WELSH Government must issue instructions to close caravan parks, whilst supporting business owners, in order to protect our health services as much as we can in the face of increasing pressure due to the coronavirus outbreak, Plaid Cymru AM for Ynys Mon Rhun ap Iorwerth said.

Concerns have been raised in recent weeks regarding the extra strain that could be placed on local health services should visitors come to the island to occupy caravans or second homes in order to themselves from urban areas in a bid to escape the outbreak of this virus.

Mr ap Iorwerth raised questions about whether the local health services in north-west Wales could cope with the influx of visitors with the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, this week, and on Friday a GP on the island contacted the Ynys Mon AM with concerns as a large number of new patients had tried to register with his practice whilst they’re on the island to isolate.

The Plaid Cymru AM said: “Over the past week, I've raised multiple times with Welsh Government, including in the Assembly Chamber, fears that our health services are coming under unnecessary increased pressure due to an influx of visitors.

“Today I have had a GP contact me saying a dozen people have tried to register with his surgery as new patients whilst they're here to isolate. He reports a major influx to his local community and that's just second homes.

“We must have an instruction to close caravan parks etc, whilst providing support to the business owners, but protecting our health services as much as we can. The Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr agrees, and so too council leaders here and in other parts of Wales.

“I'm writing again to Welsh Government to raise this as an urgent issue, and in a meeting this evening with the Health Minister. My colleague Liz Saville Roberts MP has raised this with the Prime Minister today, too.”