What the ‘firebreak’ restrictions mean...
HERE are some of the key questions surrounding the country’s new “firebreak” restrictions.
When does it start and when does it end?
The new restrictions will come into force from 6pm on Friday and remain in place over the school half-term holiday until Monday November 9.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said the lockdown would be a “fixed period” and would not be extended past that time.
When can people leave their homes?
People will only be allowed to leave their homes for limited reasons, including to obtain essential supplies for their household, for example food, medicine and essential household maintenance.
The Welsh Government said: “We encourage everyone to make this as infrequently as possible”.
People can leave their homes to exercise, either alone or with members of the same household – the Welsh Government said: “We encourage this to be done locally”.
People can also leave their homes to provide care or to help a vulnerable person, or to access childcare, or to attend schools that reopen after half term.
It is also permitted to access medical services, to help the NHS by donating blood, and to deposit and withdraw money from a bank “or similar establishment”.
People can leave home for work purposes, or voluntary or charitable purposes, but only where it is not reasonably practicable to do this from home.
Visiting a cemetery, burial ground or garden of remembrance to pay your respects is also allowed, which will allow people to do so on Remembrance Sunday, which is to be held one day before the restrictions end on Sunday November 8.
Attending ceremonies for weddings, civil partnerships, and funerals will be permitted, as well as attending court hearings or meet other legal obligations.
Another permitted reason is to escape a risk of illness or injury, such as for victims or people at risk of domestic abuse, and also to access services provided to victims of crime or domestic abuse or those at imminent risk of becoming victims.
The Welsh Government says that whenever you leave home, you should try to minimise time spent outside of the home, and ensure you stay at least 2m away from anyone you don’t live with or are in a permitted “bubble” with.
Can people meet up with other households?
People are only allowed to meet up with people they live with, both indoors and outdoors, and this also applies to exercise.
Extended households are
suspended, but exceptions are given to adults living alone, single parent households, those providing care for someone including childcare, and those who need to visit someone on compassionate grounds.
What is going to shut? Businesses and venues, including bars, restaurants, non-essential shops, leisure centres, gyms and libraries will have to close.
Primary schools will remain open other than during the half term holiday, while secondary schools will reopen after the half-term for children in years seven and eight only.
Older secondary pupils will be able to come in to take any exams, but other than that will continue learning from home for an extra week.
Can people travel into Wales from elsewhere In the UK? Travel to a workplace in Wales is permitted, as is travelling from Wales to a workplace that is another part of the UK.
But Mr Drakeford said those who have booked holidays in Wales would not be able to enter as it is not classed as a reasonable excuse.
Students from Wales but living outside elsewhere in the UK should not return to their home address, while students studying in Wales but with home addresses outside the country should also remain where they are.
Are there restrictions on exercise?
Unlike during the previous lockdown and under Wales’ fivemile rule, there are no limits to distance or time for a person’s exercise, though it should start and finish from their home.
People cannot exercise with anyone they do not live with.
What are the penalties for breaking the rules?
People may be told to go home or removed from where they are and returned home by police.
A fixed penalty notice of £60 will be in place for those who refuse to comply, with the amount rising to £120 for a second breach.