Wales to impose two-week deep firebreak: 'everyone must stay at home'

FILE PHOTO: Welsh Covid rules apply sign, Libanus, Wales, Britain October 17, 2020. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden

Wales on Monday said it would impose a 2-week sharp "firebreak" lockdown from Friday in which everybody apart from essential workers would have to stay at home.

"It will have to be sharp and deep in order to have the impact we need," Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford told reporters. "Everyone in Wales will be required to stay at home."

All non-essential businesses will have to close.

Social distancing signs are seen in Cardiff city centre as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues in Cardiff, Wales, Britain October 19, 2020. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Paul Sandle; editing by Michael Holden)

Coronavirus signs are seen in the city centre as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues in Cardiff, Wales, Britain October 19, 2020. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden

A social distancing sign is seen as people walk in the background, as the Welsh Government is set to impose stricter lockdown measures to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Llandudno, Britain October 19, 2020. REUTERS/Carl Recine