“Greatest risk of all is delay” – Plaid warn Welsh Government against “delay” in introducing additional Coronavirus restrictions

Plaid Cymru has warned the Welsh Government of the dangers of delay in introducing additional Coronavirus restrictions.

The advice given to the Welsh Government by its Technical Advisory Cell says that “if the current measures do not bring R below 1 then further restrictions will be needed to control the epidemic in Wales.”

The virus’ reproduction number for Wales is currently estimated to be between 1.3 and 1.6. In contrast, during early September, the R rate was said to be between 0.5 and 1.

Responding to questioning from the Plaid Cymru Leader, First Minister Mark Drakeford agreed that the figures were “very sobering” but confirmed there would be not be a so-called circuit-breaker for Wales.

On Monday was reported that there were 596 new positive Covid-19 cases identified in Wales following a lab test – the highest figure since the pandemic began.

Scotland is reported to be imposing far tighter restrictions in the coming days.

The Plaid Cymru Leader said the “greatest risk of all” was “delay” and said that if there was “no improvement over the coming days” then the Welsh Government would need to pull the “emergency cord” like Scotland.

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price MS said,

“Every Government facing this second wave is having to choose between going early and hard in tightening restrictions or later, lighter and longer. There are no risk-free options in a sense to any Government but the greatest risk of all is delay.

“Currently, the number of cases are rising rapidly and the R rate is between 1.3 and 1.6 – and yet restrictions aren’t getting any stricter.

“I urge the First Minister to heed the advice from the Technical Advisory Cell that the earlier additional measures are introduced, the more effective they will be.

“If there is no improvement over the coming days then the Welsh Government will need to pull the emergency cord as Scotland has already done.