Sajid Javid hits out at gloomy Welsh leaders for banning Parkrun events despite evidence Omicron is weaker

SAJID Javid has hit out at Wales’s draconian lockdown measures after Parkrun was cancelled. 

The Health Sec blasted he could not see how the closure of the free 5K runs was “justified or proportionate”.

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Mr Javid fired off a scathing tweet after Parkrun posted a statement explaining how restrictions in the UK would affect events going forward, after Covid infections have spiked across the country due to the Omicron variant. 

But despite doom-mongering Drakeford’s measures, a number of hugely positive studies show Omicron is milder than other strains – with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.

Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.

The Sun’s Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits’ arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.

And although infections are on the rise, hospitalisations remain relatively low and the NHS is not under overwhelming pressure.

Despite, the promising figures, Parkrun said events taking place in Wales had been temporarily scrapped as restrictions there mean gatherings cannot happen if more than 50 people attend.

But as he posted a link to the statement on his own Twitter page, Mr Javid tweeted: “Parkrun has helped so many people improve their health across the UK. 

“I can’t see how restricting outdoor exercise in this way is justified or proportionate.”

In the Parkrun statement, published on its website on December 22, Parkrun said: “With increasing uncertainty about impending restrictions and how they might impact Parkrun and junior Parkrun events, we’d like to take this opportunity to update our communities around the country.

“The evidence remains clear that the infection risks presented by outdoor events like ours are exceptionally low and the public health benefits of remaining open are incredibly high. It is our intention, therefore, that whatever parkrun events are legally permitted to operate they should do so.

“The Welsh Government has also announced a gathering limit of 50 people. It does mean that we have no choice but to suspend all our 5k events from 1 January onwards. We know that some Welsh Parkrun events regularly have fewer than 50 people attending, however it would take a very small influx for them to exceed the limit.”

The spokesperson said that all Parkruns scheduled to take place in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will still happen as they are in line with restrictions in those countries.

Parkruns in England for adults only returned in July this year when coronavirus restrictions were lifted.

It comes as “coachloads” of cheeky Welsh revellers are expected to head to the UK for a New Year’s knees up after Mr Javid confirmed no new restrictions would be placed on England before the 31st.

But the same cannot be said for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the three devolved nations all launching a Boxing Day crackdown to stem the surge of Omicron.

Welsh partygoers are expected to descend on Bristol if Wales’ Labour leader Mark Drakeford refuses to make a U-turn on strict curbs.

Scott Lawrie, 37, landlord of The Meadow House, the last pub in England on the A1 before you cross into Scotland, said: “Being able to trade for the Christmas and New Year period is a godsend.”

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