Outdoor hospitality to reopen in Wales next week

19 April 2021, 22:22 | Updated: 19 April 2021, 22:53

Wales will further ease coronavirus restrictions from Saturday with further relaxations next week
Wales will further ease coronavirus restrictions from Saturday with further relaxations next week. Picture: PA

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Outdoor hospitality can reopen in Wales from next week, while six people from six different households will be able to meet outdoors from Saturday.

First Minister Mark Drakeford announced the latest easing of restrictions on Monday as new cases of coronavirus infections continue to fall.

However, he said people would still need to socially distance from those from other households or support bubbles.

Further measures are expected to be announced by Mr Drakeford on Friday.

READ MORE: More 10 million people in UK now fully vaccinated against Covid-19

READ MORE: Plans for Covid booster jabs 'ramping up' as fears grow about mutant variants

Current rules allow up to six people - excluding children under 11 - to meet outside but only from a maximum of two different households.

From Saturday, any six people can meet outdoors but meeting people from other households indoors is still not allowed unless in a limited number of circumstances.

From Monday, April 26, pubs, restaurants, cafes and other hospitality businesses will be allowed to offer outdoor service again.

Mr Drakeford said: "The public health context in Wales remains favourable, with cases falling and our vaccination programme continues to go from strength to strength.

Labour leader kicked out of Bath pub by landlord

"Because meeting outdoors continues to be lower risk than meeting indoors, we are able to bring forward changes to allow any six people to meet outdoors.

"This will provide more opportunities for people, especially young people, to meet outdoors with their friends. This will undoubtedly have a significant positive impact on people's wellbeing.

"I'm also pleased to confirm outdoor hospitality will be allowed to reopen from Monday, April 26.

"These changes will help the hospitality sector recover after a difficult 12 months.

"It is thanks to the continuing efforts of people across Wales we are able to introduce this change. Together, we will continue to keep Wales safe."

Mr Drakeford has said he will confirm more relaxations from next Monday during a press conference on Friday.

Public Health Wales said on Monday there were a further 102 cases of Covid in Wales, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 210,925.

The agency reported another two deaths, taking the total in the country since the start of the pandemic to 5,540.

The figures reflect the 48-hour period up to 9am on Sunday as data is no longer being published on a Saturday.

A total of 1,692,463 first doses of the Covid vaccine have now been given in Wales, with 602,807 second doses also administered.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The attack happened on a train in south London

Teenager charged with attempted murder after south London train stabbing, with victim still in critical condition

Mother Natalie Pinnell

Mother left in tears after daughter with complex needs 'erased' from school photo

Amber Rudd and Mary Beard have both been nominated to the Garrick Club

Amber Rudd and Mary Beard among seven women nominated for membership of all-male Garrick Club

Exclusive
Anneliese Dodds said Labour would make sure local people have 'skin in the game' with tackling inequality

'Rebuild has to start from ground up,' Labour's Anneliese Dodds says, and 'local people must have skin in the game'

Mohamed Mansour has been awarded a knighthood

Conservatives accused of 'cronyism' after donor who gave £5 million awarded knighthood in surprise honours list

Exclusive
Justin Welby recalled his experience of coping with his father's drinking as a teenager.

‘It was utterly isolating’: Archbishop of Canterbury recalls harrowing childhood with alcoholic father

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus falls from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor