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GPs to First Minister: ‘Make staying at second homes illegal until pandemic is over’

22 Apr 2020 2 minute read
Benllech on Anglesey. Picture by Joe Hayhurst (CC BY 2.0)

A group of GPs has written to the First Minister and Health Minister urging tougher action on second homes in Wales, including making second home occupation illegal until the Covid-19 emergency is over.

The letter signed by 17 doctors calls for the following:

  • Make second home use illegal until the risk posed by SARS-CoV-2 has abated, even when lockdown restrictions begin to ease in other parts of Wales and the UK, in order to prevent a second peak
  • Prolong lockdown measures in rural tourist hotspot areas of Wales, specifically targetting non-essential travel into these areas.
  • Empower the Police Service of Wales to enforce the above, with the power to compel those breaching these restrictions without reasonable excuse to return to their primary residence.

“We write with increasing concern about tourist and holiday homes in rural Wales and the danger they pose in relation to the current public health emergency,” the letter says.

“Without implementing the above we face a very real possibility of a second peak in areas such as North and West Wales.

“This could happen at the very worst of times – when staff resilience will be at rock bottom, after weeks and months of pressure, and when global supplies of medical and personal protective equipment have been depleted.”

 

The letter

 

 


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David Roberts
David Roberts
3 years ago

The very idea that someone can have a part-time, second home, when other people struggle to get a first one is shocking in itself!!

Royston Jones
3 years ago

“The Police Service of Wales”? Somebody’s thinking ahead.

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
3 years ago
Reply to  Royston Jones

That’s a new one to me, and you ! Guess they been watching you for years and you thought it was GogPlod all along. As for me I’m O.K , too many Huw Davies in the book and we all look the same !

j humphrys
j humphrys
3 years ago

Such jealousy by the doctors of Cymru! Diolch yn Fawr, Docs!

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  j humphrys

I thought the time-worn word was ‘envy’, JH?

j humphrys
j humphrys
3 years ago
Reply to  Wrexhamian

Of course! Sorry.

Simon Gruffydd
3 years ago

“This non-essential population movement is highly likely to increase the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in rural areas”.

Notice that there is zero scientific basis to this claim, no reference to data, patterns, links to sources. This is pure unprofessional conjecture.

There is no scientific data to show that there is any additional health risks to freedom of movement. On the contrary, one merely has to look at the example of Sweden: http://www.theblogmire.com/a-comparison-of-lockdown-uk-with-non-lockdown-sweden/

Jase
Jase
3 years ago
Reply to  Simon Gruffydd

You know as well as I do Simon Nats are revelling in lockdown, its brought about a situation they could only previously dream of …..

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  Jase

You’re a sick individual if you think that the people of Wales would want to make political capital out of a public health crisis. The GPs are merely stating the facts and asking for government measures to to reduce the risk.

Jase
Jase
3 years ago
Reply to  Wrexhamian

I do because that’s what some of them have actually told me

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  Jase

Well, duuh! Obviously people will be relieved to see the holiday homers kept out on the orders of the Welsh Government. Unpallatable to you it may be, but it’s so obviously necessary it hardly seems worth your while to have objected to it. The doctors know what they’re talking about.

j humphrys
j humphrys
3 years ago
Reply to  Simon Gruffydd

Sweden: Pop 8.4M total cases: 16,004 deaths:1,937.
Austria : Pop 8.4M total cases: 14,925 deaths: 510.

Jase
Jase
3 years ago

How many of those doctors are or have been Plaid Cymru members?

Rhosddu
Rhosddu
3 years ago
Reply to  Jase

Dunno. Ask them if you’re that interested.

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