THE First Minister of Wales has said the Welsh Government’s approach to lifting previous lockdown measures had been “at a different pace and in a different way to that across our border”.

Mark Drakeford told the Welsh Parliament this meant Wales now starts “in a very different place”.

“Many of the things the Prime Minister is talking about doing today, we have already done in Wales,” he said.

People in Wales have been encouraged to work from home throughout the pandemic and that message will be “reinforced” today.

“Very early on, we put the two-metre distance in the workplace into our regulations – it’s not been in guidance in Wales, it’s been a legal obligation on employers,” Mr Drakeford added.

“The Prime Minister is going to tighten the rule of six. Well, our rule of six has been tighter all along – you can only meet somebody from your extended household.”

It comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new measures to slow the spread of a second wave of coronavirus in the UK.

Announcing measures that apply to England, he said the devolved nations were expected to take similar steps.

Mr Johnson warned the country was at a “perilous turning point” in the battle with coronavirus as he abandoned efforts to get more workers back into offices, ordered wider use of face masks and imposed a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

He warned that the new curbs could last for six months – taking them well beyond Christmas.

The Prime Minister also announced tougher enforcement measures, with businesses facing fines or closure for failing to comply with coronavirus rules and people facing £200 penalties for failing to wear masks where required or breaching the so-called “rule of six”.

Measures set out by Mr Johnson to limit the spread of the virus included:

  • Asking office workers who can to work from home, although construction workers, retail staff and people performing essential services should continue to attend their workplaces.
  • From Thursday, pubs, bars and restaurants will be table service only and hospitality venues will be subject to a 10pm closing time.Face coverings will be required for retail staff, taxi passengers and hospitality customers except where seated.
  • Face coverings will be required for retail staff, taxi passengers and hospitality customers except where seated.
  • Covid-secure guidelines will become legal obligations for retail, leisure and tourism firms, with businesses facing the risk of fines or closure for failing to comply.
  • From Monday, a maximum of 15 people will be allowed to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions.
  • The rule of six will be extended to cover indoor team sports, such as five-a-side football games.
  • Plans to allow business conferences and sporting events from October 1 have been shelved.

Here in Wales, Mr Drakeford said discussions would take place throughout Tuesday with local government, the health service, public health officials and the police about “additional measures that we might be able to take”.

Mr Drakeford said “one of the central dilemmas” faced in Wales was the differing rates of Covid-19 across the country, with rates of the virus still falling in 10 local authority areas.

“I will want to say something later today about trying to encourage people in Wales only to make those journeys that are really necessary,” he told the Senedd.

“In Caerphilly and the other authorities where local lockdown measures are concerned, you can’t leave the county borough without a good reason for doing so.

“But beyond that, I think every one of us should be asking ourselves ‘is that journey really essential?’.

“Because the fewer people you meet, and the fewer journeys you make, the less danger you are posing to yourself and others.”

Mr Drakeford said this would be a message “to people everywhere about minimising travel and staying close to home as much as you are able to”.