Wales Covid rules: the coronavirus restrictions being lifted in Wales as country moves to Level 0 on Saturday

First Minister Mark Drakeford described the lifting of restrictions as a "significant step forward"
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Wales is moving to Alert Level Zero on Saturday (7 August), which means most Covid restrictions are to be lifted.

But which restrictions are being lifted in the country and what rules are set to remain in place?

Here’s what you need to know.

Wales is moving to Alert Level Zero on Saturday (7 August), which means most Covid restrictions are to be lifted (Photo: Shutterstock)Wales is moving to Alert Level Zero on Saturday (7 August), which means most Covid restrictions are to be lifted (Photo: Shutterstock)
Wales is moving to Alert Level Zero on Saturday (7 August), which means most Covid restrictions are to be lifted (Photo: Shutterstock)

Which restrictions are being lifted in Wales?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Most Covid restrictions will be lifted in Wales from Saturday.

This means there will be no limits on meeting with others indoors and all businesses can also reopen, including nightclubs.

It will be the first time in Wales that all businesses have been open since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

However, First Minister Mark Drakeford said that businesses open to the public and workplaces must carry out a risk assessment and continue to take "reasonable measures to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus".

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He described the lifting of restrictions as a "significant step forward", but added that some "important protections" will continue to be in place throughout the summer.

The First Minister has also said that he does not "expect" lockdown restrictions to be reinstated in Wales but added that the Welsh Government will act to protect people's lives again if needed.

He told BBC Radio Wales: "The success of our vaccination programme really does mean that the link between falling ill on the one hand and being so ill that you have to be in a hospital has been really eroded.

"While the vaccine programme goes on giving us that defence, I don't expect that we will have to return to the sorts of restrictions that we saw at the beginning of this year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"But nobody can rule out the surprises, the awful surprises that this virus has had up its sleeve, and, if there were to be a sudden change for the worse that we can't anticipate, then of course the Welsh Government would act again to protect the lives of people in Wales."

Read More
Can pregnant women get the Covid vaccine? Latest guidance explained - and which ...

What rules will remain in place?

Face coverings will remain a requirement in most indoor places. They will still need to be worn on public transport, shops and in healthcare settings.

However, they will no longer be required in hospitality settings such as restaurants, pubs and cafes.

People will also have to continue isolating for 10 days if they have Covid-19 symptoms or a positive test result.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The First Minister told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “Even if you have been fully vaccinated, meeting outside is safer than inside; let fresh air into indoor spaces, get tested even for mild symptoms, and self-isolate when you are required to do so.

"Continue to keep our distance when we are out and work from home whenever we can. Wear a face mask, especially in crowded places, on public transport, in shops and in health and social care settings."