Paul Davies AM, the Leader of the Welsh Conservative Assembly Group and the Leader of the Opposition, today (March 20), has a message for all in Wales:
“We are in – to use a now already much-repeated phrase – unprecedented times.
“In a little over a week, many of us in Wales have gone from living and working as normal, to social distancing – a phrase bound to be in next year’s Oxford Dictionary - working from home and, in sadly many cases, self isolating, particularly the older residents in our country and those otherwise in at risk groups.
“Religious services, weddings, sporting events have been put on hold. Life, for many has also been put on hold.
“This, as a nation of families and communities, is alien to us. We here, like millions elsewhere are used to the pleasant courtesies of a handshake with colleagues, or a cwtch with those closest to us. For some of those closest to us, a hug to reassure them, to comfort them, might be all they need to feel better. But, for now, we cannot.
“Medical and scientific evidence and advice from Public Health Wales and elsewhere has given us strict, yet clear, instructions on how we must – for our individual and collective good, including that of Wales and the United Kingdom as a whole – live, act, work, and behave.
“As I said, it is alien to us, and will take getting used to.
“Yet by adhering to these rules, and putting our faith in our scientists – who equal, if not outrank, any others in the world – we will pull through. And we know we will; it is in our DNA to persevere, to – borrowing from Tennyson – ‘To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield’.
“It is also in our makeup to look out for one another. There are some comforts to be drawn from this Coronavirus pandemic, such as how communities, families, neighbours are pulling together. It incudes anything from walking an elderly neighbour’s dog to passing on telephone numbers to be used if the need arises, and from popping round a few essential supplies to keeping morale up by online singing.
“It’s heartening, but not surprising. Neither is it surprising how well our NHS staff have stepped up their efforts, and I must thank them; we all should.
“But our thanks must also go to many others. Shopworkers, delivery drivers, the police, famers, cleaners, teachers, those controlling our transport infrastructure, social workers, binmen… The list goes on.
“From white-collar professionals to those who literally get their hands dirty, you all have my thanks, and those of the Welsh Conservative Assembly Group.
“We don’t know how long this outbreak will last, but at least temporarily, it is changing our lives.
“Next week, my colleagues, and those from across the floor in the Chamber will debate one of the most important, and indeed drastic, pieces of legislation we have had.
“Some elements of the Coronavirus Bill will seem shocking, but I ask you to consider and remember that the lifetime of the bill and the actions it will enable are both temporary and are to be used only in a worst-case scenario.
“As you will know, face-to-face surgeries with your elected politicians of every party and at every level, have now been put on hold, and while we are not experts in medicine, epidemiology, or virology, we will try to help where we can, because life still goes on. So, you can contact us by electronic means, and if you know someone who is unable to do this, give any assistance to them that you can.
“Keep an eye on the news, for updates. Listen to the radio, too; local radio often excels at difficult times. Look out, too, for updates from Public Health Wales, NHS Wales, and your local councils.
“Above all, stay safe, stay well, and let’s keep looking out for each other.”
Click here for updated information on the outbreak.
