VACCINATION rates in Wales remain the best in the UK.

Wales will move into alert level two on Monday, May 17 first minister Mark Drakeford confirmed yesterday (Friday) as coronavirus levels remain low.

Indoor hospitality businesses will be able to re-open from 6am Monday, May 17; indoor entertainment venues will also re-open and there will be an increase in the number of people able to attend organised indoor and outdoor activities.

The first minister has also confirmed international travel will resume from Monday but extra safeguards will be put in place for people returning from some countries to prevent coronavirus re-entering Wales.

Mr Drakeford said: “Thanks to everyone’s hard work and ongoing efforts, we can take another step towards relaxing the coronavirus restrictions and move to alert level two on Monday.

“Indoor hospitality will be able to reopen, a move that will be welcomed by many of us as we look forward to enjoying a drink, a meal and the company of friends and family in a café or pub.

“By sticking with the rules and our successful vaccine programme, we are making really good progress in controlling the virus and keeping rates low.

"But the pandemic isn’t over – the new, so-called Indian variant of concern is another unwanted twist in this pandemic, which we are monitoring closely.”

Earlier this week, the Welsh Government said additional financial support for businesses, still affected by coronavirus restrictions, will be provided. They will be able to claim up to £25,000 more in support to help meet ongoing costs.

The announcement was the first to be made by the incoming government and was the first phase of a £200m package earmarked to help businesses affected by the pandemic.

The changes to the coronavirus restrictions, which will come into force from Monday, May 17 include:

  • Indoor hospitality can re-open – six people from up to six households (not including children under 11) can book;
  • All holiday accommodation can re-open fully;
  • Entertainment venues, including cinemas, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor-play centres and areas, casinos, amusement arcades, and theatres can re-open. Cinemas, theatres concert halls and sports grounds can sell food and drink as long as it is consumed in a seated area for watching the performance;
  • Indoor visitor attractions, including museums and galleries can re-open;
  • Up to 30 people can take part in organised indoor activities and up to 50 people in organised outdoor activities. This includes wedding receptions and wakes.

If public health conditions remain positive, the next three-week review will consider:

  • Further changes to meeting people in private homes;
  • Increasing the number of people who can meet outdoors and the number of people who can attend organised activities and events, including wedding receptions, to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors;
  • Permitting larger-scale events to take place indoors and outdoors.

The Written Statement: Review of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restriction) (No.5) (Wales) Regulations 2020 can be viewed on Gov.Wales.