Announcement on extended households coming at the start of next week – FM

The First Minister has said that an announcement on extended households in Wales will be made early next week.

Scotland, Northern Ireland and England have announced so-called household ‘support bubbles’.

These allow adults who live alone or with dependent children only to mingle with another, similar household without the need to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

“We’ve had extensive discussions on the subject of extended households,” Mark Drakeford said at the daily press conference. “I hope to be in a position very early next week to make some announcements on that.

“Conversations are not concluded and will be continuing today. At the start of next week, we will have reached a decision and make an announcement.”

 

‘Small group’

The First Minister, however, said that there was a danger that mass gatherings such as that seen at Ogmore-on-sea yesterday could slow down the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

Videos posted on social media showed large crowds at Ogmore-by-Sea, Vale of Glamorgan, followed by violent clashes at 8pm yesterday.

South Wales Police said two men in their twenties had been detained by officers.

“We must not allow the ugly actions of a small group to cast a shadow over the efforts of everyone else,” the First Minister said.

“I don’t want what a small group has done in one place in Wales to reflect on everyone else.

“But it is important to send a message that if there is a more general breakdown of the efforts we have all made that will have an impact on our ability to lift restrictions.

“Last night’s pictures are a reminder of what happens when things go wrong.

“The way to avoid that is to carry on doing what the majority of people in Wales have been doing so far.”