Here are the latest morning coronavirus headlines for Friday, October 25, as First Minister Mark Drakeford warns restrictions could return in three weeks if cases do not drop.
It comes as the Welsh Government announces it's latest review of coronavirus measures. The country will remain on Covid-19 alert level 0 for the next three weeks despite 'strengthened measures' in a bid to control the virus.
If these measures do not see a significant drop in rates, then the Welsh Government will look to reimpose restrictions.
Read more: All the latest coronavirus news here.
Currently, Wales is in Alert Level 0 or Covid Stable. This mean no restrictions on businesses, but the law in Wales is that mask wearing applies everywhere indoors except hospitality venues. Covid Passes are also being used at certain types of venues and events.
If there was a move to 'Covid Urgent' it would mean a return to the alert level system and restrictions in Wales, but the First Minister will say they would only be used "proportionately" and as a "last resort". That could mean restrictions on meeting indoors or to types of businesses operating freely, for example.
WalesOnline understands no decision has yet been made about what type of restrictions will be introduced if no progress is made in the next three weeks.
Let us know what you think in the survey below. If you are using the app, please click View Interactive Content to launch the survey.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "Over the past three weeks, coronavirus cases have risen sharply to the highest rates we have seen since the pandemic began and more people are falling so seriously ill that they need hospital treatment.
"All this means that the pandemic is far from over. We need to take more action now to strengthen the measures we have in place at alert level zero to prevent coronavirus spreading even further and more people falling seriously ill.
"We hope this action will help to turn the tide of this delta. None of us wants to see a return to restrictions but if rates continue to rise, the cabinet will have no choice but to consider raising the alert level at the next review.
"Let’s all work together as a team to reduce the spread of coronavirus and keep Wales open and keep Wales safe."
The main significant change which will be made at today's coronavirus briefing will be the rules around self isolating.
New Welsh Government guidance is that adults who are fully vaccinated and children and young people aged five to 17 should self-isolate until they have received a negative PCR test if someone in their household has symptoms or tests positive for Covid-19.
Mr Drakeford will hold a press conference at 12.15pm.
What's changing with self-isolation?
Currently, if you are in a household with someone who tests positive but you are double vaccinated, you do not need to self-isolate unless you have symptoms or a positive test yourself.
New Welsh Government guidance is that adults who are fully vaccinated and children and young people aged five to 17 should self-isolate until they have received a negative PCR test if someone in their household has symptoms or tests positive for Covid-19.
People who are not vaccinated will still have to self-isolate for 10 days following contact with someone who has tested positive, including close contacts outside of their household.
If someone in your household tests positive, you too will need to self-isolate until you have taken a PCR test. If that test is negative you no longer have to isolate.
If it is positive, you too will have to isolate.
You will also need to isolate while you await your test appointment and result.
Covid passes to be extended
From November 15, people will need to use a Covid Pass to go to cinemas or theatres.
From 7am on October 11, they have been needed to prove you are either fully vaccinated, or have had a negative Covid test in the last 48 hours before you can go to nightclubs, indoor non-seated events for more than 500 people, outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people and any event with more than 10,000 people.
Welsh Government say cinemas and theatres are places where large numbers of people gather indoors, close to each other, for long periods at a time.
Wales' latest infection rate
The latest figures for Wales, released on Thursday, showed another 12 people in Wales have died with coronavirus.
New figures from Public Health Wales (PHW) published on Thursday, October 28, which cover the last 24-hour period, show the total number of Covid-related deaths in Wales is now 6,134.
There were also 2,664 new positive cases recorded in today's update, bringing the total number since the pandemic began to 432,395.
The latest seven-day infection rate across Wales based on the cases for every 100,000 people (for the seven days up to October 23) now stands at 671.3 – a fall from the 699.7 reported on Wednesday and a second consecutive day where rates have fallen.
UK Government set to remove all countries from red travel list in latest update
The UK Government has removed all countries from its red list as it announced a host of changes to the travel system.
From Monday, there will be no countries on the red list, with the remaining seven countries to be removed from the list, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced on Thursday evening.
Mr Shapps confirmed that the remaining countries will be removed from the list at 4am on November 1.
However, the announcement does not mean the end of the red list entirely - it will remain and may get entries added again in the future if the situation worsens.
Mr Shapps said: "We will keep the red list category in place as a precautionary measure to protect public health and are prepared to add countries and territories back if needed, as the UK’s first line of defence."
The announcement follows the slashing of the red list to just seven countries earlier this month and the previous decision of the government to scrap its traffic light system to make it more straightforward for travellers.
Currently, the only countries remaining on the red list are Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.
Mr Shapps also announced that from Monday, eligible travellers from more than 30 new countries, including Peru and Uganda will be added to the UK Government's inbound vaccination policy, bringing the total number of countries on this list to over 135.
To get the latest coronavirus news sent straight to your email inbox sign up for our free Covid newsletter by clicking here
