Summary

  • Restrictions on travelling more than five miles in Wales will end on 6 July, if coronavirus rates are at a manageable level

  • Caravans and self-contained holiday units can reopen on 13 July if the outbreak gets no worse

  • Non-essential retailers can reopen on Monday if they can provide socially-distanced shopping

  • Anglesey council will not take part in the reopening of schools on 29 June due to a spike in Covid-19 cases

  • Several councils abandon plans to extend the school term by a week. citing the failure of ministers to reach agreement with trade unions on the idea

  1. Covid-19 risk level dropspublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    Covid-19 virus graphicImage source, Getty Images

    The UK's chief medical officers - including from Wales - have agreed to reduce the coronavirus risk level.

    The advisers say they have reviewed the latest evidence and agree the alert level should drop from Level 4 to Level 3.

    It means a move from virus transmission being high or rising exponentially, to just the infection being in "general circulation".

    In a joint statement, issued by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, the medical officers said: "There has been a steady decrease in cases we have seen in all four nations, and this continues.

    "It does not mean that the pandemic is over. The virus is still in general circulation, and localised outbreaks are likely to occur.

    "We have made progress against the virus thanks to the efforts of the public and we need the public to continue to follow the guidelines carefully to ensure this progress continues."

  2. 'No meetings' with UKpublished at 10:35 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    Senedd - Welsh Parliament and Westminster 'Big Ben'Image source, Getty Images

    Wales' first minister says the lack of contact with senior UK government ministers in the last few weeks is "baffling".

    "I've had no contact at all with UK ministers in the last three weeks," Mark Drakeford told BBC Radio Wales.

    "It has always needed a more predictable pattern in which we can rely on the way in which we are able to share information together, understand each other's point of view, and make decision in the most orderly way.

    "I have been saying for weeks and weeks that this isn't sufficiently in place and it certainly hasn't been sufficiently in place over this three weeks."

    Mr Drakeford said meetings between officials from Wales and the UK administration had been continuing, but nothing at a senior ministerial level.

    "It's been baffling to me the lack of contact from the UK over the last three weeks," he added.

  3. Tourism industry 'needs hope'published at 09:57 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    Lonely tree in red sunset at Llyn Padarn, Llanberis, GwyneddImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Will sights like this at Llanberis in Snowdonia soon be welcoming back visitors?

    Wales Tourism Alliance said it needed to hear positive news from the Welsh government.

    The group's chairman Andrew Campbell told the BBC: "We're holding our breath to get safe sectors open.

    "The industry needs some hope - we need to know where we are going."

    First Minister Mark Drakeford has signalled he will tell the visitor economy in Wales later today that self-contained accommodation will be able to start taking bookings from 13 July.

    Jim Jones, chief executive of North Wales Tourism, said it was important the sector was given some direction.

    "We know more about what's going on in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, and businesses need this time and notice in order to plan to open up, and to provide some hope to rescue the tourism sector," he said.

    "At this moment in time the mood is very, very dark in the industry."

  4. Testing centres to remain at Welsh football groundspublished at 09:34 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    The drive-through testing centre at Cardiff City StadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Cardiff City and Swansea City will continue to allow sections of their grounds to be used as Covid-19 testing centres when the Championship resumes.

    Swansea travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday and Cardiff host leaders Leeds United on Sunday.

    The Swans' first home match since the break is against Luton Town on 27 June.

    Matches will be played behind closed doors, although match officials, medical staff and broadcasters will be allowed into the ground.

    The two Welsh clubs say the return of matches will not affect the testing centres at their respective stadiums.

  5. 'You can't furlough fish'published at 09:17 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    Fish at Anglesey Sea ZooImage source, Anglesey Sea Zoo

    "You can't furlough fish" was the reaction of one owner to help given to Wales' 30 licensed zoos since lockdown.

    Frankie Hobro said her frustration was when the public recognised the plight of her Anglesey Sea Zoo and fundraised to save it, but the Welsh Government failed to offer specific help.

    A government spokesman said a "generous package" meant more money was available than if a special scheme was created.

    He pointed to eight attractions already having accessed £350,000.

    But Ms Hobro said: "The Anglesey Sea Zoo is in a particularly untenable position, with high running costs, staffing costs and the pressure of maintaining ultimate animal welfare, with absolutely no income during closure and currently no promise of when we will be allowed to reopen for our income to return."

    Major zoo attractions opened earlier this week in England with reports of "unprecedented" ticket sales, but there is still no indication when this may happen in Wales.

  6. Dozens of people 'chasing every job' in poor areaspublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    Shops boarded up in Taff Street, PontypriddImage source, Getty Images

    Around 20 unemployed workers are chasing every job vacancy in poorer parts of the UK, with that number rising to 50 in the areas worst affected by coronavirus, a study shows.

    The Institute for Employment Studies (IES) said ex-industrial and inner city areas were hardest hit.

    It found that as many as 50 people were chasing every job in 11 local authorities, including Rhondda Cynon Taff.

    In wealthier areas, there were five people out of work for each vacancy.

  7. Welsh role in trials of 'game-changing' drugpublished at 08:50 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: Cardiff's role in dexamethasone trials

    The "game-changing" drug dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory steroid, is now being used across the UK in coronavirus treatment, following a successful trial including patients in Cardiff.

    For patients on ventilators, it was found to cut the risk of death from 40% to 28%. For patients needing oxygen, it cut the risk of death from 25% to 20%.

    The Cardiff and Vale health board was the first in the UK to trial the steroid for coronavirus treatment, with 180 patients taking part.

    "Usually to set up a study takes six to twelve weeks," said Christopher Fegan of Cardiff University's medical school. "We literally did it in a fortnight."

  8. Cottage and caravan bookings 'back in July'published at 08:39 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    Static caravan

    The first minister said he held a lengthy meeting with tourism leaders in Wales.

    He said he will be telling the "visitor economy" to use the next three weeks to reopen self-contained accommodation during July.

    "If you have a static caravan that has it's own kitchen or bathroom, if you're renting a cottage or going to a hotel that has turned itself into self contained accommodation, there will be a clear signal from me today that you should use the next three weeks to get everything you need in place and you will be able to start taking bookings for after 13 July."

  9. Crime back to pre-lockdown levels, says police chiefpublished at 08:29 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    Crime levels have risen back to pre-coronavirus levels despite the continuing lockdown, a chief constable has said.

    Across Wales and England, crime fell by 28% during the first weeks of lockdown.

    But South Wales Police Chief Constable Matt Jukes said there had been a surge in the number of domestic abuse cases and violent offences in recent weeks.

    He said confusion over different lockdown rules in Wales and England had placed an additional burden on police.

    More than 13,000 calls have been made to South Wales Police concerning coronavirus
    Image caption,

    More than 13,000 calls have been made to South Wales Police concerning coronavirus

  10. Coronavirus measures 'succeeding'published at 08:18 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    BBC Radio Wales

    First Minister Mark Drakeford said lockdown measures in Wales had been "succeeding" and meant more restrictions could be eased over coming weeks.

    He told BBC Radio Wales' Breakfast he would be announcing a series of measures today:

    • From Monday, non-essential retail shops will be allowed to open, provided they can do it safely
    • On 29 June, he confirmed schools in Wales would reopen
    • From 6 July, he said the "stay local" guidance to only travel within a five mile area will be lifted, if coronavirus cases continue to reduce
    • From 13 July, self-contained accommodation, such as cottages and static caravans, will be able to start taking bookings
  11. 'Stay local' rules to be liftedpublished at 08:11 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    The stay local guidance to remain within five miles of home will be lifted in two weeks, if coronavirus cases continue to reduce.

    First Minister Mark Drakeford says he is asking the people of Wales to do "one last lap" of the stay local instructions.

    Speaking on BBC Radio Wales' Breakfast programme, Mr Drakeford said: "If on 6 July, coronavirus is where we want it to, we'll confirm the stay local measures is over."

    Conservative politicians had criticised the five-mile guidance as unfair on people from rural areas, but the first minister said it was a "rule of thumb".

    "I do ask people over the next two weeks, stick with the stay local instruction.

    "It has really helped to bring the virus under control in Wales, we need you to go on doing it and if you do then in two weeks we should be in a position where all this can be over."

    But, Mr Drakeford added, you could visit a family member more than five miles away over the next two weeks, if you were concerned about their well-being.

    "If you have a compassionate reason to visit a family member and not stay local over the next two weeks, you will be able to do that," he said.

    Mark Drakeford
    Image caption,

    First Minister Mark Drakeford will be giving more details at Friday's daily coronavirus briefing

  12. Good Morningpublished at 08:06 British Summer Time 19 June 2020

    Good morning - we will be bringing the latest updates on coronavirus developments in Wales on Friday - including the announcements on easing lockdown restrictions.