[ad_1]
The four UK nations must work together to enforce a single set of coronavirus rules to get closer to Christmas, the Prime Minister of Wales told Sky News.
Speaking at Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mark Drakeford He also said that after a period of “firewalls” in Wales, another national shutdown should not be necessary there, depending on the “behavior” of people in the coming weeks.
Drakeford said that a meeting between the four nations has been promised by Michael Gove “so that we can brainstorm, plan together and have a common approach for the Christmas period.”
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
He told Ridge: “Christmas is a very special time for all of us, the restrictions that people have had to live with are incredibly difficult and demanding. Everyone is tired and weary of coronavirus.
“If we could offer a break during the Christmas period, that’s what we would want to do, but it must be a common plan and a common approach where the rules are the same as much as we can make them.”
“I really hope that the UK government takes this seriously and makes sure that those opportunities exist for all of us.”
Welsh It will arrive on Monday at the end of its 17-day firebreak period, while England will remain on lockdown until December 2.
Drakeford said that the progress made from the firewall “will give us a path to Christmas without going back to this extraordinary period of restriction” in Wales.
“It depends, however, crucially, not just on how people behaved during the firewall period, but on how we all behave in the weeks that follow,” he said.
He added that people should ask themselves “not what can I do, how far can I stretch the rules, but what should I do, what should I do to keep myself and other people safe.”
Last week, Boris johnson He also expressed hopes for “as normal a Christmas as possible”, adding that England’s four-week lockdown will be “enough” to have a “real impact”.
:: Subscribe to the daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Drakeford also made it clear that Wales would use a set of national measures in the future rather than relying on local restrictions.
“What we have said is that we will not go back and rely on a mosaic of local measures,” he said.
“We are going to have a new set of national rules that are clearer and I hope they are simpler and therefore easier to follow.
“Does that mean that local measures will not be needed to complement that in some cases? No, it is not and we have never ruled it out.
When asked about the growing number of cases in Wales, Drakeford said he knew the numbers would continue to rise during the firewall period, but that the impact of the restrictions should be seen in the coming weeks.
“That’s when we expect to see a decrease in numbers, that’s when we expect the number of people entering our hospitals to start to decline,” he said.
During the Welsh firebreak period, people have been urged to stay home, leaving only for a limited number of reasons, with restaurants, bars and most shops closed.
