New ‘rule of six’ for meeting indoors in Wales

INDOOR meetings of more than six people will be banned from Monday in Wales, in a bid to tackle rising numbers of coronavirus.

The changes, which will be announced by First Minister Mark Drakeford today, come as parts of Wales have seen an increase in cases of the virus linked to people meeting and socialising with others indoors but without social distancing.

From Monday, a new limit of six people will be introduced on the number of people who can meet indoors at any one time. All six must belong to the same extended household group.

The Welsh Government said there will be no change to the current rules, which allow up to four households to form an exclusive extended household in Wales, and no change to the rules on meeting outdoors.

The changes will not apply in Caerphilly county borough, where a local lockdown is already in place which includes a suspension on extended households meeting indoors.

The move follows a similar policy for England, announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday, which will also be introduced on Monday. Over the border, the rule applies indoors and outdoors.

Scotland is also introducing a similar restriction from Monday.

Full details on the policy in Wales are due to be revealed today.

It comes as people living in two south Wales counties have been urged to take urgent action in a bid to avoid a future local lockdown across a large swathe of the Valleys.

In a joint statement, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Merthyr Tydfil Council

PUBLIC Health Wales is investigating a number of cases of coronavirus at a factory in Merthyr Tydfil.

The cluster of cases have been linked to the General Dynamics plant where around 250 people work to assemble armoured vehicles for the army.

A Public Health Wales spokesperson said: “Public Health Wales can confirm that we are investigating a small number of cases of coronavirus at the General Dynamics factory in Merthyr Tydfil.”

A spokesperson for General Dynamics Land Systems-UK said: “We are engaged with Public Health Wales on a small number of cases.

“We remain focused on protecting the health and safety of our employees, customers and community.”