6., 7. & 8. The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 14) Regulations 2021, The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 15) Regulations 2021 and The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 16) Regulations 2021

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:54 pm on 21 September 2021.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 4:54, 21 September 2021

(Translated)

May I thank Siân from Plaid Cymru for accepting the regulations? We know that there is huge pressure on our hospitals at the moment, and, of course, there is an additional effort now for us to go about ensuring that the vaccine is extended in terms of the booster, and vaccinating children between 12 and 16 years of age. In terms of COVID passes, we are eager, if we can, to keep the situation open over the winter. We know that there will be additional pressure, that COVID thrives indoors, and we know that during the winter, people are far more likely to spend time indoors. That's sure to spread the virus, and that's why what we think is best to do is to put measures in place before problems arise. That's what our experts have been telling us throughout, that we have to act early on in terms of preventing a situation from developing, and that's why we have introduced this particular scheme to ensure there are passes used if people go to settings such as nightclubs and so on. And so, of course, we also hope that that will help to increase the number of young people who will receive the vaccine.

In terms of the system through the medium of Welsh, we're dependent, to a large extent, on the situation in England. They have many of the techniques and levers in terms of how the apps work. We know, for example, that the situation, if you download the app that states that you can receive the COVID pass, at the moment, it says England. At the end of the month, it'll say Wales as well. So, we're always waiting for them to move forward. They have to make the changes on our behalf.

In terms of the ozone machines, we have asked for that review by the technical advisory cell. We haven't received the recommendations yet, but we will be informing you once we have received those recommendations. But I'm sure that you'll be pleased to hear that there are carbon dioxide machines now being placed in our schools across Wales, and we hope that that will help to monitor the air quality and to ensure that we do get much more ventilation in our classrooms during the winter.