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| Covid: People in Wales asked not to travel abroad in 2021 | Covid: People in Wales asked not to travel abroad in 2021 |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Welsh ministers say people should only go abroad from Monday for "essential purposes" | Welsh ministers say people should only go abroad from Monday for "essential purposes" |
| People should avoid foreign holidays this year even though they may be allowed to, Wales' first minister says. | People should avoid foreign holidays this year even though they may be allowed to, Wales' first minister says. |
| UK government advice is that from Monday people in England can holiday abroad in a small number of countries. | UK government advice is that from Monday people in England can holiday abroad in a small number of countries. |
| But Welsh ministers say people in Wales should only go abroad from 17 May for "essential purposes" and Mark Drakeford urged people to stay in Wales. | But Welsh ministers say people in Wales should only go abroad from 17 May for "essential purposes" and Mark Drakeford urged people to stay in Wales. |
| Mr Drakeford has announced that Wales will move to Covid alert level two from Monday. | |
| He confirmed the decision at a Welsh government Covid restrictions review press conference. | |
| Concern over Indian variant | Concern over Indian variant |
| It came after Mr Drakeford said officials "decided to hold back" on relaxing some lockdown restrictions on Monday because of concerns about an Indian variant of coronavirus. | |
| Experts are concerned the variant has mutations that may make it more transmissible, but it is not yet known if it causes more severe disease or if it might make current vaccines less effective. | Experts are concerned the variant has mutations that may make it more transmissible, but it is not yet known if it causes more severe disease or if it might make current vaccines less effective. |
| A total of 26 cases of two variants first identified in India have been found in Wales as of last Thursday - including 11 of a type identified by officials as a "variant of concern". | A total of 26 cases of two variants first identified in India have been found in Wales as of last Thursday - including 11 of a type identified by officials as a "variant of concern". |
| Mr Drakeford told Sky News ministers had thought about "moving ahead with the reopening of smaller events" as well as "liberalising the rules in the way in which people can meet together, not just in their extended household but beyond that", but both are now on hold. | |
| Why is the India variant causing concern in the UK? | Why is the India variant causing concern in the UK? |
| Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Drakeford admitted the travel advice was not a rule because it would be "unenforceable", but urged caution against "importing" coronavirus from other parts of the world. | Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Drakeford admitted the travel advice was not a rule because it would be "unenforceable", but urged caution against "importing" coronavirus from other parts of the world. |
| "We know most people who travel from Wales will be doing it from Bristol, Manchester, London, so once those airports are open and travel across the UK is allowed, then people from Wales will be able to travel," he said. | "We know most people who travel from Wales will be doing it from Bristol, Manchester, London, so once those airports are open and travel across the UK is allowed, then people from Wales will be able to travel," he said. |
| The first minister said the advice was "clear" and there were "fantastic opportunities" to take a holiday in Wales instead. | The first minister said the advice was "clear" and there were "fantastic opportunities" to take a holiday in Wales instead. |
| If people decided to travel abroad, Mr Drakeford said there would be "extra assistance" for them returning from countries where the decision to put them on the green list was "more marginal", including Portugal, Israel and Singapore. | If people decided to travel abroad, Mr Drakeford said there would be "extra assistance" for them returning from countries where the decision to put them on the green list was "more marginal", including Portugal, Israel and Singapore. |
| This includes access to additional testing. | This includes access to additional testing. |
| Pub owner Ellen Morris says it will be hard for the hospitality trade to police the new rules | Pub owner Ellen Morris says it will be hard for the hospitality trade to police the new rules |
| How have businesses reacted? | How have businesses reacted? |
| Mr Drakeford's announcement means indoor hospitality businesses and indoor entertainment venues will be able to reopen from Monday. | Mr Drakeford's announcement means indoor hospitality businesses and indoor entertainment venues will be able to reopen from Monday. |
| There will also be an increase in the number of people able to attend organised indoor and outdoor activities from Monday. | There will also be an increase in the number of people able to attend organised indoor and outdoor activities from Monday. |
| Ellen Morris, the owner of two pubs in Bala, Gwynedd, welcomed the relaxation of the rules but said it would be difficult to police rules which dictate only six people from six different household can meet. | Ellen Morris, the owner of two pubs in Bala, Gwynedd, welcomed the relaxation of the rules but said it would be difficult to police rules which dictate only six people from six different household can meet. |
| "They are grown adults - they should be able to decide, it shouldn't be me telling them you can do this," she told BBC Radio Wales. | "They are grown adults - they should be able to decide, it shouldn't be me telling them you can do this," she told BBC Radio Wales. |
| "They call it hospitality - I don't feel I'm being very hospitable these days. If you are a gang of six or seven friends, someone is being left out. | "They call it hospitality - I don't feel I'm being very hospitable these days. If you are a gang of six or seven friends, someone is being left out. |
| "We are talking about people's mental health here. It's been a long enough year without being left out of groups." | "We are talking about people's mental health here. It's been a long enough year without being left out of groups." |
| DJ Stacey Alford is frustrated by stricter rules in Wales than in England | DJ Stacey Alford is frustrated by stricter rules in Wales than in England |
| DJ Stacey Alford, from Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, has been receiving support from the UK government's freelancers' fund and Universal Credit. | DJ Stacey Alford, from Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, has been receiving support from the UK government's freelancers' fund and Universal Credit. |
| She said she had been "extremely cautious" and followed the rules very closely, but was frustrated by stricter rules in Wales than in England. | She said she had been "extremely cautious" and followed the rules very closely, but was frustrated by stricter rules in Wales than in England. |
| "My bugbear is we can't even do things like background noise, so those opportunities are gone, but DJs in England are able to do that." | "My bugbear is we can't even do things like background noise, so those opportunities are gone, but DJs in England are able to do that." |
| Wedding planner Gail Windley says weddings of 30 people are still too small for most people | Wedding planner Gail Windley says weddings of 30 people are still too small for most people |
| The relaxation will also mean indoor play centres can open, and indoor wedding ceremonies of up to 30 people can take place. | The relaxation will also mean indoor play centres can open, and indoor wedding ceremonies of up to 30 people can take place. |
| Gail Windley, a wedding planner from Swansea, welcomed the news but said it would still mean weddings would be too small for most couples, and criticised a lack of clarity about further easing. | Gail Windley, a wedding planner from Swansea, welcomed the news but said it would still mean weddings would be too small for most couples, and criticised a lack of clarity about further easing. |
| Charmaine Heydenrych, who owns a soft play centre in Cardiff, said she was "ready" to open but said being limited to 30 people was "not sustainable". | Charmaine Heydenrych, who owns a soft play centre in Cardiff, said she was "ready" to open but said being limited to 30 people was "not sustainable". |
| People in England and Scotland can take holidays abroad in a small number of so-called "green" countries without having to quarantine when they return. | People in England and Scotland can take holidays abroad in a small number of so-called "green" countries without having to quarantine when they return. |
| Wales will be adopting the "traffic light system" used by England and Scotland with countries classified as green, amber and red. | Wales will be adopting the "traffic light system" used by England and Scotland with countries 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. Mandatory quarantine for countries not on the green list remains in place. | 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. Mandatory quarantine for countries not on the green list remains in place. |
| From 24 May, 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 Covid vaccination proof. | From 24 May, 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 Covid vaccination proof. |
| However, the Welsh government said it would continue to advise people to only take trips abroad for essential purposes. | However, the Welsh government said it would continue to advise people to only take trips abroad for essential purposes. |
| Other coronavirus restrictions to be eased from Monday include the reopening of indoor hospitality, with six people from up to six households (not including children under 11) able to book. | Other coronavirus restrictions to be eased from Monday include the reopening of indoor hospitality, with six people from up to six households (not including children under 11) able to book. |
| Mr Drakeford told PA news agency social distancing rules in hospitality venues can be lifted if coronavirus transmissions continue to fall. | Mr Drakeford told PA news agency social distancing rules in hospitality venues can be lifted if coronavirus transmissions continue to fall. |
| Mark Drakeford wants people to have a holiday in Wales in 2021 | Mark Drakeford wants people to have a holiday in Wales in 2021 |
| LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area? | LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area? |
| SYMPTOMS: What are they and how to guard against them? | SYMPTOMS: What are they and how to guard against them? |
| YOUR QUESTIONS: We answer your queries | YOUR QUESTIONS: We answer your queries |
| TREATMENTS: What progress are we making to help people? | TREATMENTS: What progress are we making to help people? |
| EPIDEMIC v PANDEMIC: What's the difference? | EPIDEMIC v PANDEMIC: What's the difference? |