Summary

  • Seven more deaths confirmed in Wales, taking the total to 12

  • "Pace of the disease continues to quicken," says first minister

  • Snowdonia "overwhelmed" with visitors, prompting health concerns

  • Medics are writing to 70,000 people classed as the most vulnerable

  • Action urged as coronavirus travel advice ignored

  • No church and religious services due to virus

  1. Thinking of sending children to school or childcare tomorrow?published at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    The Welsh Government says there are five things you need to know, external. Here's a summary:

    1. Everyone who can must minimise social contact and make sure anyone particularly vulnerable can adopt strict social distancing.

    2. Schools and childcare are only open to the smallest number of children possible - but children shouldn't be left with anyone who should be following strict social distancing, eg those over 70 or with the relevant underlying health conditions.

    3. Only particularly vulnerable children and the children of people whose work is critical to the Covid-19 response should be in school. And even for critical workers, that's only if there is no safe alternative.

    4.If one parent is a critical worker but the other isn't, the other should look after the kids at home if possible.

    5. If you've seen different advice from different councils, they're doing everything they can but initial plans will now adapt and change.

  2. Holiday park company closing its sitespublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Parkdean Resorts says it's closing all its parks until the start of May, including its five sites in Wales.

    Chief executive Steve Richards says staff will be kept on full salary, and fresh food planned for restaurants will be given to local food banks.

  3. 'Save lives'published at 15:56 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Public Health Wales has issued a plea for people to take note of the advice about social distancing:

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  4. 'Absolute chaos'published at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Porthcawl was quieter than on Saturday where it was reported to have been as busy as a bank holiday.

    Sisters Nicola Allen and Hayley Weeks and their dad Ray Johns drove there separately for some air, but have maintained distance between each other.

    Ray said: "People are not taking it serious enough."

    He had also been to a supermarket, and there "you’re standing toe to toe with people. It’s absolute chaos in there."

    People social distancing in Porthcawl
  5. Rail complaints over social distancingpublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    There has been an increase in antisocial behaviour on the rail network following advice to people to maintain their distance due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to bosses.

    Transport for Wales said issues included people not following social distancing guidance, which was "impacting rail staff and passengers".

    “We know it’s a difficult time with school closures and social gatherings impacted, but trains and stations are not the place to congregate," said safety and assurance director Leyton Powell.

    “We are doing all we can to keep vital services running.

    "Emergency service staff who are using our trains and key workers deserve to be able to travel in safety with confidence."

    TrainImage source, TFW
  6. Making musicpublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Listen as Welsh brass musicians from the Cory Band, based in Treorchy, continue to make music - virtually.

    "Despite the current worries, we’re still smiling and we’re going to help all our fans and friends to keep smiling too," they tweeted

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  7. 'Visit Wales later, but not now!'published at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    That's the advice from Visit Wales, the Welsh Government's tourism arm.

    "Please do not visit Wales at this time and avoid all unnecessary travel within Wales," it says in a website statement, external.

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  8. 'I will close road'published at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    The Sugar Loaf mountain in Monmouthshire has been another area where crowds have gathered. The council's chief executive Paul Matthews is ready to take matters into his own hands.

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  9. NHS Wales suppliespublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Staff helping NHS Wales deal with community screening for Covid-19 have distributed almost four million items of "vital medical consumables in the last week", according to this tweet from its clinical logistics and transport service paying tribute to their hard work.

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  10. Numbers of visitors 'quite shocking'published at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Porthcawl councillor Sean Aspey estimated there were about 6,000 people visiting the town on Saturday.

    There were queues outside chip shops, people drinking and not social distancing, he said.

    "We have a high proportion of elderly people in this town and they are frightened to death," he said.

    "To see that going on yesterday was quite shocking.

    "We could have an explosion of cases through no fault of our own."

    Barry Island was also busy on both Saturday and Sunday - with crowds of people on the promenade

    Crowds at Barry Island on SundayImage source, Wales News Service
    Image caption,

    Crowds at Barry Island on Sunday

  11. 'This is not a normal day'published at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport Lee Waters said some people are “pretending everything is normal” at a time when hospitals are “turning canteens into spill-over intensive care units”.

    “This is not a normal day," said the Llanelli AM in a video posted on Twitter.

    "We’re retraining doctors and nurses to operate ventilators but really we must make sure we slow the spread of this virus to give them a fighting chance.

    “Our behaviour to date is not doing that.

    "If you don’t need to go out, then don’t go out at all."

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  12. Holiday parks close 'until further notice'published at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Rhyl's Marine Holiday Park and Tan Rallt Holiday Park in Abergele have closed "until further notice".

    In a Facebook post, external, they said: "We all need to follow the advice released by the UK government in order to ensure the safety of us all.

    "If we all abide by the social distancing advice released by the UK government and Public Health Wales then it hopefully won’t be too long until we are able to welcome you back."

    Owners Pario Leisure Group said it has handed over free use of both holiday parks and more than 250 beds to the NHS via Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

    Boss Wyn Williams said: "Both of our parks are just 10 minutes away from Glan Clwyd Hospital and while we follow government guidelines and close our parks to the public, it seemed the obvious solution to myself, my family and all of my staff, to now offer these beds to our loyal NHS workers who are really feeling the strain.”

    Marine Holiday ParkImage source, Google
  13. Crowds in the Brecon Beaconspublished at 13:50 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Many people have issued advice asking people to avoid unnecessary travel.

    This is the scene at Storey Arms in the Brecon Beacons on Sunday afternoon.

    Council leaders and national park bosses are all urging people to stay away during the outbreak.

    Motorbikes and other vehicles parked at the roadside
  14. Banners in Carmarthenpublished at 13:41 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    These banners have appeared near the River Towy in Carmarthen

    Picture of banner saying Carmarthen - A community united. Together we can get through thisImage source, Meleri Llwyd O'Leary
    Welsh language banner saying Carmarthen - In unity there is strength - Together we will get through thisImage source, Meleri Llwyd O'Leary
  15. 'Stay away' call to visitorspublished at 13:39 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    People are being told to stay away from Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire by council leaders.

    They have published a statement, external to say they were "taking an unprecedented step and asking people not to come on holiday".

    "As strong supporters of the tourism and hospitality industry here in west Wales, we fully understand the huge and grave challenges facing the sector and why some businesses may want to take this opportunity to bring in visitors at this time," they say.

    "However, our absolute top priority is the need to stop spread of this virus and also to protect our NHS from the increased pressures that tourism brings at a time when they will be stretched to the absolute limit."

    Pembrokeshire coastImage source, Getty Images
  16. Childcare provision to help key workerspublished at 13:28 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Care provision has been provided for about 500 children in Carmarthenshire, external whose parents work in key roles within the NHS and social care sector, according to the council.

    It said three hubs have been set up and more will be rolled out.

    “We appreciate that this approach might not meet all needs at this point in time, but we aim to meet demand by Wednesday as further care hubs open," said education director Gareth Morgans.

    Flintshire council said it was prioritising emergency childcare provision, external from Monday.

  17. Parks and playgrounds close for four weekspublished at 13:11 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Parks and playgrounds are to close in Neath Port Talbot for the next four weeks, according to the council "to comply with social distancing advice".

    The parks affected include Margam Country Park, Gnoll Country Park, as well as playgrounds across the county borough.

    Leader Rob Jones said it was "imperative we heed government advice to stay at home where possible and adopt social distancing measures".

    Margam Park
    Image caption,

    Margam Park often runs events for children during school holidays

  18. 71 new cases test positivepublished at 12:51 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020
    Breaking

    A further 71 people, external have tested positive for coronavirus, according to Public Health Wales.

    It brings the total number of confirmed cases to 347, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher.

  19. Snowdonia roads and car parks packedpublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Snowdonia National Park Authority shared this footage to show the number of visitors in the area on Saturday.

    It said there were so many people on mountain summits it was "impossible to maintain effective social distancing".

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: People urged to stay away from Snowdonia

  20. Prayers and church services onlinepublished at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March 2020

    Churches and other places of worship across Wales have suspended gatherings and ceremonies, and there has been a big push to provide spiritual help online.

    Prayers have been shared on the web, with some services being streamed and material shared on social media.

    This was the scene at St Paul’s Church in Llandudno this morning where the communion service took place behind closed doors and live streamed online.

    Church service at St Paul’s Church in Llandudno being streamed on the web

    Meanwhile, St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Birchgrove, Cardiff has asked for people needing help to get in touch via Facebook or the phone.

    St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Birchgrove, Cardiff