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Wales Online
Wales Online
Politics
Ruth Mosalski

Extended households in Wales to return from May 10 with indoor hospitality by May 31

Plans to dramatically ease Wales' lockdown by May have been revealed in detail by the Welsh Government.

As long as rates remain low people will be able to bubble together to form extended households from May 10, meaning they can have contact inside with family and friends for the first time since Christmas Day.

Trials for large outdoor events of between 200 and 1,000 people are also being planned with a possibility of some of those events taking place as soon as April.

Bars, restaurants and cafes can open for outdoor hospitality from April 26. A decision will be made after May 17 about venues being able to re-open inside but it is hoped they will be allowed to re-open by the bank holiday at the end of May.

By early May outdoor activities for up to 30 people will be allowed and gyms and leisure centres can re-open for individual or one-to-one training but not exercise classes.

All changes are subject to the public health conditions remaining favourable.

From April 12 all children will return to school, all remaining shops can re-open and close contact services, like beauty treatments, can resume. This also applies to mobile services. All non-essential retail shops can reopen from the same date.

Also from April 12 viewings at wedding venues can begin again by appointment and outdoor canvassing for the Senedd and police and crime commissioner elections can begin.

A ban on travel into Wales from outside the country will be lifted but the ban on international travel remains with travel only permitted into and out of Wales from other UK nations as well as the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland.

A separate announcement by the UK Government says that from April 12, car driving lessons, car and trailer driving lessons, large goods vehicle (LGV) training and driving instructor training should be allowed to restart and that theory tests, motorcycle tests, LGV driving tests and car and trailer driving tests should also be permitted to resume in Wales.

The Welsh Government also says it is planning a "small number of outdoor pilot events". They will be between 200 and 1,000 people and will include cultural and sports events across Wales, including a potential event in a stadium.

Work is taking place with the Muslim Council of Wales about events to help mark Eid at the end of Ramadan on May 12.

All potential events will need the local council and public health board's approval.

The infection rate across Wales is now 36.8 per 100,000 people, based on the seven days up to March 26 – a drop from 37.6 on Tuesday.

Meanwhile the percentage of tests coming back with positive results is now 2.6%, way below the key benchmark of 5%.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Thanks to a real team effort across Wales coronavirus cases remain stable and the vaccination programme continues apace. As a result the Welsh Government has the headroom to continue its careful, step-by-step approach to relaxing restrictions.

“The review we have concluded this week means we can continue with our programme of further re-opening of the economy and loosening the restrictions in place.”

Mr Drakeford will give further details in a press conference at 12.15pm on April 1.

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