Vale of Glamorgan council leader Neil Moore has responded to news Wales will soon be heading for a national 'circuit-breaker' lockdown.

On Monday afternoon first minister Mark Drakeford announced that Wales will enter a fire-break lockdown from 6pm on Friday, October 23, for a period of two weeks in response to the continued rise in coronavirus cases across Wales.

The fire-break lockdown restrictions will be time limited and come to an end on Monday November 9, although the first minister didn't rule out further national measures following that date.

You can see what it all means for you here.

Reacting to the news, cllr Moore said: "I am grateful that the Welsh Government has again sought the views of Council Leaders on introducing these restrictions.

"Whilst the local lockdown measures in the Vale of Glamorgan have been effective in slowing the rate of infection, I support the introduction of a short period of further restrictions.

"By doing so we can all help to protect the NHS and stop the spread of the virus in our communities. 

"As we saw earlier in the year, people will be able to leave home to work if it is impossible to do so from home, for essential supplies and to take exercise which should begin and end from home. 

"The restrictions mean all hospitality, non-essential retail, beauty and leisure businesses will be closed for this period.  

"Mixing between households indoors and outdoors will be banned, except in very limited circumstances, including for single adults living alone or who are a single parent household who can form a temporary extended household with one other household. 

"The importance of limiting disruption to our young peoples’ education is of vital importance.

"For pupils in the Vale of Glamorgan, our schools staff and pupils will have their usual half term break for a week from this Friday.  

"From week commencing 2 November nursery, primary and special schools will reopen for all pupils.

"For secondary schools, Year 7 and 8 pupils will attend school for the week of 2 November with all other year groups learning from home (with the exception of pupils attending school to sit exams).

"Our Education colleagues will be working closely with headteachers to support preparations and to ensure pupils and parents are aware of the arrangements for their school.

"Our schools have worked consistently to provide online learning for those not attending school due to the pandemic and will continue to do so. 

"Some of our Council services will have to be reduced for a short time and will mean essential services only are provided. 

"Some services which had re-opened in the summer, such as Council receptions, libraries and household waste and recycling centres, will close temporarily for the fire-break period. The same will apply to community centres.  

"Care home visits will be limited to essential visits only.   

"Play areas, country parks and resorts (including car parks) will remain open to enable people living locally to take exercise locally. These should be visited only by local residents in line with the Welsh Government’s latest restrictions. 

"Refuse and recycling collections will remain unaffected.  

"More details on how these restrictions will affect other Council services will be shared over the coming days as preparations begin for the regulations to come in to force on Friday. The Council’s website will be updated to show the latest information.

"Shielding is not being reintroduced at this time and food parcels will not be provided by Welsh Government. However, the Council’s Crisis Support Team continues to be available to support residents who find themselves in crisis. The team can be contacted on 01446 729592. Details of the many support services available, including supermarket deliveries and community groups can be found on the Vale Heroes site, www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/ValeHeroes. 

"I would like to express my very sincere thanks to the residents of the Vale of Glamorgan for adhering to the local lockdown restrictions for the past three weeks. Once again, your efforts made a very real difference. I am appealing to everyone again in the Vale to work together in the next few weeks so that we can further arrest the spread of coronavirus across Wales. 

"For now my message to you is simple, stay home and stay safe."