Health Minister Eluned Morgan has confirmed that the use of Covid passes and face masks will be examined during the next review of restrictions in Wales next month.
Wales is on track to revert to Alert Level Zero by the end of this week, which will mean that after January 28, the only rules in place in Wales are that everyone over the age of 11 has to wear face coverings in indoor public places, with the exception of hospitality venues.
The Covid pass to prove that you are either fully vaccinated or have tested negative on a lateral flow test will also still apply for anyone over the age of 18 attending, large events, cinemas, theatres and concert halls. Read what the First Minister has said about Covid passes here.
Read more health stories here
Reviews are moving from weekly to three-weekly, meaning that the next review will be on Friday, February 10.
When asked on BBC's Sunday Politics if that date would be too early to get rid of Covid passes and rules around face masks, Baroness Morgan said: "We have got thinking to do before then and we will continue to be driven by the data and the science.
"It is interesting to hear the World Health Organization say that wearing masks are something that people should consider for the longer term. We have got to assess how people feel about this, we have got to assess if the science supports it.
"Clearly, we are keen to see face masks go in schools earlier than perhaps the rest of the population, but all of these things are things that we will be considering."
On the subject of pupils wearing face masks in the classroom, she repeated what the First Minister Mark Drakeford said on Friday (January 21) that it was likely this rule would remain in place until at least the half-term at the end of February. Read what was said here.
Ms Morgan said: "We know how difficult it is for children, but the key thing for us is that we keep children in school. If this helps us to do that, then obviously we will support the teachers, and we will support the children in our best efforts to stop that infection in schools."
Mask-wearing rules for pupils in English schools were scrapped this week but it was reported that some head teachers had defied the UK Government and insisted they will remain in place.. The Daily Telegraph reported that more than 100 schools have already written to parents to say that children must continue wearing masks in lessons despite the Prime Minister’s announcement that the measure is no longer necessary.
England's education secretary Nadhim Zahawi insisted on Thursday that “all schools” should banish face masks so that children can “enjoy a normal experience” in the classroom.
When asked about a road map out of all restrictions, Ms Morgan said that she had "concerns" about the tone being set that the pandemic was over.
"We have got rates of 500 per 100,000 of our population in our community," she said. "Although that is a long way from the 2,000 plus after Christmas, those are significant rates. They are still really high.
"If people catch Covid and they haven't been vaccinated, it means that they could be in serious trouble. We are not out of the woods, and to act as if we are, I think is naive. Of course, the Conservatives are calling for that in England because Boris has not moral authority to lead there.
"What we will be looking at now is what does the long term look like. We need to think about surveillance, diagnosis, prevention control. These are the key things that we will be looking at, and how we organise those things in the longer term."
Ms Morgan was also asked about whether there would be changes to the length of time people have to self-isolate in Wales after testing positive for coronavirus.
The time was reduced from seven to five full days in England, but ministers in Wales have been looking at detailed data before making their decision.
The quarantine period was reduced after a review of the medical evidence, to help ease staff shortages across the economy.
An announcement is expected on any changes in Wales this week, and Ms Morgan said: "I will be looking at the evidence this weekend. My understanding is that the data hasn't changed, so it will be more of a political judgement and assessing the appetite for risk. I want to get some clarity on how great those risks are."
