New coronavirus restrictions are being introduced in four local authority areas in North Wales.
The rules are being tightened in Denbighshire, Flintshire, Conwy and Wrexham following a rise in cases, Health Minister Vaughan Gething today announced.
The new measures will come into force at 6pm on Thursday 1 October.
The new restrictions mean:
- People will not be allowed to enter or leave each of these areas without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education;
- People will only be able to meet people they don’t live with outdoors for the time being. They will not be able to form, or be in, extended households;
The restrictions will mean visitors from England or other parts of Wales will not be able to come to the four counties for a holiday - a massive blow to resorts like Llandudno, Rhyl and Conwy.
Holidaymakers from England can travel through the counties in local lockdown to reach Gwynedd and Anglesey as they are currently not in lockdown.
The restrictions will be in addition to the rules that apply everywhere in Wales, including:
- All licensed premises must stop selling alcohol at 10pm
- Everyone over 11 will be required to wear face coverings in indoor public areas – as is the case across Wales.
Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: "Unfortunately, we have seen a rise in coronavirus cases in four North Wales local authority areas – in Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham and Conwy.
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"These are largely linked to people socialising indoors and are the pattern of transmission similar to what we have seen in South Wales.
“We have worked closely with local authority leaders and the police in North Wales and we all agree about the need to take swift action to control and the spread of the virus.
“Large parts of Wales will now be subject to local restrictions but I want to be clear – this is not a national lockdown. These are a series of local restrictions to respond to rises in cases in individual areas.
“It’s always difficult to make the decision to impose restrictions but we hope that these measures will make a positive difference – just as we have seen in Caerphilly and Newport, where local residents have pulled together and followed the rules.
“It is important we all work together and support each other. This isn’t just about protecting ourselves, it’s about protecting each other.”
The restrictions are being introduced following a rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases in coronavirus, which have been linked to people meeting indoors, not following social distancing guidelines and returning from summer holidays overseas.
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The Welsh Government met with local authorities, health boards and police across North Wales today (29 September) to discuss the situation across the region, and what measures could be taken to prevent the further spread of the virus and how to protect people’s health.
The local restrictions will not be introduced in Anglesey or Gwynedd at this stage, where cases are lower.
The new local restrictions will be kept under regular review. They will be enforced by local authorities and by the police.