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Here are the coronavirus morning headlines for Tuesday, November 24, as it is reported that a new set of restrictions could be introduced in Wales to control the rising coronavirus rate before Christmas.
They would be incorporated from 2 December and would be similar to Tier 3 rules in England, ITV Wales reports, although this has not been confirmed by the Government of Wales and discussions on how to proceed are still ongoing.
In England’s system, areas of the country are divided into tiers according to the rate of infection. Level 3 has the highest levels of restrictions. Pubs and restaurants on Level 3, for example, could only offer takeout and delivery services, while indoor entertainment, hotels and other accommodations will close.
Indoor domestic mixing is not allowed and there would be some restrictions in outdoor spaces. It would be a plan for all of Wales and not a tiered level of restrictions in different areas as they have in England and Scotland.
ITV Wales political editor Adrian Masters said: “My understanding is that ministers are discussing rules for all of Wales similar to England’s Level 3 which would start on 2 December when the new England restrictions begin.”
On Monday Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “We are starting to see in some parts of Wales, an increase in coronavirus rates, so we have to get into the festive season and that may mean we think potentially in measurements. ” Scotland has introduced just like England where they have a tiered system that largely complements each other. “
He said that for the next week they would be thinking about whether they need a “common approach.”
Imposing measures similar to those in other parts of the UK could provide the necessary “room for maneuver” for the holiday period, he said.
Gething added that there was “good evidence” that the firewall had been effective, but the challenge was to get to Christmas and relax the rules.
People need to be ‘very careful’
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that Christmas will be the season to be “very careful” as he continues to work out a plan with the leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that will allow families to reunite.
The prime minister was unable to confirm details on Monday of how people in the UK could get through the holiday period as talks between decentralized administrations continue. Another meeting of the four governments is expected on Tuesday.
Johnson confirmed that England will revert to a regional tier system from December 2, although details of which areas will be at which tiers will not be established until Thursday.
At a press conference Monday night, Johnson said that “we are not out of the woods yet” despite a breakthrough with a British vaccine, and warned that the UK faced a “difficult” start to 2021, but that he hoped “things will look good”. and feel very different “after Easter.
What do you think of the proposals to celebrate Christmas during the pandemic?
He said that with a “favorable wind,” most people who need a vaccine the most could receive it in April, as the Oxford-AstraZeneca team said their injection had been shown to be up to 90% effective.
It follows the positive results from Pfizer and Moderna, but neither hit has been approved for use.
Johnson, speaking via video link at a Downing Street press conference as he continues his self-isolation, said: “We can hear the cavalry helmets approaching the top of the hill, but they have not yet arrived.
“Even if all three vaccines are approved, even if production schedules are met, and vaccines are markedly behind their production schedules, it will be months before we can be sure that we have inoculated everyone who needs a vaccine.”
He warned that “this is not the time to let the virus tear itself apart for the sake of the Christmas holidays,” and said: “It is the season to be cheerful, but it is also the season to be very careful, especially with older relatives.” .
Private testing can reduce quarantine time
The Government has announced that travelers arriving in England will be able to end their quarantine period with a negative coronavirus test after five days from December 15.
Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps said passengers arriving from a destination that is not on the government’s travel broker list can reduce the 14-day period by paying for a test from a private company after five days at a cost from £ 65 to £ 120.
Results will normally be posted within 24 to 48 hours. This means that people could be released from quarantine six days after arrival.
The change does not apply to people arriving in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, who must continue to isolate themselves for 14 days.
Shapps said: “We have a plan to make sure our route out of this pandemic is careful and balanced, allowing us to focus on what we can do now to boost international travel while maintaining the safety of the public.”
“Our new testing strategy will allow us to travel more freely, see our loved ones, and boost international business. By giving people the option to test on the fifth day, we are also supporting the travel industry as it continues to rebuild. out of the pandemic. “
The increase in cases in the city of Ceredigion
Staff at pubs, a butcher shop and a post office tested positive for coronavirus in a Ceredigion town hit by a surge in cases.
A Chinese take-out restaurant, restaurants, car dealerships and some stores also suddenly closed their doors in Cardigan after staff tested positive or came into contact with people who contracted Covid-19.
The city is reeling from the shock of being at the center of a local outbreak with a business forced to close down and sell £ 10,000 worth of meat.
Ceredigion Council Leader Ellen ap Gwynn has taken swift action to close schools in the affected area in an effort to stop the spread of the infection as quickly as possible, believed to stem from a single event of “super spreader”.
Cardigan Town Mayor Clive Davies echoed Ms Ap Gwynn and questioned whether people had become complacent by saying, “The pattern seems to have its roots in domestic mixing and a wide-spread event in the area. .
“We are just at the beginning of the incident here, no doubt cases will continue to be reported as the week goes on and test results are returned.”
Cases in your area:
The latest cases in Wales
Nine more people have died in Wales after testing positive for coronavirus and about 900 new cases of the virus have been confirmed.
According to the latest statistics released by Public Health Wales on Monday, there have been 892 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Wales, an increase over the 808 recorded the previous day.
Including Monday’s data, 73,233 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Wales since the outbreak began, while 2,385 people have died.
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The infection rate in Wales as a whole now stands at 180.9 per 100,000 residents based on the seven days through November 20, compared to 178.9 in data released on Sunday (through November 19).
Blaenau gwent remains the county in Wales with the highest infection rate, with a seven-day rate of 416.5 , down from 435.1 the day before.
Neath Port Talbot is the second highest with a rate of 274.9 , from 272.8, while Caerphilly is third with 261.8 , from 260.7. Cases in your area can be found here.
‘Wait and see’ approach to allow sporting spectators to return
In England, the sport is preparing to welcome thousands of fans.
Outdoor sports venues in level one areas will be allowed to admit up to 4,000 spectators at an event or allow 50 percent capacity, whichever is less, while the limits were 2,000 and 1,000 respectively for covered venues in levels one and two.
But the Welsh government has said it will not automatically follow the UK government’s decision to allow crowds to return to sporting events in England from December 2.
A spokesperson said: “Our approach to easing restrictions is always in the context of public health conditions in Wales. We will wait to see the details of the announcement from the UK government. “
Updated the rules about masks in schools
Plaid Cymru says a number of supportive and safety measures are needed to address new evidence that schools play a bigger role in community outreach than previously thought.
They say that information shared in the recent Technical Advisory Group review shows higher levels of infection in schools, even asymptomatic, and that children tend to be the first in the home to become infected.
Siân Gwenllian MS, Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Minister of Education, said security measures implemented in June should be updated in light of new evidence “as a matter of urgency.”
Ms Gwenllian said additional support is also needed, specifically in those areas with high infection rates along with high numbers of students self-isolating due to Covid-19 outbreaks in schools.
On Monday, it was announced that staff and pupils at high schools and universities in Wales are expected to wear masks in all areas outside the classroom and on school transport. Details of the new rules here.
The Government of Wales updated its operational guidance on the use of masks in schools and universities following new warnings that the coronavirus spreads more easily among students than previously thought.
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