What Can We Do in Wales after the firebreak?
Many people have made huge sacrifices to live within the rules, both before and during the firebreak. We now need to make sure that the effort we have made together is not wasted, and we do not have to undergo a further firebreak later in the year.
To do that, we all need to take steps to keep each other safe, and we must all keep living our lives differently.
- There are no travel restrictions in Wales and two households are now able to form a bubble.
- Pubs, bars and restaurants, gyms, and other businesses are also allowed to reopen.
- But different restrictions are being imposed as others are lifted.
- Businesses shut during the firebreak are being allowed to reopen, but the advice in Wales is to continue to avoid non-essential travel.
Two families can form a bubble and meet up again, as was the case prior to the firebreak lockdown in Wales.
The Welsh Government said people should limit themselves to seeing the same “one or two friends”.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said…..
“To help keep everyone as safe as possible at home, only people from your own household or your extended household can meet at home.”
We know that changing the rules to allow two households to join together and meet at home will not reflect the family dynamics of many people in Wales and it will not enable friends and young people to meet.”
He said that indoor organised events would be allowed over the winter because it would be more difficult to meet outside.
Now the firebreak lockdown is over, up to 15 people can take part in activities indoors and up to 30 outdoors – providing social distancing, hand hygiene and other Covid safety measures are followed.
The main things they are asking people to do are:
- Stay out of each other’s homes, except in very limited circumstances
- Limit the times you leave your home, and the distance you travel
- When you do leave home, please try and be restrained in how many different people you see. It is better to see the same one or two people regularly than to see lots of different people occasionally
- maintain social distancing, including outdoors
- meet people outdoors rather than indoors where possible, even in circumstances where the law allows you to meet indoors
- Work from home if you can
- Wash your hands regularly and follow other advice on hygiene
- Self-isolate if you show symptoms of coronavirus
Groups of four people from different households are allowed to meet indoors at pubs, cafes and restaurants. Four should be an absolute maximum and not a target.
The sale of alcohol after 10pm is still banned.
Larger groups of people who all live in the same house are allowed to eat and drink out together.
The rule of four will also apply when meeting people from different households outdoors, away from your home, but meeting anyone from outside your household bubble in someone’s garden is not allowed.
Two households are allowed to form a bubble, but groups of more than four people who are in the same bubble are not allowed in pubs, cafes or restaurants.
As for work, according to the new rules, the requirement to work from home whenever possible still remains. If your work is essential, you will be able to travel over the border into England, despite the fact they are in lockdown.
Mark Drakeford said about going into England……..
“It will be a restricted list of essential purposes, rather than the normal to and fro across the border that you would have seen in less fraught and difficult times.”
All schools have now reopened as normal. Primary and special schools reopened on the 2nd after the half-term break and in secondary schools only pupils in Years 7 and 8 went back to class during the firebreak.
Childcare facilities remained open during the firebreak lockdown and grandparents and other relatives could care for children, but only if no other methods of childcare was available.
After all this you may be in need of a holiday. That is allowed, but only within Wales.
While there are no restrictions on travel within Wales, international travel should be for essential reasons only, under the new guidelines, so foreign holidays are still not allowed.
Mr Drakeford said…….
“Tourism will be able to reopen in Wales. People won’t be confined to their local authority area as happened during local lockdowns.”
Our mental health issues are of great concern during this time so you are still allowed to make visits to another person’s home in Wales if they are concerned about their mental well-being.
Mr Drakeford said.
“Mental health was already a reasonable excuse to leave one’s home and this would continue under the new rules taking effect when the firebreak lockdown ends.
Every visit we make, every contact we have, brings risks to it, but where there is a genuine reason and people are making a visit because there is a mental welfare issue at stake, that will be allowable in Wales.”
NHS Statement: Saturday 7th November 2020
Dr Chris Williams, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said:
“Public Health Wales will work with Welsh Government to monitor the effect of the regulations which will come in at the end of the current fire-break period on 9 November 2020. We support the call for the public to take personal responsibility for their actions and to ensure that we are all doing as much as possible to limit the transmission of Coronavirus.
“Ahead of Remembrance Sunday this weekend, we are reminding the public that outdoor Acts of Remembrance can be held this weekend involving a maximum of 30 people, including event organisers. Indoor services are not permitted, so we would ask people to be responsible when paying their respects to those who have lost their lives in wars.
“Those travelling from overseas should note that Denmark, Germany and Sweden have been removed from the UK’s Coronavirus travel corridor list.
“As we approach the end of the fire-break period in Wales, we remind everyone that this does not mean a return to normality.
“Coronavirus is still active in communities across Wales, so we all need to take steps to keep everyone safe and to prevent the transmission of the disease.
“This means staying out of other people’s homes, limiting the times and the numbers of people that you meet, maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene, working from home if you can, and self-isolating if you show symptoms of coronavirus or are asked to do so by contact tracers.
“We recognise that many people may be finding life more challenging, resulting in difficulties with mental health. There are many agencies which provide help and support, including the C.A.L.L. helpline on 0800 132 737, which will refer callers to the most appropriate organisation according to their needs.
“If you are in severe mental distress or are having suicidal thoughts, please contact Samaritans Cymru free on 116 123.
“More information about the new rules is available at the Welsh Government website.
It is still important to look after your health, and you can you continue to attend appointments and seek help for urgent medical issues.
“Attending a booked NHS flu vaccination appointment and any of Public Health Wales’ screening clinics is a legitimate reason to travel during the firebreak.
“NHS Wales is still here to help you if you need care, and it’s important you continue to attend appointments and seek help for urgent medical issues. You can leave your home to access local health services, including your GP surgery, dentist, optometrist or other health service.
“You should phone beforehand and follow any guidance your local surgery, dentist, optometrist or health service has put in place to protect you and staff, including the need to keep 2m away from other patients.
“It’s especially important to look after our mental health and wellbeing at this time. You can find sources of advice and guidance on our website if you need some help or are worried about a loved one.
“If you or a member of your household develop symptoms of the Coronavirus, such as a cough, fever or change in sense of taste or smell, you must self-isolate immediately and book a free Coronavirus test at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
“Helpful advice and support is available via the NHS COVID-19 app. As well as providing alerts if you have been in contact with someone with Coronavirus, the app will also tell you the current risk level in your area.
“Information about the symptoms of Coronavirus is available on the Public Health Wales website, or via the NHS 111 Wales symptom checker.
Datganiad: Dydd Sadwrn 7 Tachwedd
Dywedodd Dr Chris Williams, Cyfarwyddwr Digwyddiadau ar gyfer yr ymateb i’r achosion o’r Coronafeirws Newydd (COVID-19) yn Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru:
“Bydd Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i fonitro effaith y rheoliadau a ddaw i rym ar ddiwedd y cyfnod atal byr ar 9 Tachwedd 2020. Rydym yn cefnogi’r cais am i’r cyhoedd ysgwyddo cyfrifoldeb personol am eu gweithredoedd a sicrhau eu bod yn gwneud cymaint â phosib i gyfyngu ar drosglwyddo’r Coronafeirws.
“Cyn Sul y Cofio y penwythnos yma, rydym yn atgoffa’r cyhoedd y gellir cynnal Digwyddiadau Cofio awyr agored sy’n cynnwys uchafswm o 30 o bobl, gan gynnwys trefnwyr y digwyddiad. Ni chaniateir gwasanaethau dan do felly rydym yn gofyn i bobl fod yn gyfrifol wrth dalu teyrnged i’r rhai a gollodd eu bywydau yn y rhyfeloedd.
“Dylai pawb sy’n teithio o dramor nodi bod Denmarc, yr Almaen a Sweden wedi cael eu tynnu oddi ar restr coridorau teithio’r Coronafeirws yn y DU.
“Wrth i ni ddod at ddiwedd y cyfnod atal byr yng Nghymru, rydym yn atgoffa pawb nad yw hyn yn golygu dychwelyd at normalrwydd.
“Mae’r Coronafeirws yn bodoli o hyd mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru, felly rhaid i ni i gyd gymryd camau i gadw pawb yn ddiogel ac atal trosglwyddo’r afiechyd.
“Mae hyn yn golygu cadw o gartrefi pobl eraill, cyfyngu ar y nifer o weithiau a’r nifer o bobl rydych yn eu cyfarfod, cadw pellter cymdeithasol a sicrhau hylendid dwylo, gweithio o gartref os gallwch chi, a hunanynysu os ydych chi’n dangos symptomau’r coronafeirws neu os gofynnir i chi wneud hynny gan olrheinwyr cysylltiadau.
“Rydym yn deall bod llawer o bobl yn teimlo bod bywyd yn fwy heriol ar hyn o bryd, gan arwain at anawsterau gydag iechyd meddwl. Mae llawer o asiantaethau’n darparu help a chefnogaeth, gan gynnwys llinell gymorth C.A.L.L. ar 0800 132 737, a fydd yn cyfeirio pawb sy’n eu ffonio at y sefydliad mwyaf priodol yn unol â’u hanghenion.
“Os ydych chi’n dioddef o ofid meddyliol difrifol neu’n meddwl am hunanladdiad, cysylltwch â Samariaid Cymru am ddim ar 116 123.
“Mae mwy o wybodaeth am y rheolau newydd ar gael ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru.
“Mae’n bwysig o hyd gofalu am eich iechyd yn ystod y cyfnod atal byr, a gallwch barhau i fynychu apwyntiadau a cheisio cymorth ar gyfer materion meddygol brys.
“Mae mynychu apwyntiad wedi’i drefnu i gael brechiad ffliw y GIG a mynychu unrhyw un o glinigau sgrinio Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn rheswm dilys dros deithio yn ystod y cyfnod atal byr.
“Mae GIG Cymru yma o hyd i’ch helpu chi os oes angen gofal arnoch, ac mae’n bwysig i chi barhau i fynychu apwyntiadau a chael cymorth ar gyfer materion meddygol brys. Gallwch adael eich cartref i gael mynediad at wasanaethau iechyd lleol, gan gynnwys eich practis meddyg teulu, eich deintydd, optometrydd neu wasanaeth iechyd arall.
“Dylech ffonio ymlaen llaw a dilyn unrhyw ganllawiau mae eich practis meddyg teulu lleol, eich deintydd, optometrydd neu wasanaeth iechyd wedi’i roi ar waith i’ch diogelu chi a staff, gan gynnwys yr angen i gadw 2m i ffwrdd oddi wrth gleifion eraill.
“Mae’n arbennig o bwysig gofalu am ein hiechyd meddwl a’n llesiant yn ystod yr adeg hon. Os oes angen rhywfaint o help arnoch, neu os ydych chi’n poeni am anwyliaid, gallwch ddod o hyd i ffynonellau cyngor ac arweiniad ar ein gwefan.
“Os byddwch chi neu aelod o’ch aelwyd yn datblygu symptomau’r Coronafeirws, fel peswch, tymheredd uchel neu newid i’ch synnwyr blasu neu arogli, rhaid i chi hunanynysu ar unwaith ac archebu prawf Coronafeirws am ddim yn www.gov.uk/get -coronavirus-test neu drwy ffonio 119.
“Mae cyngor a chymorth defnyddiol ar gael trwy ap COVID-19 y GIG. Yn ogystal â darparu rhybuddion os ydych chi wedi bod mewn cysylltiad â rhywun â’r Coronafeirws, bydd yr ap hefyd yn dweud wrthych chi beth yw lefel gyfredol y risg yn eich ardal chi.
“Mae gwybodaeth am symptomau’r Coronafeirws ar gael ar wefan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, neu drwy wiriwr symptomau GIG 111 Cymru.
Information on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The number of confirmed cases in the UK, and the number of tests undertaken in the UK, are available from Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England (PHE).
Of tests undertaken in the UK, are available from Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England (PHE).