COVID-19: Welsh pubs and restaurants banned from selling alcohol and face 6pm curfew

Pubs and restaurants across Wales will be banned from selling alcohol and be forced to close at 6pm every evening.

The measure announced by first minister Mark Drakeford will come into force from 6pm this Friday.

Cinemas, bowling alleys, bingo halls and other indoor entertainment venues must also close from the same date.

Mr Drakeford warned that without further measures, the number of people needing hospital treatment for COVID-19 in Wales could rise to 2,200 - and that there could be up to 1,700 avoidable deaths over winter "unless we act".

Indoor attractions such as museums and galleries will also have to close, although outdoor visitor attractions can remain open.

The first minister said the number of infected people per 100,000 in the nation had grown from 187 on Friday to almost 210.

He warned that cases had continue to increase among under-25s.

"More worryingly still, cases of coronavirus are beginning to rise in the over-60 age group," he added.

Mr Drakeford said the nation would look at travel restrictions in and out of Wales again after the lockdown in England ends, with another announcement to be made later this week.

He told the Welsh Government's news briefing: "The measures we are taking are based on what the UK SAGE group of experts tells us has worked best elsewhere."

It comes as the number of coronavirus cases across Wales continues to climb.

Sixteen of 22 local authorities in Wales recorded rises in their seven-day rolling case rate last Thursday.