Summary

  • Schools in Wales are to reopen on 29 June, Education Minister Kirsty Williams confirms

  • Two teaching unions have criticised the decision, raising doubts about ensuring social distancing amongst children

  • Home Secretary Priti Patel confirms foreign arrivals will be required to self-isolate for 14 days

  • Seventeen more deaths have been reported by Public Health Wales, making a total of 1,371

  • Some small firms in Wales say their futures are at risk unless major firms they supply such as Tata Steel get government aid

  • Opposition parties call for an independent inquiry into the Welsh Government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic

  1. Goodbyepublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    That's all from BBC Wales' live coverage of the coronavirus crisis for today.

    Here are the main headlines this evening:

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: How will the reopening of Welsh schools work?

  2. Queues as drive-throughs reopenpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Queues have formed as McDonalds reopens more of its Welsh restaurants for drive-through customers only.

    The fast-food chain is operating a reduced menu and reduced hours after being shut during the coronavirus lockdown.

    Cars queue for McDonald's as it reopened at Nantgarw todayImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Cars queue as a drive-through reopens at Nantgarw

    Cars queue for McDonald's as it reopened at Nantgarw todayImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    An overhead view as drivers queue for a burger

  3. University ready to welcome September studentspublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    The University of South Wales says it is preparing to welcome students onto its campuses in Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd in September.

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  4. Crabb would like UK to 'move together'published at 16:38 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Ione Wells
    BBC Wales Westminster correspondent

    Former Conservative Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has said he is concerned the Welsh Government is “putting Wales in the slowest of all possible lanes" for easing lockdown restrictions and economic recovery.

    “Wales is the poorest part of the United Kingdom - it's really, really important that we safeguard jobs and good businesses," he told BBC Wales.

    Mr Crabb, now chair of the Welsh affairs committee at Westminster, said both the UK and Welsh governments had difficult judgement calls about how to ease the restrictions, and said it was far too early to say which one was doing things better and "we may never know".

    “I think what causes a lot of people confusion is when it just isn't clear why Wales is having different rules," he said.

    “If you are intent on doing things differently in Wales, explain it. Show why that's important and why that's necessary.”

    When asked if the prime minister was right to lift further lockdown measures in England, Mr Crabb said: “He's doing it in a very gradual way. There are people in my party who would rather he went further and faster. But actually the prime minister himself has been careful and cautious.

    “The border is very porous. When you get England and Wales going at two different speeds, two different sets of rules being put in place, I do think that potentially creates problems for business.

    "Where it's necessary to have that divergence the Welsh Government needs to explain why that's the case. But my instinct is where you don't need to do things differently - don't."

    Stephen CrabbImage source, Getty Images
  5. UK announces another 359 deathspublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 3 June 2020
    Breaking

    A further 359 deaths of people who tested positive for coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK, across all settings, taking the total number to 39,728.

  6. 'I’m ready to face quarantine just to get away'published at 16:23 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Angela RussellImage source, Angela Russell
    Image caption,

    Angela Russell isn't worried about quarantine

    Angela Russell and her partner Steve have decided that despite coronavirus, they will be flying to Montenegro on 5 July.

    They're only going for a week's holiday, but the prospect of having to spend two weeks in quarantine on their return doesn't bother them.

    "I'm prepared to put up with quarantine just to get away from here for a bit," said the semi-retired HR professional, who lives in Wales.

    The couple will be holidaying with a friend of Angela's who has terminal cancer, accompanied by her husband.

    "She had planned to do a lot of travelling this year and until now, all her plans have been kiboshed."

    Robert JenkinsImage source, Robert Jenkins
    Image caption,

    Robert Jenkins is hoping to get to his favourite hotel in Greece in September

    Robert Jenkins usually goes abroad four or five times a year with his wife Barbara.

    "We're retired and travelling is very important to us," said Robert, of Bedwas in Caerphilly county.

    Robert and Barbara are hedging their bets, with not one, but two trips booked between now and the end of the year.

    The couple are due to fly to Spain on 1 July - but know it could be scrapped - and to Greece on 12 September.

    "I'm really hoping Greece will go ahead," said Robert.

    "We've gone to the same resort for 20 years and we are on first-name terms with the people in the village we stay at," he says.

  7. 'Cummings effect' making policing more difficult - PCCpublished at 16:17 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    The “Cummings effect” has resulted in some people thinking they can do “whatever they like” and has made policing north Wales more difficult, the region’s crime commissioner says.

    Arfon Jones described Downing St aide Dominic Cummings’ 260-mile drive from London to Durham as "irresponsible".

    “His excuse for the trip to Barnard Castle and suggesting it was okay to drive with possibly defective eyesight was plain irresponsible, especially with his child and his wife in the car.

    “As a result of the Cummings effect, people think they can do whatever they like and that has made policing north Wales even more difficult.

    “On top of that, the Welsh Government have failed to properly increase the fines in Wales to a level that would act as a real deterrent.

    “Instead they came up with a timid fudge which means you have to be caught six times before being fined the maximum amount,” the Plaid Cymru crime commissioner said.

    In late May, the Welsh Government confirmed that maximum penalties for breaching lockdown had risen to £1,920.

    There continues to be calls for Wales to adopt a similar structure to England, where the first penalty stands at £100, rather than £60, and doubling for each successive offence to a maximum of £3,200.

    Mr Cummings says he took his family to County Durham after his wife developed Covid-19 symptoms.

    He told a press conference last week he believed he had acted "reasonably" and within the law.

    Dominic CummingsImage source, Getty Images
  8. Pembrokeshire coastal car parks to remain closedpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Newgale sign

    Council-owned car parks at Pembrokeshire beauty spots will remain closed to send "a clear message" that lockdown travel remains restricted.

    Visitors are also reminded that lifeguards are not currently patrolling beaches and toilets are closed.

    But the council says parking enforcement officers are still on duty.

    Phil Baker, cabinet member for infrastructure said the council would take "cautious, measured steps only to provide the benefits of the eased regulations without putting our residents at risk.”

  9. Welsh Rugby Union chief urges cautious returnpublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips has urged caution in setting a return to play timetable following the coronavirus pandemic.

    While football is due to return from mid June, Welsh rugby regions are not planning to return to action until late August at the earliest.

    "We will not be the first sport back," said Mr Phillips.

    "Welsh rugby has a watching brief but this is a positive position to be in as we develop returning to play plans."

    Alun Wyn Jones tackling FickouImage source, Getty Images
  10. Only 10 Welsh beaches to have lifeguardspublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    RNLI lifeguards on patrolImage source, Getty Images

    Only 10 beaches in Wales will have lifeguard cover this summer, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

    Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the RNLI says it will only be able to operate on 30% of the beaches it usually covers, from 20 June to early September.

    In today's virtual Welsh Parliament meeting, Mr Drakeford warned people who have a beach within the five mile permitted travel time that "they won't have a fully operational RNLI service of the sort that we've all been so pleased to see in Wales over recent years”.

  11. 'Questions to be answered' on Wales' return to schoolpublished at 15:40 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    The Welsh Conservatives have "broadly welcomed" Wales' decision to reopen schools from 29 June.

    But their education spokeswoman Suzy Davies says she wants to know if the Education Minister Kirsty Williams will "stick to her assurances" on a phased return of a third of pupils in school at any one time.

    "Will it affect three-year-old children?" asked Ms Davies.

    "What – if any – practical assistance regarding school transport, school meals, and the deep-cleaning of schools will be provided, and how much will be allocated for these?"

    The Tories say the Welsh Government must "instil confidence" in teachers and parents that Covid-19 is "under control".

    “It is important therefore that the Welsh Government dots the Is and crosses the Ts in how many adults in the schools hubs have been tested and with what results," added Ms Davies.

    Suzy Davies
  12. NHS must move 'slowly and cautiously'published at 15:29 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    The NHS in Wales must maintain its state of readiness for future coronovirus peaks and move "slowly and cautiously" in planning to restart a more normal level of activity according to the health minister.

    But in a statement to the Senedd, Vaughan Gething says detailed plans are in place across health boards to "scale essential activity back up" - whilst addressing the continued impact of coronavirus.

    Vaughan Gething said each health board had developed initial plans and they include dividing up hospitals into different areas of high coronavirus risk and low coronavirus risk.

    Extra capacity from private hospitals had been "helpful" for some treatment, however he said their use would need to be reviewed.

    Mr Gething also told members of the Senedd that it was a "real positive" that the NHS had not needed to make significant use of field hospital capacity.

    Vaughan GethingImage source, Getty Images
  13. Frankie & Benny's owner: Some sites won't reopenpublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Frankie and Benny'sImage source, Getty Images

    The owner of Frankie & Benny's and Garfunkel's is set to tell staff that a "large number" of its outlets will not reopen after lockdown.

    In an email to staff seen by the BBC, the Restaurant Group says many sites are "no longer viable to trade and will remain closed permanently".

    The group appears to be speeding up previous plans to shut restaurants as trade suffers due to the pandemic.

    Staff will be told if their restaurants will remain shut by email on Wednesday.

  14. UK quarantine plans set outpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Plans to force arrivals to the UK to isolate for 14 days have been unveiled by Home Secretary Priti Patel.

    She told the Commons the Border Force would check that travellers fill out a form with their contact details and location for isolation on arrival.

    Leaving isolation in England could result in a fine of up to £1,000 or prosecution, she said, with the governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland setting out their own rules.

    "We will not allow a reckless minority to put our domestic recovery at risk," she said.

    Ms Patel told MPs that scientific advisers had said quarantine would not have been effective earlier in the pandemic when infection rates in the UK were higher.

    Cardiff Airport
  15. How will schools in Wales reopen?published at 15:10 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Wales is moving towards reopening schools for the first time since the lockdown restrictions came into force in March.

    Education is devolved so the decision rests with the Welsh education minister.

    All pupils will be able to return for limited periods during the week from 29 June - but only a third of pupils would be allowed into school at any time.

    Click here for answers to your questions from what we know so far.

    A school classroom
  16. Plaid critical of Wales' back-to-school planpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Wales' decision to reopen its schools so children could return later this month is "too early", according to Plaid Cymru.

    The education minister announced earlier that schools will reopen for all ages on 29 June.

    But Plaid's education spokeswoman Siân Gwenllian called the move “rash”, saying schools should remain shut and open in mid-August if it was “safe to do so”.

    “The Welsh Government’s testing and tracing programme has only just begun and we have limited evidence on how the virus transmits in our communities," she said.

    "Many parents and children will not be confident it is safe to return to schools. This is a rash decision.

    “Refining and ramping up remote learning remains crucial to the plans for the phased reopening of schools and ensuring that schools remain engaged with every pupil, so that no child is left behind.

    "If we get distance learning right, then this allows us to continue educating our children in the safety of their home, even if we face another lockdown in winter."

    Siân Gwenllian
  17. Union 'extremely concerned' about school staff testingpublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    The union Unison wants the Welsh Government to revise its antibody testing strategy - which it says will focus on teachers.

    Education Minister Kirsty Williams has announced all schools in Wales will reopen on 29 June.

    Teachers will be a priority group for the new antibody testing programme, which tells people if they have previously had the virus and have developed antibodies.

    But Rosie Lewis, Unison schools lead, said: “Health and safety remains critically important throughout this ongoing crisis.

    "With this in mind, Unison is frustrated and extremely concerned that the minister’s announcement today prioritised antibody testing for teachers, yet there was no mention of the wider schools workforce.

    “This raises concerns about how the broader strategy will be implemented and whether the wider education workforce, many of whom are low-paid women workers, will be given equal consideration.

    “This approach will not work and will risk the spread of Covid-19.

    “The reopening of schools is not as simple as making sure classrooms are safe and testing teachers.

    “The practical arrangements involved in ensuring all school facilities are managed in a safe way are of vital importance.

    “This will include cleaners, facility management and school catering. Many of the workers in these categories arguably have contact with more pupils than teaching staff."

  18. Everything you need to know about schools reopeningpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    Schools will be reopening in Wales from Monday 29 June.

    Here's a video explaining how it will work:

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  19. When have people died with coronavirus in Wales?published at 14:30 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    This graph shows when the 1,371 deaths with Covid-19 happened in Wales. It also shows a rolling average over seven days.

    Graph
  20. Where have people died with Covid-19 in Wales?published at 14:14 British Summer Time 3 June 2020

    This map shows where the 1,371 people in Wales have died with coronavirus by local health board area.

    A map of Wales