Pubs and restaurants in Wales will be able to reopen outdoors from July 13, the Welsh government has announced.
Bars, cafes and other businesses in the hospitality sector will also be given the go-ahead so long as coronavirus cases continue to fall in the country. Baroness Eluned Morgan, Wales’ minister for international relations, will set out the plans during Thursday’s daily press conference, following a review of how the industry can safely return to trading.
The first phase would see the reopening of outdoor spaces owned by businesses and subject to existing licenses. Reopening indoor services will then be considered at a later date, as it will depend on the success of outdoor opening and the state of the virus in Wales.
Businesses will also be tasked with putting measures in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission, such as only pre-booking customers, only allowing table service and using apps instead of face-to-face contact.
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A lockdown review ahead of First Minister Mark Drakeford’s press conference on Friday will determine whether self-contained tourism accommodation will be able to reopen from July 13, while the country’s five-mile travel guidance is set to end on Monday.
As of Wednesday, 1,516 people have died with coronavirus in Wales, although separate figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the true number of deaths involving the virus up to June 19 stands at 2,408.
The number Covid-19 cases in Wales also increased by 32 on Wednesday to a total of 15,775.
Wales is now the only part of the UK without a restart date for indoor hospitality, with England reopening pubs, restaurants and cafes this weekend on July 4. In Northern Ireland, they will reopen on July 3, while Scotland will reopen indoor spaces fully on July 15.
A group of restaurant owners have now warned thousands of jobs are at risk in Wales as they struggle to keep their businesses afloat amid lockdown.
The Independent Restaurant Collective (WIRC) said it could take years for the hospitality sector to recover, telling the government there could be a ‘lost generation of entrepreneurs’ if hundreds of venues are forced to close for good.
Edmund Inkin, who has run pub The Felin Fach Griffin with his brother since 2000, said: ‘How long can we carry our fixed costs with no clear time-scale for when we might reopen? As we speak, business-owners’ only options are becoming job losses or closure.
‘As forced closure is extended for hospitality, further financial support is needed urgently to prevent this happening. If we don’t sort this out now, the impact on all areas of Wales and on the life prospects for thousands becomes very grim indeed.’
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