Wales in ‘phased switch’ to alert level 1
UP TO 30 people will be able to meet outdoors and large outdoor activities will be able to take place from Monday, as Wales moves into alert level one, First Minister Mark Drakeford will announce today.
The move to alert level one will be phased, with outdoor events opening first. Ministers will review the public health situation again, ahead of June 21, to determine whether indoor events can restart.
The two-stage approach will enable more people to be vaccinated – and complete their twodose course – amid growing concerns about the spread of the delta – or Indian – variant of the virus across the UK.
The size of extended households can also be increased to up to three households, and a further household with a single adult or single adult with caring responsibilities will also be able to join.
Mr Drakeford said: “We will review the public health situation again in a couple of weeks to see whether we can continue to relax the restrictions and restart indoor events.”
UP TO 30 people will be able to meet outdoors and large outdoor activities will be able to take place in Wales from Monday under the latest lockdown rule changes.
Events like parkrun will be allowed to resume and other outdoor events including concerts, football matches and sporting activities, can go ahead for up to 4,000 people non-seated and 10,000 people seated.
The announcement by First Minister Mark Drakeford moves Wales into alert level one.
The size of extended households can be increased to up to three households, and a further household with a single adult or single adult with caring responsibilities will also be able to join.
It is a change to the expected announcement for this review.
In the May 13 review, the Welsh Government said this review would 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; and
■ permitting larger-scale events to take place indoors and outdoors.
The changes confirmed from Monday centre on outdoor events.
The next review will be on June 21, looking at indoor events.
Concerns continue to rise about the effect of the Indian – or delta – variant.
The Welsh Government say their “two-stage approach” will mean more people will have been vaccinated and more people will have been able to have both vaccine doses before indoor events restart.
The seven-day coronavirus case rate remains very low in Wales and the positivity rate is less than 1%.
Wales also has the best vaccination rates in the UK – more than 85% of the population has had one dose and 45% have completed the course but there is growing concern about the spread of the delta variant in many parts of the UK, especially in the north west of England.
There are currently 97 cases in Wales, including a cluster of cases in Conwy.
What changes from Monday?
■ up to 30 people can meet outdoors, including in private gardens, outdoor hospitality and public places;
■ larger outdoor organised gatherings and events, such as concerts, football matches and sporting activities, like organised running groups can go ahead for up to 4,000 people non-seated and 10,000 people seated; and
■ all organisers planning events and activities must undertake a full risk assessment and put in place measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, including social distancing.
And in three weeks?
The Welsh Government says it will look at changing the rules for indoor meetings at the next review, including:
■ rule of six for meeting indoors in private homes and holiday accommodation;
■ increased numbers for indoor
organised gatherings and indoor events; and
■ opening ice skating rinks.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “I want to thank everyone in Wales for everything they have done to control the spread of coronavirus and keep rates low.
“The emergence of the delta variant shows the pandemic is not over yet and we all need to continue to take steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones. The risk of infection is significantly less outdoors than it is indoors. This is why we are phasing in the changes in this three-week cycle.
“This will allow more people to enjoy events outdoors and take advantage of the Welsh summer, while we continue to roll out the vaccination programme to all adults.
“We will review the public health situation again in a couple of weeks to see whether we can continue to relax the restrictions and restart indoor events.”
There was due to be a Welsh Government press conference today at 12.15pm when the First Minister will be taking questions from the Welsh media about his latest announcement.