Non-essential retail to close in Wales after Christmas Eve

The decision by Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford to put the country back into lockdown will effectively kibosh the traditional Boxing Day Sales at dozens of shopping destinations.

Wales will be placed into an alert level four lockdown – its strictest tier of covid-19 restrictions – from December 28.

But a raft of other changes will come into force ahead of that date. 

Shops selling non-essential products will have to close after Christmas Eve, as will leisure centres and other fitness venues such as gyms. 

All pubs, cafes and restaurants, which had already been told not to sell alcohol during December, will be forced to close at 6pm on Christmas Day.

Other indoor attractions such as cinemas are already closed, while public facilities and holiday accommodation must also shut from December 28. 

Schools, colleges and universities will remain open under the new lockdown plans.

Drakeford also said that only two households could meet during the festive period, despite a previous agreement between UK nations to allow three households to mix between December 23 and December 27.

Drakeford warned the coronavirus situation in Wales was now “extremely serious”. One in five covid-19 tests are currently returning a positive result and more than 2,100 people are being treated for the virus by the NHS.

The new lockdown measures have not been given an end date but will be reviewed every three weeks.