Can I visit Wales? Latest advice as quarantine is slashed
The Welsh Government's new rules, which will be reviewed on December 17, comes after the R number rose to 1.4
The length of quarantine required for travellers entering Wales from high-risk countries has been cut from 14 days to 10, but other restrictions have been tightened in the run-up to Christmas.
People required to self-isolate in Wales will be able to do so for 10 days from Thursday, December 10. This applies to people who have Covid symptoms, test positive, were in close contact with someone who displays symptoms or tested positive, or people who are returning from a non-exempt country.
The rule change follows the closure of indoor entertainment businesses and a ban on alcohol in hospitality venues introduced on December 4.
Under new rules, cafes, restaurants and pubs cannot serve alcohol and will have to close at 6pm – but may continue takeaways – and cinemas, skating rinks and museums have shut completely.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said at a press conference on December 4 that the situation in Wales remained "very serious" and that there had been an "unmistakable rise in coronavirus cases once again."
The Welsh Government's new rules, which will be reviewed on December 17, comes after the country's R number rose to 1.4.
Currently, people can travel between Wales and Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas of England. Welsh residents have been able to travel anywhere within Wales since November 9, after the 17-day lockdown designed to contain the latest spike in coronavirus cases ended.
However, said Drakeford: "The fact that you can travel is not an invitation to travel and it's certainly not an instruction to travel."
So what does this all mean for Britons (whether from Wales or elsewhere) who have booked holidays in Wales, or who are planning day trips in the country? Here we detail the latest rules.
What are the current restrictions in Wales, and can I visit?
As it stands, people may legally travel to and from Wales between Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas in England and Scotland, but the Welsh Government "strongly advises" they don't. Previously, people could only travel in and out of Wales if it was deemed "essential."
The official advice states: "Visitors from parts of the UK not under the highest covid restrictions or abroad are not prohibited in law from entering Wales. But as coronavirus cases are high in Wales, we encourage everyone to think carefully about our own lives and what changes we can make to reduce our risk. This includes thinking carefully about travelling.
"In particular, we strongly advise that people living in tier two areas in England or areas in Scotland in level two do not travel to Wales because of the wider risk of catching and spreading the virus to areas of lower risk." In short, yes you can visit from these regions, but please don't.
The new travel restrictions, which came in on December 4, "are likely to remain in place until at least January 2021 but will be kept under constant review," the Government states.
Pubs, cafes and restaurants cannot serve alcohol and must close at 6pm, apart from takeaway services. Cinemas, bowling alleys and bingo halls have closed, as will amusement arcades, casinos and galleries. Hotels remain open.
Non-essential businesses have been open since November 9, but people must work from home "wherever possible". Given the impact of the lockdown and ongoing restrictions on external visitors, it may be all but impossible for many businesses to continue as normal going forward.
"It's going to be a really difficult time and I can see a lot of business going to the wall," David Chapman, executive director for Wales at industry body UK Hospitality, told BBC Radio Wales.
"I can see jobs being shed as furlough is coming to an end. We need full support, if we don't get support now we are going to lose people in large numbers. We could lose up to 40,000 jobs, which will have a massive impact in many rural and coastal communities.”
Ashford Price, co-chair of the Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions (WAVA) and chair of the National Showcaves Centre for Wales, said 63 per cent of WAVA members have needed financial help to survive to Easter 2021 and 88 per cent were planning redundancies.
Can I stay overnight in Wales?
Yes, so long as you are coming from a Tier 1 or Tier 2 area in England. According to the Government's advice: "Two households are able to join together to form an extended household (also called a bubble). This means you can spend time with them in your home or garden or in their home or garden. This includes staying in each other’s homes overnight."
Visit Wales states that Welsh residents are only allowed to share holiday accommodation (whether hotels, tents, caravans or self-catering options) with the people they live with.
What about Christmas?
The leaders of all four home nations have agreed three households may mix from December 23 to 27.
Three households will be allowed to meet over Christmas in Wales and around the UK under new Covid rules.
In a statement, the Cabinet Office “emphasised that the public will be advised to remain cautious, and that wherever possible people should avoid travelling and minimise social contact”.
Can I get a refund for my holiday?
If your holiday has been cancelled, see our guide on how to obtain a refund or a travel voucher. If you wish to cancel your holiday, you should be able to do so, though some hotels may ask you to rebook for a later date, rather than issue a full refund. Find out more about your consumer rights here.
