As the Welsh Government prepares to publish an updated Coronavirus
Control Plan, setting out what will happen beyond alert level one,
face coverings will continue to be required in certain settings,
such as public transport and taxis, and health and social care, as
a minimum, while coronavirus remains a public health threat.
Active further consideration is being given to whether face
coverings should also be required in other settings, such as
retail, if restrictions are relaxed further.
Wales is currently at alert level one – face coverings are
mandatory in all indoor public places at alert level one and
above.
Next week, Ministers will hold the regular 21-day review of the
coronavirus regulations, which will set out whether restrictions
can be relaxed in some indoor places, including people’s homes.
They will also publish new plans setting out how Wales will move
beyond alert level one to a new alert level zero, with fewer
legal restrictions.
But Ministers today confirmed face coverings will continue to be
required by law in some places while coronavirus remains a public
health threat.
First Minister said:
We will need everyone’s help to keep coronavirus under control
as we continue to respond to the pandemic – this virus has
quite certainly not gone away.
We know many people are still worried and anxious about going
out. We will maintain the requirement to wear face coverings in
certain places – on public transport and health and social care
settings, and others where necessary – to help keep us all
safe.
Scientific evidence supports the use of face coverings, alongside
other measures, as a way of reducing the transmission of the
virus.
They largely protect other people, rather than the wearer,
against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and
mouth, which are the main sources of transmission of virus. They
are particularly useful in busy or crowded, indoor and
poorly-ventilated areas.
Public transport vehicles are usually enclosed spaces. If a train
or bus is crowded it may not be possible for people to choose not
to get on as it could be their only route to work.
Health and social care settings can be high risk environments
where sick patients and staff could be at increased risk of
exposure to the virus. Wearing face coverings in these areas can
help protect others.
The rules on face masks will also be changing in schools. On
Friday, Education Minister wrote to all
schools in Wales explaining that wearing face coverings in the
classroom will no longer be recommended from September.
Health Minister Eluned Morgan added:
Wearing face masks is an effective way of reducing the
transmission of coronavirus.
We all have a duty to help to protect each other. Keeping
everyone safe has been the Welsh Government’s priority through
the pandemic and will continue to be the priority in future.
The First Minister will make a statement to Plenary on Wednesday
setting out the outcome of the 21-day review and providing
further details on the new alert level zero.
