Wales sets out plans for living with Covid-19
The Welsh government has set out its plans for how the country can live safely with Covid-19.
The Welsh government has set out its plans for how the country can live safely with Covid-19, with all legal measures potentially being removed from 28 March if the public health situation remains stable.
While Wales will remain at alert level 0 for the next three weeks with the current level of protections in place, 'Together for a Safer Future', announced by first minister Mark Drakeford, will mark the start of Wales’ transition beyond the emergency response to the pandemic.
Following similar action from England and Scotland, the plan sets out how Wales’ response to Covid-19 will change under the two core planning scenarios – Covid Stable and Covid Urgent.
Covid Stable is the most likely scenario, which sets out a gradual, phased approach towards the long-term management of the virus. This includes the move away from universal and routine symptomatic and asymptomatic testing and the requirement to self-isolate.
“The hospitality sector was hit first, hardest and longest by the pandemic and so we welcome this shift to a more long-term focus and more sustainable way of living and working," says UKHospitality’s executive director for Wales Dave Chapman. "Footfall remains low, however, particularly in high street and city centre locations and so we would urge the Welsh government to remove its guidance to continue to work from home, in order to revive our once vibrant high streets.
“Business is by no means back to pre-pandemic levels yet and, as we approach the second anniversary of the first lockdown, the Welsh hospitality sector still faces huge challenges. Businesses remain fragile and are carrying large amounts of debt. With costs rising across the board and a VAT rise due this April – just as the wider cost of living crisis is set to bite – businesses in the sector still need support. At the very least, we need the UK government to commit to keeping VAT at 12.5% beyond April.”
The next three-weekly review of the Welsh Covid-19 regulations will be carried out by 24 March, when the remaining legal measures at alert level 0 will be reviewed.
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