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Covid in Wales: Groups of six allowed to meet in pubs Covid: Only six people allowed to meet in pubs in Wales
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New restrictions for hospitality, retail and workplaces come into force on Boxing DayNew restrictions for hospitality, retail and workplaces come into force on Boxing Day
Groups of no more than six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants in Wales from 26 December, the first minister has said. No more than six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants in Wales from 26 December.
And two metre social distancing rules are to return in public places, Mark Drakeford said. Two-metre social distancing rules will also return in public places.
Licensed premises will have to offer table service only, face masks will have to be worn and contact tracing details collected.Licensed premises will have to offer table service only, face masks will have to be worn and contact tracing details collected.
Outdoor events will be limited to 50, with 30 indoors. Outdoor events will be limited to 50, with 30 indoors, but no restrictions were brought in for smaller meetings in private homes.
Life events such as weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and wakes will not be subject to the same limits as other indoor or outdoor events. First Minister Mark Drakeford called for people to limit the amount of socialising they do and take a lateral flow tests before they go to meet other people.
But Mr Drakeford said the numbers that can attend will be determined by the ability of the venue to manage social distancing and other reasonable measures. Wales' rules for fully-vaccinated people who are a contact of someone with coronavirus have been changed - with a switch to daily testing instead of self-isolation, including for the Omicron variant.
It comes as Wales recorded its highest daily number of coronavirus cases, with 4,662 new cases and three deaths reported by Public Health Wales. Hospitality firms said the new hospitality rules could severely hit their businesses.
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Advice has been given to limit household mixing and use lateral flow tests beforehand, with a specific offence for having gatherings of more than 30 people. The changes come amid the spread of Omicron - 301 more cases have been found in Wales, bringing total to 941.
A maximum of three households meeting at the same time would be a "rule of thumb" for people to follow, Mr Drakeford added. But a senior Welsh Conservative warned some may struggle to understand the complexity of the new rules.
Spectators at community sports matches will also be limited to 50 people. Wales recorded its highest daily number of coronavirus cases on Wednesday, with 4,662 new cases and three deaths reported by Public Health Wales.
Mr Drakeford announced the return to some Alert Level Two restrictions at a Welsh government press briefing. Following the announcement, the Wales Millennium Centre and some other theatres announced they would close their doors from 26 December.
The 2020 Welsh Grand National took place behind closed doors Cardiff and Swansea's Winter Wonderlands both said they would close from from 20:00 GMT on Christmas Eve.
On different approaches by the nations, Mr Drakeford said UK ministers "see all the data as we see it". Pubs face new restrictions - such as the rule of six - after Christmas
He added: "I believe they get all the advice that we get about the need to act and to act urgently in the light of the the omicron wave that is coming our way and is already there, in very, very significant numbers in London and in other parts of England. What are the new rules from 26 December?
"I think that the UK government is in a state of paralysis, about all of this. Mr Drakeford announced the return to some alert level two restrictions at a Welsh government press briefing.
"We see the reports of infighting within the cabinet there are, as I would say, sensible voices, urging the prime minister to act to protect the NHS and to protect people's lives as he has in previous waves. From 06:00:
"And there are others who I simply think take a different view of the balance of risk here." Social distancing rules apply in workplaces and public spaces, including cinemas, shops and theatres
Boris Johnson has said there will be no new rules in England before Christmas, saying he "can't rule out" measures after that date. Restrictions apply in hospitality, including the rule of six for groups of customers, table service and mask wearing
No new Covid restrictions will be brought in for England before Christmas, the prime minister has said Large events will be restricted, with exceptions for smaller sports events where up to 50 spectators can gather, and exceptions for events involving children
Nightclubs were due to close their doors at midnight on 26 December under new rules, but they will now come into effect at 06:00 GMT that day. Nightclubs, originally planned to close on 27 December, will now shut a day earlier.
A total of £120m will be available for nightclubs, retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses affected by the move. But events such as weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and wakes will not be subjected to the same limits.
He said he wanted the measures announced to be in place for the shortest possible time, and they would be kept under review. Mr Drakeford said the numbers that could attend sporting events would be determined by the ability of the venue to manage social distancing and other reasonable measures.
The first minister also repeated his calls for furlough arrangements to be put in place for the sectors most directly affected by restrictions. There will be specific offence for having gatherings of more than 30 people in private homes.
"In order to go further, were that to become necessary the Welsh government simply does not have the financial fire power or even the practical ways of getting help to people who might not be able to be in work - for that we need the help of the UK government," he added. The first minister set no end date for the new restrictions but said he wanted them in place for the shortest possible time.
The number of identified Omicron cases in Wales grew by 204 on Tuesday to 640. New sports rules come into effect from Boxing Day
Mr Drakeford also urged people to get vaccinated, saying this is "the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves". New self-isolation rules
"We are facing a very serious situation in Wales. A wave of infections caused by the new, fast-moving and very-infectious Omicron variant is headed our way," Mr Drakeford said. Close contacts of people who have Covid will no longer have to self-isolate, provided they have been fully vaccinated, and will now have to take a lateral flow test instead.
"This new form of coronavirus could infect large numbers of people in Wales, disrupting daily lives and businesses and could cause an increase in the number of people who need hospital care in the coming weeks." For most people, fully-vaccinated means they have had two jabs.
Restaurants and pubs face new restrictions on the size of groups they are allowed to serve
"It really is a misunderstanding of the position we are facing to think that if Omicron is less severe than Delta that that solves the problem," Mr Drakeford said.
"If Omicron was even half as severe as Delta, because of the extra speed a which it's transmitted that would buy you 48 hours before you see those numbers of people going in to hospital climb to the very steep numbers we have seen."
Close contacts of people who have Covid will no longer have to self-isolate provided they have been fully vaccinated.
They will now have to take a lateral flow test instead.
Mr Drakeford has not gone as far as England, where people with Covid will now have to self-isolate for seven days instead of 10, providing they have a negative test result.Mr Drakeford has not gone as far as England, where people with Covid will now have to self-isolate for seven days instead of 10, providing they have a negative test result.
He said early action was needed to try and control the spread of the Omicron variant. Why is this happening?
Talking about his Christmas Day, Mr Drakeford said: "My own daughter will be coming with her family to see us and they'll come on one day. Mr Drakeford said: "A wave of infections caused by the new, fast-moving and very-infectious Omicron variant is headed our way.
"My son and family will come, but they'll come on a different day. "This new form of coronavirus could infect large numbers of people in Wales, disrupting daily lives and businesses and could cause an increase in the number of people who need hospital care in the coming weeks."
"Instead of what we might usually have done - everybody coming on Christmas Day - it'll be a spaced-out Christmas." He said early action was needed to try and control the spread of Omicron, and it was a "misunderstanding" to think that if the variant was less severe "that solves the problem".
'High vaccination coverage' "If Omicron was even half as severe as Delta, because of the extra speed a which it's transmitted, that would buy you 48 hours before you see those numbers of people going in to hospital climb to the very steep numbers we have seen," he said.
"As we enter our second winter of the pandemic, we have high vaccination coverage and tens of thousands of extra boosters are being given every day," he added. At a recalled Senedd meeting, he later added: "We are quite definitely not on an unstoppable journey to lockdown."
"We also have access to the rapid lateral flow tests to help us all identify signs of infection without symptoms. Theatre closures
"Both of these, together with everything we have learned over the last two years will help to keep us safe at home without the need for new rules and regulations about mixing at home." Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre said social distancing and restrictions on indoor events made it "impossible for us to open the theatre in a way that provides a good audience experience and is economically viable".
The Cardiff versus Scarlets Boxing Day match at Cardiff Arms Park was set to be a sell-out It will cancel all showings from 26 December until 15 January.
The Welsh government had already announced some restrictions it plans to impose after Christmas, with sports events going behind closed doors, including the Cardiff versus Scarlets rugby match on 26 December and the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow the next day. The city's New Theatre is also cancelling its pantomime from the same date.
But up to 50 people can still watch grassroots or junior team sports, Mr Drakeford has now confirmed. The Swansea Grand said its pantomime, Snow White, was cancelled from 26 December. Cinderella at Blackwood Miner's Institute will do the same.
After several days of chopping and changing, ministers will hope today's announcement provides a sustainable way forward over the Christmas period.
In imposing these restrictions, the first minister has gone further than the other home nations and he also has the cushion of Wales being behind both England and Scotland in the progress of the Omicron advance.
What happens there over the next week will be instructive in terms of whether measures here can be tightened or relaxed going forward.
Businesses want this to be as short lived as possible and it's possible that a sharp rise in cases could be followed by a sharp drop.
The modelling has yet to be made public, but Mark Drakeford says it's the volume of potential that cases remains his major concern, both in terms of demand on the NHS and the impact on the workforce of our public services.
New rules 'complex'
Leader of the Tories in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies, criticised the Welsh government's approach to announcing new restrictions over the past week.
"I would not have had the drip, drip, drip effect that has gone on over the last couple of days.
"People I speak to do want to adhere to the rules... but with the complexities that are coming out now it's going to be very difficult for people to understand exactly what their responsibility is going to be."
The rules may have to be "firmed up" again in the new year, said Plaid Cymru's health spokesman Rhun ap Iorwerth.
He added: "If nothing was done now, we'd be in real trouble in January.
"I am in no doubt that the seriousness of the threat we face means we have to take firm action."
The Senedd was recalled to hear from the first minister on the new measures on Wednesday, where he faced calls to publish the latest scientific advice.
UK ministers in 'state of paralysis'
Wales now has some of the most stringent Covid restrictions in the UK. Measures are also being imposed in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
On different approaches by the nations, Mr Drakeford said UK ministers "get all the advice that we get about the need to act and to act urgently in the light of the Omicron wave that is coming our way and is already there, in very, very significant numbers in London and in other parts of England.
"I think that the UK government is in a state of paralysis about all of this."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said there will be no new rules in England before Christmas, but "can't rule out" measures after then.
No new Covid restrictions will be brought in for England before Christmas, the prime minister has said
The Welsh government said a total of £120m will be made available for nightclubs, retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses.
But the first minister also repeated his calls for furlough arrangements to be put in place for the sectors most directly affected by restrictions.
"In order to go further, were that to become necessary, the Welsh government simply does not have the financial fire power or even the practical ways of getting help to people who might not be able to be in work - for that we need the help of the UK government," he added.
The Cardiff v Scarlets Boxing Day match at Cardiff Arms Park was set to be a sell-out
The Welsh government had already announced some restrictions it plans to impose after Christmas, with sports events going behind closed doors, including Cardiff v Scarlets on 26 December and the Welsh Grand National.
But up to 50 people can still watch grassroots or junior team sports.
There had been some confusion following an announcement earlier this week that sports events would have to be played behind closed doors from 26 December.There had been some confusion following an announcement earlier this week that sports events would have to be played behind closed doors from 26 December.
Mr Drakeford said: "There will be an exception for team sports, up to 50 spectators will be able to gather, in addition to those taking part. There is also an exception for events involving children." Workers could face fines of £60 if they are not working from home with good reason.
And workers could face fines of £60 if they are not working from home with good reason.
"They are designed to protect workers, not to punish them," Mr Drakeford said."They are designed to protect workers, not to punish them," Mr Drakeford said.
"When these same rules were there earlier in the pandemic, no fines were issued at all.""When these same rules were there earlier in the pandemic, no fines were issued at all."
Leader of the Tories in the Senedd Andrew RT Davies said: "People I speak to do want to adhere to the rules but with the complexity that are coming out now it's going to be very difficult for people to understand exactly their responsibility is going to be." But Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said that was inaccurate.
The rules may have to be "firmed up" again in the new year, said Plaid Cymru's health spokesman Rhun ap Iorwerth. "At the time all of Wales was under a stay at home mandate, while at the present time the guidance only applies to certain employers and employees," she said.
He added: "If nothing was done now, we'd be in real trouble in January."
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