People are preparing for Christmas with friends and family, the high street is busy with shoppers, and pubs and clubs are welcoming revellers. What a different picture for 2022 festive period compared to this time last year.
It is hard to believe that this time last year families were being urged to have smaller Christmases ahead of new restrictions that were brought in just afterwards.
Many Christmas parties were cancelled and people restricted the number of people they were meeting with to restrict the increase of a new variant of coronavirus.
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A new offence was also introduced to ban people from having more than 30 people indoors or 50 people outdoors at any parties or other events over the festive period. People were not allowed to meet in groups of more than six in hospitality, cinemas and theatres as the "Rule of Six" returned.
This time last year, the Delta variant of coronavirus was rife in Wales and there were rising concerns about Omicron spreading, which is why the Welsh Government announced that new restrictions were being introduced from December 27, 2021.
On December 16 last year, First Minister Mark Drakeford stopped short of introducing any restrictions which would limit people meeting over Christmas. It also decided against any restrictions on travel but the First Minister advised people to have a smaller Christmas..
The infection rate across Wales for this week last year, based on the cases for every 100,000 people (for the seven days up to December 11) was 500.7. That was one of the lowest rates in the UK at the time.
From Boxing Day, he announced that there would be tougher rules for people in Wales, but nightclubs were told to close from that point.
There were also restrictions on crowds at sports fixtures and social distancing returned in Wales. However, an exemption was announced so groups of fewer than 50 could watch children's and grassroots sport.
A 2m rule on social distancing was also re-introduced in offices and there were extra measures to protect customers and staff, such as one-way systems and physical barriers. People were also urged to work from home again where possible.
From Boxing Day, the alert level two measures meant for people in Wales that there was:
- A general requirement of 2m social distancing was in place in all premises open to the public and workplaces, where reasonable.
- The rule of six applied to gatherings in regulated premises, such as hospitality, cinemas and theatres.
- All licensed premises needed to take additional measures to protect customers and staff, including table service and collecting contact details.
- Face coverings were required in hospitality settings at all times apart from when seated.
- Large events were not allowed indoors or outdoors. The maximum number of people who could gather at an indoor event was 30 and 50 outdoors.
- There was an exception for team sports, up to 50 spectators were able to gather, in addition to those taking part. There was also an exception for events involving children.
Mr Drakeford said at the time: "Delta will continue to be the main cause of coronavirus infections in Wales up to Christmas. But we are seeing cases of omicron increasing rapidly every day in Wales – and across the UK.
"We need a plan to keep us safe this Christmas and we need stronger measures to protect us afterwards, as we prepare for a large wave of omicron infections. Omicron poses a new threat to our health and safety. It is the most serious development in the pandemic to date.
"It is one we must take seriously. We will continue to put in place proportionate measures to protect people’s lives and livelihoods. This is a virus which thrives on human contact. Every contact we have is an opportunity for us to spread or catch the virus.”
Look how different the streets looked were this year:
To stay safe in the run up to Christmas, the Welsh Government "strongly advised" everyone to follow five measures to stay safe including getting vaccinated, taking a lateral flow test before meeting anyone and wearing a face covering.
The First Minister added: "This year (2021) 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."
But there was anger that while nightclubs in Wales were forced to close their counterparts in England had been allowed to stay open. Pictures here show the empty streets in Wales on New Year's Eve 2021.
Mark Drakeford was forced to address claims that he was "overreacting" amid claims that Omicron was less severe than Delta, even though it seemed to be spreading quicker.
He said in one of the weekly press conferences being held at the time: "It really is a misunderstanding of the position we are facing to think that if omicron is less severe than delta, that that solves the problem." Read more of what he had to say here.
This year, there are now coronavirus laws, but the Welsh Government is still urging people to get vaccinations, advise that outdoors is safer than indoors and are asking for anyone with symptoms to stay at home and avoid contact with people. They are also still advising people to wear a mask i healthcare settings and crowded indoor places.
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