First Minister Mark Drakeford wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to urge him to re-introduce furlough as the Welsh Government cabinet debated new restrictions in Wales.
The cabinet met on December 16 to decide if additional measures were needed as the Omicron wave swept the UK - and the next day Mr Drakeford announced extra rules on hospitality, events and the closure of nightclubs for after Christmas.
The Chief Medical Officer Frank Atherton informed the cabinet that Omicron cases were doubling every three days and while there were reports of reduced severity in symptoms the sheer number of cases would lead to substantial pressure on the NHS.
