WELSH First Minister Mark Drakeford has just announced a 'firebreaker' lockdown for Wales.

"On Friday of last week I explained the very serious situation we are facing in Wales and asked once again for your help in bringing coronavirus under control," said Mr Drakeford.

"There are no easy choices in front of us. 

"We know that if we do not act now it will accelerate and there will be a huge strain on the NHS

"Unless we act the NHS will not be able to look after the number of people who are falling seriously ill, even with the extra 5,000 beds we have available for this winter.

"Most starkly of all, more people will die from this virus.

"We will be looking at an open-ended lockdown such as we had in March of this year.

"Between Friday, October 23 and November 9, everyone in Wales will be required to stay at home. This means working from home wherever that is possible. The only exceptions will be critical workers and where working from home is simply not possible.

"All non-essential retailers, community centres and leisure centres will close as in March. Churches and places of worship will close for services other than weddings and funerals"

Primary and special schools will reopen as normal after the half-term week.

Years 7 and 8 are the only ones who will go back as normal from secondary schools unless exams are being taken, but the remaining students will have to learn from home for the extra week.

Students at university will also have to stay at home in their university accommodation and will continue with blended learning.

To help break the cycle of transmission, there will be no gatherings with people you do not live with, either indoors or outdoors.

There will be an exception for adults living alone, who will be able to join with one other household alone.

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The First Minister announced there would be financial support for businesses.

But the move has been criticised by some. Paul Davies, Conservative leader of the opposition in the Senedd, said: “Sadly, the First Minster has failed to get public support for this second Wales-wide lockdown, failing to be open and transparent about the evidence to justify this lockdown and what his actions will entail for the future.

“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.

“The Welsh Government must be clear what actions they are taking during the lockdown to prevent further Wales-wide lockdowns which will have a significant impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.

“However, the main concern is that this national lockdown is not proportionate.

“The impact on businesses in areas such as Powys, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, who have the lowest rate of Covid-19 cases in Wales, will be severe at a time when they are desperately struggling to recover from the pandemic so far this year.

“The First Minister needs to urgently come to the Welsh Parliament and answer these questions, to face effective scrutiny by elected representatives and not run his government by media.”