Welsh leader Mark Drakeford has expressed concern over the spread of the Indian coronavirus variant across the border from England hot spots as his country prepares to further ease lockdown restrictions.
While ruling out a travel ban, the prime minister urged visitors to the Northwest to take “every precaution” to protect themselves and others from COVID-19[female[feminine.
Since Monday, groups of up to 30 people can meet outdoors, including in private gardens, while up to three households can meet indoors as Wales is moving towards alert level one.
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Concerts, football matches and sporting events can take place for up to 4,000 people standing and 10,000 people seated, provided that a full risk assessment and coronavirus precautions are in place.
The phased easing of COVID measures will be reviewed before June 21 to decide whether indoor events can resume.
Mr. Drakeford said the phased approach to unlocking will allow more people to get their shots twice amid growing concerns about the spread of the Indian variant, also known as the Delta variant, across the UK.
There are currently 97 cases of the highly transmissible strain in Wales, including a cluster in Conwy, in the north-west of the country, although Mr Drakeford has said they are being managed by public health teams.
He told Sky News: “We are more concerned with the extent to which this new variant is spreading across the border into the North West of England in particular, as it is simply inevitable that if this variant is now widespread in community in England, it will cross the border of Wales.
“So we are watching this very carefully. “
Pressed to see if this would see the reintroduction of a ban on cross-border travelMr Drakeford said: “We do not think this would be a proportionate action at the moment.
“We are very keen to welcome people …
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-06-04 08:03:00
