Coronavirus: Wales sets date for non-essential shops to reopen – and reveals target for hairdressers

All non-essential shops in Wales will be able to reopen their doors from Monday, as the country moves into the “amber zone” of its lockdown.

First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed the move on Friday, but warned social distancing must still be observed by customers and retail staff.

It comes as the UK-wide coronavirus alert level is moved down to three.

Mr Drakeford said his devolved administration would be accelerating the process of lifting its coronavirus restrictions over the course of the next three weeks, after a steady fall in infections and deaths.

Also from Monday, the housing market will get going again – with property viewings able to take place, and sales that were postponed as a result of the lockdown allowed to be completed.

People will also have the green light to take part in outdoor sporting activity, provided social distancing can be maintained and it does not involve contact or team sports.

Additionally, places of worship will be able to open their doors for private prayer sessions, and a phased opening of childcare providers will begin so that people can start to return to work.

From 29 June, some school pupils will be able to return to classrooms in Wales in order to catch up with work and prepare for the new year in September.

Mr Drakeford also announced that from 6 July, the rule requiring people to stay local to their homes will be lifted, provided the science continues to support the move at the time.

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But for now, people in Wales should continue to “stay local”, with Mr Drakeford warning: “Coronavirus is not over.”

The only exception to the requirement to stay local is on compassionate grounds, he added.

Looking further ahead, Mr Drakeford provided some hope for the tourism sector and hairdressers.

He advised the former to plan to welcome people from 6 July, and suggested hairdressers should use the next three weeks to prepare for services to resume by appointment only – ahead of a potential return on 13 July.

The first minister said Wales was able to lift restrictions because it had “succeeded in bringing the fire of coronavirus under control” – but warned that “that fire is not out”.

The changes to the Welsh lockdown will bring the country closer into line with England, which has been easing its restrictions at a faster rate than the other home nations.

Mr Drakeford’s press conference in Cardiff came as Public Health Wales confirmed a further four people had died after testing positive for COVID-19, taking the total in the country to 1,475.

The total number of cases there increased by 31 to 15,001.

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Wales sets date for non-essential shops to reopen – and reveals target for hairdressers