A Welsh city less than 40 minutes away from Bristol is going into local lockdown.
New restrictions will be introduced in Newport, and three other areas in Wales, from 6pm tomorrow (September 22).
The fresh rules mean that people in Newport, Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil:
- Must wear a face covering in shops if they are aged over 11.
- Can no longer meet with people from other households indoors. Extended households will not be allowed and overnight stays will be banned.
- Cannot enter or leave the borough council area without a "reasonable excuse". This includes work, if people are unable to work from home, as well as making a compassionate visit to a loved one or to provide care.
- Can only meet others outdoors, reports Wales Online.
The Welsh Government has announced the move following a spike in cases.
Overall, six areas in Wales have now had lockdown restrictions put in place - after Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) and Caerphilly had new rules rolled out earlier this month.
The news comes on the same day Bristol’s director of public health warned our city was at the “foot of the second wave”.
Christina Gray says Covid-19 rates in communities are higher than official figures suggest because national problems and delays with testing are giving an incomplete picture of the reality on the ground.
But she says we have a “fighting chance” of avoiding government-enforced local lockdowns seen in the North and the Midlands because Bristol and the South West have had the lowest levels of cases throughout the pandemic.
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