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Coronavirus: Rhondda Cynon Taf to go into lockdown | Coronavirus: Rhondda Cynon Taf to go into lockdown |
(32 minutes later) | |
A second county in Wales will go into lockdown because of the rate of coronavirus cases. | A second county in Wales will go into lockdown because of the rate of coronavirus cases. |
The 240,000 people living in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) will have restrictions imposed on their daily lives. | The 240,000 people living in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) will have restrictions imposed on their daily lives. |
From 18:00 BST on Thursday, people will not be able to enter or leave the area without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education. | From 18:00 BST on Thursday, people will not be able to enter or leave the area without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education. |
All licensed pubs, bars and restaurants will have to shut by 23:00 every day, once the lockdown comes into effect. | |
Rules allowing people to meet others from their extended households indoors will be suspended in the county. | Rules allowing people to meet others from their extended households indoors will be suspended in the county. |
Health Minister Vaughan Gething said there had been a "rapid" rise in cases, with 82.1 infections per 100,000 people over the past seven days. | Health Minister Vaughan Gething said there had been a "rapid" rise in cases, with 82.1 infections per 100,000 people over the past seven days. |
The latest equivalent figure across the whole of Wales is 21.4 per 100,000. | The latest equivalent figure across the whole of Wales is 21.4 per 100,000. |
It is the second local lockdown in Wales, after Caerphilly county borough was made subject to restrictions last week. | |
Wednesday's rate of positive tests for the past week in RCT was 5.1% - the highest in Wales. Mr Gething previously warned a positive rate of 4% across Wales would trigger a national lockdown. The Wales average is 2.4%. | Wednesday's rate of positive tests for the past week in RCT was 5.1% - the highest in Wales. Mr Gething previously warned a positive rate of 4% across Wales would trigger a national lockdown. The Wales average is 2.4%. |
Figures on Wednesday showed RCT's case rate had almost caught up with Caerphilly, which had 83.4 per 100,000 people over the past seven days. | Figures on Wednesday showed RCT's case rate had almost caught up with Caerphilly, which had 83.4 per 100,000 people over the past seven days. |
The lockdown restrictions have been imposed despite people in RCT having been asked to take extra precautions last week. | The lockdown restrictions have been imposed despite people in RCT having been asked to take extra precautions last week. |
A review into the lockdown will be held in two weeks' time. | A review into the lockdown will be held in two weeks' time. |
Contact tracing teams have been able to trace about half of the coronavirus cases in RCT "back to a series of clusters within the borough", Mr Gething told a press conference. | Contact tracing teams have been able to trace about half of the coronavirus cases in RCT "back to a series of clusters within the borough", Mr Gething told a press conference. |
"The rest are evidence of community transmission." | "The rest are evidence of community transmission." |
'Irresponsible' | 'Irresponsible' |
One cluster is associated with a rugby club and a pub in the lower Rhondda valley, another is connected to a club outing to the Doncaster races, which Mr Gething said stopped off at a series of pubs on the way. | One cluster is associated with a rugby club and a pub in the lower Rhondda valley, another is connected to a club outing to the Doncaster races, which Mr Gething said stopped off at a series of pubs on the way. |
"My message is that is absolutely the wrong thing to do," said the health minister. | "My message is that is absolutely the wrong thing to do," said the health minister. |
"Somebody in that party should have recognised they were acting outside the rules and they were a significant risk to themselves and their families at home. | "Somebody in that party should have recognised they were acting outside the rules and they were a significant risk to themselves and their families at home. |
"This wasn't a group of young people - it's entirely possible for people in their 40s and 50s to behave irresponsibly, and we've seen a significant spread from that event. | "This wasn't a group of young people - it's entirely possible for people in their 40s and 50s to behave irresponsibly, and we've seen a significant spread from that event. |
"So think about the choices you're making and about how you, your family and community would want to be kept safe." | "So think about the choices you're making and about how you, your family and community would want to be kept safe." |
Under the lockdown rules, no-one will be able to leave or enter the county without a reasonable excuse. | Under the lockdown rules, no-one will be able to leave or enter the county without a reasonable excuse. |
The list of excuses to travel is the same as in Caerphilly, including: | The list of excuses to travel is the same as in Caerphilly, including: |
Motorists will be able to drive through the county borough, providing they do not stop. | Motorists will be able to drive through the county borough, providing they do not stop. |
The rules can be enforced by a system of fixed penalty notices, which start at £60 to a maximum of £1,920, or unlimited fines in the courts. | The rules can be enforced by a system of fixed penalty notices, which start at £60 to a maximum of £1,920, or unlimited fines in the courts. |
Joy Carter owns the florist Flowers By Joy in Aberdare town centre. She described the local lockdown as a "nightmare again". | Joy Carter owns the florist Flowers By Joy in Aberdare town centre. She described the local lockdown as a "nightmare again". |
"It's crazy. Last time it was so difficult. I don't understand how I can go into a pub but not a house. | "It's crazy. Last time it was so difficult. I don't understand how I can go into a pub but not a house. |
"I'm doing flowers for a wedding this Saturday - what will they do? It's been so difficult with the weddings and funerals." | "I'm doing flowers for a wedding this Saturday - what will they do? It's been so difficult with the weddings and funerals." |
She said the town had been busy all day, but added: "What's it going to be like tomorrow? | She said the town had been busy all day, but added: "What's it going to be like tomorrow? |
"As for trade, people are going to be too afraid to go out again, especially older people. A few have said they had better stay in. | "As for trade, people are going to be too afraid to go out again, especially older people. A few have said they had better stay in. |
"It's really scary." | "It's really scary." |
She said she will stay open "even if I put the shutters down and just take orders over the phone". | She said she will stay open "even if I put the shutters down and just take orders over the phone". |
"I don't think anyone can be blamed. I think it's going to be around for a long time," she said. | "I don't think anyone can be blamed. I think it's going to be around for a long time," she said. |
Barber Sirwan Hussein said it was clear there was problems with people respecting covid rules. | Barber Sirwan Hussein said it was clear there was problems with people respecting covid rules. |
"I think people don't care about social distancing," he said. | "I think people don't care about social distancing," he said. |
"I've been around everywhere, and not many people are wearing a mask. | "I've been around everywhere, and not many people are wearing a mask. |
"The UK is going to be locked down again - we'll all be in lockdown again." | "The UK is going to be locked down again - we'll all be in lockdown again." |
He said he had a client who did not want to wear a mask, even though it is now the law indoors in Wales. | He said he had a client who did not want to wear a mask, even though it is now the law indoors in Wales. |
"He said if they want to fine me - fine me - I'll pay the fine, but I'm not going to wear a mask." | "He said if they want to fine me - fine me - I'll pay the fine, but I'm not going to wear a mask." |
Aberdare butcher David Bishop said he did not believe the new rules in RCT would not have a major impact. | Aberdare butcher David Bishop said he did not believe the new rules in RCT would not have a major impact. |
"Everything is going to be open as normal, it just affects the daily lives of families meeting together," said the 54-year-old. | "Everything is going to be open as normal, it just affects the daily lives of families meeting together," said the 54-year-old. |
He said there could be a silver lining for businesses such as his. | He said there could be a silver lining for businesses such as his. |
"We were open right through the original lockdown, and in real terms it actually got busier for us," he said. | "We were open right through the original lockdown, and in real terms it actually got busier for us," he said. |
"Now it's back to normal levels - maybe this will make us busier again." | "Now it's back to normal levels - maybe this will make us busier again." |
Rules allowing people to meet six people from their extended household in Wales will also not apply in RCT. | Rules allowing people to meet six people from their extended household in Wales will also not apply in RCT. |
Mr Gething said residents will be able to meet outdoors "for the time being". | Mr Gething said residents will be able to meet outdoors "for the time being". |
Rhondda Labour MP Chris Bryant said: "Now we need to stick to the rules and get the transmission rate down to protect the NHS and the most vulnerable." | Rhondda Labour MP Chris Bryant said: "Now we need to stick to the rules and get the transmission rate down to protect the NHS and the most vulnerable." |
Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru Rhondda Member of the Senedd (MS), said it was "disappointing, but not a surprise". | Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru Rhondda Member of the Senedd (MS), said it was "disappointing, but not a surprise". |
"The sooner we get this under control, the sooner we can ease restrictions and the safer our loved ones will be," she added. | "The sooner we get this under control, the sooner we can ease restrictions and the safer our loved ones will be," she added. |
Pontypridd MP Alex Davies-Jones said: "I know the news of tighter coronavirus restrictions will be worrying for people across Ponty, but I am confident that this is the right approach in order to reduce the number of cases locally." | Pontypridd MP Alex Davies-Jones said: "I know the news of tighter coronavirus restrictions will be worrying for people across Ponty, but I am confident that this is the right approach in order to reduce the number of cases locally." |
Pubs to shut at night, but not to close altogether | Pubs to shut at night, but not to close altogether |
The difference in rules around pubs in RCT and Caerphilly prompted questions from the Welsh Conservative health spokesman Andrew RT Davies. | The difference in rules around pubs in RCT and Caerphilly prompted questions from the Welsh Conservative health spokesman Andrew RT Davies. |
"The health minister must explain the rationale behind this and give guidance across Wales to prevent other lockdowns." | "The health minister must explain the rationale behind this and give guidance across Wales to prevent other lockdowns." |
Mr Gething said pubs were a "factor in transmission" in RCT, but had not been in Caerphilly. | Mr Gething said pubs were a "factor in transmission" in RCT, but had not been in Caerphilly. |
He said a series of bars and pubs have faced closures and improvement notices in the area. | He said a series of bars and pubs have faced closures and improvement notices in the area. |
A bar has been shut in Pontypridd after a series of breaches were captured on CCTV, a licensed premise was closed in Tonypandy and improvement notices for another bar in Pontypridd and a barbers in Tonypandy were also issued. | A bar has been shut in Pontypridd after a series of breaches were captured on CCTV, a licensed premise was closed in Tonypandy and improvement notices for another bar in Pontypridd and a barbers in Tonypandy were also issued. |
A further 50 licensed premises were visited by council officers over the weekend, Mr Gething said. | A further 50 licensed premises were visited by council officers over the weekend, Mr Gething said. |
Asked why he was not closing all pubs, Mr Gething said: "If there are no opportunities to drink in licenced premises we may see more people breaking the rules and drinking in each other's homes." | Asked why he was not closing all pubs, Mr Gething said: "If there are no opportunities to drink in licenced premises we may see more people breaking the rules and drinking in each other's homes." |
Ystrad councillor Elyn Stephens told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she welcomed the decision to impose fresh restrictions, however she said some concerns remained over pubs. | Ystrad councillor Elyn Stephens told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she welcomed the decision to impose fresh restrictions, however she said some concerns remained over pubs. |
"There are questions to be answered about why the lockdown wasn't localised to the known clusters, in the lower Rhondda, a fortnight ago when they first became apparent. | "There are questions to be answered about why the lockdown wasn't localised to the known clusters, in the lower Rhondda, a fortnight ago when they first became apparent. |
"The response I've received so far to the announcement has been overwhelming anger and frustration that the pubs are still open, when residents cannot see their families." | "The response I've received so far to the announcement has been overwhelming anger and frustration that the pubs are still open, when residents cannot see their families." |