Covid 19 - Wales to release restrictions

The Welsh Government announces that Welsh covid measures brought in on the 26 December 2021 to combat the rise in cases, are to gradually be released. Mr Drakeford announced that the relaxing of conditions will be a four-stage process, which is dependent on Covid-19 cases remaining at lower levels. The stages are as follows:

• Saturday, 15 January: up to 500 people allowed to attend an outdoor event
• Friday, 21 January: Crowds allowed to return to sporting events, and no limits on those attending outdoor events
• Friday, 28 January: Nightclubs can reopen, hospitality venues allowed to operate normally, safe for Covid passes still being required for large events, plus cinemas, nightclubs and theatres
• Thursday, 10 February: Wales returns to a three-week review cycle as the country is at alert level 0

The Welsh government has urged people to take lateral flow tests before socialising, shopping or visiting people and not to go out if it is positive. The Welsh government further advised people to meet outdoors where possible and to make sure indoor meetings are well ventilated.

People, it said, should leave at least a day between social events.

The aim of the above process is to reduce Wales from an alert level two down to alert level zero, by the end of January.

In response to the releasing of restrictions, Welsh Beer and Pub Association Chief Executive Emma McLarkin states, "Every day of trading counts because everyone wants to trade their way to recover,"

With Michael Kill (Chief Executive of the NTIA) said: “While we are relieved that we finally have clarity on the Welsh government’s intentions, it has come at a cost to businesses, staff and supply chain. It is difficult to accept that we remain subject to covid passes for nightclubs in Wales. They were sold as the solution to nightclubs and similar settings remaining open, and that they are an effective way of managing transmission within these environments. It is clear from the period of closure and restrictions that this is not the case, it is also clear that there is no evidence base that has been presented by the Welsh government to support this decision. I would urge the Welsh government to realise the farcical basis of this mitigation, with no scientific evidence or data to support it, and end it in line with the date that restrictions for nightclubs are withdrawn on the 28 January. This policy seems only to have exacerbated market distortion, segregation, impact on trade and compromise staff and customer safety.”