We've decided that a short and deep firebreak is the best option for minimising harm. The longer the restrictions are in place, the greater the economic, social and well-being impacts. The restrictions are as stringent as possible to ensure the maximum public health impact. Between Friday, 23 October and 9 November, everyone in Wales will be required to stay at home. This means working from home wherever possible. The only exceptions will be critical workers and jobs where working from home is not possible. All non-essential retail, leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses will close. So, too, will community centres, libraries and recycling centres. Places of worship will be closed except for funerals or wedding ceremonies.

We have prioritised children and young people in our choices. In doing so, we've taken account of the TAC advice that keeping schools open will reduce short and long-term harm. However, that means that Ministers have had to act to close most other workplaces and restrict social visiting to reduce contact and break the chains of transmission. We have sought to minimise the disruption to children and young people's education. So, primary and special schools will return as normal after the first week of half term and childcare will stay open throughout. Secondary schools will reopen after half term for pupils in years 7 and 8 and those who need to take exams. Pupils in years 9 and above will continue their learning from home for an extra week, as will students in further education colleges. Universities will continue to provide a blend of in-person and online learning. Like everyone else in Wales, however, students will need to stay at home in their university accommodation.

As we know, coronavirus spreads when people are in close contact with each other, especially indoors. Because of this, we will not be allowed to meet people indoors that we do not live with during the two-week period. Adults living alone and single parents will still be able to join with one other household from across Wales for support. Outdoor gatherings will not be allowed; this, sadly, also applies to gatherings for bonfire night or Halloween. Prearranged events to commemorate the armistice can go ahead following the socially distanced plans that are already in place.

As you'll have heard in more detail today from the economy Minister, Ken Skates, we are providing a new nearly £300 million package of financial support to help businesses through this very challenging period. The funds will open in the first week of the firebreak and we'll work to get the money allocated as quickly as we can. All businesses required to close should also be able to access the support available from the UK Government, through the existing job retention scheme and the new job support scheme. We recognise that it will not be easy for businesses in Wales to juggle both of those schemes, and as we heard earlier today, the First Minister has written to the Chancellor to ask him to give Welsh businesses early access to the new and expanded job support scheme from Friday, and we've offered to provide finance to make that possible.

I can, though, reassure Members that our NHS and social care services will continue to treat and care for people with other conditions and needs during the firebreak. The advice of our chief medical officer is that it is not necessary for those who are clinically vulnerable to again adopt strict shielding measures during this period. The regulations themselves act to reduce the circulation of the virus, and by sticking strictly to the rules, people who are vulnerable will reduce their risk of exposure. I am aware that some argue that we could reintroduce shielding as part of a package to protect people from harm and avoid whole-community measures. That does not reflect the reality of where we are, how the virus spreads, or how we interrupt the chains of transmission. As yesterday's TAC report makes clear, no country has managed to contain their epidemic within lower risk age groups; we do not think a shielding-first approach would be as effective as a firebreak and meet the needs that we currently face.

The firebreak will end on 9 November. It's important to be clear that the positive impact in reducing transmission is not likely to be seen immediately at the end of the firebreak. The reduction in transmission that this firebreak will achieve is expected to be evident two to three weeks later. I know that we have already asked a great deal of the people of Wales. The TAC report published yesterday confirmed that the local restrictions in place have led to a significant slowdown in the current wave of the pandemic, but we still need to do more. If people, though, had not made the contribution they already have, we would be in a far worse position today. And I want to thank every person across Wales who has followed the local measures in place to protect friends, families, loved ones and their community.

Across the Government we are now looking to work to agree arrangements that will be needed in the future to secure the gains made from the firebreak, and we will set those out in the coming days. This firebreak is our best chance of regaining control of the virus and avoiding a much longer and more damaging national lockdown. We all must now play our part to keep Wales safe. I ask Members to support the motion before us today.