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Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed the current Covid regulations will not be changing following the Welsh Government’s latest weekly review.

The country will remain at alert level two. This means people must:

• Wear a face covering (unless there is a reasonable excuse not to wear one) in all indoor public places, including when not seated in a pub, café or restaurant.
• Meet no more than five other people at a café, restaurant, pub or other public premises (unless with their household of a larger number). This applies to both outdoor and indoor areas of the premises.
• Work from home if they can.
• Self-isolate for seven days if they test positive for Covid-19. People should take a lateral flow test on day six and day seven. If either test is positive they should remain in isolation until two negative lateral flow tests or after day 10, whichever is sooner.
• Not take part in an organised event indoors of more than 30 people or outdoors for more than 50 people. All organised events must be organised by a responsible body and have a risk assessment.

People are also being encouraged to follow guidance limiting the number of people they meet who they don’t live with and to take a lateral flow test before they go out. People are also being encouraged to meet others outside where possible, and to keep indoor spaces well ventilated.

The Welsh Government said cases of coronavirus have risen sharply to their highest ever levels as the wave of the omicron varient has surged across Wales in the post-Christmas period. The latest figures show there are more than 2,200 cases per 100,000 people in Wales.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “The omicron wave means we are all facing a difficult month ahead of us. We are already seeing extremely high case rates in communities and we must be prepared for cases to rise even higher, just as they have elsewhere in the UK.

“This variant may not be as severe as we had initially feared but the speed at which it is travelling and its infectiousness continue to be cause for concern.