The Welsh Government in ‘planning very seriously’ for a short nationwide lockdown as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson considers a two-week circuit breaker in England for half-term.
Mark Drakeford, First Minister for Wales, confirmed to Sky News that the Welsh Government is drawing up plans for a circuit-breaker lockdown.
There will be no confirmation of the lockdown until later this week, reports Wales Online.
Vaughan Gething, Welsh health minister, told the BBC: "It is a potential way forward we are actively considering and... we are going to need to make some choices about whether we are going to do that or not.
"Many people are pointing to the school half-term as a potential way to introduce a break if we are going to do so. The next few days will be very important but we are getting specific advice tailored to Wales to understand what that might look like."
Mr Drakeford said "a circuit-breaker period would be the most effective way of turning back the tide of coronavirus."
He said: "If a circuit breaker is the right way to do it then that is what we will do and we are very actively talking about and preparing for that should it be necessary.
“I don’t think we are absolutely at that point but the detailed work is going on so if figures continue during this week to go in the wrong direction, we would be in a position to do what our colleagues in Northern Ireland look as though they are already having to do this week."
In England, Boris Johnson is considering a similar approach, with a temporary half-term lockdown proposed.
The temporary lockdown would last two weeks and see the majority of businesses close down again, including pubs and restaurants, Government sources told The Telegraph.
Mr Drakeford yesterday wrote a letter to Boris Johnson asking him to consider a circuit-breaker lockdown. Health Minister Vaughan Gething told BBC Breakfast that Mr Drakeford is yet to receive a response from Mr Johnson.
He also confirmed they are yet to receive a response from a second letter issued to Boris Johnson in relation to restriction travel on coronavirus hotspots in England.
In Wales, people living in local authorities under local lockdown are not permitted to leave the area.
