Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
I have reviewed the proposed amendments to the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 and I believe they constitute a suitably cautious approach to the re\-opening of public life in Wales.


My advice continues to be informed by the outputs of the UK Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) and the Welsh Technical Advisory Cell (TAC), and through discussions with Chief Medical Officers in the 4 Nations and the Chief Economic Advisor in Wales. The proposed amendments are supported by a continued reduction in transmission of the coronavirus in Wales, by improved surveillance, by the successful establishment of our Test Trace Protect (TTP) Programme, and by the successful identification and management of recent coronavirus outbreaks and incidents in Wales.


It is likely that we will need to live with the prospect of a resurgence of coronavirus infection for a considerable time and our best protections against this continue to be the promotion of appropriate public behaviour, monitoring of international experiences, effective surveillance to identify disease resurgence, effective case and contact management, and robust outbreak identification and management.


### Overall advice


I recommend that the proposed amendments are adopted.


I note that making these changes to ease restrictions constitutes an acceptable risk at this time as the prevalence of coronavirus is low and waning; any increased viral transmission should lead to a re\-evaluation and we should plan and prepare for the partial or full reversal of these easements if necessary. 


### **Specific advice on social distancing**


A number of the amendments involve a reduction in social distancing below the current guidance of 2m. The evidence for 2m social distancing is quite clear with regard to immediate health impacts; maintaining 2m provides more protection than 1m (approx. 2\-5 times the protective value in the absence on mitigations).  I recognise, however, there are strong economic and social arguments for reducing the 2m distance in some settings, and that the adverse socio\-economics effects resulting from restrictions are likely themselves to have negative effects on health and well\-being over the longer term,  and I understand that Ministers will need to take account of these consequences.   I also acknowledge the difficulties which the public experience in understanding different policy decisions in Wales compared with the other UK Nations.


To be managed safely such reductions require a renewed emphasis on public responsibility and behaviour, coupled with the creation of supportive environments.  Factors which will support reduced social distancing include:   


* Making the necessary adaptations to workplaces and public spaces so that they are Covid\-19 protected with related guidance for a range of settings.
* Provision of on\-going public education to support compliance with protective actions; hand hygiene, avoidance of social contact during illness, and avoidance of more risky environments.  The easement of restrictions must not be allowed to instil a false assurance of safety in the public.
* Having effective contact tracing mechanisms and incident management processes in place to identify and manage new outbreaks.


### Further advice on face coverings


With regard to the use of face coverings by the public there is nothing new in the scientific literature which changes my view that there may be both potential benefits and risks in mandating the use of face coverings in circumstances where it is not possible to maintain 2m social distancing. My advice therefore remains that face coverings should be recommended in crowded indoor settings where adequate social distancing cannot be maintained.


I am conscious however, that any decision on mandatory use of face coverings in Wales should be informed by broader social science considerations including the benefits of cross border policy consistency (which is particularly relevant to the transport sector), and recent public engagement (which shows strong support for a more directive approach). If, on balance, these factors lead Ministers to mandate the use of face coverings in a particular sector, then the following considerations will apply:


* The definition of a face covering will need to be clear; WHO specifies a three layer construction and the evidence that a single layer of cotton provides any protection is particularly lacking.
* There will be some circumstances where face coverings would clearly not provide any utility for example in empty vehicles, waiting areas etc.
* Enforcement issues will need to be clarified.
* Discarded face coverings may constitute a biohazard and consideration will need to given to their safe disposal.
* Public communication will need to be crafted to avoid risk compensation both by symptomatic individuals and to ensure that the use of face coverings does not increase more risky behaviour.
* A consistent message and approach will need to be considered for non\-transport sectors including retail outlets, hospitals, workplaces, cinemas, schools etc.
* As we are likely to be living with the coronavirus for some time it will be important to consider how and when we might move away from mandatory use.


Frank Atherton


Chief Medical Officer


Welsh Government


8 July 2020


 







Translation:


 
Rwyf wedi adolygu’r diwygiadau arfaethedig i Reoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Cymru) 2020 ac rwy’n credu eu bod yn cynnwys camau addas a gofalus ar gyfer ailagor bywyd cyhoeddus yng Nghymru.


Mae fy nghyngor wedi’i hysbysu o hyd gan farn Grŵp Cynghori Gwyddonol y DU ar Argyfyngau (SAGE) a Chell Cyngor Technegol Cymru (TAC), a thrwy drafodaethau gyda Phrif Swyddogion Meddygol y pedair gwlad a’r Prif Gynghorydd Economaidd yng Nghymru. Mae’r diwygiadau arfaethedig wedi’u cefnogi gan leihad parhaus yn nhrosglwyddiad coronafeirws yng Nghymru, gwell gwyliadwriaeth, llwyddiant sefydlu ein Rhaglen Profi Olrhain Diogelu, a’n llwyddiant i adnabod a rheoli achosion diweddar o coronafeirws yng Nghymru.


Mae’n debygol y bydd rhaid inni fyw ochr yn ochr â’r rhagolygon o don newydd o haint coronafeirws am beth amser, a’r ffordd orau o’n diogelu ni ein hunain o hyd yw i hyrwyddo ymddygiad priodol gan y cyhoedd, monitro profiadau rhyngwladol, sicrhau gwyliadwriaeth effeithiol i ganfod achosion newydd o’r haint, rheoli achosion a chysylltiadau’n effeithiol, ac adnabod a rheoli achosion yn gadarn.


### Cyngor cyffredinol


Rwy’n argymell y dylid mabwysiadu’r diwygiadau arfaethedig.


Nodaf fod gwneud y newidiadau hyn i lacio’r cyfyngiadau yn risg dderbyniol ar hyn o bryd gan fod yr achosion o coronafeirws yn isel ac yn lleihau; dylai unrhyw gynnydd mewn trosglwyddiadau feirol arwain at ailwerthusiad a dylem gynllunio a pharatoi i wyrdroi’r camau llacio hyn yn rhannol neu’n gyfan gwbl os oes angen. 


### Cyngor penodol ar gadw pellter cymdeithasol


Mae nifer o’r diwygiadau’n golygu lleihau pellter cymdeithasol islaw’r canllawiau cyfredol o 2 fetr. Mae’r dystiolaeth dros gadw pellter cymdeithasol o 2 fetr yn gwbl glir o ran yr effaith uniongyrchol ar iechyd; mae cadw 2 fetr yn rhoi mwy o ddiogelwch nag 1 metr (tua 2\-5 gwaith y diogelwch yn absenoldeb mesurau lliniaru). Ond rwy’n cydnabod bod dadleuon economaidd a chymdeithasol cryf dros leihau’r pellter o 2 fetr mewn rhai lleoliadau a bod yr effeithiau economaidd\-gymdeithasol niweidiol sy’n deillio o’r cyfyngiadau yn debygol ynddynt eu hunain o gael effaith negyddol hirdymor ar iechyd a llesiant. Rwy’n deall y bydd rhaid i Weinidogion ystyried y canlyniadau hyn. Rwyf hefyd yn cydnabod yr anawsterau sy’n wynebu’r cyhoedd wrth geisio deall gwahanol benderfyniadau polisi yng Nghymru o’i gymharu â gwledydd eraill y DU.


I’w reoli yn ddiogel, mae lleihad o’r fath yn gofyn am roi pwyslais o’r newydd ar gyfrifoldeb ac ymddygiad y cyhoedd, yn ogystal â chreu amgylcheddau cefnogol. Mae’r ffactorau a fydd yn cefnogi lleihau pellter cymdeithasol yn cynnwys:   


* Gwneud yr addasiadau angenrheidiol i weithleoedd a mannau cyhoeddus fel eu bod wedi’u diogelu rhag COVID\-19 a chyhoeddi canllawiau perthnasol ar gyfer amryw o leoliadau.


* Darparu addysg barhaus i’r cyhoedd i gefnogi cydymffurfiaeth â chamau diogelu; hylendid dwylo, osgoi cyswllt cymdeithasol yn ystod salwch, ac osgoi amgylcheddau sy’n arwain at fwy o risg. Ni ddylai unrhyw lacio o’r cyfyngiadau roi sicrwydd ffug o ddiogelwch i’r cyhoedd.


* Sefydlu dulliau olrhain cysylltiadau a rheoli digwyddiadau effeithiol i adnabod a rheoli achosion newydd.


### Cyngor pellach ar orchuddion wyneb


O ran defnydd y cyhoedd o orchuddion wyneb, does dim byd newydd yn y llenyddiaeth wyddonol sy’n newid fy marn y gall fod manteision a risgiau posibl o ganlyniad i orfodi’r defnydd o orchuddion wyneb mewn sefyllfaoedd lle nad yw’n bosibl i gadw 2 fetr o bellter cymdeithasol. Fy nghyngor felly yw y dylid argymell gwisgo gorchudd wyneb mewn lleoliadau prysur dan do lle nad yw’n bosibl cadw digon o bellter cymdeithasol.


Ond rwy’n sylweddoli y dylai unrhyw benderfyniad ar y defnydd gorfodol o orchuddion wyneb yng Nghymru gael ei hysbysu gan ystyriaethau gwyddor cymdeithasol ehangach gan gynnwys manteision sicrhau cysondeb polisïau trawsffiniol (sy’n arbennig o berthnasol i’r sector trafnidiaeth), ac ymgysylltu diweddar â’r cyhoedd (sy’n dangos cefnogaeth gryf ar gyfer mwy o gyfarwyddyd). Ar ôl pwyso a mesur, os yw’r Gweinidogion yn dymuno gorfodi’r defnydd o orchuddion wyneb mewn sector penodol o ganlyniad i’r ffactorau hyn, bydd yr ystyriaethau canlynol yn berthnasol:


* Mae angen i’r diffiniad o orchudd wyneb fod yn glir; Mae Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd yn nodi y dylai fod yn orchudd wyneb tair haen ac mae diffyg tystiolaeth sylweddol bod un haen o gotwm yn rhoi unrhyw ddiogelwch.


* Bydd rhai amgylchiadau lle na fyddai gorchuddion wyneb o unrhyw ddiben, er enghraifft mewn cerbydau gwag, ardaloedd aros ac ati.


* Mae angen esbonio unrhyw faterion gorfodaeth.


* Gall gorchuddion wyneb sy’n cael eu taflu fod yn fioberygl ac mae angen ystyried sut i’w gwaredu’n ddiogel.


* Bydd angen llunio unrhyw ddeunydd cyfathrebu i’r cyhoedd i osgoi sefyllfa lle mae unigolion â symptomau’n defnyddio masgiau i geisio lleihau’r risg i eraill, a hefyd i sicrhau nad yw’r defnydd o orchuddion wyneb yn cynyddu ymddygiad sy’n arwain at risg.


* Bydd angen ystyried neges a dull cyson ar gyfer y sectorau ar wahân i’r sector trafnidiaeth, gan gynnwys siopau, ysbytai, gweithleoedd, sinemâu, ysgolion ac ati.
* Gan ein bod yn debygol o fod yn byw ochr yn ochr â coronafeirws am gryn amser, bydd yn bwysig inni ystyried sut a phryd y gallwn roi’r gorau i orfodi eu defnydd.


 


Frank Atherton


Prif Swyddog Meddygol


Llywodraeth Cymru


8 Gorffennaf 2020