4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:28 pm on 22 September 2020.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 3:28, 22 September 2020

(Translated)

Thank you for that statement, Minister. Before I ask a few questions on the statement itself, I have a few comments on the responses that we've just heard. People will have been shocked to hear that schools could close again—as a final step, as you said. I, for one, am looking forward to a very clear statement from the Government—the education Minister, not yourself—that education will remain open unambiguously even if schools have to close, and I think parents would expect to hear that.

But I also welcome your clarity on mandatory vaccinations—it's not your plan. That's why choice of words is so important from our leaders at this point. And you still say that you're not planning to do this, but you need to be very clear that the Government will not do this, because this is the kind of thing that will raise grave doubts in the minds of constituents across Wales, rather than encouraging them to follow the advice and direction of Government. 

Just a few questions. I welcome the expansion of the restrictions—clearly the pattern in Wales is moving in the wrong direction. We certainly welcome this pattern of local restrictions. One thing you're doing, of course, is to ask people to remain within their own areas, but there's an anomaly here across Britain. Can I ask you whether it's your intention to speak to the Government in England, and to local authorities in England, to ask them to do the same? Because, at the moment, although people in Wales have to remain in their own areas, if they are high-risk areas or areas under restrictions, there is nothing to prevent people from travelling to Wales from other areas. I think that's something that needs to be discussed at the highest level between Governments. 

Does the Minister believe that we need the plan B to be ready? For me, there are clear areas where you're not going far enough. There is no restriction, apart from closing at 11 in the evening, on pubs, although people, I think, would wish to see that. We're certainly behind England on this now. So, are you considering taking a step further and asking people to close earlier at least, and only open outdoors, and even closing pubs and restaurants if, and only if, you're able to provide additional support to them?

And to conclude, I again want to highlight the problem here. We support the additional restrictions, we're asking whether they're going far enough, but we do need to address the issue on testing. You've issued a statement today saying that it will be weeks before the lighthouse labs issues will have been resolved. That's not good enough. You say that 28,000 additional tests are in Wales now, referring to Public Health Wales in relation to that. Can you explain where exactly those 28,000 tests come from, and when will we see their impact in Wales? 

And in terms of the statement to be made by the First Minister this evening, please bring it forward so that we can discuss it in the Senedd this afternoon. Thank you.