Coronavirus: Wales to spell out lockdown plan after warning schools will not reopen by June 1
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford is expected to confirm that Wales is continuing its lockdown.
2 min read
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford will spell out his country’s next steps on the coronavirus lockdown on Friday, after confirmation that Wales’s schools will not reopen by June 1.
The Labour politician will provide an update on the latest measures in the wake of a three-weekly review.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already renewed that nation’s strict curbs on movement for another three weeks, and said she would “not be pressured into lifting restrictions prematurely”.
Boris Johnson will set out his thinking for UK-wide measures on Sunday, after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab confirmed there had been “no change” yet in the official guidance the public should follow to halt the spread of Covid-19.
A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said on Thursday: “The Welsh Cabinet reconvened this evening to discuss the lockdown restrictions and review the regulations.
“The First Minister will hold a press conference at 12.30pm tomorrow on what this means for Wales.”
Amid signs of increasing divergence between Westminster and the devolved nations, Wales’s Education minister Kirsty Williams this week said despite “speculation” on English moves to reopen schools, her country’s educational institutions would remained closed until at least the start of next month.
"The situation for schools in Wales will not change on 1 June," she said.
And Ms Williams added: "We will continue to be guided by the very latest scientific advice and will only look to have more pupils and staff in schools when it is safe to do so.
"We will, of course, need to ensure that social-distancing requirements can be adhered to."
Downing Street on Thursday stood by the “four nations” approach to the pandemic, saying a united front from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland “provides the best way forward”.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said: “The four nations entered the restrictions at the same time and should where it makes sense exit the restrictions at the same time.
“We agree that the only circumstances where there should be divergence is where there is evidence that supports it.”
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