Wales 5

[DdraigGoch]

The old one filled up before we could link a new one but here we are.

I don't think you can underestimate the difference in the nature of the relationship relationship between unions and the Welsh government compared to UK.

@ImAllOut I don’t think I knew that! The teachers in DS’ school have been wearing masks since October half term, but honestly I still don’t think that’s adequate. Wasn’t there the whole thing about masks protecting the other people, not the wearer? I mean I know it’s something, but it’s not really to protect the teacher is it. Ultimately, testing doesn’t actually protect teachers either, it just hopefully catches the spread earlier on, but if a teacher has caught it in school, it’s arguably already spread to some classmates and then to their homes.

I really think it’s shameful that either government hasn’t been more proactive and changed up the school system or pumped money in.

Sorry @ArosGartref I don’t quite understand what you mean, do you mean the WG don’t care about the unions or that the U.K. gov don’t?

I think they're the lateral flow tests and they have to do them before leaving for school so should catch most cases, it's a fairly similar procedure to that used in health care and the emergency services, who similarly can't always socially distance. Combined with the much lower case rates and the compulsory mask wearing, I really think it should be adequate. But I do agree that other countries have spent money on more dynamic ways to being large amounts of pupils back.

Much better with Welsh government @AlohaMolly. Unions will have an opportunity to engage with government that they don't have at a Westminster level.

@JesusInTheCabbageVan “love for the day” - my phone is cleverer than I am 🥰
Your 9 year old sounds like a brilliant artist!

BBC News - Covid in Wales: Secondary school pupils could go back after Easter
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56131719

So some shops could be opened before all pupils go back to school. Dear dear!

I’m so sick of this. We live on the border; my daughter is distraught tonight, thinking that her friends in English schools may go back a whole month before her. She’s missed so much of yr12 already.
The political grandstanding is pathetic and embarrassing. Disadvantaging exam years to score points.
I can’t believe how anti-devolution this pandemic has made me. It’s a bigger joke than Brexit.

We're not singing from the same hymn sheet again. Which is tough all over again.

What do you think Mark Drakeford thinks about self catering holidays from April 12th? That seems in line with what he was saying but then will he refuse to open over Easter now because he doesn’t want ‘them’ flocking over the border?

I think they're all avoiding Easter

I think 12th April is the last week of the school holidays

I go back to school after the Easter holidays on April 12th. My school breaks up on 26th March.

Ooh I just assumed Easter weekend was the first weekend of the holidays!

12th April is the date schools return. Very deliberate I think to wait until the Easter holidays are over.

What about weddings in Wales? Anyone know if the English rules apply in Wales too or is it different?

Weddings can take place now. Is there something specific you need to know about them?

Anglesey have delayed the return of foundation phase by a week due to high cases.

I think they’re avoiding Easter too. Which I think is reasonable, as long as there is parity in the UK. It’s is so infuriating, living in a border town and being caught in the cross fire of the rules.

@ArosGartref

Weddings can take place now. Is there something specific you need to know about them?

Only wedding ceremonies can take place in Wales.

As someone in the wedding industry, I can assure you that almost all couples cancel / postpone if their guest list is going to be significantly restricted - let alone if they can't have a reception.

The only people getting married are going to be those who need to do so in a time-sensitive manner - terminal illness for them or a close family member, visa issues, that sort of thing.

Has the Welsh Assembly announced a roadmap like the Boris one for England? I can’t find one anywhere.

Proud Welsh exile here, would love to know when I can visit my mum in Cardiff. We did a 2 hour drive for a 3 hour garden visit before going home last July. Would do that again if necessary, but would prefer to be able to stay.

gov.wales/coronavirus-control-plan-alert-levels-wales-coming-out-lockdown
This is as close as we can have to a roadmap apparently (insert eye roll).
I expect we'll call it a route-plan or something.

We seem to be ignoring the plan that probably took 50 civil servants 3 weeks to write in December and had indicators of when we would be allowed to open up. Now the policy is 'there could be lots of variants so we can never open' by the looks of it.

As soon as English restrictions relax I will be travelling and holidaying there if they're ahead of us.

Thank you. Blimey, it’s got a lot of words in, but it doesn’t say much, does it?

I had a quick look at the alert levels, and it looks like no staying overnight till level 1. I could meet her outdoors in a public place even now.... except I couldn’t, because I’m not local. Unless I form an extended household with her - so I need to find out if she has already formed one with someone else. But I couldn’t go before the end of March anyway, because I still have to stay Local at least until then.

It’s too confusing.

I was thinking of a visit after Easter, so there’s time for everything to change I guess.

I would just say you've formed an extended household with her to be honest but I'm utterly fed up of this shit now and shall be mostly ignoring it where I can.

75 cases in ysbyty Gwynedd, 49 of them caught in house. They have a problem

The dialogue hasn't really moved on since this happened last year, has it? People want the English rules when it's of slight benefit to them but take for granted the times where the Welsh rules are advantageous.