Extended households to be allowed from Monday

People from two separate households will be able to form a bubble from Monday, May 3, First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed.

Last week, the First Minister announced a series of measures to ease lockdown would come into force from next week, providing coronavirus rates continued to fall.

Mr Drakeford has today confirmed those measures will go ahead as scheduled – meaning Wales will have completed its transition from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 restrictions.

Gyms, leisure centres and community centres will also be able to reopen from Monday.

What measures are being relaxed on Monday, May 3?

• Gyms, fitness facilities, leisure centres, spas and swimming pools can reopen;
• Extended households will be possible, allowing two households to meet and have contact indoors;
• Organised indoor activities for children can continue;
• Organised indoor activities for up to 15 adults can continue
• Community centres can reopen

Making the announcement, Mr Drakeford said: “The public health situation continues to improve and our vaccination programme remains a success. Thanks to the efforts of people across Wales, we are in a position to further ease the restrictions, in the way we have previously signalled, to allow more elements of normal life to return.

“However, the virus has not gone away.

“We all still need to take those vitally important steps, that we are now all so familiar with, to protect ourselves and each other from this dreadful virus – by self-isolating if we have symptoms, by taking up the offer of a Covid vaccine, washing our hands regularly, wearing a face covering in enclosed public spaces, following social distancing rules, limiting the number of people we meet socially outdoors, and only meeting with those we live with indoors.”

He added: “By working together, by following these rules, the quicker we will return to normality. Together, we will continue to keep Wales safe.”

The Welsh Government will hold its next coronavirus review on May 13 – less than a week after the Senedd Election.