Wales to enter national lockdown from midnight, with rules relaxed on Christmas Day only

Evidence suggests new coronavirus strain is present ‘throughout Wales’

Wales will enter a national lockdown from midnight on Saturday, with festive bubbles cancelled for all but Christmas Day.

Mark Drakeford, the first minister, announced the “stay at home” rules after hosting an emergency cabinet meeting amid concerns over a new strain of coronavirus, which he said is present “throughout Wales”.

He detailed how the pattern of transmission in London and the southeast of England, which has been linked to the new variant, is “remarkably consistent with the rapid acceleration of transmission in Wales” and the high case rates seen in recent weeks. 

Coronavirus news - live: Tier 4 rules announced for London and southeast England with Christmas bubbles cancelled

The new rules meant non-essential retail, close contact services, gyms and leisure centres and hospitality would close at “end of trading” on Saturday, Mr Drakeford said.

The easing of restrictions from 23 to 28 December, which would have allowed two households to form a Christmas bubble, will now only apply on Chrismas Day.

“Today has been one of those days when new information has required an immediate response,” Mr Drakeford said.

The move followed a meeting with the first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, on the new strain of coronavirus.

The new variant is “significantly more infectious and spreads more quickly” than the original, Mr Drakeford said.

Boris Johnson suggested earlier on Saturday that the strain could be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the previous variant.

Paul Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said he had been briefed by Mr Drakeford on Saturday and could “fully appreciate the need for more severe restrictions in Wales”.

The Welsh lockdown came as the UK prime minister put vast swathes of the east and southeast of England, including London, under strict new tier 4 lockdown measures from Sunday morning.

Mr Johnson cancelled a planned relaxation of coronavirus restrictions at Christmas and banned household mixing in favour of new “stay at home” instructions, sinking festive plans for millions.

Wales has recorded a total of 120,432 positive cases since the start of the pandemic, and 3,046 people have died with Covid-19.