“Time to turn the traffic light system back on before Wales flashes red again”

Adam Price says Welsh Government approach has failed to take into account the Covid map of Wales  

The Welsh Government’s approach to the Coronavirus pandemic has failed to take into account the Covid map of Wales, Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price has said.

Mr Price said that the strategy adopted by the Government was “at odds” with advice given to ministers by the Technical Advisory cell who stated yesterday that an “earlier and more comprehensive response can prevent extended lockdowns”. 

The Plaid Cymru Leader said that in areas of restrictions the Welsh Government should go further by introducing temporary or earlier closure of pubs – with economic sector specific support, alongside restricting the selling of alcohol earlier.

Mr Price also said the guidance on travel should be clearer and more consistent – with banning travel from high risk areas from across the UK into Wales.

Wales’s former chief medical officer said today that the response in Wales might not have been “cautious enough.”

The Plaid Cymru Leader also called for further clarity on shielding, a comprehensive communications strategy including bringing back daily news conferences and to adopt the “clear but adaptable” Irish approach consisting of Five Levels applied locally.

 Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price MS said,

“Regrettably, the strategy now adopted by the Government is seemingly at odds with the advice given to ministers by the Technical Advisory cell – who state in their latest report yesterday that an earlier and more comprehensive response can prevent extended lockdowns. The evidence now suggests that the Welsh Government’s response has been neither early nor comprehensive and has failed to take into account the divergent Covid map of Wales. 

“We cannot half-heartedly address a full-on Covid resurgence in many of our communities and neither can we have a one-size fits all approach. Where we have restrictions in place in Wales we should be going further by introducing the temporary or at least earlier closure of pubs – with economic sector specific support. And in these areas, the selling of alcohol should also be restricted earlier such as 6 or 7pm.

“Where special measures are required, they need to create a difference, not a headline.

“The guidance on travel is neither clear nor consistent. The First Minister said that he was not stopping people from going on holiday however the overarching appeal is for people not to make non-essential journeys. Clearly it makes sense to stop travel from high risk areas, but that has to include areas not in Wales.

“The First Minister had a traffic light system but it looks like the lights went out. It’s time to turn the traffic light system back on before we find the whole of Wales flashing red once more.