New measures will be introduced from 6am on Boxing Day to help keep Wales safe

The measures are a revised version of alert level 2 to respond to the new omicron variant and are designed to help keep businesses open and trading and protect customers and staff.  The regulations bring back protections in hospitality businesses, including licensed premises, and in cinemas and theatres when they re-open after the festive period.  Strengthened guidance will be issued to help people stay safe in their own homes and when meeting others.  £120 million will be available for nightclubs, retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses affected by the move to alert level 2 – double the new £60 million package announced last week.  The Economy Minister will announce further […]

New advice to keep Wales safe this Christmas

The First Minister will today set out a two-phase plan to respond to the current delta variant and the new, fast-moving, easily-transmissible omicron variant, which is expected to be the dominant form of the virus in the UK by the end of the month.  The Welsh Government is issuing strong guidance to support people across Wales through the Christmas period.  To stay safe in the run-up to Christmas, WG strongly advises everyone follows these simple measures:  Get vaccinated – and if you have had your booster appointment, please make this your priority. If you are going out, going Christmas shopping or visiting people – flow before you go. Take a lateral […]

Wales will remain at alert level zero after the latest review of the COVID regulations

The First Minister will say, at his regular 21-day review press conference, to be held on Friday (December 10), that even though only a handful of cases of Omicron have so far been confirmed in Wales, we must be prepared for cases to rise quickly and sharply. The First Minister will ask people to take regular lateral flow tests before going out and to wear face coverings in all public places to help protect people in the lead up to Christmas. Wales will remain at alert level zero after the latest review of the COVID regulations. However, with the spread of the Omicron variant, the Welsh Government is strongly advising: […]

No changes to Covid rules

FM has confirmed there will be no changes to coronavirus rules following the latest 21-day review. Wales will remain at alert level zero, which means all businesses are able to open and trade. And the Covid Pass will not be extended to hospitality settings in this 3-week cycle. The outcome of the next review of regulations will be announced on Friday 10 December. https://gov.wales/no-changes-to-covid-rules-as-first-minister-thanks-wales-for-help-to-bring-case-rates-down

Strengthened measures to reduce high coronavirus cases in Wales

First Minister Mark Drakeford will today say alert level zero protective measures will be strengthened to keep people safe and help reduce high levels of coronavirus in Wales.Unless rates begin to fall over the next three weeks, Ministers will have to consider reintroducing some restrictions at the next review to bring the spread of the virus under control.Wales will remain at alert level zero but some extra measures will be taken to protect people’s health. The guidance around self-isolation is changing. Adults who are fully vaccinated and children and young people aged five to 17 will be asked to self-isolate until they have received a negative PCR test if someone […]

Wales Tourism Business Barometer

The Wales Tourism Business Barometer provides a ‘snapshot’ of industry performance after important points in the tourism calendar. Findings for the summer period 2021 are now available which show: About half (48%) of operators have had more customers compared to a normal (pre-COVID) summer, about a third (31%) have had the same, and 21% have had fewer. All four regions of Wales have been busier than normal (pre-COVID) this summer, but South West Wales particularly so. 56% of businesses in this region have had more customers this summer compared to normal. Nearly all (97%) businesses are choosing to maintain some safety measures voluntarily that they are no longer required to maintain by law. There are many types […]

New plan to keep Wales open and safe during “challenging” winter ahead

The latest version of the Coronavirus Control Plan sets out two planning scenarios for the pandemic over the winter – in the first, called Covid Stable, Wales remains at alert level zero through the autumn and winter, with all businesses able to open. This is thought to be the most likely scenario for the future, as we become used to living with coronavirus and we gradually move out of the pandemic to a position where the virus becomes a seasonal illness. Under this scenario, if case rates fall, measures could be relaxed further in response, and if they rise, some existing measures could be strengthened to protect people’s health. The […]

NHS Covid Pass

From Monday 11 October People will be required to show the NHS COVID pass to demonstrate they are either fully vaccinated or have had a recent negative lateral flow test, to enter the following venues and events: nightclubsindoor non-seated events of more than 500 people, where people are mixing closely for prolonged periodsoutdoor non-seated events of over 4,000, where people will be mixing closely for prolonged periodsany event, of any nature, which has more than 10,000 people in attendance The NHS COVID pass allows people to prove they have either been fully vaccinated or to provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test. The system is working and you are […]

COVID Pass for events and nightclubs announced

The requirement to show an NHS COVID Pass will come into force from 11 October. It will mean all over-18s will need to have a NHS COVID Pass to enter: NightclubsIndoor, non-seated events for more than 500 people, such as concerts or conventionsOutdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 peopleAny setting or event with more than 10,000 people in attendance People who are fully vaccinated in Wales can already download the NHS COVID Pass to securely show and share their vaccine status. It also allows people to show they have had a negative lateral flow test result within the last 48 hours. https://gov.wales/covid-pass-for-events-and-nightclubs-announced https://gov.wales/written-statement-review-health-protection-coronavirus-restriction-no5-wales-regulations-2020-12