Summary

  • Testing capacity will be increased to up to 20,000 tests a day in Wales, Health Minister Vaughan Gething announces - up from 5,000 a day

  • Ford's engine plant in Wales will restart production next week, the car manufacturer announces

  • A three-day-old baby died after his mother tested positive for coronavirus, an inquest opening has heard

  • People in Wales can sit and eat in a park while out for exercise, according to updated Welsh Government guidance

  • Some easing of lockdown measures takes effect in England, prompting concern it may fuel road travel to Wales

  • The UK economy shrank at the fastest pace since the 2008 financial crisis in the first quarter of 2020 as the lockdown began

  • A further 22 people have died with Covid-19 in Wales, bringing the total to 1,154 Public Health Wales (PHW) said

  1. Goodnightpublished at 19:13 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    As we bring today's live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Wales to a close, here is a summary of the main developments:

    The live updates team will be back in the morning with the latest.

  2. Aerospace sector in Wales 'may never recover'published at 19:11 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Airbus planesImage source, Getty Images

    Up to 8,000 jobs could go in the aerospace sector in Wales following the coronavirus pandemic, MPs have heard, external.

    John Whalley, from Aerospace Wales, the body representing the industry, warned the sector "may never recover to the levels we had".

    His comments came as 500 agency staff at plane maker Airbus learned they would remain on furlough - rather than be made redundant.

    Airbus placed 3,200 of its staff in north Wales on furlough in April.

  3. Can't go shopping? No prob-llamapublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Eldery residents expecting a delivery driver to bring their shopping may be in for a surprise - they might have been replaced by a llama.

    The animals, usually used for trekking in Pembrokeshire, have been roped in to carry essential supplies to those in lockdown.

    So if you can't get your weekly shop, it's no prob-llama.

    But we don't know who is al-packing the bags.

    Media caption,

    Llamas are delivering shopping Pembrokeshire

  4. Surgical gowns not in Wales stockpile, letter revealspublished at 18:39 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    The Welsh Government had not stockpiled surgical gowns despite a UK-wide recommendation.

    Health Minister Vaughan Gething said two weeks ago that gowns were included in the pandemic stockpile when the coronavirus reached the UK.

    But in a letter to Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price, First Minister Mark Drakeford said there were no gowns between June 2016 and February 2020.

    Mr Drakeford was challenged about PPE procurement by Mr Price in a virtual meeting of the Senedd.

    Mr Price said in 2016 the New and Emerging Virus Threats Advisory Group recommended the composition of PPE stockpile should be re-considered.

    He said: “Either the Welsh Government had seen sight of the recommendation and failed to act or the UK Government had failed to share 'life-saving information' with Wales.”

    The first minister said he "couldn’t answer that sort of detailed question".

    A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We have put enormous effort into securing new supplies of PPE and developing Welsh supply chains.

    "Yesterday, the latest shipment arrived in Cardiff containing a further 600,000 fluid-resistant gowns.”

  5. 'Huge concern' over north Wales casespublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    A politician says he believes Wednesday's confirmed new cases of coronavirus show north Wales has yet to reach its infection peak.

    The figures released by Public Health Wales recorded 133 new infections, with 70 of those in north Wales, although the real figure is likely to be higher.

    Flintshire was the worst hit with 39 new cases, with other infections in Wrexham, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Conwy and Anglesey.

    Plaid Cymru's North Wales Member of the Senedd (MS) Llyr Gruffydd said: "The rise in the proportion of confirmed cases in the north compared to the rest of Wales is a matter of huge concern.

    "Of the 133 new cases announced in Wales, more than half were in the BCUHB (Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board) region. That amounts to 70 out of 133 announced today.

    "It reinforces the point Plaid Cymru has been making for the past week that, in contrast to areas around Cardiff and Newport, the north has yet to hit a peak.

    "It's vitally important that this key message informs the political decisions being made in Cardiff."

    Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board sign
    Image caption,

    Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in north Wales is the largest health organisation in Wales

  6. Police monitoring border to stop people coming to Walespublished at 18:16 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Gwent Police officers have been actively monitoring the Wales-England border to stop people travelling into Wales.

    The force has been in Tintern, Monmouthshire, where officers have been stopping "leisure vehicles".

    The recent bank holiday was the busiest period they’ve had for some time, officers said.

    They said most people were obeying the rules but expect more to cross into the country this weekend.

    PC James Heley has returned to work after contracting coronavirus.

    He said officers know what they were looking for: “Any leisure vehicles, motorcyclists or any vehicles with two or more occupants.

    "Mostly people gave been sticking to the rules, but we have had to turn people around, including people from London.”

  7. Vandals wreck bikes intended for NHS workerspublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    The boss of bike share firm Nextbike has expressed her fury at vandals who wrecked bikes to be used by NHS workers.

    Nextbike had joined forces with Cardiff University and Cardiff Metropolitan University to fund the scheme so they could use them for free.

    Managing director Krysia Solheim said large numbers of bikes had been wrecked.

    This has crippled the service and cost thousands of pounds.

    Ms Solheim said: “We have suffered from vandalism in the past but we didn’t think anyone could stoop so low as to actively destroy bikes which are helping keep critical workers safe in these traumatic times."

  8. Cardiff University-led review informing use of lung ultrasound to help fight Covid-19published at 17:42 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    A Cardiff University-led review is being used to inform pioneering use of lung ultrasound to help in the management of patients with Covid-19.

    The academics were first to summarise early evidence on ultrasound imaging, external - more commonly used in pregnancy or for muscle injury - and how to use it to assess and monitor lung damage.

    Lung damage is one of the most serious problems for patients with severe symptoms of Covid-19.

    Key decisions such as admitting a patient to hospital, moving a patient from a ward to a high dependency unit, or whether they should be put on mechanical ventilation or taken off it, are usually informed by CT scans, chest x-rays or by listening to the chest.

    But for infection control reasons these cannot be used in the monitoring of Covid-19.

    The review's lead author Dr Mike Smith, a senior lecturer from Cardiff University’s School of Healthcare Sciences, said: “We wanted to take the information that was flying around the research and clinical communities and make it more useful for clinicians - right at the beginning of the pandemic curve.

    "Since then lung ultrasound has emerged as critical to monitoring lung injury caused by Covid-19.”

    Simon Hayward, a specialist physiotherapist from Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s an amazing tool because we can observe the changes in lung damage - and use it to inform how we manage these patients in real time."

  9. Dragon's Heart Hospital future to be assessedpublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Discussions are taking place this week about how long the Principality Stadium in Cardiff will be used as a field hospital.

    The current arrangement with the NHS and Welsh Government - which has seen the national stadium house the 2,000-bed Dragon's Heart Hospital - runs until 10 July.

    Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies said concerns about the possibility of a second coronavirus spike will be factored into talks over whether the stadium’s time as a medical facility will be extended.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: WRU chairman Gareth Davies reveals meeting over stadium future

  10. Monmouthshire tip to reopen later this monthpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Monmouthshire County Council has announced that Llanfoist and Five Lanes recycling centres will be reopening on Tuesday, 26 May.

    The council says that pre-booking visits will be "essential".

    On its website, it added: "In this initial period of reopening the council has stressed that visits to the centre should only take place if classed as essential, if it is a risk to safety or health to keep the waste at home.

    "If the items can be recycled by the regular collections, such as cardboard, then these items should still be placed in the appropriate red or purple recycling bags for collection."

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  11. Guidelines update 'nothing to do' with minister's chips rowpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    The Welsh Government's change in advice to permit people to sit and eat outside as part of their daily exercise has "nothing to do" with a tabloid newspaper story about Health Minister Vaughan Gething, the first minister says.

    Mr Gething was pictured sitting eating chips with his family over the weekend, with his actions criticised by opposition politicians.

    Previous guidelines advised against "having a picnic" while out for the one permitted daily period of exercise.

    Monday's update said people in Wales are now allowed to exercise outside more than once a day, during which "stopping to have something to eat or sit in a park, for example, is intended to be permitted".

    First Minister Mark Drakeford said that a "brief stop to allow a child to eat is not a picnic in anybody's language".

    Tory Clwyd West MS Darren Millar suggested that "many people may think" the guidance was changed because of the story.

    Mr Drakeford, answered during a virtual Senedd session, that the updated guidelines were "nothing to do with any incident that he's referring to".

    "The decisions that the Welsh Government made on the measures that we were going to change were made on Thursday of last week. They were made in a cabinet meeting," Mr Drakeford added.

    ChipsImage source, Getty Images
  12. M&S Swansea cafe to reopen for takeawayspublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    The site in Pontarddulais is among 49 to be opened across the UKImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The site in Pontarddulais is among 49 to be opened across the UK

    A Marks and Spencer cafe in Swansea is among those to be reopened from Thursday.

    The site in Pontarddulais is among 49 to be opened across the UK.

    The retailer took the decision to reopen for takeaway customers after operating social distancing and putting extra hygiene measures in place.

    The retailer joins other chains restarting takeaway services.

    Pret a Manger and Caffe Nero are reopening sites, while fast food chains McDonald's and Burger King are opening up drive-throughs.

  13. Call for universal basic income and four-day weekpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Sophie Howe, has called on the UK government to introduce universal basic income (UBI) in response to the coronavirus crisis.

    UBI is a no-strings-attached sum given from the state as regular payments to all adults to cover the basic cost of living and provide financial security.

    Another proposal included in Ms Howe's report is to pilot a four-day working week to reduce our carbon footprint and keep people well.

    "Wage poverty, racial disparity, imbalances in property ownership and quality of housing, job insecurity along with deep structural inequalities in the economy have been laid bare by Covid-19," she said.

    "We're at a crossroads. We can either go back to the old way of doing things, with the old problems still harming our most needy communities, or we can change to better things for the benefit of everyone.

    "A healthy economy should deliver a fair distribution of health and wealth and wellbeing, while protecting the planet's resources for future generations and other species.

    "That's a more realistic version of what prosperity looks like."

    ATMImage source, Getty Images
  14. Contact tracing: 1,000 staff needed in Walespublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Ministers are hoping to use a test, track and trace strategy to ease the country from lockdownImage source, Welsh Government
    Image caption,

    Ministers are hoping to use a test, track and trace strategy to ease the country from lockdown

    A thousand-strong workforce will be needed to test the public and trace coronavirus' spread in Wales, the Welsh Government said.

    Ministers are hoping to use a test, track and trace strategy to ease the country from lockdown.

    In the plan, published on Wednesday, officials estimated 20,000 tests-a-day may be needed.

    Daily capacity now stands at 5,000, the report said.

  15. WRU making autumn Test rugby contingency planspublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies says there are contingency plans being discussed for an alternative programme of autumn international games.

    Wales are due to host New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa and Fiji in Cardiff in November but those matches are in doubt because of coronavirus.

    Mr Davies said a Six Nations-style tournament or games against the home nations were being considered.

    If games go ahead they could still be played behind closed doors.

    "Every country is quite desperate to play in some form," Mr Davies said.

    "The best-case scenario is the autumn series takes place, as long as southern hemisphere countries are prepared and allowed to travel, which again is a key variable.

    "The next scenario you look at is games against Six Nations teams before Christmas, or perhaps a four nations because again, travelling to the continent brings another set of unknowns.

    "The worst-case scenario is there's no rugby at all. The immediate consequence to that is the financial one, which affects all parts of the game."

    Wales v New Zealand in CardiffImage source, Getty Images
  16. Driver returned to England after travelling to Welsh beachpublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    A motorist driving a camper van was turned around after heading across the border from England to visit the beach.

    The driver had made their way 200 miles from Middlesex to Tywyn, in Gwynedd, before police stopped the vehicle.

    “Restrictions in Wales remain,” North Wales Police said.

    While England has relaxed its lockdown rules, they remain strict in other parts of the UK.

  17. Devices allow patients to receive virtual visitorspublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Patients at hospitals in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan have been having virtual visitors.

    Devices provided by the health board mean they can video call and keep up to date with the news.

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  18. Animal rescue centre fears lockdown will force it to closepublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Llys Nini Animal Centre's income has "practically disappeared"Image source, Llys Nini Animal Centre
    Image caption,

    Llys Nini Animal Centre's income has "practically disappeared"

    An animal care centre fears it may be forced to close because of lockdown.

    RSPCA Llys Nini Animal Centre provides a safe haven for around 1,000 animals each year.

    Though the volunteer-run charity is affiliated to the RSPCA it is predominantly self-funded, raising tens of thousands of pounds every year.

    It has been hit hard by the lockdown.

    The charity’s 12 shops have had to close and fundraising events cancelled.

    Manager Gary Weekes said its income had "practically disappeared".

    “We are now worried that we will have to start to use our savings just to pay for our everyday activities," he said.

    "We are asking for help to make sure that we can continue to help animals both during this crisis and into the future.”

  19. 'True care home deaths far higher than figures show'published at 15:54 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Mario Kreft MBE would like to see a new national action plan to combat the crisis
    Image caption,

    Mario Kreft would like to see a new national action plan to combat the crisis

    A social care leader believes the true number of Covid-19 care home deaths is far higher than the official figure.

    Mario Kreft would like to see a new national action plan to combat the crisis.

    The Care Forum Wales chairman was speaking after Care Inspectorate Wales revealed just over 500 people had died of suspected or confirmed Covid-19 in Welsh care homes.

    Mr Kreft said the Care Inspectorate Wales figures were "sobering" and a "stark warning."

    “I also suspect the statistics mask the true number of fatalities from Covid-19 which in reality are likely to be far higher.

    "They are almost certainly an underestimate."

  20. Covid-19 exit plan set for Friday publicationpublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    The Welsh Government hopes to publish its coronavirus exit plan on Friday, the first minister has said.

    Mark Drakeford told the virtual session of the Senedd the plan was "being worked on".

    "I want it to be clear and I want it to be readily understood by the readership of the Welsh public," he said.

    Mr Drakeford was answering a question from Conservative leader in the Welsh Parliament, Paul Davies.

    Welsh ministers have been facing calls to spell out plans for moving out of lockdown after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his proposals, which are mainly for England.