3. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on COVID-19

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:21 pm on 2 November 2021.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 3:21, 2 November 2021

(Translated)

Thank you very much, Mabon. Just in terms of infection in schools: the infection framework has been in place for some time. The extent to which people were using that depended on the rates within their communities. Of course, we've tightened up our perspective and our position in terms of trying to have people within the same household to have a test if somebody else within the household is suffering from COVID. One of the reasons that I was eager to keep children in schools was the fact that they'd lost so much school already, and they're paying a very high price, those children. But, evidently, when the levels are so high, we needed to tighten up the system.

In terms of the escalation of this to passports: I think we have to strike a balance, and we have to consider that balance. It is a political call. So, the final question asked me about people with autism. Now, they wouldn't be able to have a passport. So, you have to be very careful about what you're asking here, if you go down the path of passports only.

And in terms of—we've already talked about the need to tighten up the rules on our trains and so on, and ensure that people intervene when people don't wear masks and so forth.