Without a follow-up PCR test, it is even more important for people to report the result of every lateral flow test they undertake and to self-isolate as soon as they test positive. If this isn't done, contact tracing will not be possible, so we will be unable to give the support that some people need. We need everyone to continue to play their part in disrupting the transmission of COVID-19 by reporting their lateral flow test results on the gov.uk website or by phoning 119.

Last week, I reluctantly agreed to remove the requirements for fully vaccinated travellers and those under 18 years of age to take a pre-departure test and a day 2 PCR test when arriving in the UK. All fully vaccinated travellers will need to take a lateral flow test on day 2 and, if this test is positive, a follow-up PCR test will need to be undertaken to enable genomic sequencing to be carried out. The requirement to self-isolate until a negative test has been reviewed has also been removed, but we are considering introducing guidance that those should continue to self-isolate until they've had a test. The requirements for non-vaccinated travellers remain unchanged.

The fact that the UK Government is reopening international travel so swiftly does cause us concern, given the concerns about the risk of importing new variants and adding additional pressure on our health services. Day 2 PCR testing acts as something of a surveillance system for international travel. If we had retained the requirement for a day 2 PCR test, we may have been alerted to the presence of omicron earlier. 

Llywydd, the latest analysis published by the UK Health Security Agency about omicron shows that there is a substantial reduction in the risk of hospitalisation after three doses of the vaccine as compared to those who are unvaccinated. Sadly, the majority of people with COVID-19 who are being cared for in our critical care units at the moment are those who haven't been vaccinated. Vaccination remains the best protection available.

Our booster vaccination take-up rates are impressive. More than 1.7 million people in Wales have received their booster. We reached our aim of offering all eligible adults a booster by the end of the year, thanks to the magnificent efforts of all the staff and volunteers in our NHS teams. Hundreds of thousands of people will be offered boosters this month too, so please do make this your priority.

We have also seen more people coming forward for their first and second doses of the vaccine over the last month, and it's never too late to be vaccinated here in Wales. We are now approaching what we think will be the peak stage of this wave of cases. We all have a part to play in combating this latest worrying stage of the pandemic that has interrupted our lives to such an extent. I urge everyone to have the vaccine when offered, to observe the restrictions in force, to take lateral flow tests and to report the results. These actions, along with all of the other protections we have in place in Wales, will help to slow the spread of the virus, to reduce the harm to people and communities, and to keep us all safe. Thank you very much.