COVID Inquiry: Welsh First Minister Admits Local Lockdowns Were Ineffective

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford acknowledged to the COVID inquiry that the localized lockdowns implemented in the fall of 2020 did not work as intended.

Specific regions, such as Llanelli and Bangor, faced these restrictions due to surging COVID-19 cases.

A top Welsh advisor reflected that such measures may not have been the wisest choice in retrospect. Wales' chief scientific advisor, Rob Orford, expressed during the Cardiff session that this approach added complexity by introducing numerous regulations across different authorities.

Sir Frank Atherton, Wales' chief medical officer, criticized the confusion caused by varying UK restrictions as an "omnishambles," a term denoting total chaos, which was highlighted by the Oxford English Dictionary back in 2012. He also suggested that Wales should have emulated England in making face masks mandatory in shops sooner.

In a stark revelation, senior civil servant Dame Shan Morgan admitted to deleting some early pandemic-related messages. Sir Frank also mentioned that he had foreseen the inevitability of a nationwide lockdown regardless of the actions taken by the Welsh or UK governments.

Despite initial drops in case rates during the local lockdowns, such as in Caerphilly -- the first area to be locked down in September 2020 -- rates eventually climbed again. The inquiry further examined evidence from early cabinets meetings about COVID-19, including disputed records of discussions about the virus's presence in the UK.

Sir Frank added that besides aligning with England on face masks, a degree of frustration emerged due to the late arrival of UK-level information to Wales, which affected decision-making.

As the inquiry continues, more evidence is expected to be presented, including the testimony of Andrew Goodall, Wales' top civil servant, and Tracey Cooper, head of Public Health Wales.