People in Wales urged to follow lockdown rules as vaccine rollout continues

17 January 2021, 14:31

A Covid-19 safety measure poster seen in Swansea, Wales
A Covid-19 safety measure poster seen in Swansea, Wales. Picture: PA

By Megan White

People in Wales have been urged to stick to coronavirus lockdown rules as the "significant task" of vaccinating adults continues.

Dr Eleri Davies, incident director for the coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said people should adopt the "same mindset" for the current lockdown as they did in March 2020.

In a statement released on Sunday afternoon, Dr Davies said: "Vaccinating the adult population of Wales, to protect people from severe disease, is a significant task and the vaccine will take time to reach everyone.

Read more: 'Too early' for Brits to book summer holidays, Dominic Raab tells LBC

"The effects of the vaccines may not be seen nationally for some time and we must continue to follow the advice on keeping Wales safe."

It comes following criticism of the Welsh Government over the past week for vaccinating fewer people in proportion to its population than the other home nations.

Former CSA: 'Danger is to relax restrictions too soon'

The House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee heard on Thursday that the ratio of people receiving the first dose of the vaccine per 100,000 was 3,215.

This compared to 3,514 in Scotland, 4,005 in England and 4,828 in Northern Ireland.

As of Saturday morning, 126,375 individuals have received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, according to Public Health Wales.

The country has received about 250,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and 50,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine so far.

Dr Davies said: "The number of positive coronavirus cases remains extremely high in Wales and is cause for serious concern, due to the impact on NHS Wales services.

"All of Wales remains in lockdown. We ask that the public adopts the same mindset for this lockdown as they did in March 2020.

"We understand that people are fatigued but because the new, more infectious variant of coronavirus is circulating across Wales it is vital that we all keep to the lockdown restrictions and do not meet other people.

Former CSA: Good news in pandemic battle, but we must be cautious

"This means that you must stay at home. If exercising outdoors, please do this alone or with members of your household or support bubble only.

"Shop online but if you do need to visit essential retail then do this alone, if possible, to minimise numbers of people in retail spaces, and avoid stopping to chat with people outside your household.

"If you must leave home keep your distance, wash your hands regularly, and wear a face mask when required according to the regulations."

She went on to remind people to follow the latest travel restrictions which are set to come in on Monday.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says