THE leaders of Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives have reacted to the statement of new coronavirus measures in Wales and the UK.

First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that hospitality businesses in Wales, such as pubs and casinos, will have to close at 10pm as part of new measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Mr Drakeford said such businesses must only offer table service, with off-licences including supermarkets also prohibited from selling alcohol from 10pm.

It came as six areas of Wales – Caerphilly county borough, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Blaenau Gwent – are under stricter restrictions as part of local lockdowns.

Other areas, including Flintshire and Anglesey, are being monitored due to rising numbers of positive cases.

Reacting to the statement, Shadow Health Minister Andrew RT Davies said: “It is of course a very concerning time for many people, especially those in the six counties in South Wales that have had local restrictions put in place, and the other counties under threat of the same.

“All through this pandemic, we Welsh Conservatives have said that the measures taken to combat the spread of Covid-19, from the earlier lockdown to local lockdowns to the ‘rule of six’ and to the compulsory wearing of face coverings in shops, must be proportional to the risk, and with time limits.

“However, it’s time to consider hyperlocal lockdowns based on the best available data – which means that the Test, Track, and Protect scheme must be equally hyper-accurate – so that as little of Wales and its economy as possible is closed, even temporarily.

“Safeguarding lives as well as livelihoods, and sheltering the economy, must remain the priorities.”

Under the measures, people must not enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse.

They are only able to meet outdoors and must not meet members of their extended households indoors.

Adam Price, the leader of Plaid Cymru, called for further measures on pubs in areas subjected to local lockdown restrictions.

“In those areas, we should also restrict the sales of alcohol from off licences at 6pm and either close pubs indoors completely or close pubs that don’t serve food like they’ve done in Ireland,” Mr Price said.

“Crucially, these steps must be backed up by sector-specific financial support to affected businesses.”

Mr Price also called for a ban on non-essential travel from lockdown areas in the rest of the UK into Wales, as well as “Covid-free areas” and areas of low community transmission that would be exempt from nationwide changes.