If you are in tier one or two, the blanket ban on non-essential travel no longer applies, and hotels and self-catering accommodation facilities have reopened once again in lower-risk tiers. It has been a little over a month since Wales came out of its 17-day firebreak lockdown. The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. ERF Restrictions Business Fund. A total of £180 million will also be available from the Economic Resilience Fund. England remains in lockdown until December 2 While restrictions are being lifted in Wales that have consequences for English people and families, England will remain in a … Gething said there were eight local authorities with rates higher than 400 cases for every 100,000 people – four times as many areas as on Friday. Here are the slides from today's press conference pic.twitter.com/NItinErpdI. From Friday, people in Wales will be able to travel to tier one and tier two areas in England and Scotland. A source told LBC that Wales would go into a new lockdown just after Christmas. A source told LBC that Wales would go into a new lockdown … These new measures are similar to level 3 restrictions in Scotland. The figures come just a month after the end of a 17-day “firebreak” lockdown, which was believed at the time to have been successful and was expected to give the country a clear run up to the new year. Three households will be allowed to meet over Christmas in Wales and around the UK under new Covid rules. Second firebreak lockdown in Wales not ruled out amid warnings of Christmas 'catastrophe' 7 December 2020, 19:13. We’re still committed to doing everything we can to keep Wales safe.”. "Parents will know just how important this period the end of term is, especially in primary schools. Please review our, You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists those rules will end on December 2. The decision has been criticised by the Children's Commissioner for Wales as disruptive to education. The measures, which will last for 17 days, will take Wales back to the lockdown restrictions introduced in March and will result in the closure of 366 betting shops. Only the vaccine can save us now, Exclusive: Test and Trace chaos made me 'lose it' and seek psychiatrist help, Boris Johnson determined to let families meet at Christmas, but urges self isolation beforehand, Moscow capable of second Salisbury-style poisoning that could kill thousands in UK, Defence Secretary warns, Man who ‘expressed affinity with’ incel-motivated mass murderer found guilty under Terrorism Act in ‘unprecedented’ case, SNP accused of presiding over ‘national tragedy’ as Scotland reports highest number of drug-related deaths on record, Are Covid-19 cases rising or falling in your area? This grant is to support businesses impacted by the restrictions introduced on 4 December 2020. Under new rules, cafes, restaurants and pubs cannot serve alcohol and must close at 6pm - but may continue takeaways - and cinemas, skating rinks and museums have shut completely. They must stay at home, except for limited purposes such as exercise, and must work from home wherever possible. The minister said the latest data shows that the all-Wales case rate was almost 70 points higher on Monday than it was on Friday. Swansea Bay university health board’s public health director, Dr Keith Reid, warned that Covid cases in the area could reach “catastrophic levels” unless people followed social distancing rules and said the health system would be overwhelmed if cases continued to increase at the current rate. Mrs Williams said it was impossible to guarantee a level playing field because of the impact of coronavirus, so grades will be based on externally set classroom assessments under teacher supervision. Earlier this month, Health Minister Vaughan Gething hinted a tiered system may be necessary to allow rules to be relaxed at Christmas. “Sadly, we are seeing a return to the very high rates of more than 500 in Blaenau Gwent and 600 in Neath Port Talbot [both areas of south Wales],” he said. The First Minister expressed growing concern that cases could surpass 2,500 by Christmas Day if the current rate continued. Find out more, Stop wasting billions on testing. Previously, people could only travel out of Wales if it was deemed "essential. “This shows you how just fast coronavirus is spreading,” he said. Describing the situation as “incredibly serious”, the Welsh health minister, Vaughan Gething, accepted more restrictions might be needed, possibly even before Christmas. You can unsubscribe at any time. These measures will be in place from 6pm Friday 4 December until such time as the situation changes. 2 days ago. Previously travel in and out of Wales was only allowed for "essential purposes", such as education, work or caring responsibilities. The first minister said a lockdown could be introduced after Christmas if rates do not begin to fall. Coronavirus Article Bar with counter.. How will the rules differ between 23 and 27 December? In recent weeks, shopping centres in Wales have been busy and there is fear that the virus is being transmitted in homes with the cold weather discouraging people from meeting outside. ", Pubs, cafes and restaurants cannot serve alcohol from 6pm on December 4 and must close at 6pm thereafter, apart from takeaway services, Cinemas, bowling alleys and bingo halls will close, as will amusement arcades, casinos and galleries, Non-essential businesses have been open since November 9, but people must work from home "wherever possible", Travel is still permitted anywhere within Wales, but people are not able to travel to England unless it is for essential purposes until tomorrow, Dec 2, A maximum of two households can form a support bubble and meet indoors or in private gardens, Up to four people from separate households can meet up outside the home and in cafes, pubs and restaurants, and bring their children along, but must book ahead and provide identification, House parties, events and gatherings are unlawful, Groups of up to 15 people can take part in organised activities indoors, while up to 30 people are allowed to take part in activities outdoors, Wedding and civil partnership ceremonies may take place with social distancing and face coverings, but receptions are limited to 15 people, Invite-only funerals may take place and wakes or gatherings are limited to 15 people, excluding staff and children under 11. By Chelsea Rocks. A source told LBC that Wales would go into a new lockdown just after Christmas. Gething said effects from the new measures would not be seen for a fortnight. Several other schools took the decision to close into their own hands, and the Welsh government felt considerable pressure with the infection rate rising in the lead up to the easing of lockdown over Christmas. Details of a four-tier traffic light lockdown system were announced at the Welsh government coronavirus briefing on December 11. The top 10 most virtually viewed properties during England's second lockdown have been revealed by OnTheMarket — and it seems Brits are daydreaming about countryside cottages, castles and manor homes.. By analysing the 3D house tours that have been the most popular from 5th - 12th November 2020, the team at OnTheMarket were able to track what house hunters have been searching for. According to the latest UK government statistics, on 1 December Wales had a seven-day case rate of 267.8 for every 100,000 people. Pubs in Wales are set to close from Friday (December 4) as the country enters a new coronavirus lockdown. England went into lockdown on November 5, meaning all non-essential travel was banned, and was lifted on December 2. Elles font également état de 36 nouveaux décès, pour un total qui s'élève à 7 313. WALES is reportedly set for a second firebreak lockdown from December 28 as Covid cases continue to rise. Travel to tiers three and four in Scotland and tier three in England is still prohibited, and well as the whole of Northern Ireland. A "Restrictions Business Fund" worth £160m will be on offer which will enable around 60,000 hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses which pay non-domestic rates (NDR) to access grants of up to £5,000. Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will have to close their doors by 6pm … This virus thrives wherever we come together with others.". Daily figures pass more than 2,000 Covid cases and 29 deaths in Wales as FM rules out pre-Christmas lockdown. COVID-19. WALES is reportedly set for a second firebreak lockdown from December 28 as Covid cases continue to rise. That compared with 149.5 in England, 143.6 in Northern Ireland, and 100.3 in Scotland. coronavirus. Another lockdown may have to be introduced in Wales “immediately” after Christmas if cases of Covid-19 are not brought under control, the first minister has warned. Pupils will be able to go in to take exams but others will learn from home for an additional week, Mr Drakeford said. Mr Drakeford said at a press conference on Dec 4 that the situation in Wales remained "very serious" and that the Government was using measures seen in other parts of the UK in a bid to drive cases down. Wales' GCSE, AS and A-level exams due to take place in summer 2021 have been cancelled, Education Minister Kirsty Williams announced on 10 November. Welsh health minister refuses to rule out more restrictions as hospital cases hit new high, Last modified on Tue 8 Dec 2020 04.37 GMT. At a press conference on Monday, Gething said coronavirus cases were rising again across almost the whole of Wales. A full coronavirus control plan will be published and voted on in the week beginning Dec 14. They continued: “It is likely that Wales will be placed into Tier 4 as of 28 December. Universities will continue to offer both in person and online classes, but students must stay home in their university accommodation under the new rules. The warning came after indoor entertainment businesses were closed and a ban on alcohol in hospitality venues was introduced on Dec 4 due to another rise in coronavirus cases. Picture: PA Images By Ewan Quayle @EQjourno. So of course that’s an option that we’ll need to consider.”, When asked if changes to the rules before or during Christmas could also be needed he said: “If we need to act at a different point in time we will do … If we need to act further we will do. The Welsh health minister, Vaughan Gething, described the situation as ‘incredibly serious’. On Nov 27, Mr Drakeford said, "It is important for our children not to miss out further.". Much will depend on the data, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Monday it’s too early to assess the impact of the second lockdown on infection rates. Health. Please think carefully about where you are going and what you are doing. "The plan sets out four alert levels. The law banning non-essential travel to England from Wales will be lifted at 6pm on Friday 4 December. The Welsh Government has also asked people to maintain social distancing and to stop booking multiple tables in pubs and then pushing the chairs together. 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