First Minister says leaving North Wales out of latest coronavirus restrictions ‘not in the interests’ of people in the region

First Minister Mark Drakeford has explained why today’s announcement of heightened coronavirus restrictions will cover all of Wales, rather than specific regions.

On Monday the revised control plan published by Welsh Government detailed a possible “national, regional or local” intervention, however the new level four measures will be initially for all of Wales, with a three week review thereafter.

The ‘key indicators’ to decide each level were published in the document as follows:

• Level One: Case rate of 50 per 100k , confirmed case rates for over 60s remain low. Test positivity below 3% over seven days. Hospital capacity being managed effectively and any potential pressure from increased cases is at least five to six weeks away.
• Level Two: Case rate between 50 and 150 cases per 100k, Test positivity more than 3% over seven days , Projection of future case incidence rates over next two weeks does not suggest significant rises.
• Level Three: Case rate more than 150 per 100k, test positivity over 5% over seven days and projection of future case incidence rates over next two weeks not anticipating significant rises.
• Level Four: Case rate more than 300 per 100k rolling seven day figure. Projection of future case incidence rates over next two weeks anticipating significant rises to more than 500 cases per 100,000 people, and Test positivity above 10% over seven days.

Welsh Government previously did not rule out localised measures, stating: “The alert levels and the measures set out will allow for assessment and action at any geographical level.”

In the latest Public Health Wales seven day rolling figures benchmark Wrexham is at 251.6 cases per 100k, with a positive proportion of tests standing at 15.7%.

This is higher than other areas in North Wales but also lower than some in the south.

The First Minister was today asked about the all-Wales approach, with cases per 100k figures in most South Wales far higher than in the north, and was asked why regional measures were not taken from the outset.

Mr Drakeford said: “That would not be in the interests of people in North Wales. We have seen in London where a lower level of restrictions failed to prevent the rise of the virus and now greater restrictions have to be in place.

“I think that to offer a lower level of protection to families in North Wales would not be consistent with the duty I have as First Minister.

“It would be an easy thing to do as I hear the calls, ‘Why are you expecting people in North Wales to do this?’ Because this will protect people in North Wales from the impact that would otherwise be felt there.

“Coronavirus is rising in every part of Wales. It is rising in the Betsi Cadwalader Health Board (North Wales) area as well.

“By taking action on an all Wales basis we are acting to protect people in every part of Wales.”

“If we reach a position where a stable pattern of differentiation has emerged, where it is clear that some parts of Wales are reliably in a different position, where numbers are falling not growing, then the plan we published on Monday allows us to make regional decisions.

“We are certainly not at that position today. When we come to the three week review of the measures that will come in after Christmas we will look at that of course.

“I am not prepared to offer North Wales a second class level of protection when I know that the measures we are taking will save peoples lives in that part of Wales.

“I want to do that every bit as much there, as I would in any part of our nation.”

You can view the full briefing and Q&A session from the First Minister on the below video:

Yn fyw nawr gyda'r Prif Weinidog, Mark Drakeford | Live now with the First Minister, Mark Drakeford https://t.co/xLbflZmEta

— Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) December 16, 2020

The above table of data from Public Health Wales reflects the information from yesterday, with PHW saying this morning, “Today there will be a delay in publishing our daily dashboard. As we announced on Friday 11 December planned maintenance of the NHS Welsh Laboratory Information Management System (WLIMS) was undertaken to allow for essential service upgrades to take place.

“This is affecting our daily reporting of Coronavirus figures. There is a delay, in incorporating data from the Lighthouse Laboratories. This means that we expect a backlog of results to come through over the coming days, and there will be a period of data reconciliation and validation that will affect our daily reporting figures for several days.

“This has not affected individuals receiving their results, and anyone who tests positive will be contacted by their local authority’s Test, Trace, Protect team in the usual way. Relevant stakeholders are in receipt of interim data.

“The Public Health Wales public-facing data dashboard is a rapid reporting tool which is subject to correction and reconciliation. Official statistics are provided by the Office of National Statistics”

Top pic: The current map showing case figures per MSOA of residence, you can find that and a ‘drillable’ map on the PHW dashboard.