Masks will still be required in health settings, as cases continue to rise
MASK wearing and self-isolating with Covid will no longer be legal requirements in Wales from Monday, March 28.
Health and social care settings will be the only places where face coverings are needed, with shops and public transport seeing all restrictions lifted.
Self-isolation if you have coronavirus is still strongly advised but will no longer be required by law. A payment of £500 to support people self-isolating will still be available until June.
Speaking at a press conference today, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “At the last review, cases were falling in all parts of Wales and we were hoping that the worst of the pandemic was behind us.
“Unfortunately, today we face circumstances which have changed again. Cases are once more rapidly increasing across Wales.”
Earlier this week, Health Minister Eluned Morgan warned that mask wearing might stay in place due to soaring case rates of a new Omicron subvariant, BA.2.
Cardiff saw a 16.9% increase in case rates compared to last week, with 1,600 people having a confirmed positive test result between March 18 and March 24.
Today, the First Minister said: “The rapid spread of BA.2 means that we need to retain some protections in law for a little while longer, and at the same time we will continue to issue authoritative advice to protect us all.”
Free PCR tests for the general public will no longer be available from Monday and the Welsh Government will be phasing out free lateral flow tests in June.
While masks and self-isolation rules have been scrapped, businesses will still be required to do Covid risk assessments and people are still urged to be cautious.
Mark Drakeford said: “We continue to advise people strongly to wear a face covering in crowded indoor public places, including in shops and on public transport.
“While self-isolation after a positive test will no longer be a legal requirement, we will continue to advise people strongly that if you are positive, of course you should isolate.
“The fact that it is no longer in law does not mean it is no longer important.”
