Live coronavirus updates as Welsh government ministers meet to discuss further restrictions

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Welsh government ministers are due to meet today to discuss whether more Covid restrictions are needed to curb the spread of the virus.

On Friday, it was confirmed that new restrictions will be in place starting Monday, December 27. From then on, nightclubs across the country will have to close, while additional safety measures will be put in place in all other industries.

The two-meter social distancing rule will be enforced in offices and one-way systems and physical barriers will return.

Read more: Wales ‘likely to see a tsunami’ of Omicron cases

So far, there has been no definitive decision on what restrictions, if any, will be imposed specifically on the hospitality industry, but Mr Drakeford said on Friday it was possible to put a limit on the number of people we could see returning customers wearing masks inside bars and restaurants. .

However, the prime minister also revealed that ministers will meet today Monday 20 December to consider further restrictions – including a return to the “rule of six” to control the number of people they can meet and capacity restrictions for larger events such as sports matches.

The Ospreys prepare to face the Dragons and Cardiff and Scarlets play in the Boxing Day derby of the United Rugby Championship, while Cardiff City hosts Coventry at home in the tournament with Swansea City outside Millwall on the same day.

The Welsh Grand National is set to kick off at the Chepstow racetrack on December 27, with 6,000 tickets already sold out. However, the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has cast doubt on the events.

Asked about plans for sporting events that see big crowds on Friday, Mr Drakeford said: “We’ll be making some announcements about that on Monday.

“The Cabinet decided yesterday that we need some additional information about the way the Omicron outdoor variant works.

“We will speak to the organizers of major rugby derbies, major Welsh football matches and planned football matches, after which we will make some decisions on Monday about the best way forward.”

So far, more than 270 people in Wales have been diagnosed with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Public Health Wales announced that 91 new cases of the variant were confirmed on Sunday, bringing the total in the country to 272.

Dr Jane Salmon, Health Protection Consultant for Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales today (Sunday 19 December) confirms 91 new cases of the Omicron variant in Wales, bringing our total to 272.

“As noted earlier, a rapid increase is expected over the coming days and weeks.”

The Cardiff University and Vail Health Board recorded the most new cases of the variant with 72 cases.

The highly contagious new type is spreading rapidly across the country, with just 30 cases announced a week ago on December 14.

Follow the latest updates below:

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