FIRST Minister will not ‘speculate’ over whether tighter restrictions will be needed after Christmas.

As the fire-break lockdown comes to an end on November 9, a new set of national measures have been introduced.

However, First Minister Mark Drakeford said that despite the new national measures, the possibility of targeted local action has never been ‘ruled out’.

At the press conference on Monday, Mr Drakeford said that the national rules will be in place for the whole of Wales, but should there be a ‘local flare up’ then they will work with local communities for collaborated action is response to the nature of the problem being faced.

However, when asked whether a second fire-break lockdown could be categorically ruled out before the end of the year, he said he cannot speculate.

He added: “The word categorically worries me. In a coronavirus world it is very hard to be categoric about almost anything.

“What we’ve said is, through the efforts we have made and providing people do the right thing now, we have a path through to Christmas.

“Beyond Christmas and into the new year, many things will happen that we can’t foresee today. Some things may be more difficult then.”

The First Minister said Welsh Government spent the weekend dealing with an outbreak in Denmark where a new strain of coronavirus had emerged in Mink.

He added: “More difficulties can happen. More possibilities will happen as well.

“I just think it isn’t helpful to anybody for me to simply speculate about where we will be as we move into the new calendar year.

“What we are planning is for the coming weeks, making sure the efforts we have made give us the path through for the rest of this year and into the Christmas period.”

Mr Drakeford confirmed that talks will be ongoing with UK Government to outline a ‘common approach to Christmas’ which will offer hope for people.

The First Minister went on to say that Welsh Government has ‘strengthened the powers’ available to local authorities since earlier in the year and they have ‘strengthened enforcement teams’.

However, he added that it is a combination between the actions of the hospitality industry, the enforcement authorities and the actions of individual citizens.

He said if people ask themselves what they should do then there will be ‘less need for enforcement action to be taken at all’.