First Minister Mark Drakeford said it would be a “short, sharp” circuit-breaker to slow down the spread of the virus.

He said a decision will be made on Monday following discussions with health officials, scientific advisors and councils.

“Doing nothing is not an option,” he said.

“A ‘fire-break’ would also mean a short, sharp shock to all our lives.”

“We would all have to stay at home to once again save lives. But this time it would be for weeks not months.”

He warned that 2,500 people were being infected with every day in Wales, with critical care units in hospitals full.

“A successful fire-break would re-set the virus at a lower level,” he added.

“Together with a new national set of rules for the whole of Wales after the fire-break period we would have slowed the virus down enough to get us through to Christmas.”