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Group of friends returning from Ibiza infected 13 people on return, Health Minister says

08 Sep 2020 3 minute read
Vaughan Gething speaking and todays’ Coronavirus briefing.

A group of friends returning from Ibiza infected 13 people with Covid-19 on their return to Wales, according to the Health Minister.

He said one of the friends threw a party after returning and infected eight others.

Vaughan Gething recounted the case at today’s press conference in order to emphasise how quickly the virus could spread if people took the restrictions less seriously than they had in the past.

In explaining his decision to put Caerphilly under local lockdown, he said that there would be a rise of people dying of coronavirus if the spread of the virus was not stopped.

“I want to share this example with you from the last few weeks showing the spread of coronavirus,” he said.

“A group of friends returned from a short holiday in Ibiza last month – three of them came home with coronavirus. When they came home one of the group passed the virus on to their partner and his father.

“Another person in the group had a party the day after coming home and four people caught coronavirus.

“One of these then passed the virus on to their brother who then passed it to a friend by sharing a car. Another party guest passed it on to their sister who in turn infected a friend on a night out.

“Within just a few days of the friends’ return home, 13 people had coronavirus.

“As lockdown has eased people have – naturally in many ways – been out and about but the messages and discipline about keeping their distance are being forgotten.

“If we are to continue to control the spread of coronavirus and keep transmission low we need everyone’s help.

“It’s really important that everyone follows the measures to keep them and their families safe – to keep your distance, wash your hands often and, if you develop symptoms, then stay at home and get a test.”

 

‘What’s at stake’

Vaughan Gething added that while a “great majority have behaved within those rules” others knew that they were breaking them.

“If cases continue to rise unchecked in this way we will see a return to the situation we saw in April with high numbers of people being admitted to hospital and intensive care for treatment and, sadly, we will see a rise in the number of people dying from coronavirus again,” he said.

“I don’t want to see a second wave. I don’t want to return to this press conference week after week and explain why people are losing their lives. That is what is at stake.”

He said that if the people of Caerphilly “want to have a different future where businesses can operate they need to follow the rules”.


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