Friday, March 26, 2021
The Wales tourism sector is all set to reopen from Saturday, March 27, 2021 as the country is lifting its local rules and restrictions. However, the move is only being undertaken for Welsh residents. The stay local rule will be replaced by an interim all-Wales travel area, which will remain in place until April 12, subject to the public health situation. The first minister, Mark Drakeford, said in his statement that the latest relaxations are part of the country’s careful and phased approach to unlocking the restrictions and enabling people and businesses to resume their activities in the safest possible way.
He mentioned that the ease of restrictions has been made possible only because of the sacrifices everyone across Wales has made over the last few months and everything they have done to keep loved ones safe while also keeping Wales safe. He informed that the public health position of the country is stable and the incredible vaccination programme is going from strength to strength. According to the latest relaxation, there will be a limited opening of outdoor areas of some historic places, and gardens and libraries and archives will be able to reopen.
Organised outdoor activities and sports for children and under-18 will also be able to take place and up to six people from two different households will be allowed to meet and exercise outdoors and in private gardens. Self-contained holiday accommodation, including hotels with en suite facilities and room service, will be able to reopen to people from the same household or support bubble. For the next two weeks, only those with a reasonable excuse, such as work, will be able to travel into or out of Wales. It also means that Wales will remain closed to visitors from other parts of the U.K. and abroad.
The return of primary pupils and many older secondary school and college students to face-to-face learning, and the start of the phased reopening of non-essential retail, including the opening of hairdressers and barbers are the final stages of the relaxations in the three-week review cycle. Minister Drakeford added that a step by step approach to relaxing restrictions is being undertaken and authorities want to carry on being able to open up Wales. He mentioned that everyone’s help will be required to achieve that and will require everyone to stay vigilant for signs of infection; isolating if they have symptoms and arranging to get tested.
The next review of the regulations will take place next week. Welsh ministers will consider if all students can return to schools, colleges and other educational institutions, all shops and close contact services can be opened and the interim all-Wales travel area can be lifted. The current restrictions on international travel for holidays will remain in place and Wales will moving out of alert level four, and start to move into level three. Welsh Ministers will also consider further alert level three measures in the next review of the regulations.
Tags: Coronavirus, Covid-19, wales, Wales tourism
