Summary

  • For the first time since March, there were no new deaths to report of people in Wales with coronavirus, Public Health Wales said on Monday, leaving the official total at 1,531

  • Families and friends are able to reunite and enjoy outdoor attractions as travel restrictions are lifted in Wales

  • People are also allowed to meet indoors and stay overnight with one other household from today

  • Arts organisations are hoping to share £59m coming to Wales as a result of extra support for the sector in England

  • Llangollen International Eisteddfod takes place online, with its chair saying it faced an "uncertain future" without government aid

  1. Goodbyepublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    That’s it for our live page coverage today. We’ll be back tomorrow with all the latest developments on coronavirus in Wales.

    In the meantime you can follow updates from around the world here.

    Here’s a recap on the main developments in Wales today:

  2. 'Excited' families reunite as rules relaxpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Douglas Fry holds his six-week-old grandson Hudson for the first time
    Image caption,

    Douglas Fry holds his six-week-old grandson Hudson for the first time

    Emotional reunions between couples and families have taken place across Wales as the five-mile travel restriction ended on Monday.

    Relaxation of lockdown rules has allowed two households to form one "extended household".

    Douglas Fry, 66 from Cwmbran, said he was "very excited" to hold his newborn grandson Hudson for the first time.

    Due to lockdown restrictions Mr Fry had seen the baby only once, "through the lounge window", since he was born at home on 24 May.

  3. Police horses on patrol in busy Porthcawlpublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Visitors are returning to popular Welsh resorts such as Porthcawl as travel restrictions are lifted.

    Here's how the situation looks from the viewpoint of mounted police from the South Wales force.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  4. Support package welcomed by Wales Millennium Centrepublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff has welcomed a £1.57bn coronavirus support package for the arts across the UK.

    The venue, which has warned that 250 jobs are at risk, says it hopes extra funding will "help us build a more radical and inclusive arts sector once we're able to reopen safely".

    The UK government said a total of £59m will come to Wales, with the Welsh Government deciding how the money is spent.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the money will "help safeguard the sector for future generations".

    But First Minister Mark Drakeford cast doubt on whether Wales would receive extra funding.

    He said he would "wait until Wednesday" when Chancellor Rishi Sunak sets out his summer statement, in case any extra cash resulting from the arts announcement is outweighed by money being cut elsewhere.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  5. 'No new Covid-19 deaths' announcement explainedpublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Owain Clarke
    BBC Wales Health Correspondent

    It is certainly very encouraging news that, for the first time since the middle of March, the daily update from Public Health Wales (PHW) has recorded no newly reported deaths of people with coronavirus.

    However, given the way the figures are compiled - tagged on to the actual date of death once reported - there have been previous days where the statistics show no Covid-19 deaths had occurred in Wales.

    PHW stats - based on those who tested positive - retrospectively show no deaths occurred on 18 June and also on 3, 4, and 5 July, although any deaths reported in coming days may be added to those most recent dates.

    And the more complete Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures - based on death registration - also show no deaths occurred on 18 June.

    With very small numbers, the statistics are always likely to bounce around a bit.

    But the key point will be when the figures show no new deaths here over a longer period of time.

  6. No virus deaths reported in Wales for first time since Marchpublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    No new deaths of people with coronavirus have been reported by Public Health Wales for the first time since March.

    This graph shows the number of deaths according to the day they happened rather than the day they were announced.

    Graph showing daily number of deaths with coronavirus in Wales
  7. How many people have died with Covid-19 in each part of Wales?published at 14:18 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    No new deaths of people with coronavirus have been reported by Public Health Wales (PHW) for the first time since March.

    The official total shows 1,531 people in Wales have died with the virus.

    This map shows the number of deaths reported by each of Wales' health boards.

    Map showing deaths with coronavirus in each Welsh health board area
  8. Visitors return to National Botanic Garden of Walespublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Daytrippers have been making a return to outdoor attractions across Wales, as the "stay local" restrictions are lifted.

    The National Botanic Garden in Carmarthenshire opened its doors for the first time since March, to welcome a steady stream of people to the 230 hectare site.

    "Huge thanks to all our members, visitors, staff, volunteers, friends and everyone for sticking with us through these strange and difficult times," said garden officials.

    Visitors queue to enter National Botanic Gardens of Wales
  9. No new deaths of people with coronavirus in Walespublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 6 July 2020
    Breaking

    No new deaths of people with coronavirus have been reported by Public Health Wales (PHW) for the first time since March.

    In total 1,531 people in Wales have been officially confirmed as having died with the virus.

    PHW's figures published on Monday also showed there were eight new cases reported, meaning 15,898 people have tested positive for Covid-19.

    It publishes daily statistics of deaths, mostly occurring in hospitals, but only when the virus has been confirmed by laboratories.

    They do not include deaths of residents from Powys in hospitals over the border in England.

    The figures for deaths are revised and numbers are added to the correct date retrospectively.

    The Office for National Statistics also publishes figures but on a weekly basis. These include all registered deaths, including those in care homes and at home, where Covid-19 is suspected, as well as laboratory-confirmed cases.

  10. Government 'not a quarantine police force'published at 13:47 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Passengers with masks at an airportImage source, Getty Images

    The Welsh Government is "not a police force" making spot checks on who should be following quarantine rules, says the first minister.

    Travellers returning from several countries, including the United States and Portugal, are asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

    But Mark Drakeford said it was not their role to enforce the restrictions.

    "We are not a police force in the Welsh Government, none of that is devolved to us," he told the daily briefing.

    It follows comments from Scotland's health minister, confirming they had not carried out quarantine checks on passengers arriving there., external

    "Our responsibility is to make sure that those people coming to Wales for quarantine purposes get the best public health information we can provide to them, so they know what they need to do if they fall ill," said Mr Drakeford.

  11. Back to school plan before end of summer termpublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Children in a socially distanced classroomImage source, PA Media

    A plan for schools returning after the summer holiday will be published by the end of this term, says Mark Drakeford.

    The first minister told the daily briefing that "uniquely in the UK we have children back at school in Wales" and "we are going to learn the lessons of the last few weeks to plan for September".

    He said the reports he had read about schools reopening in Wales last week showed "it was a very successful week here in Wales with headteachers and teachers learning a lot" and this "practical experience" would help inform the return to school plan for September.

  12. Positive test result rate drops to 3.5%published at 13:20 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Woman being swabbed for coronavirusImage source, Getty Images

    Just 3.5% of coronavirus tests are coming back positive in Wales, says the first minister.

    At the peak of the pandemic, 45% of the tests were returned as positive for Covid-19.

    Mark Drakeford said there remains "room to do more testing where that is required".

    He added: "We remain in conversations with the BMA [British Medical Association] and others to make sure we make the very best use of the capacity we have."

  13. No repeat of 'Super Saturday' for Wales, urges FMpublished at 13:14 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Crowds in Soho, LondonImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Scenes in Soho, London, as pubs opened for Super Saturday

    The First Minister Mark Drakeford says he “hopes” he won't see scenes of large crowds gathering on streets when bars, pubs and restaurants open outdoors in Wales next Monday.

    Mr Drakeford was responding to a question about whether he would change his plan to open parts of the outdoors hospitality sector in Wales, after large crowds gathered in London's Soho over the weekend, when pubs reopened outdoors there.

    Mr Drakeford said he would look “very carefully” at the experience in England over the weekend and would draw a “rounded lesson” from it.

    He added: “We want people to have a good time, we want people to be able to use the hospitality industry again, but we need us all to do it in a way that doesn't cause risks to a rise [in coronavirus] for you and for everybody else.”

  14. No decision yet on arts cash, says FMpublished at 13:08 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    A decision on whether £59m from the UK government will be spent on the arts sector in Wales will not be taken before Wednesday, and further announcements from the chancellor, says Wales' first minister.

    Mark Drakeford said his cabinet would look at the "whole package made available to Wales".

    The arts cash is part of a UK £1.5bn package for the creative industries.

    But the decision on how and where its share is spent in Wales rests with the Welsh Government.

    Referring to Boris Johnson's announcement last week on £5bn in funding for UK infrastructure, Mr Drakeford said "not a single penny came our way as a result of that".

    Mark Drakeford at daily briefing, 6 July, 2020Image source, Gov.Wales
  15. Golden rules - and easing other restrictionspublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    First Minister Mark Drakeford says everyone in Wales needs to follow "the five golden rules" to tackle coronavirus.

    • Avoid unnecessary travel
    • Work from home whenever we can
    • Always keep our distance
    • Always wash our hands
    • And only meet one other household outdoors

    He also set out what he called the "key dates" for week ahead:

    • On Thursday, review of the regulations "as we are required to by law"
    • On Saturday, if the conditions are right, self-contained accommodation will reopen
    • On Monday, if the conditions are right, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will be able to open outdoors and hairdressers will open by appointment

    Welsh Government - key dates in lockdown reviewImage source, Welsh Government
  16. 'No false hope' for beauty salons and sportpublished at 12:48 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Male hairdresser cutting a woman's hair, both wearing face coveringsImage source, Getty Images

    Wales' first minister says people want to know when beauty salons can reopen and when sports such as swimming and junior football can restart but he doesn't want to offer anyone "false hope or the false security of far off dates in the future".

    Mark Drakeford said he'd taken part in a "fast and furious Facebook Live session" last week in which people wanted dates for when they could go swimming again, when cricket clubs could play competitive matches, when young footballers "could join their team mates on the pitch" and when business owners could reopen beauty salons and nail bars.

    He said he hoped provide some answers to those questions this coming Friday.

    Mr Drakeford said he understood people wanted certainty but added: "I do not want to offer anyone false hope or the false security of far off dates in the future, which may be snatched away at the last moment by a virus which could suddenly change course – as we have seen it do elsewhere in the world."

    "We must remain hopeful that we are over the worst but we must all be realistic that we could yet see a further resurgence of coronavirus later in the year, which is why it is so important that we all continue to take measures to protect ourselves and our loved ones."

  17. Lessons 'learned' from reopening shopspublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    First Minister Mark Drakeford said the Welsh Government had "learned a lot from reopening shops" and this information was being shared with other sectors which operate indoors.

    He said the period of having all children back at school to "check in, catch up and prepare for summer" will help the government work with local authorities and schools to plan for September.

    He added: "And, if the conditions allow hairdressers to open by appointment following this week’s review of the regulations, we will to use what we learn to extend opening to other parts of the beauty sector."

  18. Restrictions lifted 'cautiously', says first ministerpublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford says he is keen to "restore freedoms" as soon as possible but only "cautiously and progressively".

    Speaking at the daily coronavirus briefing, Mr Drakeford said the Welsh Government was taking the advice it receives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) "very seriously".

    He said both organisations have "underlined the importance of taking a step-by-step approach" to easing restrictions.

    The fifth review on the coronavirus regulations will be carried out this week - this needs to be done every 21 days.

    Mr Drakeford said his government had introduced changes to the restrictions "cautiously and progressively – learning from what we have done to enable us to go further, as the conditions allow".

    He added: "On 22 June shops re-opened, on 29 June all pupils returned to school ahead of the summer holidays and today, the requirement to stay local has been lifted."

  19. Artists sign letter over £59m funding cashpublished at 12:37 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Charlotte ChuchImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Singer Charlotte Church is among those saying there is "no time to waste" to save the arts

    The £59m pledged for the arts in Wales from the UK government must be spent on the sector, a letter backed by singer Charlotte Church and scores of others in the creative sector demands.

    The letter from Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price and culture spokewoman Sian Gwenllian calls on the Welsh Government to use the money "in full" on arts in Wales.

    The money comes to Wales as part of a £1.5bn package for the industry from the UK government, to help organisations decimated by coronavirus restrictions.

    The Welsh Government has welcomed the announcement, but said it does not commit extra cash arising from new spending in England until it has been considered by cabinet.

    Harpist Catrin Finch, comedian Kiri Pritchard-Mclean and the national poet of Wales Ifor ap Glyn are among 70 artists to have signed the letter.

    "There is really no time to waste," it stated.

    "If no action is taken immediately the industry is likely to collapse within a month.

    "Thousands of jobs will be lost and the fallout will be irreversible."

    Plaid Cymru said it wanted to see an emergency taskforce established to advise the Welsh Government, investment in the economy, and a "clear plan to recovery".

  20. First minister to give daily updatepublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    First Minister Mark Drakeford will deliver the Welsh Government's daily coronavirus update shortly.

    The 12:30 BST briefing comes as the "stay local" travel guidance is lifted for the first time since lockdown began in March.

    People from two separate households are also able to meet indoors and stay overnight with each other as one "extended household" from today.

    We'll update you on the main points of the briefing, which you can also watch live on BBC One Wales, via the BBC iPlayer, and via the Coronavirus Daily Update link above.

    Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford