Summary

  • No new deaths of people with coronavirus in Wales have been announced for the second day this week, leaving the official total at 1,540

  • Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be able to open indoors from 3 August if virus cases continue to fall, the first minister has said

  • They have already been cleared to open outdoor areas from next Monday, 13 July

  • Campsites, hairdressers, beauty salons, cinemas and playgrounds in Wales are also to reopen in the next three weeks

  • The county of Ceredigion, which avoided the brunt of Covid-19, balances the need to welcome back tourists while keeping people safe

  • An intensive care doctor who recovered from coronavirus tells how his workplace resembles "a scene from a science fiction film"

  1. Goodbyepublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    That's all from today's live page coverage, bringing you the latest developments on the coronavirus outbreak in Wales.

    The latest updates are:

    Our live blog will be back on Monday - in the meantime you can keep up with all the latest on coronavirus via the BBC News website.

  2. Confused about what's happening when?published at 15:36 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    If you're still not sure what will be happening and when with the easing of lockdown in Wales, this should help.

    Media caption,

    Coronavirus: Wales' lockdown restrictions roadmap laid out

  3. 1,700 fines for lockdown travel breaches, say policepublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    People in Wales were told not to make non-essential journeys by car during lockdownImage source, Getty Images

    More than 1,700 fines were handed out for lockdown breaches by Dyfed-Powys Police.

    Between 27 March, when fixed penalty notices were introduced, and 6 July, the force reported 1,710 people for breaches of travel restrictions.

    Almost two thirds of these were individuals who had travelled unnecessarily from outside the force area, with the largest number of tickets being issued in Powys.

    In one weekend in May – when strict travel restrictions were still in place across Wales - officers turned away more than 1,000 cars from the area around Ystradfallte known as "waterfall country".

    “Our officers have maintained a consistent approach to engage with the public at every opportunity and explain the regulations, with enforcement only as a last resort,” said deputy chief constable Claire Parmenter.

    “This educational approach became even more important as differences emerged between the rules around travel in England and Wales."

  4. Freedoms must be 'matched with test and trace'published at 15:01 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    Adam Price

    The leader of Plaid Cymru says the "increase in public freedom" must be matched with a testing and tracing programme "that is able to keep up with increased demand".

    Adam Price MS said the Welsh Government was right to take a cautious approach to easing lockdown.

    “Without the ability to quickly stamp out any further outbreaks, this ‘early warning system’ is largely undermined and worse - we’ll risk seeing a return to lockdown conditions," he said.

    “We need a much clearer strategy for using the available testing capacity, and we need to speed up the turnaround of test results. We have previously called for universal testing of health and social care workers – a call which is backed up by BMA (British Medical Association) proposals."

    He added that, as the tourist industry is reopened and travel increases, "we have the mechanisms in place to not only gain the public confidence but to stop a resurgence of the virus".

    But the work must be put in "to strengthen this crucial protective shield," he said.

  5. Restaurants 'can't cash in' on school holidayspublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    A restaurant owner in north Wales says he "won't be able to cash in" on the start of the school holidays.

    Pubs, cafes, restaurants and bars can reopen indoors in Wales from 3 August, providing coronavirus cases continue to fall.

    Shibber Ahmed of the Blue Elephant restaurant in Llandudno said: "It’s late, the school holidays have started and I think we won’t be able to cash in.

    "The whole town is open - there are lots of people around but we are not able to take advantage of it and we desperately needed that to cover our winter costs.

    "I was thinking it would be 20 July rather than 3 August [for reopening}, so for two weeks basically we are losing out.

    "These two weeks are crucial because 20% of our business is during the school holidays."

    Shibber Ahmed
    Image caption,

    Shibber Ahmed was hoping to open his restaurant two weeks sooner

  6. Graph showing daily deaths with coronavirus in Walespublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    No new deaths of people with coronavirus have been reported in Wales for the second time this week.

    Tuesday was the first day since the outbreak began in March that no deaths in Wales were announced.

    The official total number of people who have died remains at 1,540 according to Public Health Wales.

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

    Graph showing deaths reported by PHW
  7. Where in Wales people have died with coronaviruspublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    No new deaths of people with coronavirus in Wales have been reported in Wales for the second day this week.

    The official total from Public Health Wales remains at 1,540.

    This map shows the number of deaths in each health board area of Wales.

    It does not include residents of Powys who have died at hospitals over the border in England.

    Map of deaths of people with coronavirus in each health board area of Wales
  8. 'No anxiety' over virus spreading from food sitespublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    There is "no longer anxiety about widespread community transmission of coronavirus around two north Wales food plants, the first minister has said.

    There have been 634 confirmed Covid-19 cases at meat plants in Wales - 283 at Rowan Foods in Wrexham, 134 at Kepak in Merthyr Tydfil and the 217 cases at 2 Sisters at Llangefni on Anglesey.

    Mark Drakeford said the latest advice "does indeed suggest that we are probably past the most concerning time" at Rowan Foods and 2 Sisters.

    On Rowan Foods, he said ministers were hopeful that an update from the outbreak control team later today would "confirm that the measures that we were looking to the company to put in place have been put in place, and that it can continue to operate in that new way".

    Mr Drakeford said the experience had shown the importance of accurate record-keeping for tracing "when you are working with a population which is often drawn from countries outside the United Kingdom".

    "Some of the people who we have struggled the most to contact are people where names and addresses have not been properly recorded, where the spelling of people's names is many and various, where telephone numbers are not been properly transcribed," he told the Welsh Government's daily coronavirus news conference.

    "I think we've learned something about being prepared to communicate in languages other than Welsh and English.

    "For some of the workers at Rowan Foods being able to see information in their own language, their native language, is important and we will be better prepared to do that more quickly if we face a similar outbreak in the future."

    Rowan Foods
    Image caption,

    Rowan Foods in Wrexham has seen 283 cases of coronavirus confirmed

  9. No new coronavirus deaths reported in Walespublished at 13:56 British Summer Time 10 July 2020
    Breaking

    No new deaths of people with coronavirus have been reported in Wales for the second time this week.

    Tuesday was the first day since the outbreak began in March that no deaths in Wales were announced.

    The official total number of people who have died remains at 1,540.

    Public Health Wales (PHW) figures also showed there were 10 new cases reported.

    Coronavirus
  10. Tories 'pleased Welsh Government is following our lead'published at 13:53 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    The leader of the Conservative group in the Welsh Parliament has responsed to the latest lockdown easing plans by saying he was "pleased to see the Welsh Government following our lead".

    Paul Davies claimed the Labour-led administration had adopted six out of 10 proposals the Welsh Tories had outlined yesterday.

    He added: “We are disappointed at the unnecessary delay in implementing some of these changes so we see no reason why reopening campsites and beauty salons, and restarting house viewings can’t be brought forward.

    “And we are disappointed that there’s still no clarity on face coverings, relaxing social distancing, or driving tests and lessons in Wales."

  11. What is reopening in Wales and when?published at 13:35 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    Pubs, cafes, restaurants and bars can reopen indoors in Wales from 3 August, providing coronavirus cases continue to fall.

    A series of reopening dates have also been announced for businesses including campsites, hairdressers, beauty salons and cinemas.

    Previous pledges on the reopening of self-contained accommodation and outdoor areas of pubs, cafes and restaurants have also been confirmed.

    Timeline of proposed lockdown easing in Wales
  12. Hospitality to 'focus on what they can do, not what they can't'published at 13:10 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    First Minister Mark Drakeford said there was an anxiety among the public in Wales "about going back to places where they may feel that their health and wellbeing would not be safely looked after".

    Asked if the delay announcing a date for indoor hospitality to reopen had risked thousands of jobs, he said the sector should spend three weeks doing things "that are necessary to make a success of the changes that are being offered to it" with outdoor opening.

    "I'm sure they will focus on what they can do, rather than focusing on what they can't do," Mr Drakeford told journalists.

    "And, in that way, they will have a successful future still before them."

  13. 'Face masks have marginal additional benefit'published at 13:09 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    The Welsh Government's decision not to require people in Wales to wear coverings is not contradictory, according to the first minister.

    Mark Drakeford said the approach is about "making different judgements about the balance of risks".

    He said Wales' chief medical officer believes face coverings have "at best, a marginal additional benefit in public health terms".

    Mr Drakeford added: "Nevertheless we continue to look at all the evidence. We continue to look at different contexts, some of which face coverings by members of the public may have advantages as part of an overall package.

    "I hope to be able to say something about public transport in Wales on Monday of next week, where this issue has been most hotly debated.

    "But nobody should think that wearing a face covering is somehow a way of absolving you from the responsibility to do all those other things which actually offer you greater protection from coronavirus in a face mask will ever do."

  14. 'Mitigating measures' if unable to maintain 2m distancepublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    Businesses in Wales that are unable to maintain the two-metre social distancing rules will have "to take a series of other mitigating measures", according to the first minister.

    Mark Drakeford listed some examples, including the installation of protective shields, increased cleaning, marshals in outdoor hospitality venues and "extra rules in relation to the policing of toilets".

    "Those practical things will have to be in place in order to make sure that people are still kept safe from a disease that hasn't gone away", he added.

    But he said the "two-metre rule remains the default position in Wales".

    He said: "If you are able to run a business taking all reasonable measures to sustain a two-metre distance that is what the law in Wales will require you to do.

    "But we recognise that there will be some context and some business for whom that simply isn't practically possible and in those circumstances what the law in Wales will require is that those businesses will have to take a series of other mitigating measures."

  15. First minister briefing continues on BBC Two Walespublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    Live coverage of today's coronavirus press briefing has now switched to BBC Two Wales.

  16. Date for restaurants gives 'level of certainty for the sector'published at 13:01 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    The body representing trade unions in Wales has welcomed a date for hospitality to reopen indoors.

    Wales TUC General Secretary Shavanah Taj said: "Hospitality workers across Wales are concerned about their future employment prospects and anxious over job losses.

    "Today’s announcement will provide a level of certainty for the sector and help prevent future job losses."

    She added: "At the Wales TUC we support the Welsh Government's steady and evidence-driven approach. Workers’ safety must continue to be the top priority."

    Ms Taj said personal protective equipment (PPE) and test and tracing were "key to the success of reopening".

  17. 'Pubs have had plenty of time to prepare for reopening'published at 12:55 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    Pubs in Wales have all necessary guidance for reopening, says the first minister.

    Mark Drakeford said he did not agree that pubs have not had enough time to prepare to reopen outside from Monday.

    He added: “This sector has had weeks to prepare for reopening outdoors, not three days.

    "There is plenty of guidance out there for those intending to reopen.”

    Mr Drakeford has said specific guidance will be published which has been agreed and discussed “in great detail” with the sector.

    “Any suggestion that the sector didn’t know what needs to be done simply does not stand up to interrogation,” he said.

  18. Pubs and restaurants can open indoors from 3 Augustpublished at 12:42 British Summer Time 10 July 2020
    Breaking

    Pubs, cafés and restaurants in Wales will be able to open indoors from 3 August, providing cases of coronavirus continue to fall, First Minister Mark Drakeford said today.

    The Welsh Government is announcing a series of relaxations to the restrictions relating to the hospitality and tourism sector.

    “Looking at all the indicators together, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales has confirmed we have some capacity to ease the restrictions further over the next three weeks,” said Mr Drakeford.

    In other changes:

    • Playgrounds and community centres will reopen from 20 July
    • Campsites with shared facilities on 25 July
    • Cinemas, museums and galleries as well as beauty and tattoo parlours will be able to open on 27 July
    • House viewings with owners present would also be possible from 27 July
    • Pubs, cafes and restaurants can open outdoor areas from this Monday, 13 July, as can hairdressers and barbers
    • Outdoor sports, including team sports, can also resume on 13 July – allowing up to 30 people to take part.

    The law enforcing the 2m social distancing rules will be altered to allow for the fact that some industries like hairdressing will be unable to comply. Other measures, including wearing masks, will be expected to be used instead.

    Mr Drakeford said “a note of caution” should be used, citing the example of Melbourne in Australia, which is re-imposing a lockdown after a fresh spike in cases.

    It’s understood ministers are still in discussions with gym and leisure companies about the reopening of indoor gyms and swimming pools.

    Mark Drakeford
  19. Most Britons still 'uncomfortable' at idea of eating in restaurantpublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    A majority of Britons feel uncomfortable at the prospect of eating at a restaurant, an Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey suggests.

    Just over one in five of the 1,788 adults in England, Scotland and Wales asked said they would be happy to have a sit-down meal as restrictions ease.

    Some 60% said they would be uncomfortable or very uncomfortable eating indoors during the pandemic.

    It comes as the government prepares a £500m "eat out to help out" scheme.

    Meals eaten at participating restaurants on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August will be subsidised up to £10 a head.

    Rishi Sunak in restaurantImage source, HM Treasury
    Image caption,

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak (centre) hopes his discount scheme will encourage people to visit restaurants

  20. First minister to give coronavirus updatepublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 10 July 2020

    First Minister Mark Drakeford is about to give the Welsh Government's daily press briefing on how it's handling the coronavirus situation.

    He is expected to confirm details of further easing of the lockdown, with campsites, hairdressers, beauty salons, cinemas and playgrounds set to reopen in the next three weeks.

    We'll update you with the main points here - you can also watch proceedings live on BBC One Wales from 12:30 BST, switching to BBC Two Wales at 13:00 BST.

    These two programmes can also be seen on the BBC iPlayer and via the Coronavirus Daily Update video links at the top of this page.

    Mark Drakeford