Business owners prepare to reopen as they hope restrictions will ease soon

Business owners said they expect social distancing measures to be the "norm for the next six months to a year" and hope lockdown restrictions will be eased soon.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said any decision on easing any lockdown restrictions in Wales will be made this week with any changes being announced by the First Minister on Friday.

"Stay local will remain the message until we have more guidance on what lockdown should look like", Mr Gething said.

Shani Worton owns a cafe in Cardiff's Bute Park, which is takeaway only, with no table and chairs - and has careful distancing measures in place.

She said she's expecting this is going to be the "norm for the next six months to a year."

On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced all shops across England will be able to open next month if they can meet the coronavirus guidelines to protect shoppers and workers.

He said outdoor markets and car showrooms would be able to open from June 1 if they are safe to do so.

Lee Fettah, who's been selling cars for 20 years, says 70 per cent of his business comes from England on the internet.

He's encouraged by plans to reopen businesses like his in England - and hopes the rules will soon change here.

James Karran runs a small pub in Cardiff and is "worried" about social distancing.

He said, "For a place like this, it's going to be devastating, really. Unless we can find alternative ways of bringing in revenue, which we are looking at the moment. But that's how it is, and that's what we have to work with, so we will work with it."

On Wednesday, it was announced businesses in Wales have received more than £600m from the Welsh Government during the coronavirus pandemic.

52,000 grants have been awarded to Welsh businesses, who are already benefiting from rates relief through a £1.4bn package announced in March.