Welsh government publishes Coronavirus Control Plan for autumn/winter

The Welsh government has published its Coronavirus Control Plan for the autumn and winter periods.

First Minister Mark Drakeford advised that covid passports, mask wearing and recommendations to work from home will continue to be mandatory into 2022.

Compulsory NHS Covid passes must now be shown to demonstrate vaccination status to enter nightclubs and attend large events across Wales.

From 11th October, adults aged 18 or over in Wales will be required to prove, by using the COVID Pass, that they are either fully vaccinated or have had a negative lateral flow test if they wish to enter the following premises:

• Nightclubs and similar venues.
• Indoor, non-seated events for more than 500 people, such as concerts or conventions.
• Outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people.
• Any setting or event with more than 10,000 people in attendance

These are classed as “higher-risk” premises and events because it is not as easy to introduce reasonable measures, such as ventilation or social distancing to mitigate against the risk of coronavirus.

The updated Coronavirus Control Plan focuses on the options available to residents over the autumn and winter period. It also describes the two main scenarios – Covid Stable and Covid Urgent – which could lead to different responses.

Under the first of these, the Covid Stable scenario, the government would not need to re-impose the significant restrictions, such as legal limits on who can meet or which have required many businesses to close. Pressures on the NHS will be managed as part of normal NHS planning for winter, recognising a number of increased risks.

The other main scenario, Covid Urgent, recognises that new and unexpected Covid pressures could emerge, in which case action must be taken to protect public health and people’s lives. This would include a new, highly-transmissible variant establishing itself in Wales, or a variant which does not respond to the vaccine.

The main points

• Get vaccinated if you can – and have your booster jab when you’re invited. The vaccine is our best protection from coronavirus. It’s never too late to get vaccinated in Wales.
• Isolate and get a test when you have symptoms and avoid others when you’re ill. Everyone – even if you’ve been fully vaccinated – will need to isolate for 10 days if your test is positive.
• Meet outdoors where possible, or in well ventilated places indoors. Open windows and doors to introduce fresh air – even doing so for short periods can help ventilate the place you are in.
• Limit the number of people you meet with and keep your distance from others wherever possible.
• Avoid crowded places where possible.
• Wash your hands regularly, sneeze into tissues or your elbow and keep surfaces, which lots of people touch, clean.
• Wear a face covering in crowded spaces or when you’re not able to maintain a distance.
• Work from home whenever possible.

Wales has been able to move to alert level zero as a direct result of the collective efforts everyone has made.

The Coronavirus Control Plan for autumn and winter in Wales can be read in full here.