All non-essential retail, leisure services, gyms, hospitality and holiday accommodation are closed following the decision to put Wales into lockdown from last Sunday.
In an interview with WalesOnline this week, First Minister Mark Drakeford warned that industries such as hospitality could be affected for some time to come, amid fears that a new, more virulent strain of coronavirus is spreading quickly through Wales.
Read everything we know so far about the new strain here.
With all the uncertainty, it might be easy to forget there are alterations to local authority services across Wales over the festive period, from bin collections to access to cemeteries.
Here's everything you need to know about changes to Newport council services this Christmas.
Waste and recycling services
Waste collections will take place as usual over the Christmas and New Year period, apart from:
- no collection on Christmas Day - bins will be collected Boxing Day
- no collection on New Year's Day - bins will be collected Saturday, January 2
Use your postcode on the council's bin collection page to find out when your bin and recycling will be collected.
The household waste recycling centre will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day only and will operate its usual opening hours throughout the rest of the Christmas period.
The centre is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5pm. Visits to the centre are by appointment only, and you can book an appointment here.
Your real Christmas tree can be recycled by placing it in your garden waste bin for collection in March, taking it to the recycling centre or asking the council to collect it for a fee.
Cards and wrapping paper - except foil wrapping paper - can go in your green recycling box.
Parks and cemeteries
Parks and cemeteries remain open over Christmas during Wales' lockdown.
Newport’s cemetery gates will be open for vehicle access from Christmas Eve until December 27 and from New Year's Eve until January 3. From January 4 there will be pedestrian access only.
Immediately before and during funerals, gates will be closed to enable staff to manage the numbers of mourners at the sites and to ensure social distancing guidance is followed.
Cemetery access is for mourners and those attending graves, not for general exercise or dog walking. Users are asked to follow social distancing rules at all times.
Access to the sanctum area, located opposite the lodge at St Woolos Cemetery, will be temporarily unavailable while the council carries out essential extension works.
Libraries, galleries and places of worship
Libraries are currently open for click and collect only during the lockdown period. The following libraries are open:
Central Library: open Tuesday - Friday, 10am-12.30pm and 1pm-4pm.
Malpas Library: open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
Ringland Library: open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
Rogerstone Library: open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
To book a visit, click here.
Newport Museum and Art Gallery is closed. Places of worship, Newport Register Office and the Mansion House remain open for wedding and civil partnership ceremonies. Receptions are not permitted, and the registration of births is currently suspended.
For further information on all Newport council services click here.
