(Title Image: ITV Wales)
Earlier this afternoon, the First Minister announced some minor changes to the coronavirus pandemic lockdown rules in Wales.
- People will be allowed outside for exercise more than once a day, but only within a reasonable distance of home – so no day trips etc.
- Moves will be made with local authorities to gradually re-open some community facilities and certain types of businesses, including recycling centres/tips and libraries.
- Garden centres can reopen as long as they apply social distancing rules.
The new rules will come into force from Monday (11th May 2020) and will be reviewed in three weeks (w/c 1st June 2020).
“I want to thank everyone in Wales for this collective effort. Together we are helping to reduce the speed and spread of the virus. The result is a decreasing number of new cases and a reproduction rate that is going down.
“Our preference remains a four-nation response to coming out of lock-down, and we remain in consultation with all parts of the UK. Our duty is to the people of Wales, and our decisions will be based on the evidence and specific circumstances of Wales. “
– First Minister, Mark Drakeford (Lab, Cardiff West)
Scientific advice given to the Welsh Government states that it’s still far too early for a partial or complete lifting of the lockdown because the virus still passes through the population at too high a rate despite the overall decline in cases.
All other measures introduced at the start of the lockdown period remain in force, including working from home unless people otherwise can’t, practising 2 metres (6ft6) social distancing measures in public and discouraging unnecessary travel.
