Wales will go back into lockdown for a little over two weeks, it has been announced this lunchtime.

The ’firebreak’ will start at 6pm on Friday, 23 October and will run until 9 November.

Announcing the lockdown, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Once again there are no easy choices in front of us as the virus spreads rapidly in every part of Wales.

“The number of people being taken to hospital with coronavirus symptoms grows every day.

“Over the weekend the Cabinet met. A two-week firebreak will begin from 6pm on Friday this week.

“It will have to be sharp and deep in order to have the impact we needed.

“Between Friday, 23 October and 9 November, everyone in Wales will be required to stay at home. This means working at home wherever possible.

“All non-essential retail and leisure and hospitality will close.

“Over this period, childcare facilities will remain open.”

He added that school will resume after the half-term break next week for primary schools and Years 7 and 8 in secondary school.

Students will also have to stay at home in their university accommodation but universities will be allowed to continue blended learning.

All gatherings indoors and outdoors will be banned with people not in households.

Mr Drakeford added: “We are all tired of coronavirus.

“Unfortunately we do not yet have a vaccine and a firebreak period is our best chance of regaining control of the virus and avoiding a much longer and more damaging lockdown.

“To be successful we need everybody’s help.”

The Welsh Government says it will provide a package of almost £300m to support businesses, which will complement wage-support schemes available from the UK Government.Between 9 and 15 October, there were 4,127 new confirmed cases of coronavirus recorded by Public Health Wales, based on positive test results but the real level of infections will be much higher.The number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus symptoms is growing daily and sadly so too are the number of people dying with coronavirus, a Welsh Government spokesperson said.The R number is currently between 1.1 and 1.4, meaning continued exponential growth in the number of cases and the seven-day rolling incidence rate for Wales stands at more than 130 cases per 100,000 population.Full details of the firebreak• People must stay at home, except for very limited purposes, such as for exercise.• People must work from home wherever possible.• People must not visit other households or meet other people they do not live with either indoors and outdoors.• No gatherings will be allowed outdoors, such as Halloween or fireworks/Bonfire Night or other organised activities.• All non-food retail, hospitality businesses, including cafes, restaurants and pubs (unless they provide takeaway or delivery services), close contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, and events and tourism businesses, such as hotels must close.• Community centres, libraries and recycling centres will be required to close.• Face coverings must be worn in indoor public spaces, which remain open, including on public transport and in taxis.During this time:• Adults living alone or single parents will be able to join with one other household for support.• Primary and special schools will reopen as normal after half-term• Secondary schools will reopen after the half-term for children in Years 7 and 8 and most vulnerable children. Pupils will be able to come in to take exams but other pupils will continue their learning from home for an extra week.• Universities will provide a blend of in-person and online learning.• NHS and health services will continue to operate.• Local parks, playgrounds and outdoor gyms will remain open.Following the end of the firebreak, a new set of national rules will be introduced, covering how people can meet and how the public sector and businesses operate.Businesses affected by the firebreak will be supported with a new £300m fund, which will open next week:• Every business covered by the small business rates relief will receive a £1,000 payment.• Small and medium-sized retail, leisure and hospitality businesses, which have to close will receive a one-off payment of up to £5,000.• There will also be additional discretionary grants and support for smaller businesses, which are struggling.• The £80m fund announced last week to help businesses develop in the longer term, will be increased to £100m, which includes £20m ring-fenced for tourism and hospitality.Businesses will also be able to access the support available through the existing Job Retention Scheme or the new expanded Job Support Scheme.The First Minister has written to the Chancellor to ask him to give Welsh businesses early access to the new expanded Job Support Scheme from Friday.The Welsh Government has offered to pay the extra costs to the UK Government scheme to ensure businesses can retain staff.