A THIRD wave of coronavirus during the summer is 'likely' but will not necessarily see restrictions reimposed in response, Wales’s First Minister has said.

Mark Drakeford said he is 'hopeful' that a spike in Covid-19 cases caused by the return of freedoms will be mitigated by the country’s vaccination programme and better understanding of the virus.

On Friday, he confirmed that indoor supervised activities for children, indoor organised activities for up to 15 adults, and the reopening of community centres are being brought forward from May 17 to May 3.

Asked whether he is easing restrictions early in the hope that the spike will occur during the warmer months, Mr Drakeford told the PA news agency that the modelling 'does show a third spike is likely to happen in the summer'.

He went on to say: “But there’s a tension there. If it happens in the summer, in some ways that makes it more manageable.

“On the other hand, every week we can push it back is another week where we vaccinate people and that might make that wave a smaller one and less steep.

“In a way, governments are not in control of where those waves come. I am hopeful that, when we see a further wave, it will not be of the sort that will need us to take the sorts of very blunt actions we’ve had to take in the last calendar year.”

Mr Drakeford said the combination of the vaccination programme, better knowledge of handling cases of Covid-19, and the expected warm weather means we will be able to 'deal with a third wave without us needing to go back to the sorts of actions we’ve needed to take so far'.

He added that England’s date for reopening indoor hospitality, and issues with people meeting up to drink in unregulated settings, played a role in his plan to fully reopen the sector on the same day as England – May 17.

He told PA: “I do take into account the border issue. So much of our population is alongside the border and, when things happen on the other side of the border, I think about that.

“I think about what people say about people being able to have a drink in a regulated setting and that being better than people doing it elsewhere.

“But the dominant reason is because coronavirus is in a better place here in Wales, because our vaccination programme is going from strength to strength, and that’s what’s given us the headroom to set out what we’ve set out today.”

Wales has the lowest level of virus infections in the UK and is third in the world in terms of vaccine delivery, while case rates are below 15 per 100,000 people.

As of April 23, just 20 new coronavirus cases were reported in North Wales, with no new deaths.

But Mr Drakeford warned that coronavirus is 'not over' and asked the public to do what they can to keep the virus 'benign' in Wales.

If meeting up with friends and family, Mr Drakeford urged people to follow the guidance and safety measures.

The Welsh Labour leader denied that bringing forward some reopenings and outlining a date for indoor hospitality to resume with two weeks to go to the Senedd election on May 6 is an attempt to influence voters.

The changes mean Wales will now complete its move to Alert Level 3 by May 3 – three days before the election – but the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru have accused Mr Drakeford of using his powers as well as Welsh Government press briefings to unfairly influence the result.

“There’s an election on and parties will say what they want to say,” Mr Drakeford said.

“I turn up on the Friday at the end of the three weeks whether I’ve got difficult news to tell people or whether I’ve got better news to tell people. I do it as the First Minister.”

From Saturday 24 April:

The rule of 6 will allow for up to six people from six households to meet outdoors, not including children under 11 years of age or carers from those households.

From Monday, 26 April:

Outdoor hospitality can reopen and up to six people can meet outdoors with no limit on the number of households they can come from, not including children under 11 years of age or carers from those households.

Outdoor attractions including swimming pools, funfairs and theme parks, as well as outdoor organised activities and wedding receptions, both for up to 30 people, can also take place.

From May 3:

Gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities being able to reopen;

People will also again be able to form extended households with one other household.

Relaxations planned for 17 May will be brought forward to the 3 May, including:

The resumption of indoor supervised activities for children;

Indoor organised activities for up to 15 adults (such as exercise classes and swimming lessons);

And the re-opening of community centres.

Commenting on the announcement, the First Minister said: “The sacrifices we have made continue to show results. By us all working together and sticking to the rules, combined with our vaccination programme, mean we continue to make progress. Rates of the virus continue to fall and the public health situation is improving.

“Due to these efforts we are able confirm more easing of the restrictions from 26 April and for early May we are again able to bring forward some of our plans. However, this progress is dependent on all of us continuing to work together to keep Wales safe.

“At the last three-week review, I set out a forward-look of how the restrictions could continue to be lifted in the weeks ahead, if the public health situation remains stable.

“It will be for the incoming Welsh Government to confirm these arrangements at the next three-week review, which will be held on May 13 – a week after the election. It is my assessment that the hospitality sector – bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes – will be able to open indoors from May 17, together with all other tourist accommodation, indoor entertainment and attractions.”