The difference between Wales' Alert Level 4 restrictions and Level 5 lockdown in England

Both Wales and England have been in and out of strict coronavirus lockdowns since the nationwide coronavirus restrictions were introduced in March.

Despite entering the same set of rules the first time around, under its devolved government, Wales began "unlocking" much later than England did, marking the beginning of several months where the two nations took different approaches to tackling the spread of the virus.

In Wales' circuit breaker, Welsh people were warned not to leave the country to shop or visit restaurants over the border, and as Wales is currently under an alert level 4, everyone has been asked not to travel to or from Wales, however these rules have been broken.

Now England has entered its own Alert Level 5 for the first time, and with it Boris Johnson has announced strict new lockdown rules.

The main differences between the restrictions include support bubbles and outdoor exercise.

We have taken a look at what you can and can't do in Wales Alert Level 4 and England's Level 5 restrictions.

What is open in both Wales and England:

• Essential retail such as supermarkets, pharmacies, garden centres, banks, post offices and builders merchants
• Children's playgrounds and parks
• Schools, colleges and universities (however some have delayed reopening in January and debate is further continuing as to whether they should remain open this month)
  
• Childcare settings
• Refuse and recycling centres

• Places of worship

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What is closed in both Wales and England:

• Non-essential retail
• Cafes, restaurants, pubs, and bars (Takeaway and click and collect of alcohol no longer allowed in England)
• Hotels, hostels, and campsites
• Leisure centres, swimming pools, indoor gyms
• Cinemas, concert halls, museums and galleries, bingo halls, casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks, and other entertainment venues
• Beauty saloons, hair dressers, barbers, tattoo parlous, spas, massage parlours etc
• Outdoor visitor attractions such as heritage sites, botanical gardens, zoos and other animal attractions
• Outdoor gyms
• Sports courts (Tennis etc)
• Golf courses

What is open in England (but remains shut in Alert Level 4 in Wales)

• Libraries in England are open for those who cannot access IT and digital services at home. They remain closed in Wales while running click and collect service.

The rules on what you can and cannot do under Alert Level 4 in Wales and Tier 5 in England are very similar, but slightly differ.

One of the areas where the restriction are very similar but can be interpreted differently is once again around exercise.

In Wales, recent images of people crowded at Welsh beauty spots left the Welsh Government and Welsh police forces reminding people that under Alert Level 4, your exercise should start and finish form your home.

The guidance advises against driving to exercise, and says: "In general this should not involve people driving to a location away from home for this purpose. No journeys of any significant distance should be taken, for example, just in order to exercise in the countryside or at beauty spots."

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However, those with mobility issues are permitted to travel to a suitable location but "no long journeys should be undertaken unless absolutely necessary.

The rules on travel for exercise in England state there is no formal limit in terms of a number of miles you can exercise or visit a support bubble, but both should be local.

You can go for a walk or run with a person for another household - but you cannot sit down and have a drink with them in the park.

Another difference is who can form a household bubble.

In Wales, single adult households, single parent households, single adults in house shares and students can form a bubble with one household outside their own.

In England, these same household bubble rules apply as well as parents to children under the age of one, who are also allowed to form a support bubble.

This also applies to households that include a disabled child who requires continuous care under the age of 5.