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Wales moves to alert level two and rules to change on international travel

14 May 2021 3 minute read
First Minister Mark Drakeford. Picture by the Welsh Government.

Wales will move into alert level two on Monday, the First Minister will confirm today.

Mark Drakeford will also confirm international travel will resume from May 17, however, the Welsh Government advise people to only travel abroad for essential purposes.

He says extra safeguards will be put in place for people returning from some countries to prevent Covid-19 re-entering Wales.

A traffic light system, aligned with England and Scotland, will be introduced, where countries will be classified as green, amber and red.

This means people living in Wales will be able to travel to a small number of foreign destinations without the need to quarantine on their return. Mandatory quarantine for countries not on the green list remains in place.

From Monday 24 May, a paper-based vaccination status will be available for people in Wales who have had two doses of vaccination and need to urgently travel to a country that requires covid vaccination proof.

Indoor hospitality businesses will be able to re-open from Monday May 17; indoor entertainment venues will also re-open and there will be an increase in the number of people able to attend organised indoor and outdoor activities.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Thanks to everyone’s hard work and ongoing efforts, we can take another step towards relaxing the coronavirus restrictions and move to alert level two on Monday.

“Indoor hospitality will be able to reopen, a move that will be welcomed by many of us as we look forward to enjoying a drink, a meal and the company of friends and family in a café or pub.

“By sticking with the rules and our successful vaccine programme, we are making really good progress in controlling the virus and keeping rates low.

“But the pandemic isn’t over – the new, so-called Indian variant of concern is another unwanted twist in this pandemic, which we are monitoring closely.”

‘Changes’ 

The changes to the coronavirus restrictions, which will come into force from Monday 17 May include:

  • Indoor hospitality can re-open – six people from up to six households (not including children under 11) can book;
  • All holiday accommodation can re-open fully;
  • Entertainment venues, including cinemas, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor-play centres and areas, casinos, amusement arcades, and theatres can re-open. Cinemas, theatres concert halls and sports grounds can sell food and drink as long as it is consumed in a seated area for watching the performance;
  • Indoor visitor attractions, including museums and galleries can re-open;
  • Up to 30 people can take part in organised indoor activities and up to 50 people in organised outdoor activities. This includes wedding receptions and wakes.

If public health conditions remain positive, the next three-week review will consider:

  • Further changes to meeting people in private homes;
  • Increasing the number of people who can meet outdoors and the number of people who can attend organised activities and events, including wedding receptions, to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors;
  • Permitting larger-scale events to take place indoors and outdoors.

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Eric Hall
2 years ago

Does this mean that supporters can attend the Welsh Premier League playoffs for the remaining place in the Europa League, or is the Welsh Government still discriminating against its own national football league?

Joe
Joe
2 years ago
Reply to  Eric Hall

I know, I wish Drakeford would play fast and loose with our lives like Johnson does. So unfair.

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