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Welsh supermarkets covering up 'non-essential' items as coronavirus restrictions get tougher

Non-essential items being covered up in a supermarket in Wales
Non-essential items being covered up in a supermarket in Wales
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter

Supermarket shelves have been cleared in Wales, should shoppers be tempted to put banned items in their basket.

Aisles have been cordoned off and products have been covered with plastic sheeting.

However, the contraband in question is not alcohol or high-strength medicine. It includes clothing, kettles and children’s toys, all deemed "non-essential" by the Welsh Government.

Another lockdown has been ordered. This time, a “firebreaker” lasting just over a fortnight, with restrictions tighter than the first.

And worse could be yet to come. The measures “are about saving lives, not Christmas," said the gloomy First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Under the new rules, which will be in place until November 9, people will be asked to stay at home and to leave only for a limited number of reasons, including exercise, buying essential supplies, or to seek or provide care.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford - Geoff Caddick/AFP
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford - Geoff Caddick/AFP

Mr Drakeford said supermarkets would only be able to sell "essential" items during the lockdown to ensure a "level playing field" for retailers forced to shut. They will not be allowed to sell things such as clothing and hardware.

In Wales, an estimated 16,700 people in private households had Covid-19 between October 10 and 16 – the equivalent of 0.55 per cent of the population.

This is up from an estimated 7,900 people for the period October 2 to 8, or 0.26 per cent of the population.

On Friday there were 761 new cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in the country, and 13 more deaths.

Some 1,756 have died since the start of the pandemic.

On Friday, supermarket workers were seen laying plastic sheeting over the banned goods, while others have been removed from the shelves.

Jamie Cole was in Tesco in Pontypool where an aisle containing “non-essential” items was being closed off.

Mr Cole said: “I was shocked. Bedding should be available for kids and mothers. We're coming up to winter, it's cold outside, I couldn't believe it.”

"I don't have kids of my own but my friend and my sister have kids, she's quite shocked too.

"They rely on Tesco as it's the only supermarket in our town."

In Welshpool, Peter Jones who works in distribution said that he thought people would simply cross over the border to England.

“You’d hope that people would adhere to the lockdown, but I’d imagine that people are going to just drive over the border to buy what they need. I don’t know how they will police it.”

A road sign advising people that the lockdown will begin at 6pm on October 23 in Cardiff - Polly Thomas/Getty Images Europe
A road sign advising people that the lockdown will begin at 6pm on October 23 in Cardiff - Polly Thomas/Getty Images Europe

Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed they would patrol routes into the Forest of Dean area and pull over vehicles they suspected of making long journeys.

The force said drivers who turned out to have driven out of Wales without a valid excuse would be advised to turn around and, if they refused, would then be reported to police in Wales who can issue fines.

On Friday evening, Gloucestershire Constabulary told The Telegraph the plans were part of a wider operation due to high numbers of people from outside the area visiting Cannop cycle centre, which is a base for cyclists visiting the Forest of Dean.

A spokesperson said: "While we cannot issue fines to those travelling from Wales into the county we can inform the host force of those we stop about what has happened so they can take action.

"Officers will be running an operation from tomorrow and over the weekend that will cover routes from Wales into the Forest of Dean and if we stop someone travelling from Wales we will be engaging with them to find out why, explaining the legislation and encouraging them to turn around if we are not satisfied with their explanation.

"If they don’t turn around we will then inform the force that polices the area they have travelled from so that they can issue a fine. "It is important to stress that the vast majority of people are abiding by the rules but in line with our policing approach, we will take action where there are flagrant breaches."

However, sources at South Wales Police told The Telegraph that there are unlikely to be officers stationed outside supermarkets.

“The store owners are expected to obey the rules. If they don’t, we will work with trading standards to enforce them. It’s very unlikely that you’ll see police standing outside a supermarket checking people’s trollies.”

Wales lockdown
Wales lockdown

Primary schools will reopen after half term on Monday, November 2, while secondary schools and independent schools will be open for children in years 7 and 8, and for those pupils who are sitting exams during the week on the same day.

Other pupils will continue their learning from home for the second week of the lockdown.

The Welsh Government is launching a £300 million fund to help small businesses during the new lockdown.

Grants of up to £5,000 will also be available to businesses as well as the UK Government’s job support scheme.

However, business owners are not happy at having to close down again.

Joanna Christou from Hair at Six salon in Penarth said: “After the announcement my phone didn't stop ringing. I had loads of people panicking, wanting to book in.

“Hopefully we won’t be closed longer than two weeks, but if we are, then we will have another backlog of people.

“I am surprised we’re being shut down because we’ve put everything in place and spent all this money to make it safe for our clients.

“Two weeks is a long time in business. We’ve still got to pay our rent, we’ve still got to pay our staff. All this is not going to go away.”

In Swansea, Janine Brown who runs a small clothing, jewellery and homeware boutique said: "For the two weeks, like the three months we did previously, I don't earn anything. I have no income whatsoever.

“I’m obviously disappointed that small businesses like myself have got to shut down. I’ve just ordered all my Christmas stock in and I’ve got to pay for it now this week.

“Now we’re going to be shut down for two weeks. I’ve got a mortgage to pay, I’ve got all these bills to pay and I haven’t got an income.”

Elsewhere, Christian leaders have urged the Welsh Government to not close churches during the lockdown.

They have written to Mr Drakeford asking him to review the measures that will ban churches from hosting services with a congregation for three consecutive Sundays.

The letter, which threatens to seek a judicial review, says the closure of churches is an "extreme interference" in freedom of thought, conscience and religion under Article 9 of the Human Rights Act.

Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and funerals will continue to be held during the lockdown.

David Jones, a former Tory minister and MP in north Wales, said: “The lockdown has caused despair across Wales, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sector, which is one of the mainstays of the economy.

“Hotels, restaurants, pubs and holiday parks have all had a dreadful season, relieved only by Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out initiative in August.

“Now they are losing the important half-term business.  These are people who have invested heavily in Covid precautions and done everything asked of them.  Many of them are at breaking point, facing bankruptcy and the prospect of losing their life’s work.

“The view I hear expressed most often is that the Welsh Government simply don’t care about the private sector.”