Unite Wales is urging Welsh government to continue to follow the science and proceed with extreme caution when considering further easing of lockdown rules in Wales. Currently cases of Covid are twice as high in England than they are in Wales. Cases across the border are likely to rise significantly following the lifting of all restrictions on so called “Freedom Day”.

Unite represents thousands of NHS staff in Wales, who are bracing themselves for further increases in Welsh hospital admissions as the third Covid wave continues to rise.

Richard Munn, Unite lead officer for health commented: “Welsh government must proceed extremely carefully in the coming weeks and months. Mark Drakeford has resisted demands for a quicker removal of Covid restrictions. Combined with the incredible success of the Welsh vaccination roll out we are thankfully seeing Covid infection rates in Wales currently at half of those being experienced in England.

"Now is not the time for complacency. The delta variant is gaining strength in Wales and must not be allowed to get out of control. Our members working in the Welsh NHS are telling us that they are extremely fearful that hospital admissions could quickly spiral if restrictions are lifted too quickly. The Welsh public are not clamouring for a Welsh ‘freedom day’, they recognise that the cautious approach of Welsh government has so far served Wales well. Unite Wales is urging Mark Drakeford to continue along this path and put the safety and lives of our NHS staff and the Welsh public above everything else."

ENDS

For further information please contact Glyn Conolly on 07974 131771

Notes to editors:

  • Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.