People who test positive for Covid-19 in Wales will be able to leave self-isolation earlier from Friday if they have two negative lateral flow tests - in a move welcomed by a business group.
Health Minister Eluned Morgan confirmed the changes to five full days and said two consecutive negative lateral flow tests must be taken on days five and six of the isolation period.
It had previously been seven full days after negative tests on days six and seven.
This follows a similar move in England on January 17 and will be good news for businesses.
The new rules in Wales will come into effect from January 28 - the same day Wales is expected to complete the move to alert level zero with hospitality rules dropped and nightclubs allowed to reopen.
Welsh Government was criticised by the Conservatives for delaying the relaxation.
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales Policy Chair, Ben Francis said: “We are pleased to see this decision from Welsh Government.
"Over the last few weeks, we have made the case for reducing the isolation period, if it can be done safely, because of the clear difference it makes to the thousands of small businesses who have faced serious staff absences.
"This announcement marks an important intervention and creates some headroom for employers and staff, who are trying to bounce back from yet another disrupted festive season.
"While small businesses in Wales are still facing a challenging horizon, we are pleased to see that the Welsh Government is balancing the health needs of the nation with the needs of business and workers.”
Welsh Conservative and Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said: “With the booster jab rollout so advanced, the need to keep public services staffed, and the increasing desire to move to a point where we live with the virus, the time for cutting the self-isolation has undoubtedly come.
“Sadly, as has been the case throughout the pandemic with the Labour administration in Cardiff Bay, they replicate decisions taken by the UK Conservative Government but only after playing politics, questioning and undermining such changes days earlier."
