Stay with own household Christmas plea
Councils and NHS in Swansea Bay region write to all residents
NHS and council leaders have written to every householder in the Swansea Bay area urging residents to stay at home for Christmas.
They say NHS and social care services are threatening to buckle under the strain of dealing with soaring numbers of Covid-19 cases - including a highly-infectious new strain of the virus - that show no sign of slowing.
First Minister Mark Drakeford announced on Saturday that to protect people from a new strain of the virus people are now not allowed to visit other households except on Christmas Day. The maximum is now two households, though those in single-person households are allowed to join with two others.
Stay with own household plea
But while the new Welsh Government rules have placed the country in strict Tier 4 measures, local leaders are asking people to go further and simply stay with their own household on Christmas Day.
The message is being backed up by the letter to every home.
Dr Keith Reid, Executive Director for Public Health in Swansea Bay, said:
"We are all on the same side and we need people to celebrate differently this Christmas.
"We are fighting a new strain of Covid-19, rising numbers of people are testing positive in Swansea Bay every week and our NHS and social care services are struggling to take the strain.
"Welsh Government law says two households can meet on Christmas Day but please ask yourself not what you can do but what do you need to do? If you can, please go one better than two households and keep it to one.
27 dead in 7 days
In the seven days to December 20, 27 people in the Swansea Bay area died from Covid-19.
The number of positive cases in the area was 3,351 with 1,929 in Swansea and 1,442 in Neath Port-Talbot.
The figures are more than 10 times higher than the first week after Swansea Bay went into a local lockdown in September when 228 people in Swansea and 85 in Neath Port Talbot tested positive for the virus.
Exceptions for those living alone
Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council said:
"This is not the Christmas anyone wanted but the virus does not respect holidays or calendar dates so we must deal with the situation we find ourselves in. It is critical that everyone plays their part this time.
"Tier 4 measures are very similar to those in the initial lockdown in March. Apart from going out for the essentials like food shopping and exercise, people must stay at home and work from home if possible.
"With one or two exemptions, for example for those living alone, we must not mix with other households. For some friends and relatives are still dying because of this virus and the number of deaths is rising. We can stop the spread and cut the deaths by not socialising with others and by keeping to the hands-face-space routine more.
"The alternative is letting the virus into our home and put our loved ones at risk, which no one wants to do."
Cllr Rob Jones, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said:
"We can protect ourselves and protect others by following the rules. Staying healthy is the best gift we can offer our families and our communities this festive season.
"The vaccine is here but it can't make a big difference this Christmas. Only we and our families can do that."