OPENING TIME...
PUBS, BARS, CAFES AND RESTAURANTS SET TO BEGIN REOPENING OUTDOORS IN WALES FROM JULY 13
PUBS, restaurants, bars and cafes will begin to reopen outdoors in Wales from July 13, if cases of coronavirus continue to fall.
The announcement will be made today by the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language Baroness Eluned Morgan.
She will set out the phased reopening plan for businesses in the hospital sector, at the Welsh Government’s latest daily press conference at 12.30pm.
According to the Welsh Government, it follows a rapid review of the hospitality sector in Wales to look at how the industry can safely be reopened.
There have been increasing frustrations within the hard-hit sector about the lack of a timetable – and certainty – about when such venues could reopen.
Last week the Wales Independent Restaurant Collective (WIRC) said that although many firms have shown innovation through online and takeaway orders, the lockdown’s hugely damaging impact meant it could take years for the sector, which employs 135,000 in Wales, to recover, with many venues potentially being forced to close for good.
It warned that without urgent support there would be a “lost generation of entrepreneurs” as well as unemployment for thousands, many in the 18-30 age group.
Edmund Inkin, one of two brothers running The Felin Fach Griffin near Brecon since 2000, said then: “How long can we carry our fixed costs with no clear time-scale for when we might reopen? As we speak, business owners’ only options are becoming job losses or closure.
“As forced closure is extended for hospitality, further financial support is needed urgently to prevent this happening. If we don’t sort this out now, the impact on all areas of Wales and on the life prospects for thousands becomes very grim indeed.”
Simon Wright, a leading food writer, broadcaster and owner of Wright’s Food Emporium in Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire, said: “We’re waiting on the First Minister who may or may not give us a timetable for re-opening, which in turn, may or may not give us a rocky route to survival.”
Under the plans to be announced today, the first phase will see the reopening of outdoor spaces owned by business and subject to existing licences.
But the Welsh Government says this latest stage in the easing of restrictions will only happen if the virus remains under control and is subject to the outcome of next week’s review of the regulations.
The re-opening of indoor services will be considered later, depending on three factors:
■ The success of outdoor opening;
■ the ongoing coronavirus situation in Wales; and,
■ other measures businesses put in place to reduce the risk of transmission, such as pre-booking, table service only, and even the use of apps.
Pubs, bars and restaurants can reopen in England from this Saturday and provide indoor service. Scottish venues can re-open outdoor areas on Monday, July 6, and the trade overall is scheduled to re-open on Wednesday, July 15.
A lockdown review ahead of First Minister Mark Drakeford’s press conference tomorrow will determine whether self-contained tourism accommodation will be able to reopen from July 13, while the country’s fivemile travel guidance is set to end on Monday.
Public Health Wales yesterday said a further six people had died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking its total number of deaths to 1,516, though separate figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the true number of deaths involving the virus up to June 19 stands at 2,408.
And as it can take two or three days for reports of deaths to reach the appropriate authorities, not all newlyreported deaths have occurred in the last 24 hours.
The number of lab-confirmed positive cases of coronavirus in Wales has risen by 32 to bring the total to 15,775.
Cardiff recorded 10 of these new positive cases, the most of any local authority, followed by Rhondda Cynon Taf with four and Conwy and Carmarthenshire both with three.
A total of eight local authorities reported no new Covid-19 cases – Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Flintshire, Bridgend, Ceredigion, Powys and Swansea.
And even though testing capacity stands at 15,000 each day in Wales, 2,808 were carried out on Tuesday, June 30.
During plenaryyesterday, Mr Drakeford said he felt a comprehensive testing regime was in place in Wales, but conceded there needed to be an improvement in the portion of tests turned round within 24 hours.