We have passed another two sombre milestones in our pandemic in recent days. More than 100,000 people have now tested positive for coronavirus in Wales this year. On Friday, more than 2,000 people were in our hospitals because of coronavirus. Today, that has risen even higher, to more than 2,100, and by now, we have more than 90 people with coronavirus in intensive care—the highest number that we have seen in this second wave. Coronavirus is widespread and entrenched in our communities. It is affecting the normal running of many of the services that we take for granted, as more people fall ill or self-isolate and are unavailable for duty. All of that is, as you know, putting an intense strain on our front-line NHS and social care services.

Last week, we took further measures to protect people's health and to support our health service. Secondary school and college students are being taught remotely in this last week of term. If primary schools have to close for any reason this week, hub provision will be made available for vulnerable children and the children of essential workers. Outdoor attractions have been closed, and the NHS is now having to postpone some surgery and outpatient appointments to relieve pressure and respond to staff shortages.

Wales is not unique in facing such a rising tide of infection. We are seeing similar patterns right around the world. Germany and the Netherlands have introduced new country-wide lockdowns as coronavirus surges in those countries. Yesterday, the UK Government put London and large parts of the south-east of England into the highest tier of restrictions. In Northern Ireland, Ministers are warning of a third lockdown to come after Christmas.

Yesterday, here in Wales, we published our updated coronavirus control plan. This updates our original traffic light plan, which was published in May, and those, of course, were more optimistic times, when we were emerging from lockdown. Coronavirus cases were falling, and we were able—gradually—to relax our restrictions. The new plan updates the framework for local restrictions, which was published in the summer and guided us through the first part of the autumn. The plan sets out four alert levels, which are aligned to the level of risk and which outline the measures needed at each level to control the spread of the virus and to protect people's health.

Publishing this plan now will give people, public services and businesses clarity about how we move through the alert levels, and help them to plan as we move into the new year and through some difficult weeks ahead. We have drawn, as ever, on the expertise of the UK Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies, and our own technical advisory group. It's through their work that we have identified the interventions that work, drawing on what we have all learned during the pandemic. Our technical advisory group has told us that a national approach to restrictions is most likely to be understood, and therefore to be effective. But, if there is clear evidence of a sustained variation between some parts of Wales and other parts, the control plan allows for the alert levels and the corresponding levels to be applied regionally.

Today, across Wales, we are at alert level 3. The traffic light is red. The risk is very high. Dirprwy Lywydd, I said last week that if matters did not improve, a move to level 4 restrictions was inevitable. Since then, far from improving, the situation has deteriorated, and the pressure on our NHS and social care has intensified. In all seriousness, I say to Members that a decision on further restrictions cannot be long delayed. Now, we will review the regulations in detail this week. As part of that, we will look at the projections for the Christmas period and the steps we need to take to make sure we can keep Wales safe.

Turning briefly to the amendments, Dirprwy Lywydd, both the amendments from Gareth Bennett will be rejected by the Welsh Government. I've set out this afternoon, and earlier in the Senedd, why the alert levels are entirely proportionate. Nor will the Welsh Government be able to support the amendment in the name of Siân Gwenllian in relation to isolation support. We need to consider carefully what a system of different restrictions for the regions of Wales might look like. But we will support Plaid Cymru's amendment dealing with safe reopening. My officials are regularly engaged in detailed conversations with these sectors. And finally, the amendment from the Welsh Conservatives is consistent with the updated COVID action plan, so will also be supported this afternoon by the Government side.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I have said many times that the pandemic has turned all our lives upside down. This has been one of the most difficult years for us all. The promise of a better year ahead is on the horizon, as the vaccine gradually becomes more widely available. In just the first week, more than 6,000 people across Wales have had their first dose, and tomorrow, the first care home residents in Wales will receive the vaccination. But while all of that is taking place, we have to get through some very tough weeks that lie ahead, and we can only do that if we work together to do so. The difference is made by the accumulation of all those small changes each one of us needs to make in our daily lives. This is a Government determined to keep Wales safe. Together we can change the course of this terrible virus, protect our health service and save people's lives. Dirprwy Lywydd, diolch yn fawr.