Welsh Prime Minister Mark Drakeford will announce how the COVID rules imposed on Boxing Day – in the face of the wave of Omicron infections – are to be scrapped.

At a lunchtime press conference on Friday, Mr Drakeford is due to explain how he plans to bring Wales back to ‘level zero’ from its current ‘level two’ restrictions.

The Labor politician will detail a two-week plan to ease restrictions, if the public health situation continues to improve.

The Welsh Government’s move to ‘level zero’ will be staggered, with restrictions on outdoor activities being the first to be removed.

Under ‘tier two’ rules, face coverings remained mandatory indoors and people had to work from home.

Groups were limited to six people in public places such as restaurants, while indoor events of more than 30 people and outdoor events of more than 50 people were banned.

The Welsh Government said the protections put in place in response to Omicron have been removed “thanks to the support of people across Wales and the successful recall campaign”.

More than 1.75 million people received a booster shot.

On Thursday, Wales reported 3,197 new cases of COVID-19, up from 9,213 the previous Thursday. Deaths, however, rose from six to 11.