Coming out of lockdown was never going to be an easy task, but Wales can’t remain in hibernation forever.
Of course saving lives is the number one priority as we move forward in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and it is vital that we do not jeopardise all that has been achieved since the start of lockdown back in March, but for the sake of our economy and people’s mental health, we need to start returning to a new ‘normal’ life.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently confirmed a long list of businesses and facilities that will be allowed to reopen in England from this week (July 4th).
As well as bars, restaurants and cafes, from Saturday cinemas, museums, art galleries, bingo halls, community centres, hair salons, work canteens, outdoor playgrounds and outdoor gyms hairdressers and barbers will be able to welcome customers again. Places of worship will be able to hold services once again, with weddings back on but numbers capped at 30 - subject to social distancing.
These come after non-essential shops, zoos and safari parks were allowed to open with social distancing measures in England from June 15.
Northern Ireland has also implemented a significant relaxation in its restrictions, and last week Scotland followed suit.
However, frustratingly the Welsh Government has taken a much slower approach, and while shops were able to open last week, along with the partial reopening of the housing market, in his last review of the lifting of lockdown measures, the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, failed to immediately scrap his cruel five mile rule, provided no indication as to when pubs, cafes and restaurants can reopen and also failed to make any arrangements for social bubbles.
There is no doubt that by lagging behind other parts of the UK in the lifting of its lockdown, the Welsh Government is putting our economy and jobs at risk.
Wales will struggle to rebound from the economic shock of the Coronavirus pandemic without a policy shift to protect livelihoods as well as lives.
While we are currently in the midst of an immediate public health crisis, the long term consequences of poverty on the health of our nation cannot be underestimated so it is vital that the Welsh Government stops playing catch-up Cymru and adopts an approach that more closely aligns with that of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Scottish and UK Governments as soon as possible.
The Centre for Towns report 'Covid and our Towns' suggests that the economies of towns on the north Wales coast will be among those hardest hit by the pandemic.
The Welsh Government therefore needs to establish a Covid Community Recovery Fund to provide targeted economic support for communities most adversely affected by the pandemic.
However for North Wales to truly bounce back from the devastation of Covid, it is imperative that we all play our part. So as businesses and attractions do slowly begin to reopen in North Wales, I urge you all to join me in supporting them.