The Welsh Government's three-weekly review of Covid restrictions takes place this week, for the first time since the nation moved back to Alert Level 0.
Members of the cabinet will be briefed by experts throughout the week to look at the latest data, projections and what could change when.
We know the First Minister has given some indication of what will be up for discussion at those meeting, but first let's see where we are now.
What restrictions are still in place?
Since January 28, 2022 Wales has been at alert level 0. That means there are no legal limits on the number of people who can meet, including in private homes, public places or events. All businesses and premises can open.
There are four things that are still required:
- Businesses, employers and other organisations must continue to undertake a specific coronavirus risk assessment and take reasonable measures to minimise exposure to, and the spread of, coronavirus.
- Everyone must follow self-isolation rules and guidance
- Adults and children over 11 must continue to wear on public transport and in indoor public places, with the exception of hospitality settings such as restaurants, pubs, cafes, nightclubs or for solemnisation of a marriage, formation of a civil partnership or an alternative wedding ceremonies, although it is still strongly advised in these settings
- You must show a Covid Pass showing you're either fully vaccinated, have had a recent negative Lateral Flow Test, or have a specific medical exemption, to enter outdoor non-seated events of over 4,000; any event, of any nature, which has more than 10,000 people in attendance; theatres; cinemas; concert halls and night clubs
The latest Covid rates for Wales
The latest figures for Wales show that the rapid fall in coronavirus rates has stalled somewhat since Mr Drakeford gave his last press conference three weeks ago.
Covid rates fell dramatically in the first few weeks of January but have since plateaued. The latest infection rate based on PCR tests, for the seven days up to January 31, now stands at 466 cases for every 100,000 people – which is still a high rate in the context of the whole pandemic.
The number of people in intensive care with Covid has however fallen dramatically to just 13 - the lowest rate since July last year and a third of the number critically-ill with Covid in hospital at the peak of the third wave.
The highest infection rate in each Welsh local authority for the seven days between January 27 and February was Newport with 618 cases per 100,000, followed by Carmarthenshire with 615 and Cardiff with 545.
In the seven days to February 2 a total of 33.1% of PCR tests across Wales gave a positive result, a fall on the 33.7% reported on Sunday. The highest positivity rates were in Cardiff (37.6%), Swansea (37%) and Newport (36.9%).
You can read the latest statistics in full here.
So what could change next?
Last month, Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said that if the trends being seen at the time were continued, the rules around face masks and Covid passes would be up for review this week.
The law on face masks has already been changed in England where wearing a mask is only advised.
At the last review, the First Minister said: "We will review it on the 10th of February, because it's part of those alert level zero measures.
"The question we asked for advice on is, are those measures still necessary and proportionate given the state of the virus in Wales? And if the advice is things are so good you don't need to have them in place then we would respond to that advice. If the advice is they still form an important part of the defence that is what we'll do.
"I think there will be many people who, on an advisory basis, finding themselves in places where there are lots of other people and where we know the risks are greater because you're indoors and because our ventilation may not be as good as it otherwise would be, I think there will be lots of people who will choose to go on wearing masks because it gives them confidence that they're keeping themselves safe. I would certainly consider that myself."
Covid passes too will be on the agenda this week before Wales' first home Six Nations game this weekend.
At the last review on January 21, Mr Drakeford said that if infection rates continued to fall, that would be "an active debate" but warned that there was no certainty that the recent falls would be continued. "We will do what we always do. We will look at the measures. We will ask for advice," he said.
When will we know more?
We may get some hint of what could come next on Tuesday, February 8, when health minister Eluned Morgan will give the weekly Welsh Government press conference but the official review will be carried out at the end of the week, and should be announced either Thursday night or on Friday, when the First Minister typically holds a press conference.
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