Welsh government defends nightclub ban as England resists new measures for now

Professor Stephen Reicher, who sits on the Sage expert advisory committee, has warned ‘all the science suggests that (Plan B is) not going to be enough’.

Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford hinted at the prospect of the return of restrictions like the ‘rule of six’ in the coming weeks.

He said: ‘I’m hopeful that hospitality will reopen after Christmas and we’ll be working with the sector to think about the terms on which it will reopen.

‘People are already voting with their feet and cancelling arrangements because they are anxious about Omicron.

‘It may be that when hospitality reopens we may need to put some extra protections in place so that people feel confident when they go out to a pub or a restaurant, then everything is being done to make sure they are safe.’

He ruled out any relaxation of rules for December 31, saying ‘there won’t be any parties at nightclubs on New Year’s Eve’.

Mr Drakeford is expected to make an announcement on Monday over whether large sporting events due for Boxing Day are permitted to go ahead.

A £60 million support package for businesses affected by the new restrictions has also been announced, with more detail still to come on how funds can be claimed.

As of this week, employers are legally required to facilitate working from home where possible and social-distancing measures in businesses are once again in place.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday called on the Treasury to make more money available to other national governments so they can consider further measures.

Referencing Rishi Sunak’s heavily criticised trip to California, she said: ‘I don’t know when the chancellor is back in the country, if he’s back in the country, but he should have no other job today but to get in place the financial support mechanisms that help hospitality, culture and the wider economy.’

In Northern Ireland, Stormont ministers are due to meet on Wednesday to consider potential new coronavirus restrictions.

Current advice is that indoor gatherings should have no more than 30 people present, while working from home is also recommended where possible.

A scheme which requires people to prove Covid status to gain entry to a range of hospitality venues and large-attendance events will be made mandatory.

Those wishing to access nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises will need to provide proof of vaccination, a negative lateral flow test result, or evidence of a previous Covid-19 infection.

The same rules will apply for entry to large indoor and outdoor events, such as concerts and sporting events.

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