Yahoo News Coronavirus: Visitors told to ‘act responsibly’ as travel restrictions lifted in Wales
Visitors to Wales are being urged to behave responsibly after travel restrictions were eased across the country.
The “stay local” rule, which required people to remain within five miles of their home, ended on Monday, allowing for unrestricted travel into and around Wales.
Outdoor attractions are also allowed to welcome visitors ahead of the reopening of holiday accommodation from Saturday 11 July.
However, Mark Drakeford, the first minister, warned that while the risk of Covid-19 was lower outdoors a level of danger remained.
He also told visitors to be respectful of both other people and the environment.
“Unfortunately, over the recent weeks we’ve seen the results of people not treating parts of Wales with respect, with crowds leaving piles of litter in their wake,” Mr Drakeford said. “This selfish behaviour is a blight on our beauty spots and puts people at risk.”
The countryside code has been revised, with visitors asked to plan ahead and obey social-distancing measures.
Tegryn Jones, the chief executive of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, said: “We urge those who choose to explore our landscapes in the coming weeks and months, perhaps for the first time, to do so with respect – for the people and wildlife, which call it home, and for each other.”
The lifting of travel restrictions also means families and friends can reunite. People from two households are able to form one extended household, meeting indoors and staying overnight.
Darren Millar, the Welsh Conservative shadow minister for Covid-19 recovery, welcomed the lifting of the “cruel” previous rule and said it had undermined people’s mental health and personal relationships.
Travel restrictions were introduced when the UK entered lockdown on 23 March. The lifting of the ban in Wales comes after “stay home” guidance was scrapped and replaced with “stay local” on 1 June.
The next review of coronavirus restrictions in Wales will consider the options for reopening bars and restaurants outdoors and hairdressing by appointment only from 13 July.
One person died after testing positive for Covid-19 in Wales on Sunday, Public Health Wales said. This latest fatality took the total number of deaths there to 1,531, while the number of positive tests increased by 15 to 15,890.
Additional reporting by Press Association
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