Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations 2020 place a series of restrictions on gatherings, the movement of people, and the operation of businesses. They are designed to protect people from the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
On 30 November I set out additional all-Wales restrictions, including in relation to the hospitality sector, which are targeted to protect people’s health and reduce the speed and spread of coronavirus, creating as much headroom as possible as we approach the Christmas period.
I informed Members that we would also consider the current travel restrictions to make sure they are the right ones for Wales, in light of the end of the month-long lockdown in England.
Travel restrictions are an important part of our overall package to reduce the spread of the virus. A combination of regulations and guidance will therefore seek to take a proportionate approach to lowering the risk of exporting and importing cases from areas of high prevalence.
Regulations in Wales will restrict travel to and from areas at the equivalent to Tier 3 in England and Level 3 and above in Scotland (Northern Ireland remains under lockdown).
Guidance will continue to stress the risk of seeding the virus if people travel to and from areas designated Tier 2 / Level 2 or lower in other parts of the UK. Travel to and from these areas will therefore still not be advised. Travellers will need to be aware of and follow any legal restrictions in those countries.
International travel will continue to be restricted by the quarantine regulations, which will likely remain in place until at least January, and will be kept under constant review.
Taken together with our other measures, these necessary restrictions will help to Keep Wales Safe.