Since the coronavirus outbreak, the Welsh Government has introduced restrictions on people’s day-to-day lives to prevent the virus from spreading. Most of these restrictions were lifted on 7 August, however, some important ones remain in place.

We have included an explanation of the rules below.

Meeting other people

• There are no limits to the number of people who can meet indoors including in private homes, public places or at events.
• All businesses can now open, including nightclubs
• Despite lifting these rules, the Government still recommends people socially distance and meet outdoors where they can

Covid Pass

On 17 September, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced plans to introduce a Covid pass for events and nightclubs.

From 11 October, all over-18s will be required to show an NHS Covid Pass to enter: 

• nightclubs
• indoor, non-seated events for more than 500 people, such as concerts or conventions
• outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people
• any setting or event with more than 10,000 people in attendance

You can get an NHS Covid Pass if you are fully vaccinated. You can also get a pass if you have received:

• a negative lateral flow test within 48 hours of an event
• or a positive result from a PCR test taken no more than 180 days and no less than 10 days before attending an event or nightclub.

Following concerns raised by the National Autistic Society, the COVID Pass guidance now includes an exemption for people who may be unable to receive a vaccination or take a lateral flow test for medical reasons.

The Welsh Government is working to develop and design a digital system which will automatically update the COVID Pass so that exemptions are recorded, but has cautioned that it will not be ready on 11 October.

In the interim, ministers stress that event organisers should recognise the exemption and allow that individual entry, with venues not required to consider evidence of the exemption.

We offer free cards which can be used to show that you or your child is autistic.

You can apply for an NHS COVID Pass via the NHS website or by calling 0300 303 5667 to request a paper pass. See Welsh Government guidance for more details.

Work

• people should still work from home wherever possible
• Businesses, employers and other organisations remain under a legal duty to protect employees and customers by undertaking risk assessments and taking reasonable measures to minimise the spread of coronavirus.
   

Schools

• From September, the routine use of face coverings is no longer recommended for staff nor learners. Schools may encourage their use in communal areas but exemptions apply for autistic people.
• Schools can decide whether face coverings are appropriate for staff or secondary learners if, for example, social distancing can’t be maintained.
• Face coverings should continue to be worn by secondary school learners on dedicated school transport. Again, exemptions apply for autistic people.
• Visitors should check the school’s policy on the use of face coverings.
• If anyone wants to wear a face covering for personal reasons anywhere in the school, they should be permitted to do so.
• Legal duties on councils and schools relating to SEN remain in force.
• Children with symptoms of Covid-19 should stay at home, and parents are advised to arrange a test and follow self-isolation guidance. Pupils are not required to provide evidence of a negative test on their return.

For further information, see Welsh Government coronavirus guidance on schools. You can also contact our educational rights service. 

Shielding

 

• The chief medical officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton, wrote to patients on the shielding patient list over the summer, saying he does not expect there will be a need to reintroduce shielding measures again in future.
• In August, children and young people were removed from the list of those considered clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid-19.

From 1 April 2021, people who were shielding were advised:

• they could go to work if they could not work from home, as long as the business is Covid-secure and has taken measures to minimise risk to employees
• children who have been shielding could return to school when appropriate for their year group.

For information on who is considered clinically extremely vulnerable, see the Welsh Government’s guidance.

Guidance for people who are self-isolating

Please note that from 7 August the Welsh Government has said that fully vaccinated adults, under 18s and vaccine trial participants will not need to self-isolate if they are a close contact of someone with coronavirus. However, you will be asked to take PCR tests even if you don’t show symptoms.

Welsh Government guidance says if you have symptoms or have tested positive for coronavirus, you'll need to self-isolate for at least 10 days.

You'll usually need to self-isolate if:

• you test positive, even if you do not have symptoms
• someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive
• you've been told to self-isolate by Track, Trace and Protect.

Self-isolating means that – to help stop the spread of the virus – you can’t leave your home at all. You should not go out to buy food, medication or other essentials, so you might want to ask friends and family to go shopping for you or order items online. You should tell delivery drivers, friends and family not to enter your home while you are self-isolating but they are able to leave items on your doorstep. Essential care visitors are allowed into your home when you’re self- isolating.

If you don’t have access to a private garden to exercise, you can do so for one hour outside, preferably during quiet times. It’s important to try not to touch anything while you’re outside and you should stay at least two metres away from others. 

While most autistic people will be able to follow these rules, we understand how difficult self-isolating is for some autistic people who do not understand the reasons behind this or cannot cope with not being outside for exercise as part of their routine. Following pressure from National Autistic Society Cymru, Welsh Government guidance was amended to say autistic people and their carers can go out more than once a day if needed, but you should still follow distancing and hygiene measures to keep safe.
 

Medical advice and support when self-isolating

All routine medical and dental appointments should be cancelled if you and your family need to self-isolate at home. Please use 'my health online' or telephone your GP practice during normal surgery working hours for repeat prescriptions. Further guidance on accessing help can be found here.

If you have symptoms or develop symptoms when self-isolating, do not try to cope for too long on your own before seeking medical assistance. You should contact NHS Wales 111 or your GP using the phone if:

• Your symptoms don’t improve after seven days.
• You experience breathlessness or vomiting at any time.
• Tiredness stops you doing your normal daily activities.
• A baby or a child under the age of five has a temperature at any time.

If you have previously tested positive for coronavirus but develop symptoms again, you must self-isolate for 10 days and follow the above guidance again.

Self-isolation support scheme

If you’re told to self-isolate or test positive for Covid-19 and cannot work from home, you could receive a £750 payment to help with loss of earnings.

You need to claim within 21 days of your last day of self-isolation. You usually must be in receipt of certain benefits but councils can make discretionary payments if you are on a low income and facing financial hardship.

Under the Welsh Government support scheme, a parent or carer can also apply for a payment if their child has been told to self-isolate. To qualify, parents or carers must have a child attending childcare, school or further education up to and including Year 11. If your child or the person you care for has complex or additional needs, the qualifying age is extended to 25.
Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply for the self-isolation support scheme.

Face coverings

You have to wear a face covering in all indoor public places such as shops and public transport, as well as private hire vehicles unless you have a good reason not to, one of which relates to being autistic. Face coverings are no longer required in hospitality venues such as restaurants, pubs and cafes.

You can read more about this on our face coverings page.

Exemptions

The Welsh Government has given some examples of when you don’t have to wear a face covering, which include:

• If you can’t put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability.
• When seated at places where food and drink are sold and you consume it on those premises, which will cover most restaurants, cafés and bars (when they are allowed to re-open).
• If you are younger than 11 years old.
• If you are travelling on dedicated school transport.
• If you are travelling with or helping someone who relies on lip reading to communicate.
• You are escaping from danger.

You may also remove your face covering if you need to:

• Take medicines.
• Eat or drink.
• Avoid harm or injury to yourself or others.

This means that if you or the person you support is autistic and finds putting a face covering on really hard or distressing, you don’t have to wear one. This includes when voting in the upcoming elections on 6 May. The Government’s list isn’t exhaustive, which means there could be other reasons why you don’t have to wear a face covering too.

We have told the Government that people enforcing these rules, as well as the public, need to know about these exemptions so that you or the person you support aren’t challenged by staff, the public or the police.

What to do if someone asks you why you’re not wearing a face covering

You do not need to prove that you are autistic to be exempt. However, we recommend you consider carrying documentation that helps to explain why you are exempt from wearing a face covering. For example, this could be a prescription, or a letter from an appropriate professional.

You can download and print our fact sheet and our I Am Autistic Card, or you can make your own card that says you are exempt from the rules as it will help you explain why you aren’t wearing a face covering if someone asks you about it.

• Download our I am Autistic Card
• Download our My Child is Autistic Card
• Download our This Person is Autistic Card
• Download our fact sheet about face coverings, developed in partnership with the Wales National Autism Team.

The Welsh Government and Transport for Wales have also produced exemption cards.

If you are challenged or harassed because you are not wearing a face covering, try and speak to a staff member or show them your I am Autistic card. If you don’t feel comfortable or safe to do so, you can report this to the police. It’s not okay for people, whether that’s the public or staff, to challenge people aggressively.

Individual places’ rules on face coverings

We have heard some businesses are going beyond the Government guidance and telling everyone they have to wear a face covering, even if they are exempt. This is wrong – as they should be allowing you not to wear one as a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010.

What we’re doing

We are telling the Government about your experiences of lockdown so it knows what life is like for autistic people and their families. If you want to share your experiences, and any worries or concerns you have, with us email stories@nas.org.uk