Future planning for Coronavirus in Wales

The Coronavirus Control Plan for Wales today (Tuesday 18th) sets out how all partners – including local government, health boards, businesses and the people of Wales – must work together to manage the risks of coronavirus.

The Welsh Government has set out plans for this phase of the pandemic. It highlights the importance of Wales’ response being a collective effort with everyone having a role to play to help stop the spread of the virus.

The plan has five key areas of intervention, which are:

• prevention
• new cases and clusters
• incidents and outbreaks
• local and regional measures
• all-Wales measures

At each level of intervention, the plan sets out the approach we will take should prevalence of the virus increase. The most important element is prevention, including what we can all do to prevent the spread of coronavirus – such as washing our hands and keeping two metres apart. Working together to prevent coronavirus spreading in the first place is the only way further restrictions on our daily lives will be prevented.

At each level, we have systems in place across Wales to respond to new cases, clusters or outbreaks. Should it be necessary, we also set out in the plan our approach to introducing wider local, regional or all-Wales measures to keep Wales safe.

Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething said:

Coronavirus has not gone away, so it’s vital we continue to monitor, adapt and plan for any future outbreaks. We know that this virus prefers cold weather and, with autumn approaching, the plan sets out further steps we will take to keep Wales safe. 

We are placing a huge importance on prevention. By getting that stage right we can avoid further restrictions on our lives. None of us wants to see another lockdown like we saw in March this year.

We have shown that, working with partners, we can efficiently and effectively manage small incidents and outbreaks – as we saw in Anglesey and Merthyr Tydfil. 

Our key messages is that each person, businesses and organisation has their part to play in preventing the spread of coronavirus.