THE WELSH Government's health minister says a regional tier for North Wales in the future is "possible".

Health minister Vaughan Gething told BBC Radio 5Live on Thursday morning that current advice is that a national approach is most effective.

There have been calls for a more relaxed approach to restrictions in North Wales where infection rates are lower than the south. Wrexham has the highest seven day infection per 100,000 population rate in North Wales - at 229, while areas in the south are up at over 750.

But Mr Gething said cases are rising in all but one of Wales' 22 local authorities and that the idea coronavirus was not a threat in North Wales is not "borne out by people's experiences" - particularly those in the health service.

He also said under previous local lockdowns that the messaging had become "confused" with different rules in different counties.

However he said if there are "sustained" reductions in cases, this could be reviewed.

When asked about a regional approach for North Wales, Mr Gething said: "It is possible in the future to have regional tiers and regional approaches but at this point in time we've had clear advice from our scientific advisors which is to take a national approach until we see the virus suppressed, until we see sustained reductions in the virus.

"I am afraid in North Wales too just as in the south and in west Wales coronavirus is growing."