WALES will be under a two-week "firebreak" lockdown from Friday evening, its First Minister has said.

Mark Drakeford told a Welsh Government press conference in Cardiff that the measure was necessary to reduce the spread of coronavirus and prevent the NHS from becoming overwhelmed.

The "sharp and deep" lockdown begins at 6pm on Friday, lasting until November 9, with everyone in Wales "required to stay at home".

Mr Drakeford said: "The only exceptions will be critical workers and jobs where working from home is not possible".

Under the “firebreak” lockdown: 

  • All non-essential retail, leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses will close "just as they had to during the March lockdown".
  • Community centres, libraries and recycling centres will also close, while places of worship will also be shut, other than for funerals or wedding ceremonies.
  • Childcare facilities will stay open, with primary and specialist schools reopening after the half-term break.
  • Secondary schools will also reopen after half-term for children in years seven and eight, as well as the most vulnerable students.
  • Pupils will be able to go in to take exams but others will learn from home for an additional week.
  • Universities will provide a blend of in-person and online learning but students will be required to stay at their accommodation.
  • People will not be able to meet indoors or outdoors with anyone they do not live with, with exceptions for those living alone.
  • They must stay at home, except for limited purposes such as exercise, and must work from home wherever possible.
  • Gatherings are banned, including Halloween and fireworks or Bonfire Night celebrations.

Mr Drakford said: "The only exceptions will be critical workers and jobs where working from home is not possible”.

He added that the lockdown would be a “short, sharp, shock to turn back the clock, slow down the virus and give us more time”.

There were 4,127 new confirmed cases of coronavirus recorded by Public Health Wales between October 9 and 15, though the real level of infections is believed to be much higher.

The R value – the number of people each coronavirus case infects – across Wales is currently between 1.1 and 1.4, while the seven-day rolling incidence rate for Wales is more than 130 cases per 100,000 people.

Mr Drakeford said: "There are no easy choices in front of us, as the virus spreads rapidly in every part of Wales. 

“We know that if we do not act now, it will continue to accelerate and there is a very real risk that our NHS would be overwhelmed.

“The number of people being taken to hospital with coronavirus symptoms is growing every day, our critical care units are already full.

“We are asking our healthcare and social care staff, who have already done so much, to work even harder.

“Unless we act, the NHS will not be able to look after the increasing number of people who are falling seriously ill.”

Mr Drakeford said that “even more extreme measures”, such as an open-ended lockdown, would have to be implemented if action was not taken now.

Businesses affected by the firebreak will be supported with a fund of almost £300m, which will open next week.

Every business covered by the small business rates relief will receive a £1,000 payment, while small and medium-sized retail, leisure and hospitality businesses that have to close will receive a one-off £5,000 payment.

The Welsh Government said “additional discretionary grants” and support for smaller businesses would also be available.

An £80m fund announced last week to help businesses develop in the longer term will be increased to £100m, with £20m ring-fenced for tourism and hospitality.

Mr Drakeford said he had written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak to ask for Welsh businesses to be given early access to the Job Support Scheme from Friday.

He added: "That would remove the need for businesses to juggle the job retention scheme and the job support scheme during this fire-break period.

"Given the urgency, we have offered to pay the extra costs that will be involved in that from Welsh Government funds to help businesses retain staff.

"But it is only the UK Government that has the financial power to guarantee the levels of income support workers need."