Welsh chief medical officer warns ‘draconian measures’ could be brought back in if cases keep rising

The Welsh chief medical officer has warned that more “draconian measures” could be brought back into Wales if cases continue to rise.

Cases in Wales are at a record high with 716.9 cases per 100,000 population, which is the highest number out of all four nations of the UK.

Dr Frank Atherton told BBC Radio Wales, “Unless we as a society organise ourselves in a way that we follow the guidance that we know will stop transmission of the virus then, unfortunately, more draconian measures and legislative requirements may need to be brought back in.”

Dr Atherton said some people are acting as if the pandemic is over as people are ignoring the Welsh face mask’s law.

Dr Atheron told the BBC Wales Breakfast, “A very significant proportion of the Welsh population is still behaving with extreme caution and realises that we are not out of the woods with this yet, but there is a sense other places that it is all over.

“When we see people not using face coverings, even though it’s a legal requirement to do so, that worries me.

“When we see people crowding into taxis – as I saw down in Cardiff Bay last night – without face coverings and not being challenged, that worries me.

“When I see leisure centres which are overcrowded and people not social distancing, that really worries me.

“This is how the virus is spreading and, unless we can, as a society, organise ourselves in a way that we follow the guidance that we know will stop transmission of the virus, then unfortunately some of those more draconian measures and the legislative requirements may have to be brought back in.

“But that’s for Ministers.”