Focus should be on “eradicating” new cases – not “managing them”
The Welsh Government’s exit strategy is thin on detail on how it will end community transmission, Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price MS has said.
The Welsh Government published the document ‘Unlocking our society and economy: continuing the conversation’ today which outlines how it expects to ease lockdown restrictions.
Mr Price said any exit strategy for Wales should mirror the New Zealand model of driving down the R number to reduce number of avoidable deaths to zero and to “eradicate” new cases rather than simply “managing” them.
The Plaid Cymru Leader said local lockdowns should also be considered if there are local clusters once cases have been successfully suppressed nationally.
Mr Price said restrictions could not be eased safely until testing and tracing was in place and operational and encouraged everyone to stay at home to save lives.
Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price MS said,
“Whilst a cautious approach is a welcome approach, the Welsh Government’s exit strategy is thin on detail when it comes to ending community transmission. Plaid Cymru maintain that any exit strategy for Wales should mirror the model adopted so successfully by New Zealand and that all efforts be focused on driving down the R number to reduce the number of avoidable deaths to zero and to eradicate new cases rather than simply managing them.
“Once the number of new cases has been successfully suppressed nationally, the Welsh Government should consider a more local approach, with the ability to re-impose lockdown measures quickly in response to the emergence of new clusters. There doesn’t seem to be any clarity on this issue in this document.
“We cannot ease restrictions safely until a comprehensive and localised testing and tracing program has been put in place. The onus will fall on the Welsh Government to urgently change gear on testing and tracing to allow us to move safely on to the next phase on the path to recovery.
“Lockdown is difficult for us all but for now and for this weekend we must all stay at home to save lives.