Summary

  • This is the first full day severe restrictions have been imposed on the public by the government

  • People can now only leave their home to go shopping for essentials, exercise once a day or go to work if you can't work from home

  • Assembly members approve a bill giving the Welsh Government sweeping powers to enforce the lockdown

  • The first minister insists there's enough personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff, despite concerns from nurses over supplies

  • Greggs joins McDonald's, Nando's, Costa Coffee and Subway and closes its outlets

  • KLM - One of Cardiff Airport's longest-serving airlines - is to "significantly reduce" its flights

  • The Principality Stadium, Wales' national stadium, could be used to help authorities tackle coronavirus

  • There have been 17 deaths from Covid-19 in Wales and 478 confirmed cases

  1. Goodnightpublished at 22:57 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    That's all from us for today - we will be back with more live updates in the morning.

    We will leave you with a really useful video about how to clean your device effectively using household soap and water.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: How to safely clean your smartphone

  2. What effect does social distancing have?published at 22:43 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Scientists currently believe that each person infected with Covid-19 infects 2.5 people over the course of around five days.

    That means 30 days after that first infection, 406 people will have the virus.

    But, if we reduce our exposure by half, that first infection would only have led to 15 infections in 30 days - less than 5% of 406.

    Of course, it’s not guaranteed that we can reduce our exposures by half and it takes a few weeks for the effect of any intervention to show up.

    But if we reduce exposure by, say, a third, the reduction is just over 85% (or 53 infections).

    Look at the graphic below, which may make the maths a little clearer.

    A graphic showing how social distancing works
  3. Wales 'three weeks behind Italy'published at 22:28 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    graph showing the rates of different areas of the UK becoming infected with coronavirus

    Scientists have drawn attention to the sharp rise in confirmed cases in Wales.

    London has reported by far the most cases in the UK but the increase in Wales is now steeper than most other areas.

    "The UK is two weeks behind Italy and it's possible that Wales could be a week behind London. It's something to keep an eye on," says Dr Michael Head of the University of Southampton.

  4. Britons to be flown back from Perupublished at 22:08 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    FFRED AND MENIR FFRANCISImage source, FFRED AND MENIR FFRANCIS
    Image caption,

    Ffred and Meinir Ffrancis

    A flight has been sent to Lima to bring back British nationals stuck in the Peruvian capital, the Foreign Office has confirmed on Twitter, external.

    "We are in contact with those with confirmed seats and are working around the clock to arrange further flights from Peru - we will update people when they are confirmed," the Foreign Office said in the tweet.

    Welshman Ffred Ffrancis, 70, who has a heart condition and his wife Meinir were among 400 UK tourists stranded in Peru after it closed its borders last week to contain the coronavirus and flights were suspended.

    "No one can get in or out of the country, there are police-enforced curfews, public transport has been shut down," he told the BBC on Friday.

    It is unclear yet whether the couple will be on the flight en route to Lima.

    The UK government had faced criticism for not doing enough to get British nationals home at a time when other nations are funding the high costs of repatriations.

  5. Have you had your text yet?published at 21:57 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

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    Mark Hutchings, BBC Wales Parliamentary Correspondent in Westminster, has had his, but have you had yours?

    For the first time, all the UK's mobile networks have been sending out a government message to their customers with details of the shutdown measures announced yesterday.

    The text reads: GOV.UK CORONAVIRUS ALERT. New rules in force now: you must stay at home. More info and exemptions atgov.uk/coronavirus, externalStay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.

    Some customers have already received the message, while others are still receiving theirs this evening.

    A copy of the text alert
  6. Rate relief U-turnpublished at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    A restaurant/cafe, emptyImage source, Getty Images

    Business rate relief will not be given to all companies in the hospitality, retail and leisure sector in Wales as initially planned, the Welsh Government has said.

    The relief will not now be given to the "small proportion of properties" with a rateable value of £500,000 and above.

    The money will be used to create a £100m fund to help other businesses, social enterprises and charities during the coronavirus crisis.

    In a joint statement, Finance Minister Rebecca Evans and Economy Minister Ken Skates said the businesses affected by the decision will be able to apply for extra support.

    "This will affect fewer than 200 properties across Wales but will release more than £100 million to kick-start the economic crisis fund," they said.

    "We will be writing to all of the businesses affected and making clear that we will consider discretionary support if there is a compelling economic case to do so."

    The new fund will help businesses in other sectors and the self-employed, unless further funding for that purpose is made available by the UK government.

    The initial plan to give all hospitality, retail and leisure business the full rate relief was announced last week.

  7. Watch how germs spread and how you can prevent itpublished at 21:27 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    A virology expert demonstrates how viruses can spread using UV light.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: Watch how germs spread

  8. Olympic champion 'devastated'published at 21:17 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Double Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones says the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games due to the coronavirus pandemic is "devastating," even though she understands the decision.

    The event, due to begin on 24 July in Tokyo, Japan, will now take place "no later than summer 2021".

    Jones, from Flint, was aiming for a historic third successive Olympic gold medal.

    You can read more here.

    Jade Jones fightingImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Jade Jones (right) is the 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medallist in the women's 57 kg category

  9. Britons stuck abroad in 'dire' situationspublished at 20:52 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Virus signs at the airportImage source, Getty Images

    British nationals unable to return home due to the coronavirus pandemic are in a "dire" situation, a former cabinet minister has warned.

    Tory MP Caroline Nokes said many were stranded as countries closed their borders and airlines cancelled flights.

    The government's call for people to return home as quickly as possible were like "empty words" to them, she added.

    Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said his staff were working with other nations and airlines to "overcome barriers".

  10. Keeping your distancepublished at 20:39 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    People queuing in SarnImage source, Helen King

    People queuing outside a pharmacy in Sarn, Bridgend county, were taking social-distancing seriously.

    The current guidance is to keep 2m (about 6.5ft) away from other people if you must leave the house.

    Those in Sarn resorted to snaking through the car park to ensure they were a sufficient distance from each other.

  11. 'Giving blood is essential travel'published at 20:19 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    People should continue travelling to give blood, Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts has said.

    The NHS says blood donors are desperately needed after there was a 15% drop following the outbreak of coronavirus.

    While restrictions bar people from travelling for various reasons, the Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP says j, externalourneys to give blood are OK.

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  12. Recycling centres across north Wales closepublished at 20:03 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Man using recycling centre in WalesImage source, Getty Images

    Household waste recycling centres across north Wales have been shut following the strict new restrictions on people's movement.

    All recycling centres in Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Gwynedd have closed while most collections of bulky items have also been suspended.

    Centres remain open in Wrexham but on a limited and restricted basis.

    Only five people can use the centres at a time and all social distancing rules must be observed, Wrexham council said.

    Bin collections in those areas are unaffected.

  13. Crime concerns as crisis worsenspublished at 19:55 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    A fire on Kilvey Hill in SwanseaImage source, MWWFRS
    Image caption,

    One of the fires at Kilvey Hill in Swansea which firefighters believe was started deliberately

    Businesses and emergency services have issued warnings over criminal behaviour as the coronavirus outbreak worsens.

    Fire services have dealt with a number of incidents of what they said were deliberately started grassfires, putting the health of staff at risk.

    One business forced to close because of the restrictions was burgled just a day after shutting its doors.

    Wiseman's Bridge Inn near Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, captured CCTV footage of two intruders who broke in.

    More on this story is available here.

  14. Protective gear gaps 'here and there'published at 19:35 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    A medic testing for coronavirus in protective gearImage source, GETTY

    There are "gaps here and there" for personal protection equipment (PPE) for NHS workers in Wales "but no more than that", the first minister has said.

    But Mark Drakeford said there was PPE "in the system for everyone who needs it".

    Speaking at a Welsh Government press conference on Tuesday, he said "if you’re looking at the big picture then the stuff is out there".

    For more on this story click here.

  15. Principality Stadium offered to authoritiespublished at 19:15 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Principality StadiumImage source, WRU

    The Principality Stadium in Cardiff has been offered to authorities as an emergency facility during the coronavirus crisis.

    The Welsh Rugby Union said it was an "incredibly fast-moving and challenging time" and its facilities at the national rugby stadium would be available "if and when required".

    It comes after Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli was offered to the NHS on Monday.

    Leisure centres and other public buildings in Carmarthenshire are to be turned into hospital wards to help health services cope with demand.

  16. Five things you need to know about self-isolatingpublished at 19:06 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    1. Stay home
    2. Call ahead
    3. Separate yourself
    4. Take care with waste
    5. Order in

    This video explains more...

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: How to self-isolate

  17. Cluster of cases 'random'published at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    Mark Drakeford, First Minister

    There is nothing to explain a "random" cluster of coronavirus cases in one part of Wales, the first minister has said.

    So far there have been 220 confirmed cases from the virus within the Aneurin Bevan health board area - far more than any other.

    The second-highest number is 84 in Cardiff and Vale Health Board.

    Speaking on Tuesday evening, Mark Drakeford said Health Minister Vaughan Gething had discussed it directly with medical colleagues to see if there was anything to explain it.

    “We don’t think there is, it’s just one of those random things," he said.

    “And as the weeks go ahead and I’m afraid as the number of coronavirus cases and their consequences become more serious across Wales, the cluster is not likely to stand out in the way it does today."

  18. The virus spread in numberspublished at 18:36 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    We have the latest figures showing how the disease is spreading around the world.

    Infections have been recorded in some 190 countries, with more than 300,000 confirmed cases outside China, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University, external.

    The true figure for the number of people with coronavirus is thought to be much higher as many of those with milder symptoms have not been tested.

    See charts and maps explaining the spread of the virus here in our visual guide to the pandemic

    BBC coronavirus cases
  19. Do face masks actually work?published at 18:13 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    With face masks in high demand, we look at whether they really can protect people from the virus.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: Do face masks actually work?

  20. Empty roads in Cardiff city centrepublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March 2020

    There's barely a car on the road in the centre of Cardiff this evening.

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