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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:12 pm on 11 January 2022.

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Photo of Laura Anne Jones Laura Anne Jones Conservative 5:12, 11 January 2022

Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, happy new year. My colleagues Gareth, Russell and Mark have comprehensively asked most of what I wanted to cover, and our shared concerns, and Alun Davies too, who I don't often find myself agreeing with. However, on this case, I do, and I'd like to reiterate calls for that road map out of restrictions. There does need to be more of a comprehensive road map out of them, and there also needs to be something that—. The citizens of Wales are now crying out for some sort of goal to work towards, so I'd just like to reiterate that.

Also, just quickly on parkruns, I think from my discussions with them, I think it's the amount of extra volunteers needed. That's the problem when you want to try and split them up into groups of 50.

I want to ask you on face masks, if I may, Minister. I spoke to Dr Rob Orford, chief scientific adviser, this morning, about the need for masks in classrooms all day—not just around schools, in classrooms—and this decision, as we know, and the need to balance the harm, the balance of harms with this decision—. As we know, many headteachers and our children will have told you, too, the disruption to learning it causes, as well as the obvious impact on mental health, communication, and how uncomfortable it is. And also, as Altaf, my colleague, raised this morning, wearing the same mask all day long; I'm sure not sure how good that is. It'll be interesting to see your viewpoint on how much work and guidance has been done on that, and how they're disposed—how we dispose of masks in schools. I thought it was a very valid point raised by Altaf this morning. I was encouraged too by Dr Orford's response and acknowledgement of the detrimental effect masks in classrooms all day has on children and the need to remove them as soon as possible.

So, Minister, due to the figures that we are seeing, and the evidence that we've seen of South Africa and London, that we are sort of nearing that peak now here in Wales, how much longer do you foresee that we might have to have that restriction still in the guidance, to keep masks on in schools all day long? And do you have a date that you'd like to end that particular restriction? I know in England, it's 26 January. I was just wondering if you had a particular date in mind for people to work towards, and also how you're balancing mask wearing with ventilation, adaptations and testing in our schools. Thank you.