ALL non-essential shops in Wales will be able to reopen from Monday as part of the biggest unlocking of coronavirus regulations to date, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced today.

Shopkeepers will be able to resume trading if complying with social distancing laws to cut the spread of coronavirus and protect workers and customers.

The changes are part of a broad package of measures being phased in every Monday over the next three weeks.

Pupils will return to schools on 29 June and the requirement to stay local will be lifted, if conditions allow, on 6 July.

Mr Drakeford also placed the visitor and tourism industry on stand-by to reopen if the spread of the virus continues to decline.

“The threat of coronavirus hasn’t gone away but the number of people contracting it each day is falling, so too is the risk of meeting somebody with the virus,” he said.

“Given the progress we have made, we are able to take some additional cautious steps to further unlock our society and economy.

“This includes more retailers being able re-open their businesses, as long as they take measures to minimise the risk to their staff and to the customers who visit their stores.

On Monday, a series of changes will be made to regulations following the fourth statutory review:

• Enabling private prayer in places of worship where social distancing is maintained and gatherings do not take place;

• Restarting the housing market by enabling house viewings to take place in vacant properties and house moves where a sale has been agreed but not yet completed;

• Lifting the restrictions on outdoor sports courts but social distancing must be maintained. No contact or team sports will be allowed;

• Enabling non-professional elite athletes, including Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, to resume training.

On 29 June, pupils will be returning to schools under plans announced by Education Minister Kirsty Williams.

The requirement to stay local and not generally travelling more than five miles from home remains. However, people will be able to travel outside their locality on compassionate grounds.

Ministers will lift the requirement to stay local on 6 July, provided conditions allow, enabling travel to tourist attractions across Wales.

At the next review on 9 July, the Welsh Government will consider a range of specific options for opening:

• Self-contained holiday accommodation;

• Personal care services, such as hairdressing and beauty, by appointment.

Discussions will also be held with the hospitality sector about the potential phased re-opening of pubs, cafes and restaurants.