New nationwide lockdown for Wales after Christmas with shops having to close from Christmas Eve

Wales is to go into full lockdown from December 28, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

The Welsh Labour leader said a "sustained rise in coronavirus" meant that the country would have to move into its highest level of restrictions.

Mr Drakeford confirmed the planned five days of relaxed measures would remain in place following talks between the four UK nations.

But contrary to Boris Johnson’s claim in PMQs today that the four nations were united in their stance on Christmas measures, the Welsh leader reduced the number of households permitted to meet in a festive bubble from three to two.

Some measures will come into force on Christmas Eve with all non-essential retail — including close contact services such as hair salons — and all leisure and fitness centres forced to close from the end of the day.

All hospitality premises such as pubs and restaurants will be forced to close from 6pm on Christmas Day.

But tighter restrictions for household mixing, staying-at-home, holiday accommodation and travel will only apply from December 28, with the planned easing of Covid restrictions over Christmas remaining in place between December 23 and 27.

First Minister Mark Drakeford told the Welsh Government on Wednesday the new lockdown would last for an initial three weeks.

He said: "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. 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.

"This means all non-essential retail, including close contact services and all leisure and fitness centres will close at the end of trading on Christmas Eve.

"All hospitality premises will close from 6pm on Christmas Day.

"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."

But he said in Wales only two households should come together to form an exclusive Christmas bubble during the five-day period, not the three households elsewhere in the UK.

Mark Drakeford was asked whether changing from three to two households coming together over Christmas was a break with the four-nation approach.

“I think I will be as clear as I am able to be at this point. The result of the meetings between the four nations has not yet been published,” Wales’ First Minister told the Welsh Government briefing.

“I cannot anticipate that statement and it would be unfair to all the other governments of the UK.

“The top message is as clear as it can be. Here in Wales over the Christmas period the clear message from the Welsh Government is that only two households should meet.

“That is how serious things are in Wales. Whether that is guidance, whether that is regulation, the message is the same.

“Only two households should get together. That’s how serious things are. I can’t go beyond that until the results of the discussions between the four governments are published later today.”