“Short sharp firebreak” to start at 6pm today in bid to ‘help regain control of coronavirus’

A two week fire-break requiring people to once again stay at home will come into place this evening.

From 6pm until Monday 9th November all non-essential retail, hospitality and tourism will close; and where possible people will be asked to work from home and to not visit other households or meet other people they do not live with either indoors and outdoors.

There are exceptions for single parents and people who live alone who are allowed to bubble up with one other household

No gatherings will be allowed outdoors, such as Halloween or fireworks/Bonfire night or other organised activities and community centres, libraries and recycling centres will be required to close.

However unlike the initial lockdown primary schools will return after half-term and childcare facilities can remain open.

Only years 7 and 8 – and pupils sitting exams – will return to school for the second week of the fire-break. Years 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 will stay at home and use remote learning.

The following facilities in Wrexham will close during the two weeks:-

• All non-essential retail, hospitality and tourism businesses.
• All leisure centres, including Wrexham Waterworld and other Freedom Leisure venues. Tennis and golf venues will also be closed.
• All libraries (including ‘order and collect’ services).
• All community centres (although some businesses and food take-away services will remain open at some of our community resource centres).
• All three recycling centres at Bryn Lane, Brymbo and Plas Madoc.
• Tŷ Pawb car park and building.
• The Monday Market on Queens Square.
• The General Market.
• Places of worship – except for funerals, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.

Council services will focus on critical services (e.g. highways maintenance). Other services (e.g. dealing with planning applications) will be paused during the two weeks.

The following will stay remain open / in operation during the two weeks:-

• Parks, country parks, cemeteries and playgrounds.
• Childcare provision.
• Your bins and recycling will be collected as normal.
• The register office at the Guildhall will stay open for wedding and civil partnership ceremonies, as well as births and deaths registrations.
• Emergency repairs for council housing tenants.
• The Butchers Market will stay open for food retailers.

Following the end of the fire-break, it is expected new set of national rules will be introduced, covering how people can meet and how the public sector and businesses operate.

First Minister Mark Drakeford has issued the following message to the people of Wales on the matter:

Coronavirus has well and truly woken up for the winter.

We face a very serious situation in Wales – if we do not take any action, more people will become seriously ill and there is a very real risk our NHS could be overwhelmed.

If that happens more people will die this winter.

The very clear medical and scientific advice we have had is that we need to act now and we need to act differently.

We will be introducing a “fire-break” – also known as a circuit-breaker – which will start at 6pm and end on Monday 9 November.

Once again I am asking for everyone’s help. The actions we need to take to bring coronavirus under control will affect everyone in Wales. They need to be sharp to have a maximum impact on the virus.

Everyone must stay at home. People will also need to work from home wherever possible. All non-essential retail, leisure and hospitality businesses will have to close and people will not be able to visit other people’s homes or meet each other outdoors. This year, there will be no organised fireworks displays, Halloween or bonfire parties.

There are no easy options to tackle coronavirus – this was a difficult decision to make. If we don’t act now, we will see further increases in cases and it will be harder to make a difference. It could mean more extreme restrictions are needed.

The “fire-break” is intended to be a short, sharp shock to the virus. It will last for the shortest time we can make it, but it also means it has to be sharp and deep to have an impact.

I know this fortnight will be a challenge for many at an already difficult time. We are all tired of coronavirus and the impact it has on our daily lives.

There will be a £300m package of support available for those businesses affected by the fire-break and I would urge anyone struggling over the coming weeks to reach out for support – from family, friends or from mental health support services. You can get help from NHS 111 online or contact our CALL mental health support line on 0800 132 737.

I’ve been so inspired by the efforts communities across Wales have made during this difficult time.

This is the moment to come together; to play our part in a common endeavour to once again protect the NHS and save lives.

You can view the Technical Advisory Cell document that has been referred to as giving the scientific evidence via this article.

Welsh Government have created a big Frequently Asked Question and Answer page on their site – covering a range of common questions (and answers) over the forthcoming ‘firebreak’ lockdown – you can view that here.

Top picture: Lockdown earlier this year.