Covid: Welsh Labour conference cancelled ahead of expected autumn peak

Welsh Labour has called off its party conference for 2021 amid concerns over rising coronavirus cases.

The party cancelled the event ahead of an expected peak in Covid cases and pressure on the NHS in the autumn.

It had been moved from February to 5 to 7 November, and was expecting about 1,000 visitors.

Meanwhile Wales' most senior medical advisor Dr Frank Atherton says he is hopeful the country can avoid another lockdown, but did not rule it out.

The party, led by First Minister Mark Drakeford, has not held a Welsh conference since 2019 - with last year's event called off at the start of the pandemic.

Other large events planned in Wales around the same time include the Autumn Rugby Internationals - with Wales v South Africa scheduled at the Principality Stadium the same weekend.

Labour is holding its UK party conference in Brighton this weekend.

The cancellation comes after Mr Drakeford announced a new Covid pass system for nightclubs and large events last Friday.

Anyone aged over 18 will be required show the pass to prove they are either fully vaccinated or have had a negative lateral flow test result within the past 48 hours.

In a statement, a spokesman said Labour's ruling Welsh Executive Committee agreed to cancel the conference, which was planned for Llandudno.

"The virus has not gone away, and all indications are that we should expect a peak in cases and subsequent pressure on health and social care services in the autumn," the party spokesman said.

Apologising for any inconvenience, he added: "It has not been an easy decision, but we think it is the right one at this time."

The event would have been the first time the party had met since its election victory in May. Welsh Labour's 2022 conference is still planned for 11 to 13 March.

The latest figures released by Public Health Wales on Monday, covering a 48-hour period, showed a further 17 deaths and 5,258 new Covid cases.

It takes the total number of confirmed cases in Wales to 328,074 since the start of the pandemic, while 5,814 have died with Covid

Dr Frank Atherton, chief medical officer for the Welsh government, told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast people leaving their homes who have not been vaccinated are "vulnerable" to Covid, given the current levels of transmission in the community.

He also said he could not rule out the prospects of further lockdowns.

"From a medical point of view, lockdowns have some benefit in terms of reducing transmission but they also bring harms," he said.

"My hope would be is if we are sensible in Wales... if we remember the pandemic has not gone away and maintain distance, reduce the amount of contact they have, then I'm hopeful that we can avoid further lockdowns.

"But you should never say never and we just have to see where the next wave goes."

Plaid Cymru is planning its own party conference this October.

A spokeswoman said: "We continue to monitor the situation very carefully with public safety as the primary consideration. We will continue to act in line with Welsh government regulations."

Asked about whether other large events should take place in November, the Welsh government said the cancellation of the Welsh Labour conference was a matter for the party.

"We are currently at Alert Level 0 but cases of coronavirus are high in Wales. We all need to take steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones," a spokesman said.

Public Health Wales' updated figures on Monday show 12 deaths occurred on Wednesday 15 September, the highest daily total since March.

The daily average over the past week now stands at five deaths per day in Wales. At the same point in the second wave, the daily average stood at 48 deaths per day.

On Monday, the number of hospital patients in Wales who tested positive for Covid stood at 494, up from 439 the week before.