The Welsh government is relaxing some Covid restrictions but keeping the requirement for people to isolate if they test positive for Covid.
The obligation to show a Covid pass to get into nightclubs, cinemas and theatres will be dropped from 18 February, and people will be able to go into some public places without a face covering 10 days later.
While all Covid regulations in England are set to be abolished in two weeks, the Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, who himself has tested positive for the virus and is isolating, stressed his government remained cautious.
He said on Thursday: “With increasing numbers of people vaccinated and boosted, and thanks to the hard work and efforts of everyone across Wales, we are confident that coronavirus rates are falling and we can look forward to brighter times ahead.
“We can start to gradually and carefully remove some of the remaining protections we have in place. But we are not removing all the measures at once because the pandemic is not over yet.
“To keep Wales safe we need to remain cautious and do everything we can to reassure those who feel most at risk. We will keep some important protections in place, including face coverings in health and social care settings, on public transport and in all shops. We will also keep self-isolation rules in place.”
Drakeford said that next month the Labour-controlled government would publish a plan setting out how it will move beyond the emergency footing on which the country has been operating for nearly two years. “This will help us all to make some plans for the future,” he said.
From Friday 18 February, the Covid pass will no longer be required for entry into indoor or outdoor events and venues, including nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls. But events and venues will be able to continue to use it if they choose to.
From Monday 28 February, the requirement to wear face coverings will be removed from most indoor public places, apart from in retail, public transport and health and care settings. The legal requirement to wear face coverings in all remaining settings could be lifted by the end of March.
The changes will be confirmed on Friday and the economy minister, Vaughan Gething, will appear at a press conference in Cardiff in the place of Drakeford. The first minister chaired a meeting of his senior ministers virtually on Thursday morning.
