Summary

  • People living alone in under lockdown in Wales will be allowed to meet another household indoors

  • Local lockdowns are extended to four council areas of north Wales - Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham

  • Around three-quarters of the population of Wales are now unable to leave their county without a good reason

  • Three more people have died with coronavirus in Wales, with 462 new confirmed cases, Public Health Wales said on Friday

  1. Postcode check: What are the rules where you live?published at 10:24 GMT 26 January 2022

    Use our search tool to find out about coronavirus rules and restrictions where you live.

    Read More
  2. Goodbyepublished at 14:21 BST 2 October 2020

    That's it for our live page coverage of the latest coronavirus updates in Wales.

    Here are today's headlines:

    • People living alone in areas under local lockdown can meet one other household indoors
    • Three more people in Wales have died with coronavirus and 462 new cases have been reported
    • Extra restrictions remain in place in 15 of the 22 Welsh counties plus the town of Llanelli affecting 2.3 million people - around three-quarters of the country's population

    From next week the Welsh Government briefings will start at the slightly earlier time of 12:15 BST.

    Until the next live blog, we'll keep you updated via the BBC News website and social media channels.

  3. Seven-day average case rate rising in Walespublished at 14:20 BST 2 October 2020

    As well as case numbers, the seven-day rolling average of coronavirus deaths in Wales is continuing to rise.

    In response, lockdown measures are now in place in 15 of the 22 Welsh counties plus the town of Llanelli.

    graph showing death numbers in Wales
  4. Where people have died with Covid in Walespublished at 14:13 BST 2 October 2020

    Three more people have died with coronavirus in Wales, taking the total to 1,625.

    Two were in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg area of south Wales, the other in the Betsi Cadwaladr area of north Wales.

    map showing where people have died with coronavirus in Wales
  5. Three more deaths with coronavirus and 462 new cases in Walespublished at 14:10 BST 2 October 2020
    Breaking

    Three more people have died with coronavirus in Wales, according to the latest Public Health Wales figures.

    It takes the total number of deaths with Covid-19 in Wales to 1,625.

    There were also 462 new cases of coronavirus reported on Friday, taking the total to 24,845.

    Rhondda Cynon Taf had the highest number of cases with 68, followed by Swansea with 51 and Cardiff 46, while Merthyr Tydfil had the highest rate of infection with 29.8 people per 100,000.

    In Caerphilly, the first local authority to go into lockdown, there were 10 new cases while Anglesey was the only local authority not to report any new cases.

    syringe and test tubesImage source, Getty Images
  6. What risk does Covid-19 pose to Trump's health?published at 13:58 BST 2 October 2020

    James Gallagher
    Health and science correspondent, BBC News

    US President Donald Trump - who has tested positive for coronavirus - has clear risk factors.

    His age, weight and being male all raise the chances of a severe coronavirus infection.

    The president is 74 and has a body mass index (BMI) over 30, which is the clinical definition of obesity.

    Age is a clear and strong link to developing a severe infection, leading to hospital treatment and in some cases death.

    "But most people who get an infection also get better," Dr Bharat Pankhania, from the University of Exeter medical school, told the BBC.

    An early analysis of more than 100 studies, external, taking in data from around the world, showed the risk for children and young adults was tiny. But at age 75, it is estimated that one in 25 people who catch coronavirus die.

    A similar pattern has been seen by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It says eight-out-of-10 Covid deaths in the country have been in the over-65s.

    And people in the president's age group are five times more likely to need hospital care and 90 times more likely to die than somebody in their 20s.

    Donald Trump statistics
  7. What are the Covid rules where I live?published at 13:43 BST 2 October 2020

    local restrictions lookup

    Use our search tool to find out about coronavirus rules and restrictions where you live.

  8. Labour Senedd Covid rulebreakers 'would be suspended'published at 13:41 BST 2 October 2020

    Margaret Ferrier and Nicola SturgeonImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Margaret Ferrier was denounced as "reckless" by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon

    Any Labour Senedd member caught knowingly breaking Covid-19 rules would be suspended immediately, Wales' first minister has said.

    Mark Drakeford said SNP MP Margaret Ferrier, who travelled by train from London to Scotland after testing positive for the virus, must “face the consequences”.

    Ms Ferrier has had the SNP whip withdrawn with party leader Nicola Sturgeon saying she should “do the right thing” and step down.

    Mr Drakeford said: “I’ve seen what the first minister of Scotland has said, that the actions that person undertook were dangerous and irresponsible, and I can quite see why Nicola Sturgeon has concluded that that MP ought to resign.”

    Mark Drakeford

    He added: “Here in Wales my Labour colleagues and I are working really hard to make sure that we never ask other people to do things that we don’t keep to ourselves.

    “That’s a rule I try to apply in my own life, that if other people are being asked to follow restrictions, I must scrupulously follow those restrictions myself.

    "And if there were to be a member of my group who knowingly and deliberately broke the rules, then they would find themselves suspended immediately.”

  9. Lockdown restrictions will not be lifted overnightpublished at 13:30 BST 2 October 2020

    covid sign in front of Caerphilly castleImage source, Getty Images

    Restrictions in Caerphilly county - where the first local lockdown took effect - will remain in place until the Welsh Government is confident the situation there has sufficiently improved.

    Mark Drakeford also warned that he did not expect a situation where all local restrictions would be lifted in one swift move.

    The first minister said the situation was “improving” in Caerphilly, in lockdown since 8 September.

    Yesterday it was announced the local restrictions will continue there for at least another seven days and will be reviewed again next Thursday.

    “I can’t see a situation where we move from all restrictions being in place on Wednesday to nothing in place on Thursday,” said Mr Drakeford.

    “What we expect is to lift restrictions one at a time.”

  10. 'Complete shock' of Speaker at 'reckless' Covid MPpublished at 13:28 BST 2 October 2020

    Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle says he is "really very angry" about the behaviour of an MP who travelled from Glasgow to Westminster and back with Covid symptoms.

    Sir Lindsay says Margaret Ferrier's "reckless" actions have put MPs and staff at risk, as well as members of the public.

    Ms Ferrier - who tested positive - has been suspended by the SNP and urged to step down as an MP by leader Nicola Sturgeon.

    Media caption,

    Margaret Ferrier: Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle's fury at 'reckless' Covid MP

  11. Is Halloween cancelled?published at 13:24 BST 2 October 2020

    children trick or treatingImage source, Getty Images

    As the pandemic continues, questions have been raised about its impact on Halloween, and whether traditional features such as apple bobbing and trick-or-treat would be allowed.

    Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford believes people find creative ways to celebrate the event but admits it would not be "sensible" to do so as usual.

    "I'm sure there will be many imaginative ways both businesses, who depend on Halloween for part of their upkeep," he said.

    "Individuals will be thinking about how they can go about trick-or-treating in a way that still allows children particularly to celebrate that in some way," he said.

    "But to do it in a way that people are used to wouldn't be the sensible thing at this moment."

  12. FM asks Boris Johnson to stop cross-border visitspublished at 13:11 BST 2 October 2020

    welcome to wales signImage source, Getty Images

    First Minister Mark Drakeford says he’s “looking forward to hearing from” Boris Johnson on the issue of people travelling from England to Wales.

    With much of Wales now in local lockdown with residents unable to cross county boundaries, Mr Drakeford has written to the prime minister asking for similar restrictions to be imposed in England.

    People in England, even those living in lockdown areas, are allowed to leave for leisure reasons.

    However, leisure is not regarded as a suitable reason for people in Wales to leave their lockdown area.

    "I've asked the prime minister to impose in England the same rules as we have here in Wales," said Mr Drakeford.

    "I think that would be fair and I look forward to hearing from him."

  13. Lockdown could force traders to 'close for good'published at 13:07 BST 2 October 2020

    Businesses could be forced to "close for good" due to local lockdowns, traders in north Wales have said.

    Four counties - Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham - became the latest areas to face tighter restrictions on Thursday evening.

    Businesspeople in Rhyl have called for "common sense" in enforcement of travel restrictions.

    Steve, who owns a vacuum cleaner shop, said: "I think it is doing a lot of damage. When you take £6 in three days, it's not good."

    Media caption,

    Covid lockdowns: North Wales businesses could 'close for good'

  14. FM 'impressed' by hospitality industry's responsepublished at 13:02 BST 2 October 2020

    people drinkingImage source, Getty Images

    Asked if he had been "socially" to a pub or restaurant and seen the coronavirus restrictions in operation for himself, Wales' first minister said he had been "impressed" by what he had witnessed.

    Mark Drakeford said the places he had visited had been "very carefully run and managed, with all the protections that we would want to see in place".

    He said he thought "very hard about the hospitality and tourism industries and the effect that coronavirus is having on them in Wales".

    Mr Drakeford said Welsh ministers were doing their "very best" to put in place financial help to compensate for the "very necessary public health restrictions" in local areas.

  15. Sturgeon urges 'reckless' Covid trip MP to resignpublished at 12:53 BST 2 October 2020

    Margaret Ferrier
    Image caption,

    Margaret Ferrier says she "deeply regretted" her actions

    Scotland's first minister has urged one of her party's MPs to resign as after she travelled from Glasgow to London with Covid-19 symptoms, then returned home after testing positive.

    Nicola Sturgeon, who is also the SNP leader, said she had "made clear her view" to Margaret Ferrier that she should "do the right thing" and step down.

    Ms Ferrier has been suspended by the party, but cannot be sacked as an MP.

    She has apologised and said she "deeply regretted" her actions.

    Ms Sturgeon told a press conference: "Her actions were reckless, dangerous and completely indefensible - and I feel very angry on behalf of all of you."

    She said when the public was being asked to make "horrendous sacrifices" it was important that they had confidence in the advice from government.

    "That means me being clear that the rules apply to everyone, regardless of who you are and regardless of what your political allegiance is," Ms Sturgeon added.

  16. First minister thanks people living under lockdownpublished at 12:48 BST 2 October 2020

    Local lockdown areas now cover 2.3 million people living in 16 different areas in north and south Wales - a majority of the country's population.

    First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "I want to thank everyone living in lockdown areas for their patience, understanding and, above all, their willingness to do the right thing and work within these additional measures to control the spread of coronavirus.

    "If we continue to do so we can protect ourselves, our families, communities and to keep Wales safe."

  17. Covid-19 deaths and case numbers continue to risepublished at 12:45 BST 2 October 2020

    "Very sadly, there is an increase in the number of people who have died from coronavirus," Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

    "These are not just numbers - behind these figures are people and loved ones."

    graph showing case numbers and deaths in Wales involving Covid-19Image source, Welsh Government
  18. Track and trace reaching 'nearly 90%'published at 12:40 BST 2 October 2020

    Nearly 90% of those who have come into close contact with a coronavirus sufferer have been traced by NHS staff, according to Wales' first minister.

    Mark Drakeford said the figure was “remarkable”.

    He also said there was some signs of improvement with the UK government-managed Lighthouse Lab system for processing tests.

    “We have more tests this week; we will have more again next week,” Mr Drakeford said.

    On contact tracing, he said: “Three weeks ago, our contact tracing teams were dealing with less than 250 positive cases a week, generating some 750 contacts.

    In the week leading up to this review, there were 1,250 cases and 4,500 contacts.

    “But remarkably, almost nine out of 10 contacts of people were successfully traced and contacted.”

    Government scientists have suggested at least 80% of close contacts need to be traced for the system to be effective.

    However Mr Drakeford added that it was “too early” to lift local restrictions imposed in areas of south Wales in recent weeks, despite signs the rate of growth in the virus was starting to slow.

    Caerphilly, the first area to go into lockdown, has seen a reduction in cases, but will stay in lockdown for at least another seven days.

    Mark Drakeford
  19. Strictly contestant tests positive - but will still take partpublished at 12:37 BST 2 October 2020

    Strictly Come Dancing contestant HRVY has revealed he has tested positive for coronavirus, 10 days before the launch show is due to be filmed for BBC One.

    The YouTube star and singer tweeted, external to say he's "all good, no symptoms, just isolating for the next 10 days".

    He added: "Already super bored so prepare yourselves for my TikToks."

    A BBC spokesman confirmed HRVY had tested positive. The 21-year-old is still expected to take part in the series.

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