Coronavirus increase in Wales driven by holidays abroad and failure to social distance- Minister
Vaughan Gething also gave details of Caerphilly's local lockdown
Last updated 8th Sep 2020
Wales's Health Minister has issued a stark warning that if Coronavirus cases continue to rise unchecked we'll see an increase in the number of people dying from it again.
Vaughan Gething said the rise in positive cases since the end of August was mainly in people under 40, and was being driven by holidaymakers bringing the virus back with them from abroad and not social distancing when socialising.
Over the last few days there have been over 100 cases of the virus confirmed in Wales, which is the highest level since June.
Mr Gething said 6 and a half thousand tests had been carried out every day over the last few days, including targeted community testing in Caerphilly where localised lockdown measures are coming into force this evening at 6pm.
Targeted testing will also be carried out in the lower Rhondda Valley where there has also been a localised rise in cases.
See the full briefing here:
Yn fyw nawr gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd, Vaughan Gething | Live now with Health Minister, Vaughan Gething https://t.co/poBNjlDn5N
— Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) September 8, 2020
Caerphilly lockdown from 6pm
He said the rate of spread of the disease in Caerphilly was one of the highest in the UK at 72.9 cases per 100,000 people.
The County goes into lockdown from this evening. It means:
Face coverings must be warn in indoor spaces by people over the age of 11, includin gin shops.
People in Caerphilly will no longer be able to meet indoors, except for care or compassionate reasons.
People cannot leave the Caerphilly area without good reason, such as work.
Dr Giri Shankar, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales supports the restrictions which are being put in place by the Welsh Government and Caerphilly Council. These measures are essential to limit the spread of Coronavirus and bring transmission under control.
“The measures include the mandatory wearing of face coverings in indoor spaces such as shops by everyone over the age of 11, limitations on travel in and out of the county, and only allowing people from different households to meet outdoors, not indoors – this includes extended households.
“Coronavirus can be a very serious illness, especially for older people or those with existing conditions, and a decision to introduce wide ranging restrictions such as these is not taken lightly. We remind the public that they have a vital role in preventing the spread of Coronavirus, and that adhering to these restrictions is of the utmost importance.”
“I would appeal to everyone in the Caerphilly area that if you have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms – a high temperature or fever, a new and persistent cough, or a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste, or even if you feel generally unwell with no explanation, to make use of the local testing units. "