Mark Drakeford has given more details on what the rules for households bubbles are going to be as Wales moves into level three next month.
Since Wales went into a level four lockdown before Christmas people in Wales have not been able to meet someone from outside their household within their homes unless they fall into a couple of exceptions, like single people who were able to form a bubble with another household. However, there may be a relaxation of the rules in four weeks as Wales moves into level three of its Coronavirus Control Plan.
When will the Welsh Government relax the household bubble rules?
The First Minister has said that they will consider reintroducing household bubbles from April 22. It is understood that if cases stay low they will be introduced at some point between that date and May 13.
In an interview today, WalesOnline asked Mark Drakeford if the rules would be the same as those we saw last summer, with people being able to bubble with just one other household.
"That is where we would start and that is where we were back in the autumn," said the First Minister. "Single person households have already been able to form an extended household and will be able to travel to self-contained accommodation as well this weekend.
"The step after that is to have two households be able to join together and meet each other indoors. They will then act, in effect, as a single household."
What does this mean for single people already in a bubble?
If a single person has already bubbled with another household, will they and their current household be treated as one household and be able to bubble with another? For example, if someone has bubbled with their Nan who lives alone could that household form another? Mr Drakeford said he would consider allowing single people and their extended household to be considered one bubble, and therefore able to bubble up with another household.
"I don't think we've made a decision on that," he said. "I can see why there would be a case for saying that, in essence, a single person with another household is already one household, which could then form an exclusive household with another household. I guess we'll get more detailed advice on whether that would be possible."
Can two people who've been fully vaccinated meet freely without being in a bubble?
There had been calls for two people who had both been fully vaccinated to be allowed to meet freely without having to form social bubbles. These calls came from Kings College London epidemiologist Tim Spector. But Mr Drakeford said he was not considering such rules.
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"If we allowed people to meet indoors once they have been vaccinated then we are heading into a debate into vaccination certification and vaccine passports," he said. "How else would you know that someone has had the two doses?"
