THE SEASON might not be over completely for people working in the tourism sector, first minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed.

The first minister was speaking at today’s coronavirus briefing, where he said the Welsh Government will do “all we can” to provide “some relief” to the industry later in the summer.

But he said the idea that Wales’ tourism sector would “simply go back to normal” is not worth thinking about.

With the UK Government implementing a 14-day quarantine period on those entering the UK, which will impact Wales, there are fears among those working in the sector that livelihoods could be lost.

As part of a four-nation approach, the regulations on self-isolating for 14 days come into force today and will help to ensure international travel during the pandemic does not lead to a spread of the virus.

Asked about the best case scenario for tourism in Wales, Mr Drakeford said the government might consider allowing some forms of the sector to open.

“To reopen self-contained accommodation,” he said (best case scenario). “There is a distinction between those travelling to a place where they have their own kitchen and bathroom, for example, and those travelling somewhere where they will be sharing those things.

“If there is anything practical we can do to offer the tourism sector something for this season, we will look into doing it. However, it has to be with the consent of the local community, and it cannot make the R-rate go up.”

Mr Drakeford also echoed health minister Vaughan Gething’s message last week that a second wave is possible, and the government is preparing for that.

He said health boards are training more staff to work in critical care in case there is a second coronavirus peak in the autumn.

“Everything is being done to prevent a second peak, but measures are in place in case a second peak comes,” he said.

Those measures will include a review for field hospitals, which are yet to be fully utilised.

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"In the first wave we managed not to use all our field-hospital capacity. Does that mean we have to shut it down? No," he said.

"We still need to preserve that extra capacity to make sure that it is available to us should we need it."

Regarding the next phase of lockdown, the first minister said that if cases continue to fall at the same rate, it is likely lockdown restrictions will be eased further at the end of next week.

Coronavirus cases are falling from a high of about 400 cases a day at the start of the lockdown to about 50 new cases today.

"We want to keep it the R-rate below one,” he said. “At the moment it is at 0.8 in Wales and stable.

"Because the number of new cases is falling, then the risk of meeting someone with the disease and being infected by it is falling as well.

"If at the end of next week, the number of people carrying the disease in Wales is still falling, then the risk of meeting someone with the disease will be falling too.

"And we will have some headroom to go on in that careful and cautious way of lifting the restrictions in Wales."

He said that even if restrictions are lifted, he "can’t make any promises" about opening pubs and restaurants next week (June 22).

"We’ll do it in the way we’ve done it in the last two cycles," he said. "We’ll look at a long list of ideas this week. We reduce that list to a short list of the most possible ideas which we then look at greater detail next week."

"Whether it will be possible to do something at the end of this cycle, I certainly can’t make any promises.

"There are many many other requests that are being made of us.

"We will have to select the careful measures we can offer to people in Wales, while remaining safe from the risk that coronavirus could accelerate away from us again."