The First Minister has detailed his Christmas plans saying he has made adjustments due to concerns about the Omicron coronavirus variant.
In a press conference on Wednesday December 22, after announcing changes to coronavirus regulations for Wales, Mark Drakeford was asked whether he had changed his Christmas plans due to the virus.
The First Minister said that he would still be seeing his friends and family but in a way which is 'safest', including staggered visits.
Read more: Wales brings in tough new Covid restrictions
He said: "Instead of everybody coming on one day it will be a spaced out Christmas. A smaller christmas is a safer Christmas but you can have a good Christmas."
"We have adjusted our plans. We will be seeing family, we will be seeing friends over Christmas, but we have decided to space that out over the chritmas period.
"My daughter will be coming to see us with her family, they will come on one day. And my son and family will come but they will come on a different day.
"So instead of what we might usually have done with everybody coming together on christmas day, it will be a spaced out Christmas based on what we said last week. A smaller christmas is a safer christmas, but you can have a good christmas at the same time if you do things carefully."
The conference was held in order for the minister to announce new coronavirus guidelines for Wales to be enforced from December 26.
From Boxing Day, Wales will return to "a revised version" of alert level two restrictions.
These measures will mean:
A general requirement of 2m social distancing in all premises open to the public and workplaces, where reasonable.
The rule of six will apply to gatherings in regulated premises, such as hospitality, cinemas and theatres.
All licensed premises will need to take additional measures to protect customers and staff, including table service and collecting contact details.
Face coverings will be required in hospitality settings at all times apart from when seated.
Large events will not be allowed indoors or outdoors. The maximum number of people who can gather at an indoor event will be 30 and 50 outdoors.
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.
The First Minister stopped short of any regulations around househols mixing over the festive period, however the Welsh Government have issued advice in the hopes to stop the spread of the virus.
They are advising people to limit the number of people visiting, encouraging people to take lateral flow tests, meeting outdoors, spacing out visits and washing hands.
There will be a separate offence for large gatherings – more than 30 people indoors or 50 people outdoors – in private homes and gardens.
The First Minister said: “The most important thing we can all do to protect ourselves against omicron is to be fully vaccinated – that means also having the booster. If you are eligible for a booster then please make getting it a priority in the coming weeks.
“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.
“We also have access to the rapid lateral flow tests to help us all identify signs of infection without symptoms.
“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.”
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