Now Wales draws up post-Christmas curbs on households mixing and hospitality with Mark Drakeford due to hold a press conference at lunchtime TODAY as those who break work from home orders face a £60 FINE
- Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford expected to unveil new curbs this afternoon
- Welsh Government could require pubs and bars to return to table service-only
- Could also be limits placed on indoor mixing and return of household bubbles
Mark Drakeford will today set out post-Christmas coronavirus rules for Wales, with tighter restrictions for hospitality and limits on indoor mixing expected to be announced.
The First Minister will hold a press conference at lunchtime to unveil his latest package of curbs amid concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant.
New restrictions could include a return to table service-only at pubs, bars and restaurants, according to the BBC.
Social distancing and the rule of six could also be imposed on hospitality venues.
Mr Drakeford is also said to be planning to bring back household bubbles to limit social contacts.
Meanwhile, workers in Wales could now be fined £60 for going to their office if they are able to work from home, under new coronavirus laws.
The latest crackdown came after the number of identified Omicron cases in Wales grew by 204 yesterday to 640, with a total of 2,375 new coronavirus cases overall.
Mark Drakeford will today set out post-Christmas coronavirus rules for Wales, with tighter restrictions for hospitality and limits on indoor mixing expected to be rolled out
The First Minister will hold a press conference at lunchtime to unveil his latest package of curbs amid concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant. Cardiff city centre is pictured last night
Mr Drakeford will hold a press conference just after midday when he will brief the public on the latest measures.
The Senedd is also being recalled from its Christmas recess to discuss the restrictions amid concerns over the number of coronavirus cases in the country.
Mr Drakeford’s Cabinet met yesterday to hammer out the proposed way forward.
The Welsh government has already amended legislation to enforce its work from home rules.
It has made attending a workplace unnecessarily a criminal offence, with people facing fines for breaking the law.
The amended legislation states that ‘no person may leave the place where they are living, or remain away from that place, for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services’ when it is ‘reasonably practicable’ to do so from home.
It adds that anyone who contravenes this rule ‘commits an offence’ punishable by a fine of £60.
However, people in Wales are still allowed to leave home to visit pubs and restaurants, and there is currently no limit on household mixing.
The latest restrictions in Wales also include the closure of nightclubs from December 27, and compulsory distancing through measures such as one-way systems in businesses to protect customers and staff.
From December 26, sporting events whether indoors or outdoors will be played behind closed doors.
Mr Drakeford’s press conference comes after Nicola Sturgeon yesterday announced new curbs for Scotland.
From December 26 for three weeks there will be attendance limits placed on live public events which will torpedo Hogmanay festivities.
The limits will not apply to private life events like weddings, but Ms Sturgeon said for indoor standing events the limit will be 100 people, for indoor seated events it will be 200 and for outdoor events 500 seated or standing.
There have been 562,333 cumulative cases of coronavirus in Wales since the pandemic started, according to Public Health Wales data
Public Health Wales data showed there has been 6,522 suspected Covid-19 deaths in Wales since the start of the pandemic
This will mean that from Boxing Day football and other sporting matches in Scotland will effectively be spectator-free.
Ms Sturgeon also said that from December 27 the Scottish Government is advising people to return to limiting their social contacts ‘as much as you possibly can’ while a table service-only requirement will be reimposed on hospitality venues serving alcohol, lasting for an initial period of three weeks.
There will also be a requirement for one metre social distancing between adults in all indoor hospitality and leisure settings.
In England, Boris Johnson yesterday said there will be no new restrictions imposed before Christmas but he warned measures could be imposed after December 25.
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