First Minister says Wales will move to Alert Level 4 and that “that only two households” should form an exclusive Christmas bubble

Wales will move to the highest level of coronavirus measures.

The announcement has just been made at the Welsh Government briefing, with NHS Wales Chief Exec’s due to give the press conference, but replaced this morning by the First Minister.

The alert level four restrictions for household mixing, staying-at-home, holiday accommodation and travel will come into force after the five-day Christmas period on December 28.

The four UK governments met today to confirm the common arrangements for the five-day Christmas period. Joint advice will be published later today.

In Wales, the position will be that only two households should come together to form an exclusive Christmas bubble during that period.

Yn fyw nawr gyda’r Prif Weinidog, Mark Drakeford | Live now with the First Minister, Mark Drakeford https://t.co/xLbflZmEta

— Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) December 16, 2020

The First Minister has just said, “The situation we are facing is extremely serious. I have to tell you today the Welsh Government has made the decision we must move to alert level four and tighten the restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus and save lives.”

“This new set of higher-level restrictions will apply to the whole of Wales.”

“This means all non-essential retail, including close contact services and all leisure and fitness centres will close at the end of trading on Christmas Eve.

“All hospitality premises will close from 6pm on Christmas Day.

“And on December 28, tighter restrictions for household mixing, staying-at-home, holiday accommodation and travel will apply.”

The first minister also provided an update on the Christmas arrangements after two meetings took place between the four nations in the last 24 hours.

Mr Drakeford said: “In the few short weeks since we made this decision, the situation has changed drastically as coronavirus has gripped the UK country once again.

“Later today, we will publish joint advice across the UK, explaining that a smaller Christmas is a safer Christmas. That a shorter Christmas is a safer Christmas.

“Here in Wales, the position is that only two households should come together to form an exclusive Christmas bubble during the five-day period.

“The fewer people we mix with in our homes, the less chance we have of catching or spreading the virus.

“None of us wants to be ill this Christmas. And we don’t want to give coronavirus to our close family or friends.”

More shortly.

From an article on Monday, there is detail what Level 4 means in practical terms: