People in Wales are still unable to meet up with people outside of their extended households in their homes, and the decision of when this will be allowed has been pushed back yet again. Mark Drakeford has called this lockdown rule ease the “most risk decision” yet.
The first minister announced last week that this might all change on the 15th August. This would mean that you are allowed to meet with people indoors, as long as you follow social distancing.
However, this statement was contradicted on Wednesday 5th August at a virtual plenary. Mark Drakeford has now claimed that a decision on this is yet to be made, as it is the most risky rule to lift.
Mr Drakeford said “The cabinet decided last week that we would devote much of the headroom available to us to provide new flexibilities for meetings between family and friends, but our discussions have recognised that this is the most risky of any easing of lockdown measures.”
So, they have therefore decided to postpone any decision on this until later on down the line. He added that the Welsh Government does aim to restore freedom to the population, but will only do so once they know it is safe and fully justified.
All this comes after sections of Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and West Yorkshire have been put into ‘local lockdowns’ after a rise in cases. There has also been a surge in new cases across European countries.
Drakeford told WalesOnline that to compromise with the fact we cannot meet people indoors yet, the amount of other households that you can meet with may be raised to up to 4.
The current rule is that people in Wales should not gather indoors with anyone who they do not live with, or is not part of their extended household unless they have a very good reason for doing so.
The number of people in your extended household has no limit, but it must consist of only two households joined together.
Advice outlines that if you are not part of this extended household, then the only reason for you to enter someone’s home is to pass through to get to an outdoor area.
