North Wales has missed you!

The team here at Go North Wales want to thank you, our visitors for keeping North Wales safe over the last few months.

The below information was last updated August 6th 2021.

Lockdown Restrictions

Wales will move to alert level zero at 6am on 7 August, following the latest review of the coronavirus regulations in Wales. 

• There will be no legal limits on the number of people who can meet, including in private homes, public places or at events. 
• Businesses which were required to be closed will be able to re-open. This includes nightclubs. 
• Face coverings will continue to be required in most indoor public places in Wales, including on public transport, in shops and in healthcare settings. Face coverings will not be a legal requirement in hospitality settings where food and drink is served.   There will be exemptions for people who cannot wear them, as there are currently. 
• People should continue to work from home wherever possible
• COVID risk assessments will remain a legal requirement.  
• Reasonable measures will legally be required to manage the risk of coronavirus but they will be for each organisation to determine based on the outcome of their risk assessment, including in relation to physical distancing.   

The restrictions are changing frequently, so it’s important that you check on the Welsh Government website before visiting or travelling to Wales or within Wales.  

Further details can be found at https://gov.wales/coronavirus 

In the meantime, we’re here to provide inspiration for you to plan your visit to North Wales Safely. 

#Plan #Protect #Respect #Enjoy 

In the meantime, we’re here to provide inspiration for you to plan your #VisitNorthWalesLater.

We’re Good to Go / AA COVID-19 Confident

Visit Wales has worked with the other national tourism organisations on a UK-wide industry standard and consumer mark to provide reassurance as the sector works towards reopening.

The We’re Good To Go industry standard and supporting mark means businesses can demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and checked that they have the required processes in place.

To obtain the mark, businesses have completed a self-assessment through an online platform including a check-list confirming they have put the necessary processes in place, before receiving certification and the We’re Good To Go mark for display in their premises and online.

The AA have a similar scheme called COVID-19 Confident both are visible on our listings under the awards section of listings.
 

Public Toilets

Some toilets are now being opened on a phased approach basis.  Because public toilets are small spaces with lots of shared facilities, it is proving challenging to maintain hygiene and social distancing in each one.  Please visit the individual Local Authority website for localised information prior to your visit to North Wales:

Anglesey - https://www.anglesey.gov.uk/en/Residents/Bins-and-recycling/Public-toilets/Public-toilets-on-Anglesey.aspx
Conwy County - https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Visitor/Public-Toilets.aspx
Denbighshire - https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/community-and-living/public-toilets.aspx
Flintshire - https://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/Resident/Streetscene/Public-toilets.aspx
Gwynedd - https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Leisure-parks-and-events/Toilets/Publictoilets.aspx
Wrexham - http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/travel/car_parks/toilet_facilities.htm

Bus Service / Public Transport

Some bus services have changed their schedules. Therefore please visit the individual Local Authority website for localised information prior to your visit to North Wales. 

How to get to and travel around Eryri (Snowdonia) and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) - https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/plan,-discover,-protect/parking-for-yr-wyddfa-snowdon-and-more

Face coverings - Welsh Government have announced that three-layer face coverings will be mandatory on public transport in Wales.

Anglesey - https://www.anglesey.gov.uk/en/Residents/Parking-roads-and-travel/Travel/Bus-timetables.aspx
Conwy - https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Parking-Roads-and-Travel/Public-Transport/Public-Transport.aspx
Denbighshire - https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/parking-roads-and-travel/public-transport-information/bus-timetables/bus-timetables.aspx
Flintshire - https://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/Resident/Streetscene/Bus-timetables.aspx
Gwynedd - https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Parking-roads-and-travel/Bus-timetables/Bus-timetables.aspx
Wrexham - https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/service/bus-timetables

Face Coverings

Face coverings will be required in all indoor public places, for both customers and staff working in those indoor public areas. This includes a very wide range of locations, such as shops and shopping centres, places of worship, hairdressers and salons, cinemas and museums, gyms and leisure centres, and anywhere that is open to members of the public.

It would also include any public areas within buildings that are otherwise closed to the public – for example a reception area of an office building.

The only indoor public areas where face coverings will not be required are where you are inside a place to eat or drink, for example, cafés, restaurants and pubs.

Do I have to wear a face covering if I am buying or collecting take away food? 

Yes. In a place where food and drink is only being served for consumption in part of the premises – for example, a restaurant which also offers take away services or a café in a museum – you will need to wear a face covering in the parts of the premises where people are not eating or drinking. 

Some top tips for enjoying your return to North Wales:

•    Please do so safely, respecting a 2 metre distance with people outside your household.
•    Have consideration for local communities if you're travelling to a park, garden, coast or attraction in the region.
•    Follow the guidelines in place by the business - it's worth familiarising yourself with specific requirements ahead of your visit, especially checking opening hours which may have changed.
•    If you will need to use public transport, do remember some timetables may have been amended and it is advised that you wear a face covering. 
•    Before you travel, check that important facilities such as toilets and car parks are open – you don’t want to be caught short! 
•    Many outlets are operating a card only policy, so ensure that you travel with your bank card. 
•    Carry hand sanitiser with you to ensure hands are washed often. 
•    You may find that many of our rubbish bins are covered up, please help to keep North Wales tidy by either locating another rubbish bin or taking your rubbish home. 
•    Be prepared to prebook your tickets online before you visit as attractions will be monitoring and limiting their daily visitors to ensure they can reopen safely.
•    It's best to avoid busy periods and crunch times like arriving at the opening of the venue - try to stagger your arrival.
•    Expect queues and new ways of getting around the attraction and activities in the region.
•    It's hungry work having a day out, especially with kids, so plan your meals too. Many cafes at venues will be running takeaway options or provide picnic spaces but again, check on the attraction's website before you visit.
 

Important Information to Remember

     

Maintain a 2m distance from anyone outside your household 

Wash your hands regularly 
 

If you or any of your party feels unwell – do not travel

Keep yourself & North Wales safe. 

Guidance on planning a holiday in North Wales 

• If you or anyone you live with feels unwell with Covid-19 symptoms – don’t travel – stay at home and get a test. You must not leave your home for any reason. Guidance on how to stay safe is available here - https://gov.wales/protect-yourself-others-coronavirus  
• Your accommodation provider can refuse your stay if you are showing Covid-19 symptoms on arrival. 
• Have a plan in case you get ill while away – especially if you are travelling on public transport and need to get home quickly. 
• Remember to pack hand sanitiser and face coverings and any medication you may need plus your own GP details.  

Things to remember 

• As at home, you must socially distance and regularly wash your hands. 
• Wear a face mask on public transport - for more information see https://gov.wales/coronavirus-regulations-guidance#section-39239
• Some activities and venues will still be closed. For guidance on what you can and cannot do on holiday please visit: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-regulations-guidance#section-44647  

What shall I do if I feel unwell while on holiday in Wales? 

If you develop symptoms whilst on holiday, please arrange a test using your holiday address. You can order a test from https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/. You MUST notify your accommodation provider immediately. If you are staying or travelling with others, they must also self-isolate and take appropriate action based on your test result. 

We would urge anyone that has any concerns over their own health to use the NHS Coronavirus Symptom Checker - https://111.wales.nhs.uk/SelfAssessments/symptomcheckers/COVID19.aspx 

What should I do if my test is positive?  

• You MUST notify your accommodation provider immediately that you have tested positive 
• If you feel well enough to travel, you should return home as quickly and directly as you can, using private transport 
• It is important that you do not use public transport. 
• Test results are issued by text or email so you if you feel unwell, you do not need to wait for your results, but you must return home the most direct way, by private transport.  
• If you feel so unwell that you cannot travel, or if you cannot avoid using public transport, you should continue to self-isolate (including those travelling with you) and call 111 for further advice.  
• Accommodation providers are not obliged to provide self-isolating facilities so you will be liable for any additional costs incurred.  
• You must self-isolate for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started.  

My test was negative, can I stay? 

If your result is negative, you can stay and enjoy your visit as planned, provided that the NHS Test and Trace service has not advised you to self-isolate (see below). If you are still feeling unwell and need medical assistance, please call your own regular GP or 111. 

I have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace while on holiday in Wales and told I have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and asked to self-isolate for 14 days. What should I do? 

• If you are contacted by Test & Trace whilst on holiday you MUST notify your accommodation provider immediately that you have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace and asked to self-isolate. 
• If you are well enough to return home and private transportation then please do so and self isolate at home. Do not use public transport. 
• If you cannot avoid using public transport, you should continue to self-isolate and call 111 for further advice.  
• Accommodation providers are not obliged to provide self-isolating facilities so you will be liable for any additional costs incurred.  
• If you start to feel unwell during your self-isolation period arrange a test: https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test  
• Even if you remain well you must continue to self-isolate for 14 days at home after you last had contact with the person who tested positive as you could be carrying the virus and be infectious but not show any symptoms 
• People you are travelling with do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms 

Who do I contact if I'm unwell? 

• If you are ill and need medical advice, call 111 or your own GP 
• In the event of a medical emergency, call 999 

NHS Test and Trace App

If you are planning on visiting any hospitality businesses, we urge you to download the NHS Test and Trace app (https://www.covid19.nhs.uk/) and get used to the workings of it. 

The new NHS COVID-19 App will not provide an alternative for hospitality businesses and other high-risk settings for keeping records of staff, customers and visitors to assist with TTP, in case of an outbreak. This means that in Wales it will still remain a legal requirement for pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants to collect and retain contact information of staff, visitors and customers for 21 days, regardless of whether the official QR code poster associated with the new NHS COVID-19 App is on display.

If you still have questions use our live chat / message us (office hours) to talk with one of the team. 
Remember to check the official advice from the Welsh Government for the latest updates  gov.wales/coronavirus-covid19