This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-59608292
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Wales Covid rules reviewed twice before Christmas | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Mark Drakeford fears the speed of Omicron transmission could see a surge in hospital admissions | |
| Wales' coronavirus rules will now be reviewed weekly instead of every three weeks in response to the Omicron variant of coronavirus. | Wales' coronavirus rules will now be reviewed weekly instead of every three weeks in response to the Omicron variant of coronavirus. |
| First Minister Mark Drakeford said ministers will be monitoring the situation closely if they need to put in place "additional protections". | First Minister Mark Drakeford said ministers will be monitoring the situation closely if they need to put in place "additional protections". |
| The change means there would be two weekly reviews in the run-up to Christmas Day. | The change means there would be two weekly reviews in the run-up to Christmas Day. |
| He said Wales will remain at "alert level zero" for the next week. | He said Wales will remain at "alert level zero" for the next week. |
| The Welsh government urged individuals to take lateral flow tests before going shopping, going to Christmas parties or visiting others. | The Welsh government urged individuals to take lateral flow tests before going shopping, going to Christmas parties or visiting others. |
| It also extended guidance on mask wearing to pubs and restaurants, when people are not eating. | It also extended guidance on mask wearing to pubs and restaurants, when people are not eating. |
| People urged to use Covid tests before going out | |
| Does Wales have its own Covid Plan B? | |
| It comes as the Scottish government warned of a "tsunami" of Omicron cases. | |
| The first minister said Wales "may be about a week behind what is happening in other parts of England and Scotland". | |
| "And that may give us a little bit more time here in Wales to learn and to act". | |
| It is unclear what restrictions Wales will have over Christmas | |
| Nine cases of Omicron have been found in Wales, among a total of 817 in the UK. | |
| But it is believed that the figures are vast underestimates. | |
| Mr Drakeford said there is still a lot that is not known about the variant, or how severe an illness it can cause. | |
| But he expressed fears the speed of transmission could lead to a large increase in hospital admissions. | |
| He said ministers would act early if data shows the variant is causing significant problems. | |
| But the first minister said he could not give a "precise sense of what exactly would trigger action". | |
| "Difficult as it is and upsetting as it can be, I still think the right thing to do is to follow that advice," he said. |