Households with a baby under one can now bubble in Welsh lockdown rule change

Households with a baby under one will now be allowed to form a bubble with one other household, under a change to Wales’ lockdown regulations.

First Minister Mark Drakeford announced the rule change, which applies from today, in a written statement issued by the Welsh Government.

Since the national lockdown was brought in on 20 December people have not been allowed to form an extended household unless they are adults living alone or living alone with children.

Mark Drakeford said regulations were now being amended to allow households with one or more children aged under one to form a support bubble with one other household “for any purpose”.

People have previously been allowed to have contact with others for childcare purposes.

“This seeks to ensure new parents can receive support from friends or family during the crucial first year of a baby’s life,” the First Minister said. “This will also help the baby’s development.”

“In addition 16 or 17-year-olds living alone or with others of the same age but no adult in their household, can also now form a support bubble with one other household.

“If someone in a support bubble develops symptoms or tests positive for coronavirus, all members of the bubble must self-isolate.”

‘Help’

Responding to the news, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, Bethan Sayed said: “Becoming a new parent during such a period of isolation can be overwhelming, and support from other new parents can be central to well-being. As a new parent, I cannot overstate the importance of having this option of support and contact.

“After a year of campaigning, my only disappointment is that it has taken such a long time to provide this lifeline. I thank all the new parents who spoke up during this time.

“We need a 21st Century approach to accessing Perinatal Mental Health support, to remove the hurdles of accessing a GP only to be handed a prescription or added to counselling waiting lists. Welsh Government must ensure that all new parents with Perinatal Mental Health conditions get the help they need when they need it.

“We know that we are facing a mental health crisis, the time to act is now, if left untreated, mental illness will continue to have a devastating impact on new families.”