Welsh hospitality gets green light to reopen indoors from 17 May
First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed indoor hospitality settings can unlock next week as Wales' Covid case rate continues to fall.
Six people from any households will be able to meet indoors under the easing of restriction, but those who do not live together, or who are not in bubbles, will have to socially distance.
The First Minister has also announced that businesses in Wales still affected by Coronavirus restrictions will be able to claim up to £25,000 more in support to help meet ongoing costs.
This latest support package will be open to businesses across the hospitality sector including pubs, clubs, restaurants, late-night entertainment venues, and supply chain businesss.
An eligibility checker will open on the Business Wales website at midday on 17 May so businesses can find out how much support they are likely to be entitled to and how to apply.
Businesses will be able submit applications by the end of the month and they will receive between £2,500 and £25,000 depending on their circumstances.
Funding will be calculated based on the size of the business and the type of restrictions they are under.
“The public health situation continues to improve in Wales – we have the lowest coronavirus rates and the best vaccination rates in the UK," says Drakeford.
“We know the restrictions have helped to keep us all safe but they have had a big impact on Welsh businesses, which is why we are making more funding available to support firms and safeguard jobs.
“My new government will provide more detail about the extra financial support we will be providing to businesses to help them develop and grow as Wales recovers from the impact of the pandemic."
The announcement follows confirmation this week that indoor hospitality settings in England will also be able to unlock on 17 May, as the country moves into the third phase of its roadmap out of lockdown.
In Scotland, meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that restrictions on Scottish hospitality businesses serving alcohol indoors are set to ease across most of the country from Monday, but pubs and restaurants will still be subject to curfew restrictions.
