Travel between Wales and areas of UK with high Covid rates remains banned

First Minister Mark Drakeford during a Welsh Government press conference

A new set of travel restrictions is set to come into force from Friday evening (December 4), First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

Previously, all but essential travel between Wales and the rest of the UK was banned.

From 6pm on Friday, only travel between Wales and areas of the UK with high rates of coronavirus will be banned.

Travel to and from Tier 3 areas of England, areas in Scotland currently under tighter restrictions, as well as the whole of Northern Ireland, will be forbidden.

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Travel to areas of the UK with lower levels of coronavirus, such as areas of England in Tier 1 and Tier 2 restrictions and level one and level two areas of Scotland, will be “strongly advised against”.

What is the current situation in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland?

England came out of a four-week lockdown on Wednesday, December 2. As the lockdown ended, three separate sets of rules were introduced in England by the UK Government.

As part of the tier system, Tier 1 is ‘medium alert’, Tier 2 is ‘high alert’ and Tier 3 is ‘very high alert’.

Travel between areas in Tier 3 and Wales will be banned from December 4.

In Scotland, there are five levels of restrictions. The lowest is Level 0, while the highest is Level 4.

Travel between Wales and areas in Scotland under Level 3 and Level 4 restrictions will be banned.

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland is currently under lockdown. The lockdown came into force on November 27 and are set to be lifted on December 11. No travel between Wales and Northern Ireland will be allowed.

There will be no travel restrictions in place within Wales.

It is likely these measures will remain in place until January, with an exception over the Christmas period.

These travel restrictions will be suspended between December 23 and December 27. People travelling to and from Northern Ireland will be able to travel the day before and the day after this period.

Mr Drakeford said: “We need to have some restrictions on travel across the border to those parts of the UK where infection rates are high to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“We are also advising people in Wales not to travel into those parts of England and Scotland where the infection rate is lower, to help prevent them taking coronavirus with them.”

The First Minister added: “Coronavirus doesn’t respect borders – we all have a part to play in keeping Wales and the UK safe. Please think carefully about where you are going and what you are doing. This virus thrives wherever we come together with others.

“Taken together with our other measures, these travel restrictions will help to keep us all safe.”

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