Neath Port Talbot, the Vale of Glamorgan and Torfaen will join many other parts of the UK in being subject to localized COVID-19 restrictions from Monday, including local lockdown measures, Wales' first minister Mark Drakeford said on Sunday.

The action will affect more than 350,000 people and means half of the Welsh local authority areas will soon be under specialized measures. People will not be able to enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse. They will also not be able to meet indoors with anyone they do not live with as extended households are suspended.

More than 15.6 million people, a quarter of the population, were already set to be under tougher coronavirus measures by Sunday evening, before the announcement of the three new Welsh counties.