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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:39 pm on 26 August 2020.

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Photo of Alun Davies Alun Davies Labour 2:39, 26 August 2020

Thank you very much, Presiding Officer, and thank you, First Minister, for your statement. I very much welcome your words today, and I know that the approach of the Welsh Government has continued to have the overwhelming support of the people I represent in Blaenau Gwent. There are two areas where I would like to ask you further questions, First Minister. The first is your approach to face coverings and masks. People are clearly moving around more and taking part in more public and social activities than they were some months ago. We understand that there is contradictory evidence, shall we say, on the use of face coverings and masks, but we're at a critical time. We’re at a critical time now, as we move beyond the summer into the autumn, where more of these activities will be taking place indoors. I very much agree with the point that was made earlier in this session by Lynne Neagle, my colleague in Torfaen, about what happens in supermarkets. Is it now the time to reconsider the Welsh Government's position on face coverings and masks, and extend the use of masks in enclosed public spaces?

The second question is that about the future of choirs. I should say that I'm president of the Beaufort male voice choir in Blaenau Gwent, and Blaenau Gwent, of course, has very many male voice and mixed choirs, all of which have been largely suspended over the last few months, and I'm going to an open-air practice with Beaufort next week in Eugene Cross Park in Ebbw Vale. But we won't be able to do that in November, and it's unlikely we'll be able to do that through the autumn, and I wanted to ask the First Minister whether he's given further consideration to the position of choirs and the choral tradition we have in Wales to enable choirs again to practice and then perhaps to hold events as we move forward. Thank you.