5. How will the Welsh Government adapt its response to COVID-19 given the experience of the virus to date? OQ55577

I thank John Griffiths for that question, Llywydd. The coronavirus control plan, published in August, and last week's winter protection plan are both rooted in the lessons we have learnt during the coronavirus crisis. Adapted responses can be seen, for example, in more effective treatments for the disease and in COVID-specific rehabilitation measures.

First Minister, from 6 o'clock this evening there will be further restrictions in Newport and other local authorities. The length of time involved will depend on the incidence of cases, but are you able to say anything more about how long these measures may be in place?

An increasing number of school pupils are self-isolating, further damaging their education after the loss of school time in the last academic year. Might Welsh Government then, First Minister, prioritise testing for pupils and staff to minimise loss of time in school, and also ensure that learning at home is consistent and top quality across all our schools? 

Llywydd, I thank John Griffiths for those questions. The coronavirus restrictions in Newport will be reviewed within two weeks. My ambition is for those restrictions progressively to be lightened as soon as it is safe for us to do so. The contact tracing team in Newport, I think, have been absolutely outstanding in the way that they have responded to the flare-up of numbers in the city, and provided they continue to have the co-operation of local people, I think there is a realistic prospect that that outbreak will be brought back under control as rapidly as possible, and then some of the measures we've needed to put in place will be able to be removed.

As to schools, Llywydd, since 1 September there have been coronavirus cases in 275 schools in Wales, 140 students have been affected and 135 staff members have been affected. In 198 of those 275 schools, only one case has been reported. So, in more than seven out of 10 schools, it's a single isolated case that has been reported so far, although, I agree, it is early days. Those cases have been imported to the school by people who have contracted it for other reasons, rather than being spread in the school environment. We will continue to prioritise the testing of students and teachers and other school staff members, where that becomes necessary, in order for us to minimise the risk of transmission and to respond to the final point that John Griffiths made, about continuity of learning for young people who may still have to spend some of their time outside the classroom. In some parts of Wales, that was done fantastically well earlier in the summer. That learning is being applied now to make sure that those standards can be achieved in all parts of Wales.

And finally, Joyce Watson, question 6.