Live updates as Welsh Government announces end to Covid pass rules in Wales

Covid passes are being scrapped in Wales and rules around masks are also being eased.

Wales is to gradually relax the remaining coronavirus protections as cases continue to fall.

First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced from Friday, February 18, the legal requirement to show a Covid pass to enter certain venues and events will be lifted and from Monday, February 28, face coverings will no longer need to be worn in all indoor public places.

Schools will be able to set their own rules from the same date. You can read the full list of changes here.

From today, adults can remove their face coverings when they are interacting with babies and small children at baby and toddler groups.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "With increasing numbers of people vaccinated and boosted and thanks to the hard work and efforts of everyone across Wales, we are confident that coronavirus rates are falling and we can look forward to brighter times ahead.

"We can start to gradually and carefully remove some of the remaining protections we have in place at alert level zero. But we are not removing all the measures at once because the pandemic is not over yet. To keep Wales safe we need to remain cautious and do everything we can to reassure those who feel most at risk. We will keep some important protections in place, including face coverings in health and social care settings, on public transport and in all shops. We will also keep self-isolation rules in place.

"Next month, we will publish a plan setting out how we will move beyond alert level zero and the emergency footing on which we have been operating for nearly two years. This will help us all to make some plans for the future."

Today's press conference will be at 12.15pm. Due to First