The Welsh Government has announced their three step plan for living with coronavirus in the future.
This plan sets out how we are able to move back to normality as Covid-19 becomes endemic.
Announced as part of their "Together for a safer future: Wales’ long-term Covid-19 transition from pandemic to endemic" plan it is based on "two core scenarios".
These scenarios are "Covid Stable" (considered the most likely scenario) and "Covid Urgent":
Covid Stable
The plan states: "We still expect to encounter additional waves of infection. We expect new variants to emerge, and some may become dominant. But these waves will not put unsustainable pressure on the health and social care system. Vaccines and other pharmaceutical interventions are expected to remain effective in preventing serious illness. We consider this the most likely scenario."
Covid Urgent
The plan states: "This is a possibility we need to plan for. A new variant could emerge that has a high level of vaccine escape or other advantages that puts large numbers of people at risk of severe illness, for example similar to the levels we saw during the alpha wave in December 2020. This may require all of us to work together to take actions to protect others."
So what is the plan for living with Covid in Wales?
The plan outlines three steps which map out details like when self isolation payments and free universal testing will be coming to an end. You can view the full plan here but the key steps are laid out below:
Step one - End of most asymptomatic testing and legal duties (End March / early April)
- 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
