A NATIONAL policy will replace any local lockdowns in Wales once the current “firebreak” is complete, says First Minister Mark Drakeford.

The local lockdowns have helped but were not sufficient to deal with the “onslaught” of the virus, he said during the Welsh Government's daily briefing on Friday.

Mr Drakeford said the localised approach was effective, but “didn't work well enough”.

“Our decision is that the other side of the firebreak period from the 9th of November, we will have a set of national rules that will apply in all parts of Wales, and I hope that that will help people in Wales, just to be clearer about what they are being asked to do,” he said.

Ministers, meanwhile, will decide this weekend the level of fines people will have to pay for giving false information to contact tracers.

The new policy is designed to stop people fraudulently claiming a new £500 payment aimed at those on low incomes who are forced to self-isolate.

Workers on low incomes will receive a £500 payment if they are forced to self-isolate. Social care workers will also receive a payment if they are forced to self-isolate due to a positive test or on the advice of Test, Trace and Protect (TTP).

Employers will also have a duty not to make staff work if they have been told to self-isolate.

“As a result of these announcements it will be easier to do the right thing here in Wales,” Mr Drakeford added.