What’s allowed in Wales as strict rules still apply

IF you live in England, today signals the biggest single shift in the lockdown rules since Britain brought in new legislation to combat coronavirus at the end of March.

But in Wales the First Minister has resisted calls to follow suit and said Wales must patiently wait for the current rules to change.

It means that what started out as a fairly uniform UK-wide lockdown has now become splintered over the last three months.

These are the key differences between England and Wales as we start week 14 of lockdown.

■ Meeting friends and family

In England, up to six people from different households can meet outdoors. In Wales, a maximum of two households can meet outdoors and there is no limit on how many people can meet.

From Saturday, June 13, people who live alone or single parents with dependent children can now form a “bubble” and meet indoors with one other household in England.

In Wales, there are no such plans to create social bubbles and it is still not permitted to visit family and friends indoors.

■ Leaving the house

In England there are no restrictions on leaving home. Staying overnight anywhere other than where you are living is only permitted with “reasonable excuse”.

In Wales, while there is no restriction on leaving home, there is a limit on how far you can travel. The Welsh Government has stipulated that no person may leave the area local to the place, which it has deemed to be within a five-mile radius.

■ Non-essential shops

Non-essential shops will be allowed to reopen for the first time for almost three months in England. But in Wales, non-essential retail will only be permitted to open when the First Minister says we have entered the amber phase, and only then where adaptations are possible.

■ Zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas are set to reopen in England from today.

There is no set date for when zoos in Wales could open again. Cinemas, theatres and other leisure activities will open in Wales only when the country enters the green phase.

■ Weddings and funerals

Weddings remain off limits for anyone living in England, while funerals can go ahead with just members of the deceased person’s household and close family members.

If neither of these can attend, then a friend may take their place.

In Wales, people are permitted to attend weddings only where one partner is terminally ill. People can leave home to attend a funeral if they are organising it or are invited to attend.

■ Public amenities

Libraries in Wales have been open since June 1. In England they will not open until July 4 at the earliest.