Summary

  • Four more Welsh counties - Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport - are to go into local lockdown from 18:00 BST on Tuesday

  • From Tuesday evening around 850,000 people will be under local restrictions - more than a quarter of the 3.1m people who live in Wales

  • On Monday a further 234 coronavirus cases have been reported by Public Health Wales

  • Health Minister Vaughan Gething said there may come a point "where we need to seek wider action across a region of Wales, or across the country"

  • Mr Gething also told the press conference that UK-wide action may be needed

  • The UK is at a "critical point" in the coronavirus pandemic and "heading in the wrong direction", the UK government's chief medical adviser has warned

  1. Thanks and goodbyepublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    That's the end of our live page coverage of today's coronavirus news in Wales, so here's a recap of the headlines from today:

    We'll keep you updated via the BBC News website and our social media channels.

  2. Merthyr deputy leader 'deeply disappointed' at local lockdownpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    The deputy leader of Merthyr Tydfil council says she is "deeply disappointed" at news that it is one of four new areas subject to a local lockdown from 18:00 BST on Tuesday.

    Councillor Lisa Mytton said: "It is something we were fighting to avoid. However it is vitally important we listen to the medical and scientific advice given by the government.

    “I urge all residents to abide by the guidance and all to stay safe.”

    Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend and Newport will also join Caerphilly county borough and Rhondda Cynon Taf, where restrictions are already in place.

  3. Watch: New local lockdowns in Walespublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    In case you missed the live stream of today's Welsh Government press conference, here's what Health Minister Vaughan Gething said when he announced that four more counties would have restrictions tightened.

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  4. Number of deaths still lowpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    No new deaths were reported on Monday by Public Health Wales.

    This graph shows how the number of daily deaths has changed since the start of the pandemic.

    Graph of Covid-19 deaths in Wales
  5. Where have the deaths in Wales been?published at 14:04 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    The number of people who have died with Covid-19 in Wales remains at 1,603.

    This is where the deaths have occurred, by health board area, with Betsi Cadwaladr health board area in north Wales recording 423.

    Map of deaths in Wales
  6. No new Covid deaths in Wales but 234 new casespublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 21 September 2020
    Breaking

    A further 234 coronavirus cases have been reported by Public Health Wales.

    No new deaths have been recorded in Wales, leaving the total at 1,603.

  7. What are the rules?published at 13:56 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    Can I leave areas under local lockdown? Can I go to the pub? Can I see friends and family?

    Here's a guide to local lockdown rules in Wales.

    No mask no entry signImage source, Getty Images
  8. UK coronavirus cases up by 3,899 on Sundaypublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    Promo image showing UK

    Explore the data on coronavirus in the UK and find out how many cases there are in your area.

  9. Is it a cold, flu or coronavirus?published at 13:31 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    With cooler weather coming and children back at school, it's not unusual to have a blocked or runny nose, sore throat and cough.

    But how do you know if you have coronavirus? Check your symptoms with us in this video.

    The BBC's Kate Forbes explains.

    Media caption,

    A cold, flu or coronavirus - which one do I have?

  10. UK 'could face 50,000 cases per day' next monthpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    In an earlier press conference at Downing St, the UK government's chief scientific adviser has warned the UK faces 50,000 coronavirus cases by mid-October if no action is taken.

    Sir Patrick Vallance said that "would be expected to lead to about 200 deaths per day" a month after that.

    Cases have been rising in all four nations of the UK.

    Media caption,

    Dr Patrick Vallance: 'Epidemic is doubling every seven days'

  11. Students 'will not have traditional freshers experience'published at 13:15 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    First year university students will not have a “traditional freshers experience”, the health minister has said.

    Vaughan Gething said anyone organising large gatherings of students could be subject to large fines.

    “The starting point is to ask people to find a way to have a university experience that follows the rules and to accept it will be a different sort of experience to a traditional one.

    “We need to get through this, to avoid harm being caused, to avoid harm because both to those young adults going to university for the first time, but to the whole country as well.”

    You can read more about rules for students here.

    People playing beer pongImage source, Getty Images
  12. Tories call for 'smart, hyperlocal lockdowns'published at 13:12 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    The Welsh Conservative's health spokesman, Andrew RT Davies, has said shielding should resume and "smart, hyperlocal lockdowns" should be implemented in Wales.

    He said: “Ministers and governments must do everything possible to avoid another blanket national lockdown as the other public health and economic impacts would be disastrous.

    “We need to see smart, hyperlocal lockdowns based on accurate and detailed data, and a resumption of shielding of the elderly and vulnerable."

  13. Lockdowns in other counties 'possible'published at 13:10 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    Mr Gething has warned "it's possible" that other areas in south-east Wales could see restrictions being implemented.

    He said the experience in February and March shows how the virus can spread.

    He said four out of 10 counties in the region do not have restrictions in place and "that's why we need to have that regional conversation as well".

    Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen and Monmouthshire are the counties in the south-east of Wales which are not under local lockdowns as it stands.

  14. UK-wide action 'may be needed'published at 13:09 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    Wales' Health Minister Vaughan Gething also told the press conference that UK-wide action may be needed.

    A meeting between Boris Johnson and Wales' first minister, Mark Drakeford, is expected to take place this afternoon.

    At today's coronavirus briefing, Mr Gething said: "It may be the case that UK-wide measures will be taken but that will require all four governments to exercise our varying share of power and responsibility to do so.

    "It's a helpful step forward that the prime minister is going to talk to the first minister of Wales.

    "The best way to have coordination in engagement is for all four nations to speak with each other at leadership level at the same time."

  15. How many people will be under local lockdown in Wales?published at 13:07 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    According to 2018 figures from Statistics Wales, almost 850,000 people will be under local lockdowns from tomorrow evening.

    That equates to about a quarter of the 3.1m people who live in Wales.

    Map showing areas under local lockdown in Wales from Tuesday 22 September
  16. 'All-Wales' measures could followpublished at 13:01 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    Health Minister Vaughan Gething has said all-Wales measures could follow the local lockdowns which have been announced.

    He said: “We may reach a point though where the spread continues where we need to seek wider action across a region of Wales, or indeed across the country.

    “So we're anticipating what may be necessary, and we can do all of those actions within that.

    “The local restrictions that we have already introduced in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and the ones in Caerphilly, are short of the full lockdown that we had at the end of March.

    “So there may be all-Wales measures...that are short of the measures we introduced on 23 March.

    “That's a conversation that we have to have about the impact of public health and avoiding harm.”

  17. 'More important than ever' to avoid large gatheringspublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    Huw David, leader of Bridgend council, has said it is "more important than ever" people avoid coming into the county and gathering in large numbers.

    He said: “The council and its partners have repeatedly called for the community to come together by following a basic set of rules, but it is clear that tougher actions are now required which, while not constituting a full lockdown, are designed to limit the spread of the virus.

    “We need the help of everyone in Bridgend County Borough to follow the rules on wearing masks, washing hands, using sanitiser and keeping socially distant in order to stop the virus from spreading further.

    “It is also more important than ever for people to avoid travelling to Porthcawl and gathering in large numbers this weekend as the annual Elvis Festival has been cancelled."

    Elvis
  18. No 'definitive' timeframe on restrictionspublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    Mr Gething told the press conference he cannot "definitively" give a timescale of how long lockdown measures would be needed.

    He said the change in seasons would mean "there will be more people indoors" and it would be "more difficult" to do more activity indoors.

    Mr Gething added there was no timescale of "when we will be through this".

    But he said a dip in cases in Caerphilly had provided a "cautious note of optimism".

    He said it would be about two weeks before the measures have an effect.

    Vaughan Gething
  19. 'Urgent meeting' about regional situationpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    Mr Gething says he'll hold an "urgent meeting" tomorrow with all councils, health boards and police forces in south Wales – "from Swansea to the border with England" – to discuss the wider regional situation and whether further coronavirus control measures are needed.

  20. Counties' case rate 'higher than rest of Wales'published at 12:53 British Summer Time 21 September 2020

    Explaining why the lockdowns had been introduced, Mr Gething said: "The seven-day new case rate is now higher than the Welsh rate in Bridgend and Blaenau Gwent.

    "We have continued to see an increase in cases in Merthyr Tydfil and Newport, despite the measures introduced by the local authorities in those areas in the past 10 days.

    "Because of the developing situation in these four local authority areas, we will be introducing local restrictions in these local authority areas from 6pm tomorrow."

    "This will mean a large part of the population of south Wales – and the south Wales valleys – will be subject to local coronavirus restrictions."