“The Assembly Commission is monitoring the Coronavirus situation in Wales closely. Today (Monday, March 16) it met to agree a series of actions in response.
“The Commission has decided that the National Assembly will stop all its public engagement activities from Tuesday 17 March until 26 April at the earliest.
“This includes guided tours, educational visits and any public events at the Senedd and Pierhead buildings on the Assembly estate in Cardiff Bay. Both buildings will close to the public except for those attending or observing formal meetings of the Assembly and Assembly Committees. The Assembly’s regular programme of external activity including staff visits to schools across Wales and community engagement by the Assembly’s Committees will also be suspended. The Commission also decided to postpone the Senedd’s week of business in the north east later this Summer.
“The Assembly’s Business Committee will meet on Tuesday morning to confirm Assembly business for the next two weeks before the Easter recess. Committee business this week includes a special session of the Health Committee with the Health Minister and Chief Medical Officer. Emergency legislation relating to COVID-19 is expected to require full Assembly scrutiny the following week.
“Commissioners also discussed the need to support staff directly and indirectly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and the need to continue to provide relevant guidance to Assembly Members relating to their own staff and offices.
“All Assembly decisions and operations will be reviewed in line with any updated guidance from the Welsh Government.“