In the ongoing Covid inquiry in Wales, a former director of communicable diseases at Public Health Wales has stated that there was "no basis" for the government's decision to restrict alcohol sales in pubs and close schools during the pandemic. Dr. Roland Salmon argued that these measures seemed to be "an overly enduring legacy of the chapel heritage" and did not effectively prevent the spread of the virus.

Dr. Salmon expressed his concerns during the fourth day of the Covid inquiry, emphasizing that restrictions on pubs and restaurants were ineffective since people congregating in those settings posed a higher risk. He suggested that vulnerable individuals should have been advised to avoid these establishments instead. Dr. Salmon also questioned the decision to close schools, citing the potential negative impact on children's life expectancy and overall well-being.

Another expert, Dr. Chris Williams, an epidemiologist for Public Health Wales, echoed Dr. Salmon's sentiments regarding measures implemented during the pandemic. He argued that the mandatory use of face masks should have been implemented sooner, even in the absence of concrete evidence, as a reasonable precautionary approach to curb the spread of the virus.

The criticism of the government's strategies extended beyond pub and school restrictions. Dr. Salmon also questioned the decision to restrict access to certain supermarket aisles, stating that he could not find any basis for its effectiveness in stopping the spread of Covid.

The Covid inquiry also shed light on the use of computer modeling by experts from Swansea University to assess the severity of future waves and the impact of counter-measures. Prof. Michael Gravenor, who led the modeling team, acknowledged that the shorter two-week firebreak lockdown introduced in Wales in late October 2020 worked, but with hindsight, a longer firebreak might have been more effective in suppressing the second wave further into winter.

The inquiry highlighted the need for good adherence to restrictions, rather than solely relying on periodic lockdowns, as advocated by Dr. Salmon. He explained that due to the high asymptomatic cases in young adults, any decrease in transmission during a lockdown would likely be followed by an increase once the restrictions were lifted.

The Covid inquiry in Wales continues to explore the decision-making process and evaluate the effectiveness of the government's response to the pandemic. It remains to be seen how the findings and recommendations from the inquiry will shape future strategies for managing and mitigating the impact of Covid-19 in Wales.