By Lesley Griffiths, MS for Wrexham

Tighter Covid-19 regulations came into force in Wales last week and I recognise many people will be disappointed by the developments.

Pubs, bars and restaurants are banned from selling alcohol and premises will have to close at 6pm (this is in line with Scotland's level three measures; in tier three areas in England, all hospitality premises are closed except for takeaway).

Unfortunately, the firebreak gains have not been sustained. Coronavirus is once again rising rapidly across Wales, including among the under-25 age group and now in the over-60 age group, which is much more susceptible to serious illness, hospitalisation, and very sadly, death.

The Welsh Government simply had to act. The new measures are in place to protect people's health and without this immediate action, the NHS may have been overwhelmed this winter.

Coronavirus thrives on our normal human behaviour and in the situations where we come into contact with each other for any prolonged amount of time. We also know that as the consumption of alcohol increases, social distancing and the perception of risk decreases.

To stay safe in the run up to Christmas, the Welsh Government is encouraging everyone to avoid activities where there is an increased risk of spreading or catching the virus. The regulations will be reviewed on December 17 and, as always, all decisions will be informed by the latest available scientific evidence, which is published by the Technical Advisory Group on its website.

To support the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors, the Welsh Government is putting in place a £340m support package to help businesses affected by the restrictions through to the New Year. This includes a specific £180m fund for hospitality and leisure businesses and the supply chain - full details will be available on the Business Wales website in the coming days.

There was some much needed positive news last week as it was revealed the first Covid-19 vaccine has been given the go-ahead and rollout across Wales will start in a matter of days.

The vaccine - which needs to be administered in two doses - will initially be prioritised and available for those aged 80 and over, care home staff and residents and those working within health and social care.

After such a challenging year, this is certainly welcome and although it may be sometime before the impact is seen nationally, there's no doubt this is an important step in the right direction. The weeks ahead will be difficult and demanding. We are facing a challenging winter and Christmas period but if we continue to pull together, as far as coronavirus is concerned, 2021 could be a better year for us all.