English and Welsh authorities release joint statement asking people to respect Wales’ Covid rules
Four local authorities on both sides of the Welsh-English border have released a joint statement calling on people to respect the fact that Covid-19 restrictions are different in Wales.
Chester, Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire councils called on visitors to Wales to respect staff working in tourism, hospitality and leisure industries.
It follows ‘freedom day’ in England on Monday in which rules on mask-wearing and how many people can meet under the same roof have been ditched. In Wales, however, face coverings remain mandatory in indoor public places and only up to six people will be able to meet indoors in private homes.
The joint statement by the four councils says: “The changes in restrictions follow the success of the vaccination programme, which has weakened the link between infections, serious illness and hospitalisation in both Wales and England.
“However, the Delta variant continues to spread and the virus still poses a serious risk to health. Infection rates are still very high in Cheshire West and Chester and we are seeing more people requiring treatment for Covid-19 in our local hospitals.
“We’re also seeing young, fit people suffering from long-Covid, which is having a major impact on their lives.
“Everyone living, working in and visiting Wales is asked to respect the difference in restrictions between England and Wales, and to stick to the regulations in place.
“Those living, working in and visiting Cheshire West and Chester are also advised to continue to exercise caution in the borough and to get their two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
“People should continue with their use of face coverings in enclosed spaces, particularly on public transport.
“Visitors to Wales and to Cheshire are asked to respect staff working in tourism, hospitality and leisure industries, who are all continuing to do their utmost to look after the health and welfare of those they work for and with.”
‘Saddened’
The message for tourists to respect the different restrictions in Wales comes after the manager of a popular tourist attraction posted a message to remind customers that it’s not “freedom day” in Wales as he reported that some had been screaming and shouting at staff.
The manager of Llandudno Pier posted a message on Facebook saying that he was “saddened and shocked” by how some of his staff had been treated.
England has lifted most restrictions today. But masks and social distancing will remain in Wales until at least the 7th of August, which meant that some attractions had limited capacity.
“Just a reminder everyone,” the manager of Llandudno Pier posted. “It may be ‘Freedom Day’ in England on Monday… but Wales is still under restrictions.
“It has saddened and shocked me the way my Team have been treated by some of our customers this weekend. Our Bar is open, Beer Garden only and Table Service only.
“We can seat 250+ people! Therefore ‘table service’ means at busy times you will have to wait and be patient….
“One ‘so-called lady’ screamed today ‘you should hire more Staff’. Unfortunately, we are unable to hire more Staff, as no one wants to work in our industry anymore…
“Word of advice! Don’t “scream and shout” at my team… ask for the Manager! I will be happy to discuss things with you … and you won’t ‘intimidate’ me, trust me…”
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Regardless of devolution, unions etc, hard borders should already have been place (Eng/Wales & Eng/Sco) for emergency situations such as war, pandemic, independence and so on.
Agreed. I suspect the widening differences on Covid are about to throw up many crises. Llandudno pier is only the first day of the current situation. Hard crisis- border seems very likely very soon. Many English are bad drinkers on holiday and will precipitate crises (I speak as an original Englishwoman, now adopted Welsh for 30 years).
Ask yourself why Wales’ record on handling Covid is world leading while England’s is pne of the worst in the world/ Remind yourself of the lies and fraud being exposed in the English government, including cronyism on medical contracts, failed medical products, thousands of unnecessary deaths, millions of blighted lives. See the exposures by the Good Law Project. Infection rates are the lowest in Wales of the four countries of the UK.
I think you’ll find that the English government lead by Bojo the clown are the laughing stock. Yesterday was so-called ‘freedom day’ in England and yet Bojo the clown, Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid are in isolation and scientists are warning of 200,000 infections per day. Other scientists have described the lifting of lockdown restrictions in England as ‘irresponsible’ and ‘perilous’. Doesn’t that tell you anything?
England will be back in lockdown soon, who’ll be the embarrassing laughing stock then?
The joint statement includes an English council, sounds like they are also getting the jitters about so-called ‘freedom day’ and who can blame them.
A pertinent reminder especially on here, that not all our English neighbours are as mental as Johnson and his minions. I wish them the best of luck following Freedumbageddon, They are going to need it.
amazing, the one Welsh county with the longest border with England is not involved?