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The Welsh government is asked to immediately announce the restrictions Wales will face after Christmas.
It has been widely reported that Wales could face a post-Christmas lockdown starting December 28, with Prime Minister Mark Drakeford due to take the last government briefing at 12.15pm on Friday; you can follow her live here.
LBC radio quoted “an industry source” as saying that Wales will be placed on rules equivalent to the lockdown after Christmas. The broadcaster also said the government was considering using a tiered system.
The rules will be relaxed for five days over the Christmas period, December 23-27, across the UK to allow three households to come together. If the reports are correct, it means that the new restrictions will take effect the day after that period ends.
But Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price says Wales must be told “today” what the plans are, and that people need clarity to get a “clear picture” of what is happening. The next review by the Government of Wales is not scheduled until 17 December and ministers have been said to keep all measures under review.
Medical director Dr. Frank Atherton has said that the Welsh government cabinet will meet this week to discuss what he described as “other options” to try to control the virus. There are increasing calls from the medical profession for people to postpone Christmas to help prevent the spread of infections; You can read a doctor’s opinion about it here.
Price said the Welsh government “appears to have lost control of the situation” and told BBC Radio Wales listeners on Friday morning that he would welcome a “locally differentiated tier system that responds to the very different pattern that we are seeing in all of Wales. ” .
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He said the Prime Minister had to announce today what his plans would be for Christmas and beyond. He said: “You have to do it today. The Prime Minister needs to make a statement without delay, today, about what is going to happen, both before Christmas and in the new year.”
“What we are lacking right now is a clear idea of what the plan is. Nothing can be set in stone, but part of the problem is that people are willing to sacrifice as long as they can understand that it fits as part of a plan and a roadmap. That’s what is missing and I hope the Welsh Government comes out today and provides some clarity. “
Price added: “The Welsh government made a mistake by exiting the firewall so abruptly. We caution against that. If you are thinking of introducing a tiered system, similar to Scotland and England, then I would advise you that that tiered system will probably it should operate locally due to the very different pattern across Wales.
“It is very important to take the public with you. The essential thing is to achieve compliance with all the rules. I think that, if you are going to introduce a level system, it should be done with a locally differentiated level system that responds to very different patterns than we are seeing all over Wales. “
The latest data shows that Covid-19 rates have increased further in Wales and now exceed 370 cases per 100,000 people, while the R rate in Wales has risen to 1.27, meaning the number of infections it doubles every 11.7 days.
The latest figures from Public Health Wales said another 33 people have died of coronavirus and about 2,000 new cases have been confirmed. Neath Port Talbot is the local authority with the highest infection rate in Wales with a seven-day rate of 697.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 693.6 the day before. Cases for your area here.
In England, despite the increase in cases in the South East, UK Medical Director Professor Chris Whitty said in briefing 10 that a third wave was “not inevitable” and that people could work together to follow the rules and reduce infection rates.
Speaking about Christmas, he said: “People really should be very, very sensible during that period and throughout this risky period because this is a very risky period for us.
“But it’s definitely not inevitable that things will get substantially worse, that’s something we all need to work on together.”
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