Welsh Hospitality Industry Facing New Restrictions
Indoor entertainments venues to close as part of new measures
Last updated 27th Nov 2020
More restrictions are being introduced in Wales, to reduce Covid-19 cases before Christmas.
Indoor entertainment venues will close a week today - including cinemas and bowling alleys.
And there'll be new restrictions - which have yet to be finalised - for the hospitality industry, including pubs.
But gyms, shops and hair salons can stay open.
First Minister Mark Drakefordf said the move was necessary because coronavirus cases were starting to rise again in Wales after the firebreak lockdown.
He said 16 of Wales's 22 local authorities had seen rises in coronavirus.
And he raised concerns about an increase in Covid among the under 25s.
Mr Drakeford said the virus was circulating quickly and that any gain from the firebreak had been eroded because Covid thrived on normal human behaviour.
Therefore, he said further targeted action was needed to create 'headroom' within the NHS as we approach Christmas.
Cinemas bowling alleys and other indoor entertainment venues will close from next Friday.
There will also be new restrictions for the hospitality industry.
Those details have yet to be finalised and ministers will be meeting over the weekend to work out the new arrangements.
Mr Drakeford said the Welsh Government would put in place a major package of financial support for the hospitality sector.
Paul Davies MS, Leader of the opposition in the Welsh Parliament, has responded to today’s announcement.
He said: “This is going to be a real blow for countless hospitality businesses up and down the country, businesses that has suffered greatly over the last eight months.
“We now need to know the details from the Welsh Government because this will create an even more anxious and worrying time for businesses struggling to keep afloat.”
“As before, Welsh Conservatives are calling for targeted interventions, based on hyperlocal data, rather than blanket restrictions on all Wales.”
Ben Francis, FSB Wales Policy Chair, said: “Today’s news will come as a significant blow to entertainment firms forced to close and will cause real alarm among hospitality firms facing new restrictions next week.
“Welsh Government has asked more of the hospitality industry than any other during the course of the pandemic, and the sector across Wales is close to being stretched to breaking point.
“For many firms who have dealt with a year of disruption, multiple lockdowns and local restrictions, the run-up to Christmas could have been the last chance for the business to earn enough to remain viable over the winter.
"This is what was offered by Welsh Government in return for the firebreak lockdown, and has quickly become untenable. It’s also important to note that many businesses will have made significant expenditure decisions based on the assumption that they would be trading over the Christmas period, which puts them at even more of a disadvantage as they face increased restrictions.
“This weekend, we would urge Welsh Government to come forwards with a package of support for firms that reflects the potential heavy loss that they will incur this December, and the weight of the multiple sets of restrictions and the impact that this has already had on their business.
"We would also urge Welsh Government to bring supply chains into support – there will be breweries, catering companies and other businesses that will have made a significant outlay in preparation for a busy Christmas period and could be just as impacted as hospitality venues themselves.”