Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:18 pm on 23 November 2021.
Thank you very much, Llywydd. Extending the regulations until the end of February is the aim here and we will certainly be supporting these regulations. I'm surprised to hear the comment made by the Conservatives that they don't now support having any restrictions in place, to all intents and purposes, because this is the framework, and it's within that framework that the regulations are imposed. Plaid Cymru has made it clear throughout the pandemic that we support taking action on the basis of evidence, supporting steps that could help to restrict the transmission of the virus and keeping the people of Wales safe. And yes, for all of us in every party, that's meant very difficult decisions being made over the past year and nine months.
I make the point once again here, as I've made several times before, that we need to work more intensively on communicating the rationale, yes, behind the regulations, but also the important steps that people need to take to adhere to the regulations, including those fundamental things. The more people who can work from home, the more people who can use facial coverings in busy indoor spaces and ensure that there is fresh air around them, the more hope there is that we can limit the transmission of the virus. I think that there is evidence of where the message is perhaps being lost, the message is being diluted, so I would encourage the Government to push that particular point. Of course, these regulations need to go hand in hand at the same time as work to strengthen the health service.
I will make this point to close: with such great pressure, and growing pressure, on the health service as we go into the dark days of winter, we do need to avoid being caught in a vicious circle, an endless circle, where waiting times deteriorate. What I see is short-term steps being taken by the Government, yes, but we need to see that change in the health landscape that will ensure that we have health and care services that are more sustainable for the long term. Yes, it's about battling against this virus that is such a threat within our communities, but do keep an eye on that long-term view, and make changes now that will give us those robust services and more resilient services for the coming years.