Two metre rule to protect workers during the coronavirus outbreak to come into force on Tuesday

New rules to protect workers during the coronavirus outbreak will come into force on Tuesday morning, First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed.

The regulations will mean the 2m social distancing rule will apply to any workplace, including homes, where work and repairs are being undertaken and outdoor spaces.

The new rules apply to those workplaces not already covered by the original stay-at-home rules introduced almost two weeks ago

All businesses will have to take all reasonable measures to ensure the 2m rule is maintained between people on their premises whenever work is being carried out.

Guidance will be issued to explain what can reasonably be expected of employers and businesses.

The rules about who can attend a funeral are being relaxed but the 2m rule will mean there will be a maximum limit on the number of people who can attend.

First Minister, Mark Drakeford said:

“We have asked people to stay at home, to save lives and protect the NHS. These temporary restrictions on gatherings and the movement of people in Wales are an important part of our efforts to help protect the public from the spread of coronavirus.

“These new regulations will ensure workers are safe in the workplace, by ensuring the social distancing measures we have put in place also apply in all people’s places of work.”

Detailed guidance will be published when the new regulations come into force next week. But many organisations and representative bodies have already published advice about how social distancing can be observed in different environments, including construction and manufacturing.

The new regulations also clarify the arrangements for funerals and crematoriums – people can attend funerals if they are the person who has organised the funeral, if they have been invited to attend or are the carer of a person who is attending a funeral.

But there will be a limit to the number of people who can attend, depending on how many people the venue can accommodate, taking into account the 2m rule.

Everyone attending a funeral should take all reasonable measures to stay 2m away from someone they don’t live with or care for and those responsible for running the crematorium, place of worship or cemetery should make arrangements to maintain the 2m rule.

The guidance on funerals clarifies that cemeteries can remain open but social distancing must be taken into account, as well as the need to take all reasonable measures to maintain the 2m rule at burials.

Local Government Minister Julie James said:

“The death of a family member or friend is a very distressing event which is why we have amended these regulations to enable people to attend funerals in certain circumstances.

“Although people will be able to leave home to attend a funeral during the coronavirus outbreak, we would ask them to understand that we have to place limits on the number of people who can attend a funeral to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

“Our advice is that people should only attend the funeral of their closest family and friends and they can only do so if they have been invited.

But there are a number of ways wider family and friends can be included, for example by livestreaming the funeral or by arranging a memorial or celebration of life event once the pandemic is over.”