Are you confused about what you can and cannot do when the fire-break lockdown ends on November 9?

On November 9, First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed that the fire-break lockdown will end, despite England introducing a four-week national lockdown, and hospitality, shops, and other premises will be able to re-open.

The new measures will apply for the whole of Wales after the First Minister announced this will be ‘easier and simpler’ to understand.

Welsh Government updated its list of frequently asked questions on what is allowed when the fire-break ends.

Working:

The advice will still be to work from home whenever possible. If the work cannot be done from home, you can go to work but adhere to the social distancing rules.

Travelling:

There is no legal limit on travel within Wales, but people will be advised to avoid unnecessary travel and keep their distance. Welsh residents will only be able to travel to England for ‘essential purposes’.

If you do not live in Wales, you cannot travel to Wales for a holiday or to visit family and friends. People travelling to Wales from elsewhere must have a reasonable excuse.

If you live in Wales you are allowed to holiday within Wales. Holidays abroad are not allowed. Caravan sites and camping sites will be reopening on November 9 but safety measures will be in place. You can only stay here with people you live with to reduce the risk of the virus being transmitted.

Can I meet with family and friends?

From November 9, two families can form a bubble and meet up again. But if one person from either household develops symptoms, everyone must self-isolate immediately.

Meeting in gardens with people from outside your bubble is not allowed.

You also cannot meet with friends and family from outside of Wales due to the ‘high levels of prevalence’. But there are some reasonable excuses such as compassionate grounds or caring responsibilities.

Can I go shopping with my friends?

Residents are being advised not to go shopping with anyone outside of their household, but if they do to follow the following:

• please try and be restrained in how many different people you see. It is better to see the same one or two people regularly than to see lots of different people occasionally

• please maintain social distancing, including outdoors

• please spend time outdoors rather than indoors as much as possible

• avoid doing activities that might increase the risk of transmission (for example shouting to be heard over loud music)

• If you are meeting people you do not live with, in most circumstances the absolute maximum number of people who can gather together is four (not including any children aged under 11). However, this is a maximum and not a target – the smaller the number of people who gather, the lower the risk.

Can I meet with friends and family in pubs, cafes, restaurants or bars?

You are allowed to go to these venues with people outside your household, as long as you maintain physical distancing from them and the size of the group does not exceed four people (not including any children aged under 11).

If all the people attending live together, the size of the group is not limited to four.

However, as with all other venues, people are being asked to think about what is the most sensible thing for you to do to protect your family, friends and your community, rather than thinking primarily about what you are allowed to do. In particular:

• please try and be restrained in how many different people you see. It is better to see the same one or two people regularly than to see lots of different people occasionally

• please maintain social distancing, including outdoors

• please meet people outdoors rather than indoors where possible

• avoid doing activities that might increase the risk of transmission (for example shouting to be heard over loud music, or singing in close proximity)

How are cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars be able to operate safely indoors?

Hospitality premises will be required to put the following measures in place:

• premises should be providing table service only

• all food and drink should be consumed at tables

• physical distancing measures will be applied, such as tables being spaced out

• limit to groups of up to 4 people (not including any children aged under 11 ) unless they are from a single household

• face coverings must be worn other than when seated to eat or drink

• you will be asked to give contact details for purposes of tracing people in the event of an outbreak being linked to the venue, and

• there will be no live music and TV broadcasts will be kept at low volume

Government officials are also in discussions with the sector about other measures that may need to be put in place.

Sport:

You can play sport or exercise in a group of up to 30 people outdoors or 15 people indoors, if this is part of an organised activity managed for example by a gym, a leisure centre or a sports club. Children aged under 11 and those organising the activity (such as coaches) are not included in these numbers, but the organisers will need to take all reasonable measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Exercise classes are able to run for groups of up to 15 people indoors but consideration should be taken around the size of the space to ensure 2m physical distancing is maintained.

Beauty treatments:

Other than taking children or accompanying a vulnerable adult, we would prefer customers attend their booking appointment on their own where possible to make it easier to maintain social distancing. Our guidance to businesses providing close contact services says that that when they take client bookings they should ask the client to attend for their appointment on their own.

There will also be limitations on treatments available.

Are there limits on when I can buy alcohol?

Yes. Alcohol cannot be sold between 10pm and 6am.

Hospitality businesses in Wales – such as pubs, cafes, restaurants, sports clubs and casinos – will have to stop selling alcohol at 10pm. Places selling alcohol to drink on the premises will also have to provide table service only.

All places licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises will need to close by 10.20pm. Premises not licensed to sell alcohol do not need to close by 10.20pm.

Licenced premises can offer take-away services beyond this time as long as this does not include sale or delivery of alcohol after 10pm.

Off-licenses, including supermarkets, will also have to stop selling alcohol at 10pm. This also applies to deliveries of alcohol, such as through a home delivery app.

Licensed premises and off-licenses cannot begin to sell alcohol again until 6am the next day.

Schools:

All schools will reopen again on November 9. Primary and special schools re-opened on November 2 after the half-break term and years 7 and 8 in secondary schools also went back to class.

Childcare facilities also remained open and relatives could care for children if no other option was available.

Shielding:

Shielding advice will not be reinstated but residents are asked to follow the safety measures such as keeping a 2m distance and reducing the levels of social interaction.