Wales to drop Covid Pass requirement for events and nightclubs

Wales' first minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed that from 18 February a Covid Pass will no longer be required for entry into indoor or outdoor events and venues, including nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls.

However, events and venues in Wales will be able to continue to use passes if they choose to.

From 28 February, the requirement to wear face coverings will also be removed from most indoor public places, apart from in retail, public transport and health and care settings.

If the public health conditions continue to improve, the legal requirement to wear face coverings in all remaining settings could be lifted by the end of March.

The latest results from the ONS Coronavirus Infection Survey suggested levels of infection had recently fallen, but community transmission rates remained relatively high in all parts of Wales.

Drakeford said: "With increasing numbers of people vaccinated and boosted and thanks to the hard work and efforts of everyone across Wales, we are confident that coronavirus rates are falling and we can look forward to brighter times ahead.

"We can start to gradually and carefully remove some of the remaining protections we have in place at alert level zero. But we are not removing all the measures at once because the pandemic is not over yet.

"To keep Wales safe we need to remain cautious and do everything we can to reassure those who feel most at risk. We will keep some important protections in place, including face coverings in health and social care settings, on public transport and in all shops. We will also keep self-isolation rules in place."

The next three-weekly review of coronavirus regulations will be carried out by 3 March, when the remaining measures at alert level zero will be reviewed.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night-Time Industries Association, welcomed the move, which he said would see businesses "finally able to plan for the future with some level of certainty".

He added: "It will not go without notice that the actions of the Welsh government are still subject to a call by our members for evidence to substantiate the closure of nightclubs over and above other businesses.

"A recent release of Freedom of Information request submitted by the NTIA will be released shortly, and will present some evidential challenges for the Welsh government within the public inquiry into this crisis."