People from two separate households in Wales are soon to be allowed to join together to form one exclusive extended household, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.
The concept is set to be introduced in Wales from July 6, on the same day that the ‘stay local’ requirement is set to be lifted if cases of COVID-19 continue to decline across Wales.
The announcement of single extended households soon being allowed in Wales means that families will be able to start to be reunited following months of strict lockdown measures.
Announcing the plans, Mark Drakeford said;
“Thanks to the efforts everyone has made over the last few months, we have seen the number of new cases of coronavirus decline – but it has not gone away.
“I know people are missing seeing their families. We have some headroom to make a further change to the rules next week and we will introduce this new concept, which will enable people living in two separate households to form one extended household – they may be part of the same family or they may be close friends.
“This new arrangement will mean people can form one extended household and can meet indoors.”
Under the plans, people will only be able to be part of one extended household and everyone joining the extended household must belong to the two households forming the extended household.
If one member of the extended household develops symptoms of COVID-19, everyone who is part of the extended household will need to self-isolate.
England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have already introduced measures to allow families to form ‘bubbles’ or extended households.
