Added references to local contact tracers with information on how and when they can contact you. The Minister of Health announces that, in line with decisions taken elsewhere in the UK, she has “reluctantly” agreed to lift the requirement for fully vaccinated travellers and under-18s to take a pre-departure test on arrival in the UK and a PCR test for Day 2 (a lateral flow test can be performed on Day 2 instead). Requirements for unvaccinated travellers remain unchanged. The legal requirement to present a COVID passport to enter certain venues and events in Wales has now been lifted. “The COVID International Passport will continue to be an integral part of arrangements for safer international travel. Travelers should check the entry requirements of the respective countries, including the different requirements for children. The UK government announces that from 2 August 2021, fully vaccinated travellers from the EU and the US will be able to travel to the UK without having to self-isolate upon arrival. The Welsh Government has confirmed that this decision will also apply to Wales. The health secretary noted that although the Welsh Government “regrets” the UK Government`s decision to lift quarantine requirements, it would be “ineffective to introduce separate arrangements for Wales” due to the opening of the border with England. There are a number of other data sources that can tell us how the pandemic is developing in Wales. Data from the Office for National Statistics` COVID-19 Infections Survey is published twice a week and estimates the percentage of the population in Wales who would test positive. This survey is based on a random sample of the population and is not affected by changes in testing, so it is very useful to compare it with data from Public Health Wales. In the past, data from ONS and Public Health Wales tended to follow similar trends.
Other indicators of more serious illnesses, such as COVID-19 hospitalizations or mortality data, are more delayed, but they also help shed light on changing trends. In addition, some patients who come to the hospital (or remain in the hospital), those eligible for antiviral treatments, and health and social service workers, continue to receive PCR tests, which are reported in laboratories and may follow variants. Carrying out a specific coronavirus risk assessment remains a legal requirement for businesses and other organisations in Wales. Although other regulations are relaxed, you should assess the risk of exposure to the coronavirus and use it as a basis for appropriate actions to minimize these risks. When you take the assessment, you should have meaningful conversations with employees and/or their recognized union and share the results. You need to pay particular attention to whether the people doing the work are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 (those who have been protected or who are in the high-risk group). Updated information to reflect rule changes as of July 19. Includes removing the requirement for businesses to use and display the NHS COVID-19 app registration QR code. England is moving to stage 4 of its roadmap to emerge from lockdown. This means that most legal restrictions to control COVID-19 have been lifted and replaced with guidelines that emphasize personal judgment and responsibility. The Prime Minister announces that as of Monday, May 30, the legal obligation to wear a face covering in health and social services will end.
This complements the gradual easing of legal restrictions in Wales. The Welsh Government continues to promote the use of face coverings in these environments to protect vulnerable people and employees. The Prime Minister said: “The pandemic is not over, but the current public health situation is in line with the Covid-stable scenario as defined in our plan `Together for a Safer Future`. (…) We remain vigilant to the threat of new and emerging variants and will be ready to respond if we see rapid spread of the virus causing widespread damage. The Welsh Government is changing its recommendations for international travel and will no longer advise people to travel abroad only when their travel is essential. “Instead, we are asking anyone who wants to book a trip abroad to think about their personal and family situation and how best to protect themselves if they decide to travel abroad this year. We urge everyone at risk to take extra precautions to stay safe. From 11 February 2022, changes will also be made to the testing requirements for travellers arriving in Wales. The Prime Minister confirms this from 7. August 2021 Adults who have been fully vaccinated will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are identified as close contacts of someone with coronavirus. Children and adolescents under the age of 18 are also exempt from self-isolation if they are identified as close contacts of a positive case.
From 7 August, contact tracers will provide an “alert and information service” to fully vaccinated people when they are identified as close contacts, reinforcing key messages about minimising the risk of Covid-19 for others. Businesses licensed to operate or premises licensed to open must do so safely and in a manner that complies with coronavirus regulations, in addition to other legal obligations imposed on employers (e.g. health and safety laws). The First Minister announces that Wales will move to the new zero alert level on 7 August 2021. There will be no legal restrictions on the number of people who can gather, even indoors, and all shops will be able to open. Some protective measures will continue to exist, including self-isolation for people with symptoms of COVID-19 or who test positive, and face coverings will continue to be mandatory in most indoor public spaces in Wales (the notable exception being hospitality). In addition, as of August 7, 2021, fully vaccinated adults, children and youth under the age of 18 will no longer need to self-isolate if they are identified as close contacts of someone with COVID-19. The Chief Medical Officer of Health`s advice to the Prime Minister on this latest review of restrictions can be found here. The Welsh Government`s COVID-19 strategy outlines a “phased approach” to reduce testing, tracing and protection. The indicative calendars suggest that the end of June: Test, Tracing and Protection (TTP) is the title of the Welsh Government`s strategy to get Wales out of the coronavirus pandemic.
In order to implement this strategy, individuals` personal data must be collected and processed for a variety of reasons. The full strategy can be read here gov.wales/test-trace-protect-html changes to self-isolation requirements for close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases can be announced. Fully vaccinated adults, children aged 5 to 18 years, and vaccine clinical trial participants identified as close contact with a positive case of COVID-19 do not need to self-isolate. Instead, as a precautionary measure, they should perform lateral flow tests for 7 days. You will receive a link to the NHS Test and Trace website and you will be asked to create a confidential account where you can save details of your recent close contacts. If you do not have access to the internet or do not complete the online process, one of our contact tracers will call you to receive this information from you. The Welsh government confirms that, like other UK countries, it will merge the green and yellow travel lists into one and lift the requirement for pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated people. He reiterates his concern over the UK government`s decision to refrain from any PCR testing for returning travellers on the second day. “The different testing requirements in the four UK countries create communication and enforcement issues, especially as many Welsh travellers return to the UK via an English port or airport. The real answer is to keep PCR testing on day two across the UK – we will continue to push the UK government to reintroduce UK testing as we continue to thoroughly examine the evidence of a testing system only in Wales. Health Minister Eluned Morgan announces that Welsh residents can apply for a vaccination certificate for urgent international travel.
People living in Wales can apply for a certificate if they have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, need to travel urgently to a country that requires vaccination certification, and are unable to quarantine or take tests to meet the country`s entry requirements. The Welsh Government advises travelling abroad only when it is essential. If you are testing because you are a close contact and are not exempt from self-isolation (see exceptions below) and you have been informed by NHS Test and Trace that you are legally obliged to self-isolate, you will need to self-isolate pending your test result, and you must continue to do so if you have a negative result. This is because you could still become infectious during the 10-day isolation period. The Prime Minister announces that following the recent review of restrictions, the legal requirement to wear a face covering in health and social services will remain in effect for another three weeks. “The number of Covid cases remains high, so maintaining the use of face coverings in health and care facilities will help protect some of society`s most vulnerable people, staff and visitors.” During the recent review of coronavirus restrictions, the prime minister described the new variant of Omicron as a “worrying development” and said: “We must prepare for a rapid and brutal increase in cases.” He said: “Our best defence is vaccination. We have expanded the vaccination program in line with the latest recommendations of the Joint Committee on Immunization and Immunization and will offer a booster dose to all eligible individuals over the age of 18 by the end of January.