World News – UK – Covid: Wales’ stay at home rules could end in March

The home rules in Wales could be lifted in three weeks, said the first minister

But Mark Drakeford cautioned that major lockdown changes would depend on case rates dropping further, and it was too early to say if people would be able to travel beyond their area

He also said he hoped elementary school children aged eight and over from age 15 March can go back to school

Mr Drakeford told BBC Radio Wales: “If three weeks from now the numbers are still going down, the positivity rate is going down, the R-number is below one and hospital pressures keep going down, then I hope we can”Go beyond staying at home””

He said it was “too unsafe” to say how much restrictions on movement could be relaxed, but suggested that a “local residence regime”, similar to the local bans imposed in the fall, might be possible

While the case rate in Wales is at its lowest level since September, the government said strict restrictions remain necessary to ensure safe return to school

Mr Drakeford announced his final revision of lockdown restrictions and, starting Saturday, said the number of people who can train together would increase from two to four

He said at a press conference that this does not mean that “people are allowed to go anywhere to do sports and it is exercise, not socializing”

From the 1st On March 1st, licensed wedding venues can be reopened in accordance with the applicable registry office rules

More top athletes can train again, although it is not clear from when, and more visits to nursing homes are also being considered

Discussions about the reopening of tourism are taking place just in time for Easter, with Bed & breakfasts and hotels with room service likely having priority

Friday’s announcement marks the final three-week review of the coronavirus lockdown in Wales before Christmas

Children between the ages of three and seven – who are in the founding phase – return to school on Monday

The next review will look at all elementary school students and some senior students preparing for exams and starting at age 15 March to return to schools and colleges

These include the 11 and 13 Class, as well as students with similar qualifications in college who are returning “safely and flexibly,” said Secretary of Education Kirsty Williams

She added that there might be some “flexibility” for years 12 and 10 that have been entered for qualifications

“It’s going to be done in this cautious, gradual manner” First Welsh Minister Mark Drakeford states that # BBCBreakfast talks will begin this week on reopening non-essential retail and personal services https: // tco / Oj7SNDM25k picTwittercom / YuZ9xxl0Sj

Sarah Bruton, manager of a Caerphilly spa, said she was “very happy” to hear that close contact services could reopen in three weeks

“But we’ve been out with Mark Drakeford before – we’ve learned not to hope too much,” she told Radio Wales

“I am not thinking of these statements that we can use to start contacting our customers or preparing our business”

But one caravan park owner said he “hummed” at the prospect of reopening at Easter

Talks are ongoing to allow non-essential retailers such as stores and hairdressers to reopen by mid-March

However, Cardiff University virologist Richard Stanton said he was concerned about the prospect of parts of the retail sector opening in three weeks

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We are seeing schools reopening soon We know this will likely increase transfer rates slightly, and I think if you add in the opening of a non-essential retail store we could too”see fairly significant increases in virus transmission rates”

Elsewhere in the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that England will end the lockdown “cautiously” – a roadmap to ease restrictions is expected on Monday

In Northern Ireland, the lockdown lasted until Jan. April extended, while in Scotland most lockdown measures are expected to remain in place until the end of February

At a press conference, Mr. Drakeford downplayed any upcoming reopening for the hospitality sector, which includes pubs, restaurants and cafes

He said it was unlikely to reopen in the next two review periods over the next six weeks

He added that the industry didn’t want a ‘stop-start’ reopening: ‘You don’t want to be able to reopen and then find that because the virus gets a grip again, everything has to be closed become””

Mr Drakeford said the advice from scientists is the Kent variant of the coronavirus, which makes this “more challenging”

The fall rate in Wales was one of the highest in the world in December, but has been falling since the week before Christmas

At 84 per 100000 people in seven days, the country now has the lowest rate of any British nation, just below Scotland

Flintshire has the highest rate but is falling there too – and is at its lowest point since early December

The number of confirmed and suspected Covid patients is also at its lowest level since April 28 October

Wales was born on Jan. Locked December after the number of cases rose, in part due to a new, more infectious variant of the virus

The rules, due to be re-examined in three weeks, mean non-essential travel is prohibited and people are expected to stay home as often as possible

The Welsh government said one in three adults in Wales had been vaccinated – recent figures show that 822633 people in Wales had received their first dose

Speaking to LBC, Drakeford said Chief Medical Officer Frank Atherton told him he believed a third wave was “burned into what will happen this year”

He said he would “not tell anyone” that another ban was not required

Mr Drakeford said there were examples of a Nigerian variant in Wales and raised concerns about the versions of the Kent variant found in Bristol and Liverpool

Welsh Conservative Senedd Leader Andrew RT Davies applauded the moves to reopen schools but was concerned that not enough was being done for business

“We know the damage and scars caused by disruptions in education for children and students”

“What I find regrettable is that the Prime Minister has no longer given companies the opportunity to hang their hats so they know when to plan to replenish shelves and get people back to work”

Today @WelshConserv wants the Prime Minister to outline a roadmap for people recovery across Wales, media reports this morning indicated that details of more children returning to school would be announced This is a welcome start

Adam Price, leader of Plaid Cymru, said the “direction of travel is incredibly positive” but he is still concerned about variants of Covid

“We have some evidence that they have higher levels of transferability, and I think that is really the reason for the caution, the tone of caution we heard today”

“Government advisers, as well as today’s TAC report, have stated that easing restrictions too soon or too quickly will result in a large number of new hospitalizations and deaths”

“So we have to be careful as we don’t yet know the impact of the new lines that are currently dominating Wales”

Before announcing the abolition, Assembly Party Chairman Richard Suchorzewski urged Mr. Drakeford to make changes to the way non-essential items are sold in supermarkets and other major retailers

“At the very least, he should give the people of Wales the same rights to buy items that he considers” not essential ” eG sweaters, shoes and underwear as they are allowed in English supermarkets, “he said

While Welsh shops are expected to close aisles selling goods that are not considered essential “when reasonably practicable”, English shops may keep them open

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Wales Lockdown