Covid; Wales to go into circuit-breaker lockdown from Friday

The letter, however, notes that it is a "fast-moving situation" and most of the details are still to be made by government ministers.

Mr Gething said the decision is yet to be taken but the Welsh Government is having a "range of conversations with stakeholders" to understand what the lockdown might look like.

A leaked government document reveals that Wales will introduce, from next week a two-week "fire break" lockdown to reduce the virus.

He said the temporary lockdown would be a "short, sharp shock to turn back the clock, slow down the virus and give us more time".

Gatherings indoors and outdoors with people not in a single household will be banned.

'We heard the First Minister say on Friday making it absolutely clear they hadn't made a decision and we see this letter being leaked saying they had made a decision and even giving timescales.

The Senedd must have an opportunity to debate and vote on those plans which is why we will be asking the Llywydd and the Business Committee to make time for an emergency debate.

Asked about the specific details of the lockdown, Mr Pockett said: "I've not seen the detail either - that's me surmising - but that's what my common sense tells me". We need full support, if we don't get support now we are going to lose people in large numbers.

Plaid's Sian Gwenllian said a national fire-break is "regrettably necessary", but she criticised the "drip-feeding" of information into the public domain.

Another 16,171 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the United Kingdom on Saturday, with 150 more deaths.

Public Health Wales said three further deaths had been reported, with the total number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic rising to 1,711.

"However, there is a growing consensus that we now need to introduce a different set of measures and actions to respond to the virus as it is spreading across Wales more quickly through the autumn and winter".

The First Minister met with the Welsh Cabinet this morning to come to a "final decision" on the country's coronavirus measures, after considering advice from experts.

This would start on Friday October 29, it is believed although if it is not voted through by the Welsh cabinet, tougher measures could interfere with the housing market - including travel restrictions - are being considered.

He said a decision was likely to be made on Monday, while talks continued with health officials, scientific advisors and councils over the weekend.

University and colleges will remain open during Wales' firebreak lockdown, the first minister has confirmed.