Beer gardens set to reopen this month
... as First Minister reveals plan to dramatically ease Wales’ lockdown
PLANS to dramatically ease Wales’ lockdown this month and next month have been revealed in detail by the Welsh Government.
As long as coronavirus rates remain low, bars, restaurants and cafes can open for outdoor hospitality from April 26. A decision will be made after May 17 about venues being able to reopen inside but it is hoped they will be allowed to reopen by the bank holiday at the end of May.
It is also planned that people will be able to bubble together to form extended households from May 10, meaning they can have contact inside with family and friends for the first time since Christmas Day.
Trials for large outdoor events of between 200 and 1,000 people are also being planned with a possibility of some of those events taking place as soon as April.
By early May outdoor activities for up to 30 people will be allowed and gyms and leisure centres can reopen for individual or one-to-one training but not exercise classes.
All changes are subject to the public health conditions remaining favourable.
Details of the next tranche of the easing of lockdown restrictions came late last night.
The Welsh Government confirmed that potential changes to the opening of outdoor hospitality – such as the reopening of beer gardens – will be confirmed at the April 22 review of restrictions, it said, as Welsh ministers set out further plans to restore freedoms in the country.
First Minister Mark Drakeford will set out the series of new measures today, that will see Wales move fully
into alert level 3 by May 17, “subject to public health conditions remaining favourable”.
He will confirm that all remaining non-essential retail and close contact services will be allowed to reopen within the next fortnight, while the rules will also be changed to allow travel into and out of Wales from the rest of the United Kingdom and Common Travel Area.
Students in Wales will also return to
face-to-face education from the same day.
From April 12 all children will return to school, all remaining shops can reopen and close contact services, like beauty treatments, can resume. This also applies to mobile services. All non-essential retail shops can reopen from the same date.
Also from April 12 viewings at wedding venues can begin again by appointment and outdoor canvassing for the Senedd and police and crime commissioner elections can begin.
A ban on travel into Wales from outside the country will be lifted but the ban on international travel remains with travel only permitted into and out of Wales from other UK nations as well as the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland.
A separate announcement by the UK Government says that from April 12, car driving lessons, car and trailer driving lessons, large goods vehicle (LGV) training and driving instructor training should be allowed to restart and that theory tests, motorcycle tests, LGV driving tests and car and trailer driving tests should also be permitted to resume in Wales.
The Welsh Government also says it is planning a “small number of outdoor pilot events”. They will be between 200 and 1,000 people and will include cultural and sports events across Wales, including a potential event in a stadium.
Work is taking place with the Muslim Council of Wales about events to help mark Eid at the end of Ramadan on May 12.
All potential events will need the local council and public health board’s approval.
The infection rate across Wales is now 36.8 per 100,000 people, based on the seven days up to March 26 – a drop from 37.6 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile the percentage of tests coming back with positive results is now 2.6%, way below the key benchmark of 5%.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Thanks to a real team effort across Wales coronavirus cases remain stable and the vaccination programme continues apace. As a result the Welsh Government has the headroom to continue its careful, step-by-step approach to relaxing restrictions.
“The review we have concluded this week means we can continue with our programme of further reopening of the economy and loosening the restrictions in place.”
Mr Drakeford will give further details in a press conference at lunchtime today.
Commenting on Labour’s latest lockdown review announcement, Welsh Conservative Senedd leader, Andrew RT Davies, called for the swift reopening of gyms.
He added: “Earlier this week, Welsh Conservatives provided a cautious but detailed roadmap out of lockdown in Wales for families, workers and business.
“Whilst we welcome the restart of non-essential retail, it’s regrettable Labour have not seen fit to give the green light to the safe reopening of gyms given two months ago ministers claimed it was a priority, and considering the huge toll lockdown has had on the physical and mental wellbeing of thousands of Welsh people.
“With the progress we’ve made on case rates and vaccination, we also believe consideration should’ve been given to the reopening of outdoor hospitality in Wales.
“The recent lifting of travel restrictions has caused issues such as a lack of public toilets, littering and anti-social behaviour – all of which have been seen over recent days in Cardiff and other places.
“Ministers should see licensed, regulated businesses as part of the solution, rather than the problem. And if they’re not going to reopen they should provide the necessary financial support to help save Welsh jobs.”
Responding to the latest Welsh Government coronavirus threeweek review, Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price said: “The Labour Government must explain why it has taken them so long to provide businesses with greater certainty on when they can expect to reopen. Having been closed for so long, the least they deserve is more time to prepare.
“While this news offers hospitality a glimmer of hope, it will be a while yet before the sector can fully reopen.
“Labour has a duty to provide extra financial support to help those businesses to get back on their feet – increasing the pot of cash that’s available to businesses.
“Time and again, hard-working Welsh businesses that form the backbone of our economy have been let down and left behind by this Labour government – the very least they can do is to dig deep and support key sectors of the Welsh economy.
“Meanwhile, gyms should be able to safely reopen now – not least to help with people’s wellbeing and mental health which has suffered so much during the last few months.”
Responding to the news that Wales will soon move into a alert level 3 status, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds said: “This is good news.
“We are cautiously optimistic about the future, especially given the positive news regarding vaccine roll out.
“Small businesses especially in the hospitality industry have been hit hard by this closure and they will be relieved that many of them can start trading again.
“We have seen scenes of people enjoying the good weather and with a four day weekend approaching it’s important that people continue to stick to the rules.
“Any increase in virus numbers and a move back towards level 4 would be a disaster.”