Summary

  • Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has encouraged people to “make the most of everything we have on our doorstep” by staying in Wales for their summer holiday

  • £40m has been pledged to boost jobs and skills training by the Welsh Government

  • British Airways faces strike threat over jobs cut plan, including 400 posts in Wales

  • The number of weekly deaths from coronavirus has halved in Wales, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)

  • There were no new coronavirus deaths recorded in Wales on Tuesday, according to Public Health Wales (PHW)

  • A spike in coronavirus cases in Wrexham prompts installation of mobile testing units

  • There has been an increase in teacher training applications during the pandemic, figures show

  1. Goodbyepublished at 14:36 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    That's all from us on today's live page.

    The latest update on the coronavirus outbreak is that there have been no new deaths reported in Wales, according to the latest figures from Public Health Wales.

    Have a good afternoon and stay safe and well.

  2. What are the death rates across England and Wales?published at 14:35 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    Map showing death rates
  3. How many people have died in Wales with Covid-19?published at 14:28 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    In total, 1,549 people have died with the Covid-19, according to figures recorded by Public Health Wales.

    So where have they happened?

    Map showing the number of deaths in Wales
  4. No new deaths with coronavirus in Walespublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 28 July 2020
    Breaking

    There have been no new coronavirus deaths recorded in Wales on Tuesday, according to Public Health Wales (PHW).

    It means the number of people who have died with the virus remains at 1,549.

    A further 21 new cases of Covid-19 were reported by PHW, meaning 17,191 people have now tested positive for the illness in Wales.

    Coronavirus graphic
  5. Where did lockdown rule breakers travel from?published at 14:10 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    Police officer speaking to driver
    Image caption,

    Hundreds were fined after breaking lockdown rules by travelling from England into Wales

    Hundreds of drivers were fined for travelling into Wales' tourist hotspots during lockdown - including from England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

    More than 600 fines were issued to people from England by the four forces.

    Most were handed out by Dyfed-Powys Police, which issued 401 tickets to travellers from England.

    North Wales Police ticketed 189 drivers from England. It was the only force to fine more English than Welsh drivers.

    South Wales Police and Gwent Police ticketed 19 and eight drivers from England respectively.

  6. Afternoon briefingpublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

  7. Teacher training application rise during lockdownpublished at 13:49 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    More people are applying to train as teachers as they reconsider careers in lockdown, researchers have said.

    In recent years numbers training to become secondary school teachers in Wales have fallen, with some schools struggling to fill posts.

    But figures from the higher education admissions service Ucas show numbers applying increased during the pandemic.

    As of 15 June, 2,350 applications had been made for teacher training courses in Wales, a 6.8% rise compared to the same period last year, Ucas figures show.

    Numbers applying for training to become secondary school teachers have increased by 19% this year.

    Welsh Government targets for recruiting trainee teachers have been missed every year between 2014 and 2018.

    Teacher and pupilsImage source, Getty Images
  8. Pandemic makes Brexit talks challenging, minister sayspublished at 13:41 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    The "threat" of leaving the EU without a deal is very much still there, Wales' finance minsiter has said.

    Rebecca Evans told the Welsh Government's coronavirus briefing that a no-deal Brexit would be "catastrophic" for Wales and that it has been hard to communicate the challenges ahead due to the impact caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

    "I think it's really important that we get our internal market right here within the United Kingdom and that we have a really clear and coordinated approach to maintaining trade with our European partners, and we should be really looking to align ourselves as far as possible with Europe, in order to make trade as easy as possible," she said.

    UK and EU flagsImage source, Getty Images
  9. £40m jobs and skills help a 'step in the right direction'published at 13:29 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    The Welsh Government’s £40m jobs and skills funding pledge is a “step in the right direction” to help young people and workers facing redundancies in the wake of the pandemic, according to a training organisation

    Jeff Protheroe, operations director at National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), which represents about 70 learning providers, said: “The additional funding will make a significant impact on those employers and individuals accessing the support.

    “What has been put forward today will ensure that there is not only a safety net for all those individuals at risk, but also a springboard for those who wish to secure a better future, as part of Wales' wider economic recovery plan.”

    “We know that young people are already being adversely affected by the current economic climate and, unless there is government intervention, this will create another 'lost generation'."

  10. 'Substantial announcement' due on support for the artspublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    A further announcement of Welsh Government help for the arts will be announced in the next few days, according to the finance minister.

    A total of £59m was made available to Wales by the UK government earlier this month, but the Welsh Government has not announced how it plans to spend the money.

    Rebecca Evans told journalists at the Welsh Government's briefing on Tuesday that an initial package of support was announced in April, including more than £7m, to "help support artists and arts organisations who were most in need".

    The minister also said she has held meetings with the minister for international relations who has responsibility for this particular area, and "I know that she looks forward to making a further and more substantial announcement, over the course of the coming days".

    Plaid Cymru hsa said the arts in Wales are "desperate" for an announcement from ministers on funding

  11. Minister backs staycation ideapublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    Rebecca Evans

    A Welsh Government minister has encouraged people to “make the most of everything we have on our doorstep” by staying in Wales for their summer holiday.

    Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said it was “a great opportunity” to support local businesses through “a tough time”.

    She also said she understood the disappointment some people are facing after it was announced those visiting Spain would have to self-quarantine on their return to the UK.

    “I completely understand how disappointing this is for people who have booked a holiday and potentially have worked really hard in difficult jobs all the way through coronavirus and now this comes along," she said at the Welsh Government weekly press conference.

    “I think that we should recommend that people follow the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice in terms of where it is safe to travel to.

    "But I would absolutely encourage people to staycate here in Wales and make the most of everything that we have on our doorstep, especially since we know how difficult the tourism industry and the hospitality industry has had it here."

  12. Money to recruit and retain 5,000 apprenticespublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    The Welsh Government has pledged £40m to boost jobs and skills training, external as a result of the pandemic.

    It said more than £20m will be used to "incentivise employers" to recruit and retain 5,000 apprentices and support more graduates with work experience.

    And almost £9m will be used to help workers retrain and find new employment.

    A new fund will be used to offer up to £2,000 to support people who may not have previously considered in self-employment, in particular women, young people, people from BAME communities and disabled people.

  13. Mobile testing units aimed at virus rise in Wrexhampublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    Mobile testing units are set to open in Wrexham from Wednesday, following concerns coronavirus cases are rising in the town.

    Public Health Wales (PHW) figures show 43% of all new cases in Wales in the last week were in Wrexham and neighbouring Flintshire.

    Health officials believe the cases are linked to an outbreak at a food plant and to the town's hospital.

    There were nearly 300 cases of Covid-19 linked to the Rowan Foods site on Wrexham Industrial Estate.

    Wrexham council said two "easy-access testing facilities" were being installed in Hightown and on the Caia Park estate.

    Rowan Foods factoryImage source, bbc
  14. British Airways faces strike threat over job cut planpublished at 12:33 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    The head of the trade union Unite has warned British Airways that it plans to move towards industrial action against the airline "with immediate effect".

    Unite and BA have been at loggerheads for several weeks. In April, BA owner IAG warned it could cut up to 12,000 jobs, including 400 in Wales, due to the impact of coronavirus.

    Staff were warned that if agreement was not reached, they would be handed their notice and re-hired on new contracts.

    BA said it was disappointed by Unite's criticism.

    BA aeroplanesImage source, EPA
  15. Welsh arts 'desperate' for government supportpublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    The arts in Wales are "desperate" for an announcement from ministers on funding, according to Plaid Cymru.

    A total of £59m was made available to Wales by the UK government earlier this month, but the Welsh Government has not announced how it plans to spend the money.

    There are warnings workers could be forced to leave the sector.

    The Welsh Government said it is finalising funding arrangements.

    Wales Millennium CentreImage source, Getty Images
  16. Coronavirus: Weekly deaths in Wales drop againpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    The number of weekly deaths from coronavirus has halved in Wales, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

    There were 11 registered deaths in the week ending 17 July and none at all across the Aneurin Bevan, Hywel Dda and Powys health board areas.

    There were no deaths in care homes from the virus at all for the first time in four months.

    Overall, there were seven deaths (1.3%) fewer than the five-year average. In Wales, the total number of deaths involving the virus is now 2,501 but numbers have slowed considerably in recent weeks.

    Graph
  17. £40m pledge for jobs and trainingpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 28 July 2020

    Welcome to our live page coverage as more details about a £40m jobs and skills package are due to be revealed by the Welsh Government.

    It includes more support for apprenticeships, redundancy assistance, retraining programmes and careers advice in the wake of the pandemic.

    Finance Minister Rebecca Evans is to lead the Welsh Government's weekly coronavirus update at 12:30 BST.

    CashImage source, Getty Images