Wales expected to move to 'level zero' next month
The limits on the number of people who can gather outdoors in Wales will be removed from Saturday (17 July) as the country moves into alert level one, first minister Mark Drakeford (pictured) confirmed this afternoon.
Organised indoor events will be able to take place for up to 1,000 seated and up to 200 standing.
The Welsh government has also published an updated Coronavirus Control Plan setting out the plans for the country's move to level zero, which is currently hoped to take place on 7 August.
This will mean no legal limits on the number of people who can meet others indoors and all businesses, including nightclubs, can open. However, it said people should continue to work from home where possible.
Face coverings will continue to be required by law in most indoor public places and on public transport, except in hospitality settings. Hospitality businesses will still have to carry out a coronavirus risk assessment and can decide to retain the requirement for face coverings on their premises. The government said it would continue to advise people to wear a face covering wherever practical in hospitality environments, but it would not be a requirement.
There are currently no plans in Wales to mandate the use of Covid status certification as a condition of entry of visitors to any setting, but businesses and individuals can choose to use the system.
Drakeford said: "We can be reasonably confident that vaccination has weakened the link between infections and serious illness. But there is still a risk that this third wave of the pandemic could cause real harm – either direct harm from the virus or indirect harm from for example people having to isolate…
"The pandemic is not over and the virus continues to spread across Wales, which makes it really important for everyone to say yes to vaccination and to do everything we can to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe."
Businesses in Wales that continue to be affected by coronavirus restrictions will receive between £1,000 and £25,000 to cover the period up to 31 August.
