Llywydd, I move the motion before us.

While I hope Members will have enjoyed the Easter recess, they will not have forgotten that coronavirus is very much still with us, and I'm pleased to announce that hospitalisations have stabilised over recent weeks. However, numbers remain high. In context, on 22 April 2022, there were 1,360 COVID-related patients in hospital—just over 1,070 higher than at the same point last year. The latest results from the Office for National Statistics coronavirus infections study suggests that one in 15 people in Wales had COVID-19 for the week to 16 April. This is a decrease in the percentage of people testing positive compared to the previous week. Rates remain high across all parts of the United Kingdom, but the percentage of people testing positive has decreased across all four nations of the United Kingdom in the most recent week.

We will be carefully reviewing the figures over the coming weeks, due to the increase in social mixing over the Easter break. Before us today are the latest amendment regulations, the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 9) Regulations 2022. Whilst the coronavirus situation does seem to be stabilising, rates of infection remain high and pressures on the NHS are still very significant. For this reason, Cabinet agreed to retain the requirement for face coverings to be worn in health and social care settings for a further three weeks. This aims to help protect the most vulnerable and staff working in these higher risk settings.

As of 18 April 2022, businesses and organisations are no longer legally required to undertake a specific coronavirus risk assessment and to take reasonable measures to minimise the risk of contracting the virus. With legal requirements on businesses having been removed, Cabinet also agreed that the additional powers of local authorities to close or control premises and events are no longer proportionate. Therefore, the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Functions of Local Authorities) (Wales) Regulations 2020 expired also on 18 April 2022.