First Minister Mark Drakeford has hinted that the re-opening of non-essential businesses could be on the cards, saying it was one of a "package" of measures being examined ahead of this week’s review of lockdown regulations.

Mr Drakeford warned however that a "stop-start approach, where we do too much, too soon" would be worse for the economy if a second wave of the virus hit Wales.

Speaking today Mr Drakeford said while he was keen for the economy to reopen in Wales, public health had to come first ‘as that was best for our economy’.

He added that ministers were ‘looking and learning’ from other countries especially those where restrictions had been reintroduced because of an increase in cases of Covid-19.

Warning against a return to ‘pre-pandemic normal’ Mr Drakeford said that more than 3,000 tests were being done every day in Wales and while numbers were low the virus was not gone.

"While the virus has receded and fewer people are becoming ill, coronavirus has not gone away - it continues to be present in Wales and there is still a risk we will face a second wave of illness later in the year," he said.

"This is why we will continue to need to take precautions and measures to prevent the spread of the virus as restrictions are lifted.”

Mr Drakeford said that the spread of the virus had continued to slow, thanks to the actions of everyone in Wales, adding that he would continue to lift restrictions cautiously.

The R rate in Wales is thought to be 0.7 with England’s thought to be between 0.8 and 1.

When asked why the Welsh Government was lifting measures with more caution in Wales than in England when Mr Drakeford said, “It’s the way we have done things in Wales that has resulted in the low R figure."