Mark Drakeford announces there will be no changes to current Covid regulations in Wales

They will stay in place for at least another two weeks


The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, has announced today that the rules put in place after the firebreak lockdown in Wales will remain in place for another fortnight.

A press conference was held in Cathays Park today at 12.15pm, where a discussion of the Welsh Government’s cabinet review of national Coronavirus rules took place.

The First Minister said that the lockdown was helpful, as it had reduced the number of Covid-19 cases in Wales, but to get us through to Christmas we must continue to follow the rules.

Mr Drakeford said: “We have seen a consistent reduction in the rate of coronavirus across Wales over the last 10 days.”

“We have also seen a consistent fall in the positivity rate – this is the percentage of tests, which turn out to be positive. We have also seen a fall in the R number. The latest estimate for R was between 0.9 and 1.2.”

The latest infection survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicated that the number of people with coronavirus fell by 40% since the firebreak lockdown was announced last month.

He said: “we are yet to see this translate into a reduction of pressure on the NHS. There are currently the equivalent of more than 50 hospital wards full with people seriously ill with coronavirus. Many people may be in hospital for up to three weeks.”

The rules currently only allow four people from different households to meet indoors or outdoors (over the age of 11), except for organised sport.

He said: “This week, the Cabinet reviewed the national measures we have in place and decided not to change them. They will remain the same for the next two weeks.

“We need everyone – every single one of us – to play our part to make sure we continue to build on the progress of the firebreak and keep coronavirus cases falling.”

“This means reducing our contact with people as much as possible; not travelling unless it’s necessary and working from home whenever we can.

“If we all do this together, we can have a path through to Christmas”

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