WALES' lockdown restrictions will be further strengthened in four main areas, the First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

The First Minister said measures in supermarkets, workplaces and schools and colleges will be tightened in an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The Welsh Labour leader said the new faster spreading strain of the virus is adding a 'dangerous dimension to the pandemic' and means the nationwide lockdown will continue for at least another three weeks.

Mr Drakeford said at the Welsh Government press conference on January 8 that Wales's level four measures will need to be reinforced in three areas including in essential shops so they offer a level of protection 'as in the early days of the pandemic'.

He told the nation: "Those who work and shop in supermarkets need the confidence of knowing that numbers are carefully and consistently controlled and that all other measures are in place to keep us safe.

"The key instruction is to stay at home. But some people are unable to work from home. So, the second area where we will look to strengthen protection is in the workplace.

"The new strain of the virus is so much more contagious that we have to look again at the defences in place to keep workplaces safe, working with employers and trade unions to do so.

"The third area is schools and colleges. We are bringing decisions about schools and colleges into line with the three-week review cycle to give parents and staff as much certainty as we can in this uncertain time."

Mr Drakeford said pupils will be taught online until January 29 at the earliest, but unless there is a significant reduction in cases of coronavirus by the next review, this will continue until the February half-term.

Vulnerable learners and children of critical workers will continue to have face-to-face learning in schools, and childcare remains open.

Mr Drakeford was asked about safety with regards shoppers and what the measures will be.

He said he is receiving more correspondence on this issue than almost any other one and those enquiries are 'expressing anxiety' that visible protections in supermarkets don’t appear to be there this time despite the fact protections are needed even more.

He said conversations are ongoing with supermarkets about a more visible set of measures.

Back in March, staff were on the doors controlling numbers, sanitising arrangements were very visible, one way marking and tannoy announcements.

He said some of that is 'no longer as apparent', and he wants to ensure those signs of protections are in place again.

Mr Drakeford announced supermarkets have done a 'remarkably good job', but they want to give confidence to shoppers that everything is being done.

When asked about schools, the First Minister said he would like children to be back in face-to-face learning as fast as possible.

He said advice presented to them showed schools were not safe to be open in the 'way they would like', but acknowledges not all families have access to devices or the internet.

Which is why they distributed more than 10,000 devices and have been paying for Wifi access for families that don’t have it.

He adds they will be hearing from local authorities with 'latest estimates' of the need for further equipment for families who would otherwise not be able to learn online.

The FM said the next few weeks would be used for 'conversation with people in education world'. They want fresh risk assessments in light of the new strain of the virus, talks with unions about bringing students safely back to school, and talks about the wider picture.

This was in response to a question asked about the possibility of opening schools for the summer.