Travel testing rule changes in Wales from today

The Welsh Government's continuing to advise people not to travel abroad because of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Ministers have issued this advice despite agreeing to following other UK nations in changing PCR test requirements.

From 4am on Friday, fully vaccinated travellers and under 18s won't need to take a pre departure test and a day 2 PCR test when arriving in the UK.

Ministers have fallen into line with the rest of the UK but they say they’re concerned at the speed at which the UK Government is re-opening international travel.

A statement from Health Minister Eluned Morgan read:

“While our public health system is working very hard to minimise the spread of cases already in Wales, it is imperative that we do everything we can to avoid undermining these efforts by importing new cases of coronavirus infections via international travel.

“We continue to encourage everyone in Wales to get vaccinated including having a booster vaccine, which is vital in increasing protection against the omicron variant.”

Hospitality - we want evidence

Meanwhile representatives from the hospitality industry are demanding evidence about why their sector has been hit so hard in Wales while its business as usual for their counterparts in England.

Bruno Nunes is the CEO and Founder of Creative Hospitality Group (CHG). He accused the First Minister of putting rules in place to differentiate Wales from England:

“As we start the New Year with no clear path out of restrictions in Wales, I am once again calling on the First Minister to provide the crucial evidence that singles out the hospitality and evening and night-time economy sectors as being the most dangerous environments when it comes to the spread of the virus.

“Despite this evidence being promised before Christmas when restrictions were further tightened with the introduction of the rule of six and table service, it is yet to materialise. At present, both myself and my colleagues in the sector feel that these closures and restrictions are completely unjustified.

“With no evidence to support them, they are nothing more of a gesture to differentiate Wales from England and to punish a sector that has bent over backwards to follow the rules laid out before us for more than 18 months.”

He also suggested the funding package announced to support hospitality in Wales would not be enough:

“From my own business perspective, CHG may be entitled to £90k across the 9 weeks. This won’t even cover my staff wage, rent and loan repayment costs for a single week. “

Welsh Six Nations matches looking to be played in England

And different rules for Wales are also looking likely to impact on the forthcoming Six Nations rugby tournament.

With no signs that the current rules affecting sporting events here are to be lifted, it's understood the Welsh Rugby Union is considering playing home Six Nations games in England.

Wales are due to host Scotland in Cardiff on the 12th of February in their first game of the Championship

Pupils in Welsh schools back today

Students are back in Welsh classrooms from today after schools here were given two "planning days" to help them set up for the start of another pandemic term, and to take stock of staff absences.

Mask wearing in classrooms for secondary school students was reintroduced last term and schools were told to prepare for online learning in case some year groups had to return suddenly to home learning.

Welsh Education Minister Jeremy Miles outlined the new rules:

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