Stay Local rules in Wales will be lifted from Saturday, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

The tourism sector is set to be allowed to reopen, organised activities and sports for children will be able to go ahead, and six people from two households – excluding under 11s – will be able to meet outdoors and in private gardens as the lockdown is eased from Saturday, March 27.

Outdoor areas of some historic sites and gardens will also be allowed to open, and libraries and archives will be allowed to reopen.

Self-contained holiday accommodation, including hotels with en-suite facilities and room service, will be able to reopen to people from the same household or support bubble.

But the rules on crossing the border will remain in place, with only those with a reasonable excuse allowed to travel in and out of Wales for the next two weeks at least.

The relaxations continue the Welsh Government’s step-by-step approach to relaxing the coronavirus restrictions, taking account of the highly-infectious Kent variant, which is now the dominant form of the virus in Wales.

Wales is moving out of alert level four, and now starting to move into level three. Welsh Ministers will consider further alert level three measures in the next review of the regulations.

IN SUMMARY

  • Tourism businesses to reopen
  • Organised activities and sports for under-11s to begin
  • Historic sties' outdoor areas to open
  • Libraries to reopen
  • Stay local rule lifted
  • Cross border travel still not permitted for at least two weeks

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “These further relaxations are part of our careful and phased approach to unlocking the restrictions and enabling people and businesses to resume their activities in the safest possible way.

“We’re only able to do this because of the sacrifices everyone across Wales has made over the last few months – everything you are doing to keep your loved ones safe is also keeping Wales safe.

“The public health position remains stable; our incredible vaccination programme goes from strength to strength – we have headroom to make these changes.”

The stay local rule will be replaced by an interim all-Wales travel area, which will remain in place until April 12, subject to the public health situation.

These are the final stages of the relaxations in this three-week review cycle and they follow the successful return of primary pupils and many older secondary school and college students to face-to-face learning and the start of the phased re-opening of non-essential retail, including the opening of hairdressers and barbers.

Mr Drakeford added: “We are taking a step-by step approach to relaxing restrictions and want to carry on being able to open up Wales.

“To do that we need everyone’s help. That means staying vigilant for signs of infection; isolating if we have symptoms and arranging to get tested.

“It also means following the basic steps to keep us all safe while we’re out and about – keeping our distance from others; not mixing indoors; avoiding crowds; washing our hands regularly and wearing face coverings.”

The next review of the regulations will take place next week. Welsh Ministers will consider the following relaxations, which will come into effect from April 12, subject to the public health situation:

  • All pupils and students can return to schools, colleges and other education;
  • All shops and close contact services can open;
  • The interim all-Wales travel area can be lifted.