That's all from us on today as Wales is set to see its biggest changes to everyday life since Covid restrictions were brought in 500 days ago.

The latest developments following the Welsh government's briefing are:

• Most of Wales' coronavirus rules to end Saturday
• Q&A: What rules will stay in Wales?
• Warning of 'curveballs' as most restrictions end
• Wales on 'final lap' of Covid ordeal, says FM

Have a good afternoon, enjoy your weekend - stay safe.

Booster jabs could begin in Wales this month if advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is received early in August, the first minister said.

Mark Drakeford said that if the advice came at the end of the month, the booster campaign would start in September.

Plans for the campaign were "in from every health board in Wales", he said.

The first minister told reporters the programme would focus on the most vulnerable people first.

Most restrictions will be lifted in Wales from Saturday, but what a gruelling 17 months it's been.

Our graphic charts the key dates of the pandemic in Wales and the long road to the easing of most restrictions on Saturday.

Whether it's a dream wedding or a night out with your mates, people all over Wales will be looking forward to greater freedoms from tomorrow.

For Jordan and Emily Burns, who had to abandon their wedding plans and had a scaled-back ceremony, the removal of most restrictions means they can, at last, have their perfect day.

"We're having everything as we planned, how we wanted it in April - just one-and-a-half years later," said Emily.

There is “no suggestion” that Wales will be a “footnote” in the future UK-wide inquiry into Covid, the first minister told reporters.

The first minister has agreed with the prime minister and other first ministers to pool together into a single inquiry – and has rebuffed calls for one to focus on the response in Wales alone.

"Part of my agreement to being part of a UK inquiry is that there will be within the UK inquiry a specific focus on the actions that were taken here in Wales," he said.

“I expect that to be a thorough investigation and I expect it to to offer the answers that families in Wales are entitled to have about the way that decisions were made on their behalf during the pandemic.”

While many people are celebrating the lifting of almost all restrictions in Wales, some who had to shield during the pandemic have concerns.

Richard Pugh, of Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, said: “While many people in Wales will welcome these freedoms, people with cancer may feel worried and uncertain about these changes."

He welcomed the Welsh Government’s cautious approach, "which will reassure people".

“It's vital that Welsh Government continues to communicate clearly with people with cancer, who are clinically extremely vulnerable, and supports them as coronavirus restrictions ease," Mr Pugh added.

Image source, Getty Images

Opposition parties in Wales have welcomed the "good news" about restrictions being removed, but urged caution in case of any "curveballs".

Welsh Conservatives' Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies said: “It’s a good news day today that we’re seeing the back end of these restrictions, necessary restrictions, but we are seeing the back end of them.

Foreseeing some "nasty shocks" as Wales emerges from the pandemic, Mr Davies said it was "really important" people "take responsibility" and reiterated calls for a Wales-specific inquiry into how the pandemic has been handled.

Plaid Cymru’s deputy leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “This is where we wanted to be, we wanted to move forward as much as possible - cautiously, yes - but now what we want as these freedoms come back, is to see in clear evidence terms that government is honing its early-warning systems even more, is even more vigilant about any curveballs sent in our direction.”

Mark Drakeford said the Welsh government is making vaccinations “more readily available to young people”.

The rate of full vaccination in 18 to 29-year-olds stands at 56.1%.

He said it was at that level because not enough time had passed for “quite a lot of young people” to come forward for the second dose.

“We're over 75% of first doses, and that number goes up every day. We wish it could go up faster, of course we do," he said.

“These are very often people who are in work, where finding time to come forward for appointments is more difficult. It's why we’ve got the pop-up clinics and the walk-in clinics.”

Image source, Getty Images

Social distancing is not "disappearing in Wales", First Minister Mark Drakeford has emphasised.

From Saturday, he said it would be "part of a wider list of things" with "more flexibility for businesses to draw the right set of measures together" to protect their staff and customers.

Asked if he did not expect pubs to be full, Mr Drakeford said he would not say that and that he expected the hospitality sector to adopt the required measures.

The first minister gave examples, including ensuring pubs were well ventilated and "didn't have large crowds of people at the bar itself".

There will be no further changes to Covid rules at the Welsh government's next review in three weeks, the first minister confirmed.

"Having reached this important milestone, we now need to carefully monitor the impact of lifting so many restrictions. We therefore do not expect to make any further changes at the next review," Mark Drakeford said.

"So the changes we announce today set the pattern for at least the next three weeks. This is a significant moment for all of us."

The first minister said he was confident Wales is on the “final lap” of emerging from the pandemic.

But Mark Drakeford said that was provided there are not “further unexpected turns in the course of the virus”.

He said “we cannot possibly make the assumption that the virus will not yet have further unpleasant surprises”.

Mr Drakeford added: “Were a new variant to emerge, or the virus take a turn in which vaccination were less effective than we have it today, then inevitably we would have to face the consequences of that and take measures to address it.

"Provided we do not see further unexpected turns in the course of the virus, then I think we can have confidence that we are on the final lap of emerging from the pandemic."

Image source, Getty Images

Facemasks will still need to be worn in indoor public places including shops, buses and trains, but not in venues where food and drink is served, such as pubs.

However, with firms having to complete risk assessments and put their own measures in place to keep staff and customers safe, people may still be asked to socially distance or wear masks in some places, depending on the risk.

Mr Drakeford said the Welsh government would now be monitoring the impact of the changes.

The lifting of most Covid restrictions tomorrow does not mean a “free-for-all”, First Minister Mark Drakeford said.

He said tomorrow’s move to so-called alert level zero was “a significant moment for all of us”.

It will mean all business can now re-open – including nightclubs – and there is no limit on the number of people who can meet indoors or attend events.

“But I want to be clear that alert level zero does not mean the end of all restrictions and a free-for-all,” said Mr Drakeford.

“This is particularly important for people who are clinically vulnerable and for all those people who go on acting carefully to protect their health and others’.”

Image source, Public Health Wales

The weekly Covid case rate has decreased in recent weeks in Wales, allowing restrictions to be lifted, the first minister says.

Mark Drakeford presented slides showing "information used by the Cabinet to come to the decisions I’m setting out today".

He said Covid rates had been rising sharply three weeks ago, but had fallen since.

"Cases rose quickly in June and July in all parts of Wales – particularly in north Wales, where we have seen the highest rates and levels of infection," he said.

"We are now beginning to see case rates fall back once again.

"Today, there are around 130 cases per 100,000 people in Wales – this is lower than when I spoke to you three weeks ago and helps create the conditions in which we can move forward."

First Minister Mark Drakeford has started delivering a press briefing he's surely been dreaming of for quite some time.

After almost 17 months, which has seen three lockdowns and vast restrictions to daily life, Mr Drakeford has been able to lift almost all rules thanks, he says, to the success of the vaccination programme.

Wales has seen declining case rates in the last few weeks, after a concerning sharp rise three weeks ago.

Daniel Davies
BBC Wales political correspondent

Exactly 500 days after telling us to stay at home, Mark Drakeford has confirmed an end to the rules on who and where we meet.

He has deliberately avoided repeating Boris Johnson's assurance that we are on an "irreversible" path out.

But the success of the vaccination programme means the bar for "re-imposing severe restrictions will be higher", the Welsh government says.

The next step is to provide booster jabs. Some people will get one with their annual flu jab in the autumn.

In a clear signal about the ongoing threat of the pandemic, ministers say they are worried about a "perfect storm" of Covid and flu this winter.

Image source, Getty Images

Fake news websites about the pandemic need to be shut down, according to a woman who says her parents have been sucked into conspiracy theories.

She said her parents initially thought Covid-19 was no worse than the flu, but they soon moved on to more extreme theories.

The woman, from Cardiff, who is worried about her parents' mental health, spoke to Newyddion S4C anonymously.

One Welsh GP said the anti-vaccination movement was a "big problem".

Wales is finally moving to alert level zero after almost 17 months of restrictions – but what does this mean for our daily lives?

We try and answer all your most pressing questions in our updated Q&A.

Can't find the answer to your question? Get in touch by emailing: newsonline.wales@bbc.co.uk

Image source, Getty Images

Nightclubs will be able to reopen and social distancing laws will be lifted as the majority of Wales' remaining Covid rules are scrapped from tomorrow.

Rules on the numbers that can meet indoors will end, after the Welsh government confirmed its decision to move to its so-called alert level zero.

But some safety measures will remain - people will still have to wear face masks in shops, health and social care settings and on public transport.

Wales has endured almost 17 months of various coronavirus restrictions.

Welcome to today's live page.

We'll be keeping you up-to-date as Wales prepares to lift the majority of its Covid restrictions from tomorrow.

Stay with us for our coverage of the Welsh government's Covid briefing from 12:35 BST.

We'll also have a handy guide on what you still need to do to keep yourself and those around you Covid-safe.