Covid: All children including those with underlying conditions removed from Wales shielding list
All children and young people in Wales have been removed from a list of those deemed clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid.
Around 130,000 people identified as such were advised to shield during the pandemic.
The Welsh Government said the decision comes after studies showed that all children are at very low risk of becoming seriously unwell or dying from Covid.
It means around 2,700 children and young people in Wales will be removed from the list.
Young people who will be 18 years old before 31 December 2021 will be retained on the list as they will soon be adults.
Shielding was paused on 1 April due to falling rates of coronavirus. It was paused in August 2020 before being advised again when cases surged in December.
The Chief Medical Officer has previously said that shielding is "unlikely" to be introduced again.
Those deemed clinically extremely vulnerable include solid organ transplant recipients, people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy and people with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Some people have chosen to continue shielding, but support previously made available such as the delivery of food parcels has stopped.
Health Minister Eluned Morgan said there remains a small number of young people who may have been advised by their own doctor to isolate or reduce their contact with others becuse of their medical condition or treatment.
She said those people are advised to continue following the advice of their own clinician.
In Scotland, around 1,730 children remain on its list but evidence is being kept under review.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Some of these are children who need to take additional precautions as a result of their clinical status.
"Keeping them on the list for the time being means we can easily communicate any significant updates on the pandemic, including advice on additional safeguards they might wish to take in the event of an outbreak in their local area.
"We all have a duty to protect those most at risk of serious consequences of Covid-19, which is why we are maintaining vital safeguards in Scotland to help protect everyone, including wearing face coverings and physical distancing.
"The best way to protect yourself and your family is through vaccination, and we continue to strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated as soon as possible."
Earlier this month, some vaccination centres in Wales began inviting under-18s to get the Covid jab.
Various trials on giving children coronavirus vaccines have been ongoing for months.
Pfizer conducted trials on 2,000 12 to 15-year-olds in October last year and found it was safe, with the MHRA already approving the vaccine for children aged 12 and over.
This data has led to 16 to 17-year-olds being offered the Pfizer vaccine.