Drakeford: Passes and mask wearing to continue into 2022 – but back to ‘normal’ in spring/summer
The First Minister has said that he expects Covid passes and mask-wearing to continue into 2022 in Wales, but that the country will be able to go back to “normal” in spring or summer “if we’re lucky”.
Mark Drakeford was speaking with Tom Swarbrick on LBC today when he made the comments.
“Mask-wearing in crowded public places, continuing to ask people to work from home, a Covid pass for high-risk locations – that is the suite of measures we hope will see us through this autumn and winter without needing to do anything else,” he said.
“But I do expect they will continue into the early part of next year.”
He also added that “for the rest of this financial year” they would not charge for the use of lateral flow tests in Wales, but that could change as Covid becomes one virus among many that needed managing.
“We will all have to get to a position where we regard Covid as something we manage alongside the rest of our lives in the way that we manage many other health conditions,” he said.
“If we’re lucky and get to that position in the Spring or Summer of next year we’re all going to have to get to use to a regime than is more normal in the way we manage it, than expecting people to go get a test whenever they think they might be symptomatic.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
My main concern now is that mask wearing has been steadily declining for the last couple of months, even though the rules haven’t changed.
I was on a busy train from Barry to Cardiff yesterday morning and most people weren’t wearing masks. It’s been getting worse.
All well and good for the Welsh gov to keep some restrictions (which I support) but there needs to be more compliance.
I agree wholeheartedly – I’ve already experienced some idiots refusing to wear masks in shops in Carmarthen this week. I challenged one abusive idiot in his hi-viz jacket only to be sworn at and told that we don’t need to wear masks in shops now. Welsh govt. really need to be re-inforcing that this is the rule here.
‘We will all have to get to a position where we regard Covid as something we manage alongside the rest of our lives in the way that we manage many other health conditions,” he said.
I have.
I will continue to use masks, even in the future if I feel a cold coming on, like the Asians.