Covid restrictions in Wales set to be eased

Covid restrictions in Wales on large events and businesses will be scrapped over the next two weeks First Minister Mark Drakeford will announce today.

Restrictions will be lifted over the next few weeks following pressure from opposition parties demanding an exit plan from restrictions in place since Boxing Day.

Wales will move from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 0 and some of the changes will kick-in tomorrow (Saturday).

Both the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru had called for a roadmap out of restrictions, while the Welsh Rugby Union had been considering moving home fixtures for the Six Nations out of Wales.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said Omicron cases are coming down "rapidly" and rules can be relaxed "gradually".

The Welsh government also pointed to the success of the booster campaign in enabling it to lift restrictions, with 1.8 million having received an extra dose.

There will be a four-stage process, depending on cases remaining low:

· Saturday: numbers allowed to attend an outdoor event will rise from 50 to 500

· Friday, 21 January: Crowds allowed to return to sporting events, paving the way for Six Nations full house in Cardiff, and no limits on those attending outdoor events

· Friday, 28 January: Nightclubs can reopen and hospitality allowed to operate normally, with Covid passes still required for large events, plus cinemas, nightclubs and theatres

· Thursday, 10 February: Wales returns to a three-week review cycle as the country is at alert level 0

Mr Drakeford will announce more details of the plan, following the latest review of Covid rules, at a press conference at lunchtime today.