Wales is set to once again move into full lockdown from December 28, according to the Welsh Government. However, non-essential retailers will be closed from Christmas Eve.
Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales and Leader of the Welsh Labour Party, said a “sustained rise in coronavirus” meant that the nation will enter into its highest level of lockdown restrictions for the third time.
He said the planned five days of relaxed lockdown measures would remain in place after talks with the four UK nations.
Some restrictions will come into effect on Christmas Eve with all non-essential retailers, businesses, and all leisure and fitness centers forced to be closed from the end of the day. All hospitality premises will be closed from 6 p.m. on Christmas Day.
However, the government said tighter restrictions would be applied from December 28.
The announcement comes after Wales had to go through a 17-day “firebreak” lockdown in late October until early November, according to Retail Gazette, a UK-based news outlet. It also endured a three-month, UK-wide lockdown over the spring.
On Wednesday, Drakeford said in a press briefing, “Many of you will have seen the warnings from senior clinicians about the huge impact coronavirus is having on the whole of our health service.”
“The situation we are facing is extremely serious,” he added. “We must move to alert level four and tighten the restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus and save lives.”
“This new set of higher-level restrictions will apply to the whole of Wales,” Drakeford continued. “This means all non-essential retail, including close contact services and all leisure and fitness centers, will close at the end of trading on Christmas Eve.”
“All hospitality premises will close from 6 p.m. on Christmas Day,” he added. “And on December 28, at the end of the five day Christmas period, tighter restrictions for household mixing, staying-at-home, holiday accommodation and travel will apply.” The new article was originally published in Retail Gazette.
