Mark Drakeford's full speech to Senedd as he says pre-pandemic life may return 'very substantially' the following month
First Minister Mark Drakeford warned the prevalence of Covid-19 infections “will remain very high not less than all of those other summer” as he outlined Wales' route from lockdown within the Senedd.
He gave a statement and took questions in a plenary session on Wednesday afternoon because he explained the functional changes entering force on Saturday, including six people being allowed to meet indoors in private homes and increased limits for organised indoor events.
And he was quoted saying how if the circumstances with the virus allow Wales will move to alert level zero on August 7 meaning almost all restrictions is going to be lifted. You can see the entire timetable for the weeks ahead and all sorts of rules here.
Even when Wales reaches its lowest alert level though masks are set to remain a legitimate requirement in Wales – you can see detailed information on that, and also the limited exceptions, by visiting this site. The alterations were announced on Wednesday as Wales confirmed more than 1,100 new positive coronavirus cases within the latest 24-hour period. For the latest live updates and reaction go here.
As he started his statement in the Senedd Mr Drakeford said he was speaking “at an item of enormous uncertainty and complexity”.
He told MSs: “Coronavirus cases are rising across the whole of Wales. Inside a short number of weeks three small clusters of installments of the new Delta variant have multiplied rapidly. Yesterday alone over 1,000 new installments of coronavirus were reported across Wales. This fast-moving variant is within every part in our country and spreading quickly. It's the dominant form of the virus in Wales just like it has become the dominant form in the uk as well as in many other europe. There can be no doubt that we're experiencing the anticipated third wave of this pandemic, with the rate in Wales rising overnight to 145 cases per 100,000 people.
“In a minute I will set out some reasons for greater optimism in dealing with this third wave than either of its predecessors however i want to leave Members in no doubt whatsoever that community prevalence about this scale brings with it a set of real dangers that no responsible Government or Senedd should ignore. Our technical advisory group now states that the prevalence of infection in Wales will remain very high for at least the rest of this summer. That much cla of circulation of the virus will increase the chance of new variants emerging; increase the chance of herpes re-entering hospitals, care homes and other closed settings; it will boost the risk herpes will change from younger to seniors, repeating the pattern of both waves one and two; it will boost the number of individuals struggling with long Covid; it will increase workforce absences, including within our key public services; and it'll place greater strain on our test, trace, protect service and also the genomic sequencing service, making the identification of new variants more difficult.
“What then, Llywydd, would be the countervailing factors? Well, first and foremost, vaccination, especially our high rates of vaccination in Wales, is evolving our relationship using the virus and doing this faster than any other UK nation. Today more than 73% of all adults in Wales have obtained two doses from the vaccine. The figure in England and Scotland is 66% which is 65% in Northern Ireland.
“The rising tide of cases hasn't translated into higher rates of significant illnesses, hospital admissions, and deaths in the same manner it did throughout the first wave or perhaps in the wintertime and that's due to vaccination. I wish to put on record again my because of those people who have worked so difficult to organize and run this highly successful programme.
“The second way in which the position is much more promising in this third wave is the approach we take to have lived and that leaves some positive legacy. Work for National Statistics's weekly estimate states that, of all the four home nations, Wales has the highest level of acquired immunity which now stands at 92% from the whole population.
“Thirdly we've the defence of the TTP system. In the week ending July 3 95% of index cases eligible for follow-up were contacted within Twenty four hours and 93% of the contacts were traced.
“Llywydd, that is the context in which the cabinet has completed our three-weekly overview of coronavirus restrictions. Our assessment is the fact that taking all these factors – negative and positive together – we can now proceed to a full level some regulations. And this implies that from July 17, from Saturday, up to six individuals will have the ability to meet indoors in private homes and overnight accommodation; organised indoor events for approximately 1,000 people seated or 200 people standing will be able to occur carrying out a risk assessment; which ice rinks will be able to re-open.
“And we feel we can go one step further, as we move to the new alert level zero, and that we will be able to introduce alert level zero levels of restrictions for outdoor events and gatherings also from July 17. We'll therefore remove the limits on the number of people who are able to gather outdoors. Outdoor premises and events will have more flexibility around physical distancing. This can continue, though, to become one of the mitigations to be considered in undertaking and implementing risk assessments.
“We can do this because of our long-standing conclusion that the chance of transmission outdoors is much less than indoors and since we have to make use of the summer period. At the same time, from July 17, the regulations will even change to allow up to 30 people from organisations such as the Urdd, Brownies, or Scouts, to go to residential centres over the summer holidays.
“Llywydd, today we are also publishing an up-to-date version of our coronavirus control plan which sets out more broadly the way we can move past the current alert level someone to a new alert level zero. The cabinet's intention is that Wales should move to alert level zero on August 7 provided the public health position in three weeks' time still permits us to do so. And I emphasise today, when i always do, the importance of that proviso. In a position where public health challenges remain so volatile we will assess and reassess the positioning on August 7 but with the intention that Wales should move to alert level zero provided the public health provision remains as it is today.
“At alert level zero we have centered on retaining those restrictions which help people to keep safe but have the smallest detrimental effect on their wider physical and emotional health. At level zero therefore there will be no legal limits on the number of people who are able to meet others, including in private homes, public places or at events, and also at alert level zero all businesses and premises will be open.
“Llywydd life may have returned, very substantially, to the way it was prior to the coronavirus pandemic began but within Wales we will not abandon those measures which have done this much to keep us all safe. At alert level zero, and from August 7, therefore, people should still work at home wherever possible. In which a return to work is essential we will continue to make sure that Covid risk assessments is a legal requirement for businesses, employers, and event organisers. It will be legal requirement these assessments are drawn up with the involvement of employees and the mitigating measures set out in those risk assessments should be implemented. In Wales, too, Llywydd, at alert level zero, face coverings will still be a legitimate requirement on public transport, in health and care settings, and in all indoor public facilities except for education settings and hospitality and the purpose of the federal government will be gradually to ease these requirements because the risk of coronavirus decreases.
“Finally, Llywydd, I turn to two further changes to self-isolation requirements. I much regret the decision from the UK Government to remove the requirement of doubly-vaccinated travellers returning from amber-list countries to self-isolate. The risk of reimportation of coronavirus using their company areas of the planet, and especially new variants, has not gone away. Removing a defence against that risk, and particularly at a time once the virus is in such rapid circulation, is extremely obscure. But, because the majority of international visit and from Wales is via England it is, as our chief medical officer says, untenable for us not to do the same thing. We'll therefore remove the requirement for all adults who have had two NHS Covid vaccines, as well as for under-18-year-olds, to self-isolate on their return from amber-list countries and we'll remove those requirements from July 19. However, Llywydd, we continue to advise against all but essential travel abroad and that we continue to highly recommend people to holiday at home this summer.”
