Motion NNDM7441 as amended:

To propose that the Senedd

1. Recognises the seriousness of the position created by growing numbers of cases and of COVID-19 in Wales and the increasing number of people in hospitals and Intensive Care Units as a result;

2. Agrees that a short ‘fire break’ period as proposed by SAGE and the WG Technical Advisory Group should be introduced to bring down R, reduce chains of onward transmission, minimise clusters of infection in the community and to further strengthen the Test Trace Protect system;

3. Agrees that a firebreak must be underpinned by additional support to protect livelihoods and wellbeing and notes the provision of emergency financial support brought forward by the Welsh Government for businesses impacted by the firebreak.

4. Agrees that existing capacity should be fully utilised and that the additional resources that are necessary should be provided as a matter of urgency to the Welsh test trace protect system to ensure that all results are returned and tracing teams notified of positive results within 24 hours of a test.

5. Agrees that the firebreak should be used as an opportunity to plan and implement a new set of interventions based on a Zero COVID or elimination strategy which aims to avoid the necessity for successive waves of lockdowns, drawing upon the lessons of best practice from within Wales and internationally in areas such as, though not limited to: mass and routine testing including testing asymptomatic contacts; ventilation; preventing importation of cases from outside Wales; practical and financial support and advice for those needing to isolate; clear and consistent public communication; and extending mask-wearing to other settings.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to review its hospital infection control policies for preventing hospital-acquired infections of COVID-19 and to consider establishing designated COVID-19 free sites to facilitate timely and secure treatment for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.