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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:46 pm on 11 January 2022.

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Photo of John Griffiths John Griffiths Labour 4:46, 11 January 2022

Thank you, Minister, for your statement today. From my experience, I think the vast majority of the population in Wales very much support the Welsh Government's rightly cautious approach to COVID-19, and they're very grateful that they live in Wales so that they're protected in that way. I hear what you say, Minister, about the balance of understanding the current course of the virus and wanting to ease protections as soon as it's safe to do so. In that context, and the context of the weekly review—and, I think, next week a three-weekly review—I just wonder, Minister, if there's anything you can say about some of the requests for easing at the moment spectator sport, for example, and indeed the parkrun. I think parkruns in particular have a very strong case, as I'm sure you've recognised, because they're very much a public health initiative in themselves, and of course they're open air, and they're very well organised, and they've got a very good safety record. Understandably, the organisers understand the importance of making sure that people get into good habits early in the year, particularly in January, when people are making new year's resolutions, and so on. If they do decide to get more physically active, then that may benefit their health not just in the short term, but if they continue the habits, long into the future for the rest of their lives. So, it's a very important balance, and I know that some of the decisions that you and Government colleagues have to take are very finely balanced, Minister. But I just wonder if there's anything you can say in terms of if the course of the virus does allow some easing of restrictions, would parkruns and spectator sports be at the front of the queue, so to speak.