COVID pass evidence

15 February 2022

Dear 

ATISN 16078 - COVID Restrictions

Thank you for your request to the Welsh Government for information under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) received on 31 October 2022 relating to the COVID restrictions. Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding.  You requested the following: 

1.  Details of the new form of delta variant now identified in Wales, and 
2.  A copy of the scientific evidence available to Welsh Government to support the decision to extend Covid passes to cinemas, theatres and concert halls from 15 November 2021.
3.  A "hyperlink" to the latest version of the new regulations that take effect in Wales from 15 November 2021.     

Response

Question 1
COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) is a pioneer in the use of large-scale, rapid whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic, to understand viral transmission and evolution, and to inform public health responses and vaccine development. This website is regularly updated and provides the information on the variants and informs the difference on genomics and genotyping. COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (cogconsortium.uk)

The GISAID Initiative promotes the rapid sharing of data from all influenza viruses and the coronavirus causing COVID-19. This includes genetic sequence and related clinical and epidemiological data associated with human viruses, and geographical as well as species specific data associated with avian and other animal viruses, to help researchers understand how viruses evolve and spread during epidemics and pandemics. GISAID - Initiative

Question 2
The information being requested regarding the scientific evidence that was used to support the decision to extend Covid passes to cinemas, theatres and concert halls is readily available and has previously been published, therefore it has been exempted under Section 21 on the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I have provided a link to the Welsh Government’s Disclosure Log where this information can be located for your convenience: https://gov.wales/atisn15678

Question 3
As of the 6th of November 2021 the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No.17) Regulations 2021 require persons responsible for premises to take reasonable measures to ensure that adults on the premises have a “COVID pass”. This applies to premises which provide music for dancing, serve alcohol and are open between midnight and 5a.m. This also includes events with over 10,000 people in attendance if they are all seated, or over 500 indoors and 4,000 outdoors if they are not all seated. You can access the Regulation here: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2021-10/the-health-protection-coronavirus-restrictions-no5-wales-amendment-no17-regulations-2021.pdf

As of the 10th of November 2021 The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Amendment) (No. 19) Regulations 2021 persons must now take reasonable measures to ensure that an adult is permitted to be present on the premises only if they have evidence of particular matters, including vaccination with an authorised vaccine. This applies to premises where music is provided for dancing or specified hospitality and entertainment venues and premises. This also applies to a cinema, other than a drive-in cinema and a concert hall or theatre, other than a drive-in theatre. You can access the Regulation here: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2021-11/health-protection-coronavirus-restrictions-no.-5-wales-amendment-no.-19-regulations-2021.pdf

Next Steps

The request you sent me contains personal information about you - for example, your name and address. The Welsh Government will be the data processor for this information and, in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, it will be processed in order to fulfil our public task and meet our legal obligations under the Act to provide you with a response.
We will only use this personal information to deal with your request and any matters which arise as a result of it. We will keep your personal information and all other information relating to your request for three years from the date on which your request is finally closed.  Your personal information will then be disposed of securely.
Under data protection legislation, you have the right:    

• to be informed of the personal data we hold about you and to access it
• to require us to rectify inaccuracies in that data
• to (in certain circumstances) object to or restrict processing
• for (in certain circumstances) your data to be ‘erased’
• to (in certain circumstances) data portability
• to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who is our independent regulator for data protection

For further information about the information which the Welsh Government holds and its use, or if you wish to exercise your rights under the GDPR, please see contact details below:

Data Protection Officer
Welsh Government
Cathays Park    
CARDIFF
CF10 3NQ
Email:    DataProtectionOfficer@gov.wales  

If you are dissatisfied with the Welsh Government’s handling of your request, you can ask for an internal review within 40 working days of the date of this response. Requests for an internal review should be addressed to the Welsh Government’s Freedom of Information Officer at: 
Information Rights Unit, 
Welsh Government, 
Cathays Park, 
Cardiff, 
CF10 3NQ 

or Email: Freedom.ofinformation@gov.wales   

Please remember to quote the ATISN reference number above. 

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: 
Information Commissioner’s Office, 
Wycliffe House, 
Water Lane, 
Wilmslow, 
Cheshire, 
SK9 5AF. 

However, please note that the Commissioner will not normally investigate a complaint until it has been through our own internal review process 

Yours sincerely