8. What is the Minister's current assessment of the spread of the delta variant in Bridgend? OQ56742

The delta variant continues to spread both in Bridgend and elsewhere in Wales, but Bridgend does currently have comparatively low rates of infection compared to a lot of other local authority areas in Wales. Our vaccination programme continues to offer the best means of combating the spread.

Diolch, Minister. During the election campaign, I met a lot of people who are very appreciative of the Welsh Government's handling of the pandemic, and particularly the First Minister's cautious approach to easing restrictions, as they are very scared and anxious about relaxing restrictions too quickly. The area I represent, Bridgend and Porthcawl, was one of the worst affected areas during the second wave of the pandemic, and that's an experience that we don't want to repeat. Many of the most vulnerable in our community are only just getting the confidence to go back out and about again, and when I met with staff at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend a few weeks ago, they too are very concerned about another wave of COVID cases. So, with that in mind, could you outline what the Welsh Government is doing to ensure as many people as possible are protected against this terrible virus and its many variants before we look to relax restrictions further?

Well, thanks very much, Sarah, and can I assure you that there is not going to be any big liberation day here in Wales when it comes to COVID, not when rates are increasing at the rate they are? It really defies belief to look at what's happening in England, when you see the rates increasing at the rate they are. Our decisions will be based on science, they'll be based on evidence, and we are very pleased to see the number of people in Wales who have taken the opportunity to have the vaccine, and we know now that there is definitely a weakening when we see the relationship between contracting the virus and having the vaccine and hospitalisations and deaths. So, that's the good news.

The other good news is that, actually, adults have been taking up this opportunity. There's still an issue with younger people, which is why we have set up walk-in centres, which were set up across Wales last weekend. But I think we have also got to be realistic and get to a place to understand that we are going to have to live with COVID; it's not going to disappear. But we will need to do that in a cautious way, understanding that there will always be vulnerable people within our communities and we need to be sensitive to them as well, whilst, of course, understanding the other harms that people are experiencing. In particular, there are economic harms, mental health harms and social harms that we also have to bear in mind. So, next week, we as a Government will be setting out our next steps in terms of the virus and our route-map in Wales.

I thank the Minister. We will now suspend proceedings to allow changeovers in the Chamber.

Plenary was suspended at 15:22.

The Senedd reconvened at 15:31, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) in the Chair.