The Welsh Government is preparing to prevent people in areas of the UK with high levels of coronavirus from travelling to Wales, first minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

Drakeford said the action was being taken after Boris Johnson did not reply to two letters requesting he introduce the measure across the UK.

Under regulations being prepared, people living in areas with high levels of coronavirus in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will not be able to travel to Wales.

The new restrictions are planned to come into force at 6pm on Friday.

Drakeford told the Welsh parliament on Wednesday that as Johnson had not replied: “I have therefore asked for the necessary work to be brought forward, which would allow for devolved powers to be used to prevent people from travelling into Wales from high-prevalence areas of the United Kingdom.

He said it was “important” to emphasise that it was not an issue regarding the border between Wales and England but a “matter of fairness”.

“We’ve already heard from the first minister of Scotland and she’s eager to support what we’re trying to do here. Now is the time for the prime minister to do the same thing,” Drakeford told the Senedd.

“If he isn’t willing to do so then the timetable is for us to use the powers in Wales by the end of the week.”

It came as Johnson insisted he wanted to avoid the “misery” of another national lockdown and pressed leaders in northern England to accept tougher local coronavirus restrictions.

But scientists advising the UK government suggested that thousands of deaths could be prevented by a short national lockdown over half-term.

They argued that the coronavirus resurgence could be brought back under control by the so-called circuit-breaker that would buy ministers time to improve the test and trace system.