Coronavirus: Four more areas in Wales to enter local lockdown after 'worrying and rapid rise' in infections

<p>Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Blaenau Gwent will face tougher restrictions after a "worrying and rapid rise" in coronavirus infections.</p><p>The rules will prevent people from entering or leaving these areas without a reasonable excuse. Gatherings will only allowed outdoors - and indoor meetings of extended families will be prohibited.</p><p>All Licensed premises will have to close at 10pm.</p><p><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-live-latest-news-updates-hancock-and-starmer-to-face-questions-on-sophy-ridge-on-sunday-amid-second-wave-fears-12071480" target="_blank"><strong>Live coverage of the latest coronavirus news and updates</strong></a></p><p>Health minister Vaughan Gething said many cases had been linked to people socialising indoors without physical distancing.</p><p>"It's always a difficult decision to introduce restrictions but coronavirus has not gone away - it is still circulating in communities across Wales and, as we are seeing in parts of South Wales, small clusters can quickly cause real issues in local communities," he said.</p><p>It came after Nicola Sturgeon said she expects more restrictions to be put in place in Scotland this week - with or without four-nation alignment. <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/coroanvirus-northern-ireland-to-see-tighter-restrictions-from-tomorrow-12078116">Northern Ireland has since announced an extension of restrictions there</a></strong>.</p><p>And Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-uk-could-see-49-000-cases-a-day-by-mid-october-if-surge-continues-govt-advisers-warn-12077805" target="_blank">earlier announced</a></strong> that there could be 49,000 new cases of coronavirus a day by mid-October unless infection rates slow down.</p> <p>Last week, Caerphilly and <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-welsh-county-of-rhondda-cynon-taf-goes-into-local-lockdown-after-some-people-were-selfish-12074377">Rhondda Cynon Taf</a></strong> were placed under a local lockdown.</p><p>An urgent meeting of all local authorities, health boards and police forces from Bridgend to the English border will take place with the Welsh government on Tuesday.</p><p>This is to discuss "the wider situation in South Wales and whether further measures are needed across the region," the government said.</p>