Mark Drakeford is definitely one of them.I do wonder if there's a subset of the population that has developed some sort of "sadistic" attitude towards restrictions.
Mark Drakeford is definitely one of them.I do wonder if there's a subset of the population that has developed some sort of "sadistic" attitude towards restrictions.
I note that he addresses the nation from the office, not from home as I'm sure he could. Isn't he therefore breaking his own law/regulation/guidance?Mark Drakeford is definitely one of them.
Possibly both! Anything that makes them feel morally righteous.Do you mean masochistic?
Quick fine him £60 for going to the office when he should have worked from homeI note that he addresses the nation from the office, not from home as I'm sure he could. Isn't he therefore breaking his own law/regulation/guidance?
I take it that level Zero does not involve zero restrictions?Wales Online is reporting that there is to be a gradual two week return to level zero( what is beyond that?)
with full details at the lunchtime press conference.
Of course lifting all restrictions immediately would have required Drakeford admitting he was wrong...which he will never do.
It goes back to the November 2021 position I believeI take it that level Zero does not involve zero restrictions?
No...still mask wearing and covid passes...and that is my point.We have these at level zero.I take it that level Zero does not involve zero restrictions?
Essentially he is returning us to where we were before he imposed these needless restrictions.And of course the First Minister is taking personal credit for the reduction in cases:
"Today, only a week later, it is 1,200, a really rapid decline backed up my other measures that we are seeing in Wales and that is what gives us the space to be able to lift some of the protections that we have had."
How convenient to ignore that exactly the same decline is happening in England and in the same time had the audacity to criticise England for not having more restrictions.
Ridiculous.
Wales Online is reporting that there is to be a gradual two week return to level zero( what is beyond that?)
with full details at the lunchtime press conference.
Of course lifting all restrictions immediately would have required Drakeford admitting he was wrong...which he will never do.
Drakeford was interviewed about it on LBC this morning and James O'Brien did not ask one difficult question on the subject.Does seem quite a u-turn to be returning to level 0 in two weeks, when it feels like only yesterday that Drakeford was predicting total doom and gloom.
Or ignore that children have been away from school leading to the drop and will increase again in a week or two as they all begin to mingle again! Be interesting to see what he says and does then!And of course the First Minister is taking personal credit for the reduction in cases:
"Today, only a week later, it is 1,200, a really rapid decline backed up my other measures that we are seeing in Wales and that is what gives us the space to be able to lift some of the protections that we have had."
How convenient to ignore that exactly the same decline is happening in England and in the same time had the audacity to criticise England for not having more restrictions.
Ridiculous.
It's laughable that level zero still has restrictions. Is there a level -1 for no restrictions at all? There's no timetable for masks or home working to be axed in Wales.Boris took a gamble that the lighter restrictions and guidance for England would be enough to keep hospital admissions manageable and while no doubt much wider difficult situations exacerbated by staff absence than made the headlines this was proved right.
Further while Drakeford will also soon have Wales back to his level zero that is more restrictive than for England with no clear benefits so how can he continue to justify it ?
It has been pre-announced(as is usual) on Wales Online that masks and vaccine passports (sorry-passes) are to remain in Wales ‘ because they make people feel safe’.It's laughable that level zero still has restrictions. Is there a level -1 for no restrictions at all? There's no timetable for masks or home working to be axed in Wales.
Drakeford didn't dare upset Rugby authorities or fans by forcing the Six Nations to be played away or behind closed doors.It has been pre-announced(as is usual) on Wales Online that masks and vaccine passports (sorry-passes) are to remain in Wales ‘ because they make people feel safe’.
And that work from home is now to be recommended but not mandatory.
Next review on February 11th.
How long can even Drakeford keep this going?
And your question about what is after level zero rather concentrates my mind too.
We can defeat masks with non compliance.But vaccine passports are another thing.
Will they remain after folk have to pay to get proof of a negative test?
He can keep it up as long as the people of Wales let him, and at the moment that seems indefinitely.Drakeford didn't dare upset Rugby authorities or fans by forcing the Six Nations to be played away or behind closed doors.
Masks and vaccine passports because it's different to England.
He can keep it up as long as he satisfies Plaid Cymru and they vote with him in the Welsh Parliament.
I think there must be a divide between those that have gone to work throughout and those that work from home. No one in my work seems bothered any more. Even those that were shielding. Most of them have had Covid now.Drakeford didn't dare upset Rugby authorities or fans by forcing the Six Nations to be played away or behind closed doors.
Masks and vaccine passports because it's different to England.
He can keep it up as long as he satisfies Plaid Cymru and they vote with him in the Welsh Parliament.
Do they actually check your vaccine passport because they don't bother at premier league matches in England?I think there must be a divide between those that have gone to work throughout and those that work from home. No one in my work seems bothered any more. Even those that were shielding. Most of them have had Covid now.
As for vaccine passports, how many of the 70,000 rugby fans going to the Six Nations will be worried? Very few I think. I'm sure they could fill the stadium without vaccine passports.
Had mine checked twice at rugby matches in the Autumn and also at two concerts.Do they actually check your vaccine passport because they don't bother at premier league matches in England?
In England venues have to check a defined percentage. No idea what this percentage is though.
In England venues have to check a defined percentage. No idea what this percentage is though.
In Northern Ireland 100% checks were carried out everywhere, even when having breakfast in a hotel restaurant (because the area where breakfast is served is licensed to sell alcohol!)
It was worse than that. The NHS England pass is accepted and works their scanners but because it has no photo embedded (unlike the NI version), you have to also provide photo ID.Blimey even Dublin wasn't that bad when I was there last week, just had to show Vaccination Certification when checking in and that was it.
A side effect of NI's "vote early and vote often" cultureIt was worse than that. The NHS England pass is accepted and works their scanners but because it has no photo embedded (unlike the NI version), you have to also provide photo ID.
Visit Cafe Nero for a coffee and a cake no papers required (not a licensed premise). Breakfast in a hotel and it’s vaccine pass and passport and give them your contact details.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Exactly; level zero is a misnomer. I am not interested in visiting Wales until they get to level -1 (or whatever they want to call it).It's laughable that level zero still has restrictions. Is there a level -1 for no restrictions at all? There's no timetable for masks or home working to be axed in Wales.
Exactly.Drakeford didn't dare upset Rugby authorities or fans by forcing the Six Nations to be played away or behind closed doors.
Masks and vaccine passports because it's different to England.
He can keep it up as long as he satisfies Plaid Cymru and they vote with him in the Welsh Parliament.
Problem is people will vote principally on other matters, not just Covid, especially once so few restrictions remain, so he will continue to get away with it because his party is the least bad option in the eyes of many.He can keep it up as long as the people of Wales let him, and at the moment that seems indefinitely.
I wonder who he'll give his Six Nations ticket to?Tomorrow Drakeford was due to announce his latest review of the Welsh coronavirus legislation. Today it was announced that he has tested positive, how convenient. Maybe i'm too cynical but given his history it wouldn't surprise me if this was used to tell everyone how dangerous the situation still is, that the English plans are reckless and alert level zero must remain.
He just has to drag it out....and venues have been told they can continue to use Covid Passes if they wish to do so.Wales will abolish CovidPass requirements for events and large venues on Friday 18th. Mandatory masks will be cut back to retail, public transport, and personal care from Monday 28th, with a view to being dropped entirely by the end of March.