Covid-19: Welsh Government update 24 February 2021 - BBC News
Details and reaction to a briefing on the pandemic by Health Minister Vaughan Gething.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams says sending all children back to school at once would pile pressure on the NHS.

Under current plans, the final group of secondary school pupils will not be back in school until the summer term starts on 12 April, although the youngest primary school children have begun to return this week.

In England, all age groups are due to return on March 8.

However, during a visit to a primary school in Cardiff, Ms Williams insisted the Welsh Government was following scientific advice.

“We've been advised if you bring all children back in one big bang that potentially has a massive effect on the R number [infection rate]," she said.

“We will see [Covid case] rates begin to climb again and we will see extra pressure being put back on our NHS.

“Nobody wants to go there. That's why we are doing it carefully and cautiously.”

Ms Williams added she would “welcome a discussion” on changing the academic year in the wake of the pandemic.

Shorter summer holidays and longer breaks in the autumn and Christmas “actually might be a more appropriate way to organise the school year”, she said.

Kirsty Williams: "We are doing it carefully and cautiously" Image caption: Kirsty Williams: "We are doing it carefully and cautiously"