored, the modest moves could have a reverse effect .”
It is important to customise the advice to each and every one, and reflect what is happening in Wales, the virus has had different impacts across the country and it is important that we ensure we get it right in each area.
​
We want people to feel safe as we go through the phased reductions in the lockdown, he said.
The message in Wales is still the same when the lockdown started at the end of March: to stay at home and to continue to save lives.
​
“That message has not changed as the virus has not changed and remains a threat to us all,” he said.
​
Mr Drakeford said success rested on the combined determination of the people to do the right thing and that it would be self-policing that would get us through this Coronavirus crisis.
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He commended the efforts of the Welsh people in helping the NHS to prepare and respond to the virus and said it had been ‘outstanding’.
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He said . “The people of Wales need to continue to stick to the rules and the road to recovery can continue.”
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In Wales, travel should continue to only be local and essential.