Second lockdown could be ‘weeks away’ for Wales

The Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething has warned that unless people change their behaviour a second coronavirus lockdown could be weeks away.

Gething warned that the high rate of infections is “similar to the situation we faced in early February.”

Coronavirus infections rose by 183 on Monday which is the largest daily rise in cases since 19 May. Wales introduced new restrictions on Monday making face coverings mandatory in public spaces, and more than six people are banned from meeting inside someone’s home.

Gething said, “In early February, we faced a position where we didn’t have the range of knowledge we have now, but we went into a national lockdown in essentially the third week of March.

“So there’s a period of weeks for us to resolve some of the challenges we have, which is why we appeal to people to reconsider the choices we’re making, who we’re seeing, how many people we’re seeing, because otherwise we may need to make more local lockdown choices or potentially a national lockdown with all the interruption that causes.”

The Health Minister was asked if Wales is heading into a second lockdown within seven weeks.

Gething responded with, “If there isn’t a change in behaviour, we could well be, not just seven weeks away from a national lockdown, it could potentially be much quicker.”