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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Owen Hughes

Welsh hospitality Covid measures to be announced today

The hospitality sector in Wales is today set to find out what new measures will be introduced from this Friday.

On Friday First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that there will be additional rules for the sector coming into force.

He also said that cinemas, bowling alleys and other indoor entertainment venues will have to close as Wales tries to bring down Covid rates.

Over the weekend he has briefed representatives of the hospitality and tourism sectors as well as local government leaders.

Exact details have not been revealed but two sources in the sector said they were "similar" to those in Level 3 in the tier system Scotland.

This would mean venues allowed to stay open - unlike Tier 3 areas of England - but with added restrictions, which for some may make it not viable to trade.

Officials also spelt out some details on the package of support that will be available.

Moves to increase restrictions on hospitality has angered some people in north west Wales where virus numbers are low - with 19 cases per 100,000 in Conwy. The overall average for Wales is 10 times that.

It has seen Conwy's council leader Sam Rowlands speak out and sector representatives have attacked plans for further restrictions on the industry.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We are very aware that the hospitality sector has worked hard to put in place measures to protect the public and we know this will be a worrying time for all working in the industry.

"However, new restrictions will need to focus on the places where we meet and where coronavirus thrives, drawing on the recent evidence from the UK Sage group of experts about what interventions have the biggest impact on the virus."

What measures could be introduced? These are the Level 3 rules in Scotland on key issues like hospitality and travel.

Hospitality:

Restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars can open indoors and outdoors for the consumption of food and non alcoholic drinks. Alcoholic drinks cannot be served. Last entry is 5pm and all venues must be closed and all customers off the premises by 6pm.

The maximum number of people you can meet indoors and outdoors in a restaurant, café, pub or bar is 6 which can be from up to 2 separate households.

Takeaways operate as normal.

Hotels and other accommodation providers can still serve food to guests staying in their premises up to 10pm. Room service, including alcohol, is allowed as normal.

Currently in Wales venues must stop serving at 10pm and close shortly while four people from different households can meet up.

Accommodation

All holiday accommodation (hotels, B&Bs, self-catering, caravan and camping sites) can stay open.

However, tourists should not travel into, or out off, a Level 3 area for holidays or visits. If copied in Wales, this would mean that country remains out of bounds for visitors from England.

Travel

People must not travel into or out of Level 3.

Retail

Shops remain open as normal.

What happens next?

As stated while the new measures will be similar to those in Scotland it is understood they will not be an exact replica.

First minister Mark Drakeford will address the Welsh Government coronavirus briefing at 12.15pm today.

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