Some minor lockdown changes in Wales set to be being announced today

More people will be allowed to meet up and exercise outdoors in Wales, the first minister will announce later today.

At this afternoon’s press conference, Mark Drakeford will give details of the latest three weekly Welsh government review of current Covid restrictions.

Stay-at-home rules will remain in place in Wales for a further three weeks as the youngest children start return to school.

Mr Drakeford will announce more details around the possible return of more pupils to face to face learning, from March 15 “if all goes well.”

Changes for shops and hairdressers could be on the cards in another three weeks time.

Mr Drakeford will also give details of some minor adjustments to the current lockdown rules including one on outdoor exercise.

Talking to BBC Radio Wales this morning he said: “We are going to increase the number of people who can exercise outdoors together from two to four provided those people all live in the same locality and begin their exercise from their own front doors and return home.”

“The stay at home message continues, but we’re slowly moving into some better weather we hope.”

“We know the mental health impact of having to remain at home and if four people can meet up for exercise we hope that’s a marginal easement.”

Putting a slight dampener on that change, BBC Radio 5 Live reporter Mark Hutchins said the change means four people from two households.

Important condition to the change that four people in Wales can now meet up outdoors for exercise – it’s 4 from two households.

— Mark Hutchings (@markhutchings1) February 19, 2021

He also said: “We’re going to allow the sports council to bring some more elite athletes back into training.”

“We’re going to allow licensed wedding venues, other than register offices and faith settings, which can already carry out weddings.”

“Were going to allow other licensed settings to do that [carry out weddings] as well but on the same terms as register officers.”

Mr Drakeford added: “We’re going to return again to one of the most challenging issues of the whole coronavirus crisis care home visiting, to make sure that we are taking maximum advantage of all the things we can put in place to allow more visits to take place, provided that that can be done safely.”

At this afternoon’s Welsh Government press conference Mr Drakeford will announce that the stay-at-home restrictions will remain in place in Wales for a further three weeks as the youngest children start return to school.

The first minister is also expected to talk about encouraging green shoots of recovery and look ahead to the next review when the Welsh Government will be considering if all primary pupils and some older students can return to schools and colleges from Monday 15 March, if the public health situation continues to improve.

The next review of the regulations in three weeks will consider the restrictions around non-essential retail and close contact services.