The Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced on Monday afternoon that Wales will enter into a two-week “fire break” lockdown from 6pm on Friday.
All but essential retail outlets will close including pubs, bars and restaurants, and leisure, most businesses will also close.
People have been told to work from home wherever possible, with exceptions for critical workers such as NHS staff. All household mixing will be banned both indoors and outdoors, although those in social bubbles will still be able to meet.
Primary schools will remain open after the half-term week and secondary schools will open only to Year 7 and Year 8 pupils.
Places of worship will be closed except for weddings and funerals, and these measures will be in place until 9 November.
Drakeford warned, that without these urgent new measures, the NHS will not be able to cope and “even more people will die.”
The Welsh First Minister said, “There are no easy choices in front of us as the virus spreads rapidly in every part of Wales.”
Drakeford also announced a £300m economic resilience fund to help businesses through the shutdown.
Paul Davies, Conservative leader of the opposition in the Senedd, has said that Drakeford “failed to get public support” for the two-week “firebreaker” lockdown.
He said, “The Welsh government also has to be honest that this road they are taking us down is committing Wales to rolling Wales-wide lockdowns.
“This is not a two-week break to solve the pandemic, it is likely that we will see regular lockdowns across the rest of the year.”
He added that the measures were “not proportionate” and said there would be a “severe” impact on businesses in areas which have low infections.