Wales to ease hospitality restrictions but keep Covid passes for nightclubs

Wales is to lift restrictions on hospitality by the end of January if coronavirus cases continue to fall, but Covid passes will still be required for nightclubs.

First minister Mark Drakeford said there were "early positive" signs of improvement and that Wales may be "turning a corner" as he set out a plan to return to alert level 0, the country's lowest tier of restrictions.

Wales has been in alert level 2 since Boxing Day and nightclubs have been shut since 27 December, causing venues to lose vital Christmas and New Year trade.

From 15 January the number of people who can meet at outdoor events will rise from 50 to 500.

If cases remain low Wales will move to alert level 0 for all outdoor activities from 21 January. This means outdoor hospitality can operate without restrictions and crowds can return to outdoor sporting events, though they will be required to show a Covid pass.

From 28 January nightclubs will be able to reopen and the rule of six, table service, and two-metre distancing will no longer be required in indoor hospitality.

However, people will still have to show a Covid pass for entry into nightclubs, events, cinemas, concert halls and theatres going forwards.

Working from home will remain "important" but will no longer be a legal requirement.

The Welsh government will then move to conducting a review of restrictions every three weeks instead of one.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA), said it was "difficult to accept" that Covid passes were to remain in Wales.

Kill said: "[Covid passes] were sold as the solution to nightclubs and similar settings remaining open, and that they are an effective way of managing transmission within these environments.

"It is clear from the period of closure and restrictions that this is not the case, it is also clear that there is no evidence base that has been presented by Welsh government to support this decision.

"I would urge the Welsh Government to realise the farcical basis of this mitigation, with no scientific evidence or data to support it, and end it in line with the date that restrictions for nightclubs are withdrawn on the 28 January.

"This policy seems only to have exacerbated market distortion, segregation, impact on trade and compromise staff and customer safety."