Wales’ lock-in is extended for another three weeks with supermarkets with new restrictions while schools and colleges could remain closed until February without major ‘reduction’ in infections
- Mark Drakeford has confirmed that the Stage 4 restrictions in Wales will not be lifted
- School and college students will continue to study online until the February half term
- First Minister says pandemic infection has reached a critical stage ‘
Lockdown in Wales has been extended for three weeks and is likely to force schools to continue online lessons until at least the February half term.
Prime Minister Mark Drakeford warned that the pandemic is at an ‘important stage’ and said measures would be tightened in ‘key areas’ to prevent the spread of the disease.
The tension could see supermarkets and offices push ahead with efforts to secure buildings.
Mr Drakeford also warned that unless there is a ‘major’ drop in cases by January 29 – when the rules are reviewed three weeks ago – school and college students will continue distance learning until the February half term.
Mark Drakeford on Friday urged people to stay at home to save lives as he confirmed that the Stage 4 coronavirus restrictions in Wales will not be lifted.
This means that retail outlets, hospitality, licensed premises and leisure facilities will remain closed (Cardiff’s quiet street pictured)
He said: ‘The coronavirus pandemic has reached a critical stage. Things in Wales are still very high and our NHS is under real and stable pressure.
The Level 4 warning barriers we introduced before Christmas must stay in place to keep us safe.
‘To reduce the spread of the virus, we all need to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. ‘
The Welsh Government has said that the new variant virus is now firmly in place in North Wales.
They said that after a formal review of the restrictions, which were introduced at midnight on December 19, all the measures will be in place.
This means that non-essential sales, guest houses, licensed premises and leisure facilities will remain closed, and people must stay at home, work from home if they can, keep two meters away from others, cover the front spending in indoor public places and not meeting anyone. outside the house or support bubbles.
He added that measures will be strengthened in some key areas to prevent the spread of the new virus in shops and workplaces that remain open.
The measures will also be strengthened to close all showrooms, although they will still be able to run click-and-collect services.
The Welsh Government is also reviewing the need for supermarkets and retailers to take extra measures to protect people and what employers need to do to protect people in the workplace and support people to work from home, he said.
On Thursday, Public Health Wales reported a further 1,718 cases of coronavirus in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 163,234.
A further 63 deaths were reported, taking the majority in Wales since the outbreak began to 3,801.
Figures show that the seven-day incidence rate for Wales to 2 January was 486.5 cases per 100,000 people while the probation rate was 24.3%.
Mr Drakeford said the vaccines released were a way out of the pandemic.
He said: ‘These feel like dark times but the new Covid-19 vaccines are being rolled out across Wales, giving us a way out of this pandemic.
‘It will take a lot of effort to vaccinate everyone and, despite the end of this pandemic, it is more important than ever that we follow the rules and stay at home. We have made so many sacrifices together and we need not stop now. ‘