[ad_1]
Image copyright
fake images
People will not be able to enter or leave Caerphilly County without good reason
The Caerphilly County district will be placed under a local lockdown starting at 18:00 BST on Tuesday after a “rapid” increase in coronavirus cases.
People will not be able to leave or enter the district without good reason, the Government of Wales said.
Face masks will be required for everyone 11 and over at stores within the area.
Viewing of other people inside extended homes will be prohibited and overnight stays will not be allowed.
The Welsh government said that at 55.4 cases per 100,000 residents, Caerphilly County had the highest rate in Wales and one of the highest in the UK.
It is the first local restriction announced in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
Schools, bars and restaurants will not be closed under the restrictions. The care visits may continue.
Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething blamed the increase in cases on people who socialized at home.
The changes mean that people cannot enter or leave the Caerphilly County district, which includes the City of Caerphilly, Ystrad Mynach, Blackwood, Newbridge and Risca, without a “reasonable excuse.”
That includes work, if people are unable to work from home, or to pay compassionate visit to a loved one or to provide care.
Gething said there had been a “significant increase in cases” in the municipality in a short space of time, related to travel abroad and people socializing indoors “without following social distancing guidelines.”
“Many of these cases are in younger people, and fortunately at this time, most are mild.”
Coronavirus cases in Caerphilly
New positive tests per day
Gething told BBC Wales: “Social distancing had been largely broken.”
“There has been a sustained increase in cases and we have been able to trace that back to activity that has largely taken place in people’s homes.”
He said he knew people would be disappointed, but that the Welsh Government had to act after “the sustained increase in cases”.
Gething said there has been no increase in the number of people seeking medical care, but said “it would take two to three weeks to see that kind of impact.”
Caerphilly Council Leader Philippa Marsden said: “We need to create a break in the cycle of infection that we are seeing in the Caerphilly district right now and sadly that means introducing new and stricter restrictions.”
More details on what is considered a reasonable excuse to leave or enter the area are expected Tuesday.
The new restrictions will apply to everyone who lives within the Caerphilly council area.
The rules will be reviewed and enforced by council and police, the Welsh government said.
Image copyright
fake images
The county of Caerphilly includes Blackwood (pictured), the town of Caerphilly, Ystrad Mynach, Risca and Newbridge
Community testing began in the county township over the weekend. A total of 450 people were analyzed and 19 were positive.
The 4% positivity rate indicated that the virus was circulating in the community, the Government of Wales said.
Welsh conservative health spokesman Andrew RT Davies said he was disappointed that a local shutdown was necessary.
“Fundamentally, any local blockade of this type should last as short a time as possible,” he said.
Plaid Cymru South Wales East MS Delyth Jewell said: “As cases increase across Wales, the Welsh government must now make face coverings mandatory in stores across the country.
“All efforts must be directed toward protecting our communities and preventing a second wave and a second shutdown.”
