Following a spike in Covid-19 cases over the last few weeks, as of 6 pm tonight (17th September 2020), Rhondda Cynon Taf will be the second Welsh local authority placed under a local lockdown.
Similarly to Caerphilly, the new restrictions are:
- Nobody should enter or leave Rhondda Cynon Taf without a reasonable excuse (as during the previous lockdown this means for work if they can’t work from home or to look after a vulnerable person).
- All people aged 11 and over will be required to wear facemasks/face coverings in indoor public areas (though this is now a requirement across Wales).
- People will only be allowed to meet each other outdoors; indoor meetings and overnight stays will not be allowed.
- All licenced premises (pubs, clubs) will need to stop selling alcohol at 10 pm and close at 11 pm.
The Welsh Government says two clusters are linked to a rugby club and a trip to Doncaster races which was accompanied by a pub crawl – though Public Health Wales later confirmed the party never entered the racecourse.
As in Caerphilly, the situation will be kept under review and additional measures may be introduced in due course.
On Tuesday, the Health Minister warned that a second national/UK-level lockdown could be weeks away.
