Wales to enter 2-week 'firebreak' lockdown from Friday
Wales will become the second nation in the United Kingdom to enter a lockdown to combat a second wave of COVID-19 infections.
The Welsh government announced on Monday its decision to impose a two-week "firebreak," beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Everyone will be required to stay home and non-essential businesses, such as bars, gyms, restaurants and retail shops, must close until Nov. 9. There will be exceptions for critical workers and those who cannot do their jobs from home.
Libraries and places of worship will also be shut down across the country.
"This is the shortest we can make it, but that means it needs to be sharp and deep to have the impact against the virus we need it to have," Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said Monday.
Northern Ireland started a "circuit breaker" lockdown last Friday, closing schools for two weeks while banning most social gatherings and shutting down many business for a month.