Wales to ban people from UK coronavirus hotspots from entering country

April Roach @aprilroach2814 October 2020

People who live in areas of the UK with high levels of coronavirus cases could soon be prevented from travelling to Wales.

First Minister Mark Drakeford announced the action was being taken after Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed to respond to two letters requesting he introduce the measure across the UK.

Under regulations being prepared, people living in areas with high levels of coronavirus in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will not be able to travel to Wales.

The new restrictions are planned to come into force at 6pm on Friday.

Mr Drakeford told the Welsh Parliament: "I have therefore asked for the necessary work to be brought forward, which would allow for devolved powers to be used to prevent people from travelling into Wales from high-prevalence areas of the United Kingdom."

He said it was “important” to emphasise that it was not an issue regarding the border between Wales and England but a “matter of fairness”.

“We’ve already heard from the First Minister of Scotland and she’s eager to support what we’re trying to do here. Now is the time for the Prime Minister to do the same thing,” Mr Drakeford told the Senedd.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said Boris Johnson had failed to respond to two letters 
PA

“If he isn’t willing to do so then the timetable is for us to use the powers in Wales by the end of the week.”

It comes after Nicola Sturgeon advised Scots against travelling to high-risk areas of England.

The Scottish First Minister singled out Blackpool as “associated with a large and growing number of Covid cases in Scotland”.

Ms Sturgeon also said she backs Mr Drakeford’s call for the UK Government to introduce travel restrictions to prevent movement of people from areas of high prevalence into other UK nations.

She said she will be writing to the Prime Minister to “seek urgent talks” on the issue.

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The First Minister said 15 deaths of confirmed coronavirus patients have been reported across Scotland in the past 24 hours and 1,429 people have tested positive.

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, she said at least 180 people in Scotland who tested positive for Covid-19 in the last month reported a recent trip to Blackpool.

An incident management team had been set up to deal with those who have travelled between the town and Scotland.

“I need to advise you that trips to Blackpool are now associated with a large and growing number of Covid cases in Scotland,” the First Minister said.

“Blackpool is being mentioned in Test and Protect conversations far more than any other location outside of Scotland.”

Meanwhile Covid-19 cases rose by 946 in Wales on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 32,316.

Public Health Wales said 10 further deaths had been reported, with the total number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic rising to 1,688.

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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