FOLLOWING the four UK Nations meeting earlier today the Welsh Government announced that the higher level restrictions, alert level 4 would come into force from midnight tonight on Saturday 19 December 2020 for the whole of Wales.

Originally, it was noted that restrictions would be introduced after a five-day relaxation period over Christmas, but because the number of cases is currently increasing very rapidly, and concern that a much more infectious variant of the virus is spreading more quickly the Welsh Government decided to introduce the restrictions immediately.

From today changes have been introduced that affect businesses and residents of Pembrokeshire as follows:

• All non-essential retail businesses, including close contact services, all leisure and fitness centres and all hospitality sites will close at the end of the day.
• Tighter restrictions on mixing between households will change from tonight.  Two families can create a bubble on Christmas day only. It will not be possible to do so over the 5 days as originally stated.  However, a single person household will be able to join with one other household throughout the level 4 period.

Mark Drakeford said that Saturday was one of the days where new information required an immediate response.

“Changing our plans at short notice is going to be very difficult for us all”, he said, “but we can only overcome this by working together.  It is essential that we respond immediately to this danger.”

To play our part and to keep each other safe, it is important that we abide by the rules and remember to:

• Adhere to the rules of keeping a social distance with people who do not live with us or who are not in our support bubble
• Wear face covering (if we can) in all indoor public places
• Stay at home
• Not forming an extended household (adults living alone or single parents are allowed to join one other household to create a support bubble)
• Don’t meet anyone indoors except for the people we live with or who are in our support bubble
• Don’t meet anyone but our household or support bubble in a private garden
• Don’t meet anyone but our household or outdoor support bubble
• Work from home if we can
• Not travelling without reasonable excuse
• Not travelling abroad without reasonable excuse.

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, however mild, you must self-isolate at home and arrange an immediate test, leaving your home for a test only. You can order a test online or by calling 119.

Be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19. The symptoms of COVID-19 include high temperatures, a new continuous cough and experiencing loss or change in sense of smell or sense of taste. But also, the early symptoms can usually include headaches, fatigue and general flu-related pains. So we encourage people who feel unwell to be very careful, especially to wash hands and keep a distance, and if in doubt, order a test.

Together we can keep Pembrokeshire safe.

Responding to the news that Wales is going into lockdown, Darren Hughes, Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation said: “The message today from the First Minister is a sobering one for us all. Over the last few weeks we have warned that our hospitals in Wales are becoming overwhelmed with people suffering from Coronavirus. As the prevalence within our communities continues to grow, the knock on effect we have seen in terms of staff absences has been very significant putting services under extreme pressure.  These members of staff live in, work in and treat people within these same communities.

“It is clear we needed to take steps now to get the virus under control, the NHS in Wales simply could not cope if we followed the current trajectory and transmission rates. Unfortunately, we need another huge and difficult national effort to help us get through the worst of this. We need everyone to please respect the restrictions and help us overcome this virus over the coming weeks.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel with the emergence of the vaccine, and of course we are working round the clock to make sure that is delivered as quickly as possible.”

“Nobody within the NHS wants to see these restrictions in place. We know there are harms which are caused by the measures. However, the price we would pay if we let the virus get out of the control would be even greater.”