International travel can resume from Monday
THE latest changes to lockdown have been announced today as it is confirmed Wales will enter alert level two from Monday.
International travel will be able to resume from Monday but extra safeguards will be put in place for people returning from some countries to prevent coronavirus re-entering Wales.
It has also been confirmed that all remaining indoor tourism accommodation will reopen and indoor attractions like cinemas, bowling alleys, and theatres, as well as stately homes, are also expected to be able to welcome people back.
There will also be an increase in the number of people able to attend organised indoor and outdoor events.
The Welsh Government had already announced that hospitality
venues would be allowed to open indoors from Monday. So from that day:
■ indoor hospitality can reopen to six people from up to six households (not including children under 11);
■ all holiday accommodation can reopen fully;
■ entertainment venues, including cinemas, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor play centres and areas, casinos, amusement arcades and theatres can reopen;
■ 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 reopen; and
■ up to 30 people can take part in organised indoor activities and events, and up to 50 people in organised outdoor activities and events. including wedding receptions and wakes.
International travel will also resume from Monday.
A traffic light system, as is in place with England and Scotland, will be introduced, with 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, but those travelling will have to quarantine if they have been to countries not on the green list.
From the following Monday, May 24, the Welsh Government says 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 proof of vaccination.
However, the Welsh Government continues to advise people to only travel abroad for essential purposes.
Should the situation remain positive, the Welsh Government says it will look at the following changes in three weeks’ time at the review on June 4, which would likely come into force from June 7:
■ 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; and
■ permitting larger-scale events to take place indoors and outdoors.
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 cafe 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.”
Mr Drakeford will take a press conference at 12.15pm today.
Earlier this week, the Welsh Government announced additional financial support for businesses still affected by coronavirus restrictions – they will be able to claim up to £25,000 more in support to help meet ongoing costs.
The announcement was the first to be made by the incoming government and was the first phase of a £200m package earmarked to help businesses affected by the pandemic.