Wales is set to lift most of its remaining coronavirus restrictions in the coming weeks.
Covid passes will no longer be required from Friday, February 18, the Welsh Government announced in its latest review of restrictions last week. From February 28, people will also no longer need to wear face coverings in all indoor places, but masks will still be needed in settings like shops, health and care facilities and public transport.
If cases continue to fall, the Welsh Government will then lift all mask rules by the end of March.
In England, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he plans to end all isolation periods for people who test positive for Covid later this month, bringing this forward from the previously outlined date of March 24. While nothing official has been announced in Wales, the upcoming changes pose questions about whether the Welsh Government's Covid self-isolation payments scheme - which has been in place for most of the pandemic - will remain, and whether the legal requirement to self-isolate if you contract the virus will stay in place.
Here is everything we know so far about what the government has said on self-isolation and when it could scrap its isolation support scheme.
What are the current rules on self-isolation in Wales?
In Wales it is a legal requirement to self-isolate for five full days if you test positive for Covid-19. You can leave self-isolation after five full days - on day six of your self-isolation period - if you have two negative lateral flow tests on days five and six. This applies whether or not you have been vaccinated or not.
What has the Welsh Government said about scrapping self-isolation rules?
Although nothing formal has been announced, Welsh ministers have indicated that existing laws to self-isolate if you test positive for Covid-19 might become guidance after the remaining rules in Wales are scrapped, rather than law.
Speaking to BBC News last week, economy minister Vaughan Gething responded when asked about self-isolation: "At the end of March the remaining measures may go. That means that self-isolating could move to be guidance rather than mandated. But at this point, we think it's still important to have [it] in law."
What would this mean for the Covid self-isolation support scheme?
In August 2021 the Welsh Government raised the Covid self-isolation payments from £500 to £750, but this is due to end in March.
This scheme is for workers who cannot work from home and must self-isolate. It is also for parents and carers with children who are self-isolating.
You must have reported a positive lateral flow test within 24 hours of the result, received a positive PCR test result or been advised by NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) to self-isolate in order to be eligible for the scheme. You must also be claiming certain benefits to get the payments.
When asked about any further extensions to self-isolation payments in Wales on Tuesday, February 15, finance minister Rebecca Evans said: "We do have the Covid isolation payments in place for the first months of this year and we've been very clear that as long as we are asking people to isolate then obviously we will be looking to support them in doing that."
Ms Evans said the payments had been an "important tool" in supporting those on low incomes who had been most impacted by the pandemic.
"I wouldn't envisage asking people on low incomes to stay at home and self-isolate and not provide them with the support to do that," she added.
At the moment, it is not clear whether or not the Welsh Government would continue the payment scheme if self-isolation becomes guidance rather than law, or whether it will be scrapped entirely.
On Tuesday the Welsh Government confirmed it will offer people in Wales an extra £150 to help with the cost of living crisis.You can read more about everything announced here.
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