WALES is to go back into lockdown, with all pubs, restaurants, non-essential shops, and places of worship to be shut.

Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford said the new "firebreak" would mean that everyone in Wales will need to stay at home.

The new restrictions will come in at 6pm on October 23 and last until November 9.

Speaking at the Welsh Government's coronavirus briefing, Drakeford said the measure was necessary to prevent the NHS from becoming overwhelmed.

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

There were 4,127 new confirmed cases of coronavirus recorded by Public Health Wales between October 9 and 15.

The R value - the number of people each coronavirus case infects - across Wales is currently between 1.1 and 1.4, while the seven-day rolling incidence rate for Wales is more than 130 cases per 100,000 people.

"There are no easy choices in front of us, as the virus spreads rapidly in every part of Wales," Drakeford said.

"We know that if we do not act now, it will continue to accelerate and there is a very real risk that our NHS would be overwhelmed."The number of people being taken to hospital with coronavirus symptoms is growing every day, our critical care units are already full.

"We are asking our healthcare and social care staff, who have already done so much, to work even harder.

"Unless we act, the NHS will not be able to look after the increasing number of people who are falling seriously ill."

The Labour First Minister said that "even more extreme measures", such as an open-ended lockdown, would have to be implemented if action was not taken now.

People will not be able to meet indoors or outdoors with anyone they do not live with, with exceptions for those living alone.

They must stay at home, except for limited purposes such as exercise, and must work from home wherever possible.

Gatherings are banned, including Halloween and fireworks or Bonfire Night celebrations.

"This firebreak is the shortest we can make it but that means that it will have to be sharp and deep in order to have the impact we need it to have on the virus," Drakeford said.

Businesses affected by the firebreak will be supported with a fund of almost £300m, which will open next week.

Every business covered by the small business rates relief will receive a £1,000 payment, while small and medium-sized retail, leisure and hospitality businesses that have to close will receive a one-off £5,000 payment.

The Welsh Government said "additional discretionary grants" and support for smaller businesses would also be available.

An £80m fund announced last week to help businesses develop in the longer term will be increased to £100m, with £20m ring-fenced for tourism and hospitality.

Drakeford said he had written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak to ask for Welsh businesses to be given early access to the Job Support Scheme from Friday.

Paul Davies, leader of the Welsh Tories, called on the Welsh Government to provide the evidence behind the "firebreak".

"This is not a two-week break to solve the pandemic, it is likely that we will see regular lockdowns across the rest of the year," Davies said.

"The Welsh Government must be clear what actions they are taking during the lockdown to prevent further Wales-wide lockdowns which will have a significant impact on people's lives and livelihoods."