Summary

  • Wales' Education Minister Kirsty Williams took today's Welsh Government coronavirus briefing

  • She said there was currently "no case" for students to get refunds for university tuition fees

  • Students may soon be able to get tested on campus, with work under way to open "walk-in" Covid-19 centres at universities across Wales, the minister said

  • Eight patients have died with coronavirus at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital following an outbreak, the health board has confirmed

  • Planned surgeries at the hospital in Llantrisant have been temporarily stopped in a bid to deal with the cases there

  • It comes as Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham are set to join much of south Wales in local lockdown from 18:00 BST on Thursday as coronavirus cases rise

  • It means from tomorrow night 2.3 million people in Wales - nearly three quarters of the population - will be subject to restrictions

  • One further person has died with coronavirus in Wales, taking the total to 1616, according to Wednesday's Public Health Wales figures

Live Reporting

Gemma Ryall and Rachel Flint

  1. People breaking socialising rules 'to blame' for north Wales lockdown

    People ignoring rules by meeting in each others houses have been blamed for parts of north Wales heading into local lockdown.

    From 18:00 BST those living in Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham will not be able to leave or enter without a "reasonable excuse" such as work or education, following a rise in coronavirus cases.

    It means more than 2.3 million people in Wales will be living under restrictions from tomorrow night - with the counties following many in south Wales.

    Flintshire council leader Ian Roberts said that the rise in cases was caused by "people meeting in houses".

  2. Welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic

    Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in Wales.

    Education Minister Kirsty Williams is due to give an update on the latest situation with Covid-19.

    It comes as parts of north Wales prepare to be placed under local lockdown measures from Thursday evening, following an increase in cases.

    People in Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham will not be able to leave or enter their counties without a "reasonable excuse", from 18:00 GMT on Thursday.

    This will mean from tomorrow night 2.3 million people in Wales - nearly three quarters of the population - will be subject to restrictions.