The lockdown in Wales will be extended beyond this weekend according to the Welsh Government.
Boris Johnson announced on March 23 the lockdown will be reviewed again in three weeks time. This would have brought the lockdown to an end after Easter Monday but the Welsh Government have confirmed that this period will be extended.
Speaking at a press conference to day minister for housing and local government Julie James said: "We are extending the lockdown but the formal announcement will be made in plenary.
"I am telling you today that we are extending it. The announcements for that will be made in Plenary
"We are definitely extending lockdown and that will not be raised next week.
"We wanted to make sure people didn't make plans over the weekend as the measures will be in force next week."
Earlier that day a spokesman for Number 10 had refused to confirm when the UK wide lockdown would be lifted saying an update would be happening around the date of the deadline.
This follows reports yesterday from UK Government officials that we may be seeing the start of the curve flattening as the lockdown measures take affect.
As the graph below shows here has been a sequential days where the number of new cases has not increased.
The deaths and hospital admissions have not yet followed that trend though they will lag behind new cases according to the UK's chief scientific officer.
Julie James confirmed that there was reasons for hope but not complacency.
She said: "There are signs the measures are having an effect.
"Our message to Wales is very simple over Easter: Stay home and save lives."
In the Senedd First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "Three weeks of stay at home restrictions that we have all faced end next week. These restrictions must end then, we will not throw away the gains we have made and the lives we can save by abandoning our efforts just as they begin to bear fruit
"There is more work to do in reviewing the regulations and receiving the up to date accienfic advice. I must leave Welsh citizens in no doubt.
"The efforts we have all been making are not yet over. They will not be over next week. Before the reactions can be lifted and normality begins there are more for all of us to do."
