Coronavirus restrictions relaxed further in Wales
Cinemas, museums and beauty salons can reopen from Monday, as Wales’ coronavirus restrictions continue to be relaxed, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced today.
Tourist accommodation with shared facilities, such as camping sites and all hotels will be able to re-open from Saturday (25 July) as will underground attractions, marking the full re-opening of Wales’ visitor attractions.
New rules making it compulsory to wear a face covering on public transport, including taxis, will also come into effect on Monday (27 July).
This is the latest in the phased re-opening of Wales’ hospitality, leisure and retail sectors. In addition to beauty salons, nail parlours, tattoo shops, cinemas, amusement arcades, museums and galleries, the coronavirus regulations will also be amended to enable the housing market to re-open fully.
But while the removal of restrictions enables all these businesses to reopen, it does not require them to.
First Minister, Mark Drakeford said:
“Thanks to the efforts we have all made to reduce the spread of the virus, we are taking further steps to re-open more of Wales.
“More of our retail, leisure, hospitality and tourism sectors, which play such an important part in our economy, will start to welcome back customers and guests from tomorrow.
“As more places start to reopen, we must get used to some changes to help protect ourselves and the people working in these businesses. This may mean having to book ahead or giving our details to the places we are visiting, to help our Test Trace Protect service, in the event there’s an outbreak of coronavirus.
“It’s the responsibility of all of us to follow these new rules so we can keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
“Coronavirus has not gone away. But if we all work together, we can keep Wales safe.”
The next formal review of the regulations will be carried out by 30 July. The Welsh Government will consider a range of options, including the options for the opening of pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants indoors from 3rd August, subject to the public health position and the success of the opening of outdoor hospitality. In that context here are a few key points to remember and share widely:
Re-opening of accommodation with associated shared facilities
As indicated by the First Minister, from 25 July, caravan and campsites with shared facilities (e.g. shared toilets, bathrooms, shower blocks, pot washing, kitchens, and laundry facilities) will be allowed to re-open.
The lifting of restrictions on shared facilities will also enable hostels and hostel-type accommodation, hotels and other serviced accommodation to let non-ensuite rooms, as well as ensuite but only to members of the same or extended household.
Bars, restaurants and café areas can only open outside at the moment, but accommodation providers can serve meals and drinks to a guest’s bedroom, making sure social and physical distancing measures are observed at all times.
Accommodation with shared sleeping spaces (e.g. dormitory rooms) will not be open to any groups, except those travelling in accordance with the current Welsh Government guidance on households or agreed extended households.
Detailed industry guidance has been produced to support tourism businesses in having protocols in place in readiness for the re-opening of shared facilities with regard to social distancing measures and having risk assessments in place for cleaning shared showers and toilets.
Shared Kitchens
Until further guidance has been produced, our advice is to operators with shared kitchen spaces is to close these spaces to groups unless the accommodation is occupied solely by the same or agreed extended household.
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6 July 2020
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Outdoor visitor attractions re-opened
On 6 July the Welsh Government lifted the requirement to stay local allowing people to travel around Wales and to visit outdoor visitor attractions, subject to strict social distancing and hand hygiene guidelines.
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11 July 2020
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Self-contained holiday accommodation re-opened
Self-catering accommodation can only be let to members of the same or extended household. This also includes serviced accommodation where bedroom occupancy can only be let to the same or extended household and not, for example, friends booking a twin bedroom or a family bedroom, etc.
This includes any accommodation that is entirely self-contained, e.g. holiday cottages, holiday caravans including touring caravans, motorhomes, boats and some glamping accommodation with their own kitchens and bathrooms that no other guests use.
Also in this category:
- Hotels and other serviced accommodation (e.g. B&Bs, hostels, etc.) that do provide en-suite rooms and can provide room service meals.
- Caravan parks where accommodation is entirely self-contained – but shared facilities on the premises will remain closed, such as swimming pools, leisure facilities, shared shower and toilets blocks, shared laundry, etc., and public areas in other accommodation types. This means any caravan or touring site where individual accommodation has its own supply of water for on board shower, WC and cooking with strict application of guidance on shared waste disposal and water points.
All shared facilities, aside from water and disposal points, should remain closed including toilets, shower blocks, laundry, restaurants, nightclubs, bars, cafes, etc.
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13 July 2020
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Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants re-opened outdoors
Indoor visitor attractions
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25 July 2020
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Camping and caravanning and other accommodation types (e.g. hostels) with shared facilities (e.g. shared toilets, bathrooms, shower blocks, pot washing, and laundry facilities) re-opening
*Shared kitchens - until further guidance has been produced, our advice is to operators with shared kitchen spaces is to close these spaces to groups unless the accommodation is occupied solely by the same or agreed extended household
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3 August
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Indoor hospitality prepares for re-opening
Check back later for more information.
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Contact tracing
The Welsh Government’s Test, Trace, Protect strategy will be key in controlling the spread of new outbreaks as lockdown restrictions ease. As people increasingly come into greater contact with others, there is a higher risk of transmitting COVID-19 in some sectors. This is because customers and visitors will spend a longer time on these premises than in other surroundings, and will potentially come into close contact with people outside of their household.
For businesses operating in these sectors, policy guidance from the Welsh Government is available and describes the important role that businesses play in supporting contact tracing and keeping Wales safe and includes information on what will happen if a visitor, customer or member of staff displays symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19.
“Addo. My promise to Wales” – Industry toolkit now available
As Wales’ tourism industry starts to re-open, our key communication message is ‘Visit Wales. Safely’, which includes the pledge that we’re encouraging everyone travelling around Wales to get behind, to do the little things that make a big difference. To make a promise together, to ‘Addo’ as we prepare to start exploring again, to care for each other, our land and for our communities. The pledge can be signed virtually on www.visitwales.com/promise.
Our handy industry toolkit is now available to make it even easier for you to get involved and please continue to share your pledges with us on social using #addo #VisitWalesSafely.
Stay up to date with tourism industry news
We are committed to providing the support and assurance the business community needs during these unprecedented difficult times and have issued several Coronavirus (COVID-19) related bulletins which can be found on the Tourism Industry Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bulletins page.
Business Wales is providing businesses with tailored support and advice about dealing with coronavirus, from financial and supply chain planning to advice on staffing issues. We would advise Tourism businesses and stakeholders in Wales wanting specific guidance to visit the Business Wales website or call Business Wales helpline on 03000 6 03000, and to regularly visit the Public Health Wales website for up-to-date public health information for you, your staff and your visitors.
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