SOCIAL gatherings of more than six people will be banned in Wales from Monday, the First Minister is expected to announce today.

Following England’s decision to to make gatherings of more than six people illegal, Wales is expected to follow suit when Mark Drakeford MS makes a speech later today (Friday).

The changes come as parts of Wales have seen an increase in cases of the virus linked to people meeting and socialising with others indoors but without social distancing.

From Monday, a new limit of six people will be introduced on the number of people who can meet indoors at any one time.

All six must belong to the same extended household group.

There will be no change to the current rules, which allow up to four households to form an exclusive extended household in Wales, and no change to the rules on meeting outdoors.

Gatherings of up to 30 people will still be permitted outdoors, so long as adults and children keep two metres apart. 

These changes will not apply in Caerphilly County Borough Council area, where local restrictions have been introduced, including a suspension on extended households meeting indoors, to control a sharp rise in coronavirus cases and protect public health.

The law will be changed in Wales making gatherings of more than six people illegal, but a source from the Welsh Government said this evening that fines would be a last resort and people will be given advice in the first instance.