Nightclubs to close and extra measures for shops and workplaces to be brought in

Nightclubs are to close and extra measures for shops and workplaces will be brought in after Boxing Day, the Welsh Government has announced.

From December 27, Wales will introduce new restrictions, including for businesses and services. This will include a 2m rule on social distancing in offices and putting extra measures in place to protect customers and staff, such as one-way systems and physical barriers.

Nightclubs will also close. The Welsh Government has said the tougher restrictions are needed to help control the spread of the more easily-transmissible Omicron variant of Covid – which is expected to be the dominant form of the virus by the end of the month.

The Welsh Government has announced up to £60m will be available to support businesses affected by the new restrictions. However, speaking at the Welsh Government press briefing on Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford said the amount of support the Welsh Government was able to offer is “severely constrained” by the UK Government – and called for more support, something echoed by Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price.

Guidance has also been issued for people across Wales through the Christmas period.

• Get vaccinated – and if you’re double-jabbed get the booster when called.
• Take a lateral flow test before going out. If it’s positive – don’t go out.
• Meet outdoors. If you’re meeting indoors make sure it’s well ventilated.
• Space out your socialising – if you’ve got events arranged, please leave at least a day between them.
• Social distance wear a face covering and wash hands.

The regulations will also be changed to include a requirement to work from home wherever possible.

The First Minister said: “This year a smaller Christmas is a safer Christmas. The fewer people we see, the less chance we have of catching or passing on the virus.

“Please enjoy Christmas with your nearest and dearest – and think about meeting up with wider circles of friends when the threat posed by the omicron variant has passed over.

“I also want to thank the many thousands of people who will be working this Christmas to keep us safe – especially all those who have cancelled their plans to work in the vaccination centres across Wales to increase our protection against this awful virus.”

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales Policy Chair, Ben Francis, said the First Minister “delivered what are undoubtedly sobering messages on some of the challenges facing the public health situation in Wales”.

He continued: “These concerns are also reflected among businesses up and down Wales, many of which are in an economically precarious position and understandably concerned for the future.”

Mr Francis urged people to shop at small businesses in the run-up to Christmas and said: “We welcome the fact that the First Minister has not implemented any further restrictions in the week to Christmas which allows some flexibility for retail businesses and others to continue to trade in this vital festive period.

He added: “These are clearly worrying times and businesses have shown throughout the last twenty months that they will do what is needed to keep their employees and customers safe.”

Meanwhile, Mr Drakeford confirmed Wales’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frank Atherton, will be writing to everyone on the shielding list with advice on how they can stay safe.