{"id":65337,"date":"2022-03-25T14:09:53","date_gmt":"2022-03-25T14:09:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=65337"},"modified":"2022-03-25T14:09:55","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T14:09:55","slug":"what-are-wales-new-covid-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2022\/03\/25\/what-are-wales-new-covid-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Wales’ new Covid rules?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Masks will still be required in health settings, as cases continue to rise<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

MASK wearing and self-isolating with Covid will no longer be legal requirements in Wales from Monday, March 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health and social care settings will be the only places where face coverings are needed, with shops and public transport seeing all restrictions lifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-isolation if you have coronavirus is still strongly advised but will no longer be required by law. A payment of \u00a3500 to support people self-isolating will still be available until June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at a press conference today, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: \u201cAt the last review, cases were falling in all parts of Wales and we were hoping that the worst of the pandemic was behind us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnfortunately, today we face circumstances which have changed again. Cases are once more rapidly increasing across Wales.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this week, Health Minister Eluned Morgan warned<\/a> that mask wearing might stay in place due to soaring case rates of a new Omicron subvariant, BA.2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardiff saw a 16.9% increase<\/a> in case rates compared to last week, with 1,600 people having a confirmed positive test result between March 18 and March 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the First Minister said: \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark Drakeford said: \u201cWe continue to advise people strongly to wear a face covering in crowded indoor public places, including in shops and on public transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fact that it is no longer in law does not mean it is no longer important.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Covid-19 vaccine update:

2,526,623 people have had their first dose.
2,397,404 people have had their second dose.
1,926,769 people have had their booster dose.

See all the latest @PublicHealthW<\/a> figures here \ud83d\udc47https:\/\/t.co\/u9rpDSFpdG<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gfH4e0zhiO<\/a><\/p>— Welsh Government \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc77\udb40\udc6c\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc7f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@WelshGovernment) March 24, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>