Lockdown in Wales to continue for another 3 weeks

First Minister, Mark Drakeford is set to confirm alert level four lockdown restrictions will remain in place in Wales for the next three weeks. But there are signs that Primary schools could return after the February half-term.

In a press briefing prior to the First Minister’s coronavirus review, due at lunchtime today, it was announced that while the situation in Wales is improving, lockdown restrictions must continue for another three weeks to allow the NHS to recover.

The First Minister will also indicate that the youngest learners in primary school could begin returning to school after the February half term, if rates of coronavirus continue to fall.

The Welsh Government plan to work with schools and education partners on a phased and flexible return to school after 22 February, if the public health situation continues to improve.

Rates of coronavirus across Wales have fallen below 200 cases per 100,000 people for the first time since early November. And every day, thousands more people receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine – the latest figures show almost 11% of the population have been vaccinated.

Commenting ahead of the Welsh Government’s latest lockdown review, Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies MS said: “I believe politicians of all stripes want this lockdown to be the very last and we will work with the Welsh Government to do whatever it takes to ensure this is the case.

“Coronavirus does not follow a predictable pattern and there is currently little headroom to make any changes to restrictions across Wales.

“We’d encourage Labour ministers to start work developing a route map out of lockdown, which should include crucial targets concerning the roll out of coronavirus jabs, falling numbers of infections and the reopening of schools and businesses.

“We are pleased to see an uptick in vaccination numbers but we remain concerned over the developing picture of a postcode lottery and the fact the Welsh Government has still not met its target of vaccinating 70 percent of people who are over 80.

“This has been a difficult period for our country, but as the vaccination rollout picks up pace and the finish line is in sight, it is for ministers in the coming weeks to lay out a roadmap to economic and societal recovery in Wales.”