Thank you, Llywydd. Members will, of course, know that I have committed to keeping you informed about COVID-19 developments, and this is my latest statement to do just that. 

The challenge from coronavirus is far from over. We have been successful in ensuring that our NHS has not been overwhelmed, but we continue to operate in an uncertain environment, and that  will continue for some time to come. It's clear that the NHS and our social care systems must operate with COVID-19 as an ever-present challenge for the foreseeable future. So, we must remain vigilant and continue to use the best scientific evidence and advice to inform how we plan services moving forward. Today, I want to update Members on a number of important developments.

We have to take unprecedented steps to increase all aspects of NHS activity to cope with the onset of COVID-19. That's staff, beds, medicines, equipment and more to plan for the worst possible scenario to provide services to meet the needs of those who are affected by COVID-19. That, of course, meant that I had to take the first decision within the UK to pause a wide range of other elective NHS activity.

We've had to give careful consideration to how essential services can be provided during this time. Without that, there's a significant risk that indirect mortality and serious harm could increase dramatically. Difficult decisions have had to be made to balance those demands, and that, again, will continue for some time to come. Our ethical framework, though, will help to guide our decision making.

At the end of March, the World Health Organization issued interim operational guidance for maintaining essential health services during the outbreak. That guidance is informing our own approach to maintaining services now and in considering any changes that we will make as we move forward. The World Health Organization suggests that, in selecting such priorities, it should initially focus on the prevention of communicable diseases, particularly through vaccination; services related to care during pregnancy and childbirth, reproductive health and the care of vulnerable populations, such as young infants and older adults; the provision of medicines and supplies for the ongoing management of chronic diseases, including mental health conditions; and the continuity of critical in-patient therapy and the management of emergency and acute presentations that require time-sensitive intervention; and just as importantly, services such as diagnostic imaging, laboratory services and blood bank services.