1. Statement by the First Minister: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:33 pm on 26 August 2020.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:33, 26 August 2020

Well, Llywydd, can I first of all agree with what John Griffiths said about the importance of rehabilitation? We are learning a lot about the long path to recovery from coronavirus for many people. It turns out not to be an illness from which you necessarily recover quickly or easily. My colleague, Vaughan Gething, in September, plans to issue a document that will set out our preparations for the winter here in Wales, and rehabilitation, I know, will be a very specific focus of that plan.

As to the velodrome itself, as I said in my opening statement, Llywydd, we will try three experiments during these three weeks in arts and sports, where up to 100 people can come together. Provided that can be done successfully, then we want to do more of that. But, in the way I explained to an earlier questioner, the way to do it in Wales is to pilot, to learn from that, and, when we're successful, to do more. We've done that throughout the crisis.

At the same time, we are also learning from some pilots that are to be resumed across our border. You will remember that there were plans to allow larger numbers of people to return to cricket matches, football matches and to horse racing. The UK Government had a number of pilots that it had identified that it then had to postpone because of the difficulties in the north of England. Those are now being resumed; we have a member of Welsh Government staff part of a group that's overseeing those pilots and, again, if they turn out to be successful and we can do more safely in Wales to reopen venues, then that is what we will wish to do, including the velodrome. But, once again, the public health lens will be the first lens, and, if we're satisfied that we can do something in a way that does not pose risks to participants and staff, then we will look to do more in those areas too.