Non-essential shops in Wales could reopen next month, says Drakeford

The First Minister indicated further relaxing of lockdown rules, before defending his ‘stay local’ five-mile restriction on travel.

High-street shops, markets and sports courts in Wales could open next month with a further easing of lockdown measures, the First Minister has said.

Mark Drakeford said retail businesses which can adhere to the two-metre distance rule should start to prepare to reopen over the next three weeks.

The Welsh Government will make a decision on non-essential retailers at the next review of coronavirus measures on June 18, after taking into account scientific and medical evidence.

(PA Graphics)

It came as Public Health Wales said a further 10 people had died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking its total to 1,317 deaths, though the true number is known to be more than 2,000.

The number of positive cases also grew by 102 to a total of 13,827.

Mr Drakeford said: “I understand that we’re talking about people’s businesses and livelihoods.

“We’re talking about things people were previously able to do and do it in a very straightforward way.

“We’ve learned a lot, and I want that knowledge to be applied to the non-essential retail sector.