MINISTERS in Wales have confirmed that face coverings will continue to be required in certain settings as the Welsh Government prepares to publish an updated Coronavirus Control Plan.

The plan, which will set out what will happen beyond alert level one, will state that face coverings will continue to be required in certain settings, including public transport and taxis, and health and social care, as a minimum.

Further consideration is being given to whether face coverings should also be required in other settings, such as retail, if restrictions are relaxed further.

First Minister Mark Drakeford stated that the measure is remaining in place to help keep everyone safe as we continue to respond to the pandemic.

He said: “We will need everyone’s help to keep coronavirus under control as we continue to respond to the pandemic – this virus has quite certainly not gone away.

“We know many people are still worried and anxious about going out. We will maintain the requirement to wear face coverings in certain places – on public transport and health and social care settings, and others where necessary – to help keep us all safe.”

Wales is currently at alert level one, with face coverings are mandatory in all indoor public places at alert level one and above.

Next week, ministers will hold the regular 21-day review of the coronavirus regulations, which will set out whether restrictions can be relaxed in some indoor places, including people’s homes.

They will also publish new plans setting out how Wales will move beyond alert level one to a new alert level zero, with fewer legal restrictions.

But ministers today confirmed face coverings will continue to be required by law in some places.

The rules on face masks will also be changing in schools.

On Friday, Education Minister Jeremy Miles wrote to all schools in Wales explaining that wearing face coverings in the classroom will no longer be recommended from September.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan added: “Wearing face masks is an effective way of reducing the transmission of coronavirus.

“We all have a duty to help to protect each other. Keeping everyone safe has been the Welsh Government’s priority through the pandemic and will continue to be the priority in future.”

The First Minister will make a statement to Plenary on Wednesday setting out the outcome of the 21-day review and providing further details on the new alert level zero.