On Friday, we published an updated coronavirus control plan, setting out the main ways in which we will keep Wales safe. Essentially, these are: vaccination, test, trace and protect, and continuation of the basic measures that we can all do to protect ourselves. Our advice around testing is not changing. We still ask you take a PCR test if you develop symptoms of COVID-19, and self-isolate if your result is positive. We are closely monitoring the unprecedented numbers coming forward for tests in Wales. If this level continues, we may need to make choices. But for this review period, our advice remains the same. Testing is the best way to break transmission. 

Those basic measures we’ve all been doing throughout the pandemic are still important: washing hands, keeping your distance, wearing face coverings in indoor public places. These vital measures will keep us safer. The control plan sets out two planning scenarios for the pandemic over the winter. In the first, called COVID stable, Wales remains at alert level 0, with all businesses able to open. We expect this will be the scenario for the future, as we become used to living with coronavirus and as we gradually move out of the pandemic. Under this scenario, if case rates fall, measures could be relaxed, but if they rise, existing measures could be strengthened.

The second planning scenario, called COVID urgent, is designed to deal with sudden changes to the situation that would cause a rise in pandemic pressures, which could risk overwhelming our NHS. In this scenario, the alert level system and restrictions would be used proportionately, but as a last resort, to protect people’s health, control the spread of infections and protect the NHS. Dirprwy Lywydd, modelling work suggests that we appear to have passed this peak, but we cannot be complacent at this critical time. In coming months there will be threats from other respiratory infections, such as RSV and seasonal flu. We continue to focus on vaccination for these infections.

We all need to look after our health this winter. It is important that we take the small, achievable steps to keep ourselves healthy and avoid getting ill. This includes being physically active, eating a balanced diet, limiting our alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and of course looking after our mental health. We will work with vaccination centres, GP surgeries and pharmacies over the winter to raise awareness of these messages and signpost people to the support available across Wales.

I would like to end on a positive note. There are no substantial changes to the rules over the next three weeks, beyond those we'd already announced. Everyone has worked so hard to protect themselves and their loved ones, and it is working. We're changing the course of this pandemic together. We aren’t out of this pandemic yet, and the situation could change quickly. But together we can continue with measures in place to keep us on the right track, to protect our NHS and to protect each other. Thank you.