Welsh Government explain “case numbers, incidence rates and test positivity is growing rapidly in Wrexham”

UPDATE: The Public Health Wales figures are out. Yesterday’s rolling 7 day figs for Wrexham was 33.1 per 100k up to the 26th. On today’s figures that has gone up to 43.4 per 100k – up to 27th. That data is delayed, and has the now usual note from PHW that there could be lag in data.

Day on day figures are +18 as well as that cases per 100k rise, and by comments earlier they are expected to rise further. Positivity rate for Wrexham is 6.8% on the day on day figures.

Dr Robin Howe, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales supports the introduction of new coronavirus restrictions in four local authority areas in North Wales – Denbighshire, Flintshire, Conwy and Wrexham – following a rise in cases. The new measures will come into force at 6pm on Thursday 1 October, to protect people’s health and control the spread of the virus in the four areas.”

“These arrangements are necessary in order to bring transmission of the virus under control in these areas. It is very important that we abide by the regulations in the areas in which we live and that we do not travel between local authority areas without a reasonable excuse.

“We thank the public in advance for sticking to these new restrictions, which are essential in reducing spread of the virus, protecting older and vulnerable people, and keeping Wales safe.”

Original information below…

Welsh Government have said measures have been taken for Wrexham as ‘case numbers, incidence and test positivity’ are rising in Wrexham rapidly.

Today we asked Minister Kirsty Williams at the regular Welsh Government lunchtime briefing about the ‘local lockdown’ measures being introduced for Wrexham from tomorrow evening.

Welsh Government have published a Q&A on what the restrictions will mean for the area on their site, “Wrexham County Borough lockdown: frequently asked questions“.

We pointed out that Wrexham had appeared to be doing better than other places, and that many people were expecting action for Flintshire and Denbighshire, but local lockdown measures for Wrexham have come as a surprise.

We asked the Minister to give clear detail on what has changed specifically in Wrexham, in terms of figures or any other information, over the last week or even last few days that had made that decision necessary.

The Minister replied, “Unfortunately case numbers, incidence rates and test positivity is growing rapidly in Wrexham. That’s very unfortunate indeed but it is simply the numbers involved that that led to this decision in conjunction with discussions with the local authority in Wrexham itself.

“Further details will be made available when the Health Minister gives a briefing to North Wales journalists, which I believe will happen later on today.”

Last night we asked Welsh Government a question along the same lines, noting that in terms of Wrexham things appeared quite positive locally and the Public Health Wales stats / rate per 100k appeared promising. We related the large amount of local feedback in the hours following the announcement questioning the gap between public figures, and the outcome announced and invited comment, detail and any statistics.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said this afternoon: “Unfortunately case numbers, incidence and test positivity are rising in Wrexham, as they are in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Conwy. We have taken swift action now in order to curb the spread of the virus and have worked closely with local authorities and the police in North Wales. We all have a part to play in reducing the spread of the virus and it’s important we all continue to follow the guidelines.”

At today’s briefing we also asked about the travel restrictions pointing out that during the first wave the Technical Advisory Cell said the spread of the virus followed the “major routes from England …. from Chester and Liverpool”.

We asked the Minister to explain the science that means people can’t travel from Wrexham to Flintshire, and people returning from Slovakia are subject to quarantine rules, yet people coming from covid hotspots in England have no restrictions. As the Welsh Government could legislate to stop that, we asked why that had not been done.

The Minister replied, “What the government I’m a part of has done is to write to the to the Prime Minister to ask the the British, the English government, to put those restrictions in place.”

“We’ve been very clear in Wales, as you said, ensuring that people in a public health protection area don’t travel to other areas. We think that’s an important part of safeguarding and bringing the virus into control. The First Minister has written to the Prime Minister in England asking him to do the same, because we understand that would be a very helpful way of controlling the virus even further. In the first instance, we do believe it is for England to make those provisions on behalf of English at citizens and we are waiting for a response from the Prime Minister”.

You can view the full briefing from this lunchtime on the below video, which includes the full Q&A session:

Yn fyw nawr gyda’r Gweinidog Addysg Kirsty Williams | Live now with Education Minister Kirsty Williams https://t.co/dadu1k1iB7

— Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) September 30, 2020