The family of a backpacker from Wrexham who has been quarantined in a hostel in Peru since 15 March say he is on his way back to the UK.

Alex Foulkes, 31, has been confined to his room in the Pariwana Hostel in Cuzco for 23 hours a day after the authorities placed the 160 guests in quarantine after a former guest tested positive for coronavirus.

His father Steve said his son contacted him on Whatsapp earlier to say he would be catching a UK government charter flight to London tonight.

The freelance filmmaker left the UK on 14 January to go travelling in South America. His plan was to visit Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Argentina.

Image source, Family photo

BBC Radio Wales presenter and weatherman Owain Wyn Evans is taking working from home as an opportunity to expand his role.

Not content with presenting the weather, he has taken to his drums to jazz up the outro music.

Support for asylum seekers and refugees is being "scaled back" because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Support workers say refugees and asylum seekers are becoming increasingly isolated, and are now relying on free food deliveries.

The Welsh Government said it was working with partners to provide help.

As a Wales international hooker whose jobs include throwing the ball into lineouts, Elliot Dee knows how important good service is.

Now with the lockdown putting rugby on hold, the Dragons player is volunteering as a delivery driver for Newport cafe and bar The Pod, providing meals for the Royal Gwent and St Woolos hospitals.

Wales' health minister Vaughan Gething has vowed to boost coronavirus testing by the start of next week.

The Welsh Government is far short of meeting its own target of up to 5,000 tests a day by "mid-April" - currently 1,300 tests a day are taking place.

On BBC Radio Wales Mr Gething denied he had said "at this point today" Wales would be providing 5,000 tests.

"But I do expect within a number of days we will be at that point," he added.

Currently in Wales only patients in hospital, health and social care workers with symptoms can be tested for coronavirus.

Read more here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-52292398

Image source, Reuters

Join Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas live in his garage for the first of three 12-hour shifts to raise money for the NHS.

Medical students are briefed before joining forces with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

"Super heroes don't need to wear capes," says a 10-year-old artist from Wrexham county.

Toby is using his time away from school during the lockdown to create 100 drawings to thank key workers for their efforts in the fight against coronavirus.

More companies are being urged to help produce medical equipment for the Welsh NHS in a bid to tackle the coronavirus.

In recent weeks people have printed personal protective equipment for NHS staff on 3D printers in schools and garages, while inventors have created new ventilators.

In Mountain Ash, a medical company is now working around the clock to produce ventilator breathing systems, humidifiers, and resuscitators, with more staff brought in to help cope with the demand for hospitals in south Wales.

Economy minister Ken Skates thanked those who were responding to the crisis, including Flexicare Health Limited, but urged more to get involved.

He said: “Its expertise will help to save lives here in Wales and around the world.

"I want to thank everyone at the firm for their efforts and encourage more companies to follow suit. By working together we will ensure the NHS has the equipment it needs to respond to this pandemic."

Image source, Getty Images

An eight-year-old girl from Port Talbot has been collecting birthday cards for a 99-year-old Army veteran who raised more than £5m for the NHS.

Tom Moore had aimed to raise £1,000 by completing 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden by Thursday.

His effort inspired Reegan Davies to launch a campaign for children to make cards for his 100th birthday.

She has set a goal of making 1,500 virtual cards.

"You can post them on any social media with the hashtag #makeacardfortom," she said.

The coronavirus lockdown cost tourism in north Wales £100m in lost takings over the Easter bank holiday, it has been claimed.

Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism, said many tourism businesses were saying they may not survive the pandemic.

The industry had ground to a complete halt with attractions, accommodation providers and events all closed indefinitely.

Mr Jones said: “Tourism generates more than £3bn a year of spending by visitors.

“About half of that comes in the main holiday season – it's estimated the amount of income generated over the long Easter weekend is £100m.”

The Welsh Government is matching the business support package offered by the UK government to give a business rates "holiday" for a year for those in the retail, leisure and hospitality businesses.

But a grant of £25,000 will also be offered for businesses in these areas with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000.

Those small businesses with a rateable value of under £12,000 will also be eligible for a £10,000 grant.

Image source, Jeff Buck / Geograph

In other news, sheep had a lucky escape after being surrounded by flames in a deliberate grass fire on a mountain in Rhondda Cynon Taff.

Firefighter Craig Hope said they escaped by taking shelter under some trees after the blaze on the Treherbert side of the Rhigos mountain road.

Mr Hope said a helicopter, three fire engines and a specialist animal rescue team were sent to the fire.

Image source, Craig Hope

The Financial Conduct Authority has ordered insurance companies to pay out claims to firms "as soon as possible" or explain themselves to the watchdog.

The FCA has told insurers if there are reasonable grounds to pay part of a claim but not the full claim, they must make an interim payment.

If not, insurers must tell the FCA how they reached the decision and how it is "a fair outcome for customers".

The move is aimed at relieving pressure on firms during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Image source, Getty Images

Use our tool to check the meaning of key words and phrases associated with the Covid-19 outbreak.

Runners have been thanked for staying local and observation social distancing.

The Welsh Government also reminded the public not to drive to a different location to exercise.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is urging the government to publish an exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown this week.

The UK government is expected to announce on Thursday that social distancing measures will continue.

Sir Keir said Labour would back such a move but to maintain public trust "there needs to be transparency".

Image source, MOHIT BASUDEV

Entertainment and event professionals have been helping turn the Principality Stadium into a 2,000-bed hospital to treat coronavirus patients.

Theatre and lighting technicians who usually build festival sites and TV sets are among those helping to put power into beds and create kitchens.

Company director Tom Feierabend said they were asked because they construct festival sites and suchlike at speed.

He had been "waiting for the call" since China started building hospitals.

The 30-year-old said: "When a hospital needs to be built in a stadium that's not just a big empty room, it's the theatre, TV, and events industry that steps up."

That equipment, staff and knowledge was there "because the arts industry exists", he said.

Wales' health minister has apologised after a "data error" led to thousands of letters meant for people considered most at risk of coronavirus being sent to the wrong addresses.

More than 80,000 people were meant to get a "shielding letter" from the chief medical officer.

But 13,000 were sent to people's old addresses by the Welsh Government.

Vaughan Gething told BBC Radio Wales: "I'm sorry the error happened, and I know there will be people who will be worried about it.

"But all those letters have now gone out."

The letter is for those with serious underlying health conditions and advises people to stay at home for 12 weeks.

Plaid Cymru have said the error was a "potentially disastrous mistake which could have needlessly endangered lives," but Mr Gething said the comments were "emotive and unhelpful".

"The idea this was done needlessly and in a carefree manner is simply not true," he said.

"People should think about the comments they're making about our committed public servants, who are trying to respond to a once in a century event."

Deliberately starting grass fires during a public health emergency "really is unbelievable", the chief fire officer from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has said.

Huw Jakeway said he struggled to understand why people would start the "needless and dangerous" fires.

The service's crews have attended over 500 deliberate rubbish or grass fires since March.

Police are warning that criminals are stealing medical staff's uniforms so if they are stopped they can say they are key workers.

North Wales Police urged workers to take care with their uniforms.