We have come a long way since Covid first arrived in the UK in early 2020.
This time last year many places were still closed and we were just coming out of the deadly winter wave. Compared to that, the remaining restrictions and Covid regulations seem like nothing at all. However there are still rules and regulations for Covid in place in Wales.
The Welsh Government has laid out a timetable for the remaining restrictions being lifted in their latest Covid plan.
What are the remaining rules, support and regulations?
The following are still in place:
- Masks are still required in shops, health and care facilities and public transport.
- You must legally self isolate if you test positive.
- Free lateral flow tests are available.
- Routine asymptomatic testing in childcare and education settings remains.
- The Self-isolation Support Scheme continues to financially support individuals with a payment of £500 when isolating.
- The Statutory Sick Pay Enhancement scheme continues to provide funding for social care workers to receive 100% of their salary in their pay packet where they are required to self-isolate.
- Contract tracing remains in place.
When are these going to be removed?
Providing that cases remain low and there are no new concerning variants the Welsh Government has indicated the following time table:
Step one - End of most asymptomatic testing and legal duties (End of March/ early April)
- Mask wearing rules will end and be replaced with advice.
- Legal requirement to self-isolate to be removed and replaced by guidance to test if symptomatic and isolate if positive (testing on day five and six prior to leaving isolation).
- Routine asymptomatic workplace testing will cease.
- Access by the general public to LFTs for routine asymptomatic use will cease.
- Routine asymptomatic testing in childcare and education settings, except special education settings and dedicated units, will cease at end of term.
Step two - Symptomatic testing to shift to LFTs (April to June)
- Testing for the general public who are symptomatic will be by LFT rather than PCR test.
- LFTs will be available to order online and result should be reported.
- Positive cases advised to isolate and test on day five and six before leaving isolation.
- Contact tracing continues.
- The Self-isolation Support Scheme will continue to financially support individuals during the transition period with a payment of £500. This will help to mitigate against losing income when following guidance to self-isolate.
- The Statutory Sick Pay Enhancement scheme will continue to provide funding for social care workers to receive 100% of their salary in their pay packet where they are required to self-isolate.
Step three: Transition to long-term steady state (End of June)
- LFTs no longer available for symptomatic testing.
- Guidance to self-isolate will be amended with advice changing to taking additional precautions when ill, such as staying at home where possible if sick.
- Routine Contact Tracing ceases.
- Self-isolation support payments cease.
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