First Minister of Wales has set out a two-phase plan
to respond to the current delta variant and the new, fast-moving,
easily-transmissible omicron variant, which is expected to be the
dominant form of the virus in the UK by the end of the month.
The Welsh Government is issuing strong guidance to support people
across Wales through the Christmas period.
Wales will then introduce new restrictions, including for
businesses and services – from 27 December. This will include a
2m rule on social distancing in offices and putting extra
measures in place to protect customers and staff, such as one-way
systems and physical barriers.
Nightclubs will also close. These tougher restrictions are needed
to help control the spread of omicron.
First Minister said:
“Delta will continue to be the main cause of coronavirus
infections in Wales up to Christmas. But we are seeing cases of
omicron increasing rapidly every day in Wales – and across the
UK.
“We need a plan to keep us safe this Christmas and we need
stronger measures to protect us afterwards, as we prepare for a
large wave of omicron infections.
“Omicron poses a new threat to our health and safety. It is the
most serious development in the pandemic to date.
“It is one we must take seriously. We will continue to put in
place proportionate measures to protect people’s lives and
livelihoods.
“This is a virus which thrives on human contact. Every contact we
have is an opportunity for us to spread or catch the
virus.”
The First Minister will today urge everyone to follow five simple
steps for a safer Christmas, as he says the more people we see in
the run-up to Christmas, the more opportunities the virus has to
spread.
Reducing our contact with others, especially if we are seeing
older people or more vulnerable people over Christmas, will help
to protect them from the virus.
To stay safe in the run up to Christmas, the Welsh Government is
strongly advising everyone to follow these five measures to stay
safe:
- Get vaccinated – and if you’ve had your booster appointment,
please make attending your priority.
- If you’re going out, going Christmas shopping or visiting
people – flow before you go. Take a lateral flow test. If it’s
positive – don’t go out.
- Meeting outdoors is better than indoors. If you’re meeting
indoors make sure it’s well ventilated.
- Space out your socialising – if you’ve got events arranged,
please leave at least a day between them.
- And don’t forget about social distancing, wearing a face
covering and washing your hands.
The regulations will also be changed to include a requirement to
work from home wherever possible.
After Christmas, on 27 December new legal restrictions will come
into force, to help protect against the spread of the omicron
variant.
The Welsh Government has announced up to £60m will be available
to support businesses affected by the new restrictions.
The First Minister added:
“This year a smaller Christmas is a safer Christmas. The fewer
people we see, the less chance we have of catching or passing on
the virus.
“Please enjoy Christmas with your nearest and dearest – and think
about meeting up with wider circles of friends when the threat
posed by the omicron variant has passed over.
“I also want to thank the many thousands of people who will be
working this Christmas to keep us safe – especially all those who
have cancelled their plans to work in the vaccination centres
across Wales to increase our protection against this awful
virus.”
