AS parts of North Wales get ready to enter a local lockdown, new restrictions have been set on whether family and friends can meet.

If you live in a local lockdown area and have family outside, Welsh Government say you cannot visit them, but there are exceptions.

If you need to, you can leave the area to provide care for or to help someone who needs it, such as an older person, a child or a vulnerable adults.

Welsh Government states you should consider whether there are alternative sources of support first and ‘strongly recommend’ you do not visit them more than once.

Here are some questions answered by Welsh Government:

Can I continue with my extended household (or “bubble”) with other households?

No – not even if that household is also within the lockdown area. Gatherings with members of any other household can take place outdoors only.

Can I still see people outdoors?

Yes, up to a maximum of 30 people can meet outdoors but for the time being they will need to be people who also live in the Wrexham County Borough Council area. You should continue to socially distance from people outside your household.

Can I meet people in my garden?

Yes. Visitors can also go through the house to reach the garden if needed. Only people who live within the lockdown area should visit your garden for the time being. Also, please think carefully about whether visits should take place. If anyone has symptoms of coronavirus, visits should not take place.

I share parental responsibility for my child, can they visit the other person with parental responsibility, wherever they live?

Yes. You can continue existing arrangements for access and contact if you share parental responsibility for your child with another person, including leaving the local area if needed. Please ensure you follow the guidance on frequent handwashing and do not place others at risk if you or a member of your household is self-isolating.

If however you have coronavirus symptoms, live in the same house as or are an identified contact of someone with symptoms, you should stay at home and children shouldn’t visit.

I am a grandparent and provide informal childcare for my grandchildren. Can I carry on doing this?

Yes, but this form of childcare should only be used when no other methods are available. Adults should not go inside any households other than their own. Where children are being cared for in households other than their own it will be important to ensure they are regularly washing their hands and that wider guidance on managing the virus is followed. Children should not be cared for outside their home if they are ill, or by anyone who is ill.

What do you mean by visits on “compassionate grounds”?

You may have compassionate reasons for visiting someone where they are struggling as a result of the lockdown. For example they may have a physical or mental illness, have suffered a bereavement or you may be concerned about their wellbeing or welfare.

Other examples of things that may be permitted include visits to people living or staying in care homes, (either care homes for adults or children’s homes), and visits to supported living services. However please be aware that routine visits to care homes in the lockdown areas (both indoor and outdoor) have been suspended at the present time. Visits to care homes may still take place in exceptional circumstances such as end of life, however this should be discussed with the individual care home before travelling.

Please keep in mind that the purpose of the continuing restrictions is to prevent the transmission of the virus, including to those we care about.