Oct

Wales confirms ‘sharp and deep’ Covid fire-break with non-essential travel and gatherings banned

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Wales is to go into a two-week ‘fire break’ lockdown that will see non-essential and non-food retail, hospitality and leisure businesses close and everyone confined to their homes from 6pm on Friday 23^rd October to the 9^th November.

Cross-border travel between England and Wales will also be severely restricted, and non-essential travel within Wales will ‘have to stop’.

Everyone in Wales will be required to work from home and the only exceptions will be critical workers and jobs where working from home is not possible. People will also be able to leave their homes to exercise and, presumably, buy food.

Detailed guidance has been promised before the lockdown begins on Friday, but at the moment the announcement says only essential travel will be allowed, and indoor or outdoor gatherings between those not already living together will be banned during the circuit-breaker fortnight too.

This means landlords hoping to complete tenancy check-ins or viewings have a short window in which to complete them.

Deadly virus

In justification of the measures, First Minister Mark Drakeford (pictured) said: “Unless we act the NHS will not be able to look after the increasing number of people who are falling ill due to this deadly virus.

“This is the shortest we can make it, but will be sharp and deep.”

The First Minister also confirmed that students will be required to lockdown in their student accommodation, and also an enhanced package of support for businesses including an additional £300 million added to the country’s Economic Resilience Fund.

Smaller businesses will also automatically be given £5,000 if they are required to close.

“A fire break period is our best chance of regaining control of the virus and avoiding a longer and much more damaging national lockdown. This is the moment to come together to protect the NHS and to save lives,” said Drakeford.

Read the announcement in full.
Read more about Wales.

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