Coronavirus

Part of 9. Topical Question 2 – in the Senedd at 6:21 pm on 26 February 2020.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 6:21, 26 February 2020

Well, look, I think there are three particular questions there, and perhaps to deal with the issue about British nationals, some of whom may be Welsh residents, and, indeed, Welsh residents who are not British nationals who may be caught up in some of the potential lockdown quarantine isolation that has taken place in a number of parts of Europe where they're seeking to contain the spread of coronavirus, there is a regular and constructive conversation between the four UK Governments, in particular with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, about how many British nationals are affected, where they are and the support they're being provided with. This is, of course, a developing situation and we're not in charge of where other authorities are making choices about either individual or community isolation. 

On your point about random screening, I would caution the Member to return to the advice that is being provided, not just by me in the weekly statement I provide, but the Chief Medical Officer for Wales in his weekly statement and the daily advice on the Public Health Wales website. We are not implementing random screening at any point within our system. We are looking at a targeted approach to people who are at risk and, as I say, in the advice that has been given, where people are returning from specific parts of travel, within a specific timescale, if they have symptoms—cough, cold, sore throat, cold or flu-like symptoms—then to self-isolate and to contact the national health service and they'll provide them with advice and guidance. That is the right thing to do. If the advice changes because there's a change in transmission, then we will make that absolutely clear. 

I think what is helpful about this, and this goes to your broader point about the potential for more widespread transmission—and I don't want to get into a series of what could be unhelpful hypotheticals, but, to be very clear, the four UK Governments are working together. It's really important it's underpinned by a collective endeavour between the four chief medical officers across the United Kingdom giving advice to the Governments of the United Kingdom about what we could and should do to properly safeguard and protect the health of the public. Obviously, if there are changes, they won't just appear in a weekly update, but if there are more urgent changes that are required then I'll be happy to report not just to this place but to the wider public as well.