About 200 NHS staff in Wales were being tested each day, the service's chief executive has said.

Dr Andrew Goodall told a press briefing: “Just yesterday we were close to 1,000 tests actually being processed and you will continue to see those numbers rising in Wales.”

Asked about the involvement of additional labs that might not normally do testing he replied Public Health Wales (PHW) was exploring a number avenues with around 20 under active consideration.

NHS Wales chief executive Dr Andrew Goodall has said 10% of the health service workforce in Wales was currently off sick.

He said this was “probably” twice the normal rate.

More than half of of critical care beds in Wales are currently unoccupied, the NHS Wales chief executive Dr Andrew Goodall says.

Giving the Welsh Government's daily update on the crisis, he said there were 331 critical beds in Wales, with one in five of those beds occupied by a coronavirus patient.

Dr Goodall said there was "more pressure” on critical beds in the south east of Wales.

Olympic triathlete Non Stanford has gone on quarantine at a hotel in Australia after flying to Sydney.

Stanford, who is engaged to Australian triathlete Aaron Royle, says it “felt like a small miracle” to be able to fly, with restrictions affecting worldwide travel.

The Bridgend-born former world champion says she had “three failed attempts,” to get permission to fly to Australia and had to “provide a whole range of intrusive evidence,” to show she was engaged to an Australian.

Australian citizens and residents returning from overseas must be quarantined in hotels for 14 days on arrival into the country in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

“Walking into the Australian airport was like walking into the film set of an apocalyptic blockbuster,” Stanford wrote in an online blog., external

“Now I’m not complaining; we are after all in a lovely room with an amazing view of Sydney Harbour and some of the most iconic landmarks in the world,” she added.

“But as someone put it, it’s effectively a 'luxurious prison cell'.

"The windows don’t open and we are not allowed to cross the threshold of the room until our fortnight is up.”

Image source, Getty Images

NHS Wales chief executive Dr Andrew Goodall is about to give the Welsh Government's daily update on the coronavirus crisis.

You can watch it live on BBC One Wales or by clicking on the Coronavirus Daily Update video link above.

Just over half of Cardiff Airport's employees are to be given leave of absence under the UK Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme., external

Chief executive Deb Bowen Rees said: “Based on the current operational requirement and our desire to protect the business and jobs in the long term, we have opted to ‘furlough’ just over half of roles from 6th April 2020 for a minimum of 3 weeks...

The airport said the “approximately 150” members of staff being furloughed from next Monday would continue to receive their full salary.

"We will reinstate roles as and when the business needs change," Ms Bowen Rees added.

Image source, Cardiff Airport

A health board is trying to lower the risk of infection to staff by covering car seats with disposable covers.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which covers Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and south Powys, is asking garages and showrooms for donations.

Plans for a girl's brain tumour to be treated abroad could be frustrated because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Nine-year-old Eva Williams, from Wrexham, has a high-grade diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).

Her parents Paul Slapa and Carran Williams have raised £250,000 for treatment in the US.

But the travel ban means they are waiting to see when they can fly to the US. Mr Slapa said the situation was "totally out of our control".

Image source, Williams family

Former Wales rugby captain Ryan Jones is planning to run a marathon in his garden on Saturday to raise money for his local health board in Swansea.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's how you can stop bad information from going viral.

Image source, North Wales Police

North Wales Police have condemned vandals after tyres were slashed on more than 20 vehicles in Llandudno last night.

A 42-year-old man from the town and a man aged 25 from Rhos-on-sea have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at Craig-y-Don and possession of a pointed article.

Inspector Dafydd Curry said: “This is a blatant attack on the entire community at a time when people have been hit hard financially.

“A significant number of cars have been damaged. I anticipate some of the owners will be key workers needing transport to get to work, people with mobility issues or people who have been made unemployed in difficult times, this is the last thing they need.

“I am grateful for the information provided by the public and the swift response of my officers resulting in the early arrests.

"The investigation will be conducted thoroughly and will include whether the two men were in breach of the Covid-19 restrictions.”

Brecon Beacons National Park is reminding people its paths are closed and asking everyone to stay home to save the NHS.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

I thought it was interesting in the video posted by the prime minister he did not mention this 25,000 daily testing target we have heard from government ministers throughout the crisis. There is a sense, I think, it is beginning to slip as they find it increasingly difficult to get the necessary test.

It is clear the government’s hope of attacking the virus rests not with a current coronavirus test, but with the separate proposed antibody test which will establish if people have immunity from the virus.

It is not up and running, it is still in the development stage, but the government has ordered 3.5m of those tests and the hope is that it will help ministers establish if people have built up an immunity to the virus and can be released from the lockdown.

That is which the government believes could provide way out of this crisis and that is which they are looking to mass test.

It doesn't get us out of the current situation or help to identify people who have coronavirus. So that test is of no use now but down the road the government believes that could be the exit strategy.

Free school meal grocery boxes being delivered in Torfaen this morning.

People have been told if they have to go outside they should stay more than 2m (6ft) apart from anyone other than members of their own household.

This is what's known as social distancing, external.

But how far is 2m?

Wales wing Jasmine Joyce offers some tips on how she's keeping fit at home in St Davids, Pembrokeshire.

Disability Wales says the virus has "changed a lot of people's situations".

It is sharing information about benefits for new carers.

People working from home have been asked to consider how safe their setup is., external

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "With increased use of electrical equipment in many homes such as laptops, tablets and phones it's important that you use and charge them correctly."

Image source, Getty Images

Cardiff City manager Neil Harris and chief executive Ken Choo have taken voluntary 20% wage cuts in response to coronavirus.

The Bluebirds are also going to implement similar pay cuts for all but their lowest income staff.

Like Swansea City, the club is planning to send a proportion of their non-playing staff home on the Government’s furlough scheme.

Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman (below) has called on football authorities to ensure players also take pay cuts..

“These are wartime conditions,” he told BBC Wales Sport.

Image source, Huw

The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic will be "at least" as bad as the financial crisis of 2008, Wales' economy minister says.

Ken Skates said: "It's going to be difficult and many business are on the line in their ability to retain staff."

He called for access to universal credit to be "fast-tracked" as new claims soar from workers being laid off.

Image source, Getty Images